"All right, hurry up and send out your Pokémon. I'm short on time, so don't waste another second."
As Charizard let out a thunderous roar, Ash casually picked at his ear and spoke in a thoroughly nonchalant manner.
"You insolent little brat! You've finally managed to make me lose my temper! Since you're practically begging for death, don't blame me for showing you no mercy!"
Celosia's anger had completely overwhelmed her reason. No longer bothering with verbal sparring, she immediately sent out her ace Pokémon—Drapion.
"Go, Drapion! Tear that damned brat apart!"
Celosia shouted furiously.
"Skreeee!"
Drapion, standing beside the purple-haired woman, let out a harsh screech and waved its enormous pincers. Its sinister eyes fixed on Charizard before it sprang forward and landed directly on the battlefield.
Seeing the Charizard Ash had sent out, Drapion, much like its Trainer, still hadn't realized how serious the situation was.
As one of the four senior executives of Team Flare, an evil organization that had operated throughout Kalos for years, Celosia possessed strength at the Pseudo-Elite Four level.
Accustomed to throwing her weight around and rarely suffering setbacks, she had never taken a seven-year-old child like Ash seriously.
Moreover, Charizard was deliberately concealing its true strength, making no effort to reveal the full extent of its intimidating aura. Neither Celosia nor Drapion could possibly have imagined that the Pokémon Ash had sent out was actually a Champion-level powerhouse!
After sending Drapion onto the battlefield, Celosia didn't hesitate for even a moment. She raised her hand and sharply gestured forward, immediately ordering it to attack.
"Drapion, use Cross Poison!"
"Skree!"
Drapion's pincer-like mouthparts emitted a piercing screech. It then crossed its massive pincers and swung them forward, sending a gigantic cross-shaped blade of poisonous energy slicing rapidly toward Charizard.
As a Pokémon with Elite Four-level strength, Drapion's Cross Poison was terrifyingly powerful. Just looking at the attack made Serena, Clarissa Joy, Misty, and the others watching from outside the battlefield feel a chill run down their spines.
Even the tiny amount of energy and pressure leaking from the attack was frightening. As the Cross Poison blade tore through the air, the ground beneath its trajectory was corroded as though someone had poured concentrated sulfuric acid over it. The attack left behind a deep, jagged trail covered in countless tiny, bubbling pits.
Seeing this, Celosia wore a smug, triumphant smile.
However, neither Ash nor Charizard showed the slightest trace of fear or hesitation.
"Charizard, show them what you're capable of. Give that arrogant woman over there a proper lesson!"
Drapion had taken the initiative and launched the first attack. Ash no longer hesitated. He snapped his fingers and swiftly issued his command.
Charizard responded without the slightest delay.
Facing the incoming Cross Poison, Charizard simply swung its long tail.
"BOOM!"
"CRACK!"
The Cross Poison, an attack capable of corroding and cutting through almost anything, was shattered instantly by a single lash of Charizard's tail!
At the same time, flames swept backward through the air, and the purple poisonous particles were instantly incinerated by the scorching heat.
"How is that possible?!"
Celosia stared in disbelief.
Drapion's incredibly powerful attack had been smashed apart by a single swing of Charizard's tail. The sight left her utterly dumbfounded.
Even Clemont, Tierno, Trevor, and the others watching from the sidelines were completely stunned.
Although they didn't know exactly how strong Celosia's Drapion was, the terrifying power of the Cross Poison it had just unleashed made one thing obvious: Drapion was undoubtedly a formidable Pokémon.
They had believed that Ash's hidden trump card, Charizard, must also be powerful enough to stand against Drapion. They had expected an intense battle between two evenly matched opponents.
But they had never imagined that Charizard would be this overwhelmingly powerful!
It hadn't even used a move.
Drapion's devastating Cross Poison had been shattered by nothing more than a casual swing of Charizard's tail!
Clemont, Tierno, Trevor, and the others stood frozen, their eyes wide with disbelief. For a moment, none of them could even find the words to describe what they had just witnessed.
"How can this be?! I don't believe it!"
Finally snapping out of her shock, Celosia let out a nearly hysterical scream from the opposite side of the battlefield.
"Drapion! Charge forward and use Night Slash!"
Celosia shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Skree!"
Drapion answered with a screech.
Although Charizard's casual tail strike had just shattered its Cross Poison, leaving it shocked and deeply shaken, that moment of disbelief quickly passed.
After all, Drapion had enjoyed years of victories and smooth sailing. More importantly, it couldn't sense any overwhelming pressure coming from Charizard.
As a result, Drapion's thoughts were much the same as its Trainer's. Neither of them could bring themselves to accept the possibility that Charizard was actually far stronger than Drapion.
Receiving another attack command, Drapion screeched and began rapidly moving its insect-like legs beneath its body.
In the next instant, its entire body transformed into a streak of purple light. A fierce gust of wind swept across the battlefield as it charged straight toward Charizard!
Yet, faced with Drapion's sudden assault, Charizard couldn't even be bothered to raise an eyelid.
Charizard's strength had already reached the middle stage of Champion level.
If its opponent had been Wikstrom's Aegislash, perhaps Charizard wouldn't have been quite so arrogant. It might even have taken the battle seriously and fought properly.
But Celosia's Drapion was different.
Not only was it merely at the early stage of Elite Four level, but its training was also rather mediocre.
The difference between their strengths was simply astronomical—a gap between heaven and earth!
With such an overwhelming disparity, Charizard could barely summon any interest in fighting Celosia's Drapion. It was practically impossible for it to take the opponent seriously.
However, seeing Drapion recklessly charge toward it once again, Charizard decided it wouldn't allow the little nuisance to keep jumping around and acting so arrogantly.
BOOOOM—!
Without waiting for Ash to issue a command, Charizard tracked Drapion with its eyes, locked onto its target, and opened its mouth.
A tremendous Flamethrower erupted directly toward Drapion!
Drapion's charge was incredibly fast. However, Charizard had already predicted the trajectory of its movement.
As Drapion darted from side to side, attempting to evade the attack, it happened to run straight into the Flamethrower Charizard had unleashed!
"SKREEEEE!!"
The moment the scorching, high-temperature flames struck it, Drapion released a piercing, insect-like shriek from its mouthparts.
In an instant, the once-fierce Drapion was reduced to a thoroughly roasted scorpion!
"Drapion...!!"
Celosia's expression changed dramatically.
"Charizard, finish it. Use Blast Burn."
Ash coldly watched Celosia, whose face was now filled with panic. He had no intention of showing mercy and immediately issued another command.
"ROOOAR!"
Charizard answered with a powerful roar.
It raised its muscular arm high above its head, clenched its hand into a fist, and then slammed it violently into the ground.
"BOOM! RUMBLE—!"
A crack suddenly split open at the point where Charizard's fist struck the earth. The fissure rapidly spread forward across the battlefield.
The crack widened at astonishing speed. And that wasn't all—scorching, crimson-red magma could be seen surging and bubbling inside it!