The rain continued to fall, cold droplets beating against Arcanine's face.
Rainy days posed a challenge for Fire-type Pokémon, reducing the power of their fire-based moves and often dampening their spirits as well.
But speaking of spirit, Arcanine was undeniably a Pokémon worth special training.
Not only was Arcanine intensely loyal to its trainer, but it was also steadfast in its resolve.
Just like Gary's Arcanine at this moment.
Luo Yuan watched Arcanine closely. Though the rain impacted it somewhat, it didn't douse its fighting spirit; rather, it only seemed to make its drive stronger.
Arcanine's gaze at Dragonair was full of determination.
"That's it, Arcanine, let's go!"
Gary shouted from behind, "Use Extreme Speed!"
"Extreme Speed?"
Luo Yuan was no stranger to that move.
In the game before he crossed over, Extreme Speed had once been Arcanine's signature move, boasting both high priority and powerful impact.
When Arcanine used it now, the effect was phenomenal.
Arcanine was already swift, and with Extreme Speed enhancing it, its velocity nearly surpassed human sight.
In the blink of an eye, it disappeared from where it stood.
A flash of orange streaked through the rain. In an instant, Arcanine was beneath Dragonair.
Its muscles tightened, then it sprang with all four paws, launching itself into the air toward Dragonair.
"Flare Blitz!"
Gary's voice followed, echoing in Arcanine's ears.
In midair, Arcanine's body erupted in roaring flames, charging at Dragonair with the speed of Extreme Speed, an awe-inspiring sight.
"The impact of Extreme Speed combined with the damage of Flare Blitz—if it hits Dragonair..."
Gary kept his eyes on Arcanine in the sky.
He was confident in his Arcanine's strength.
If it landed the hit, he would have one foot in victory's door.
But as fast as Arcanine was, Luo Yuan's response wasn't slow either.
"Dragonair, Protect!"
In the sky, Dragonair stared at the fiery Arcanine rushing toward it without fear and nodded.
Dragonair's body shifted slightly, summoning a blue shield in front of itself.
Bang!
Arcanine slammed into the energy shield created by Protect.
The shield cracked, the fracture expanding before it gradually dissipated.
"Protect couldn't completely block it?"
It seemed Arcanine's combined attack was indeed fierce.
But that was it.
Arcanine, having broken through the shield, lost its momentum. It collided with Dragonair, its flame-cloaked body only slightly scorching Dragonair's white belly.
Now mid-air with no foothold, Arcanine's initial burst had run its course; it had only that one chance to threaten Dragonair.
And then, with momentum gone, Arcanine began to fall, a free descent toward the ground.
There was no way Luo Yuan would miss this opportunity.
"Now, Dragonair, give it a hand with Dragon Tail!"
"Gary, having Arcanine take an aerial fight with Dragonair was your biggest mistake," Luo Yuan said to the stunned Gary.
"Rrrr..."
As he spoke, Dragonair's tail began to glow brilliantly, its body twisting.
Then, with a sweeping motion, it hit the falling Arcanine.
Boom!
Arcanine let out a painful groan as it hit the ground heavily, mud splashing everywhere, dirtying its once-shiny fur.
"Arcanine!!"
Gary quickly shouted out to it.
"Rrr..."
Arcanine, lying on the ground, heard Gary's call. It struggled to stand, shaking its dazed head and glaring back up at Dragonair in the sky.
Luo Yuan didn't command Dragonair to keep attacking. Instead, he looked at Gary.
"Want to keep going?"
To continue the battle at this point was, in truth, meaningless.
Gary hesitated at Luo Yuan's words, considering giving up.
But when he saw Arcanine's determined eyes, his indecision transformed into a firm resolve.
"We're fighting! Arcanine, use your strongest Flare Blitz!"
"Arrooo!"
Once again, Arcanine charged at Dragonair, flames blazing around its body!
Its Flash Fire ability made the flames even stronger.
The intense heat scorched the air, evaporating nearby raindrops into steam.
Seeing Arcanine's head-on attack, Luo Yuan decided against evasion this time.
"If you want a direct clash, then Dragonair... Dragon Pulse!"
With a wave of his hand.
The blue beam of Dragon Pulse collided fiercely with Arcanine.
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed through the field.
Aside from the owner of the field, who was now calculating how much the repairs would cost, everyone's eyes were on the smoke-filled battleground.
When the smoke cleared.
Arcanine lay on the ground.
"Arcanine is unable to battle!" The referee raised the flag.
"Gary lost."
Gary's cheerleaders looked disappointed.
The onlookers, however, were hardly surprised.
They weren't as clueless as Gary's cheerleaders; anyone with even a basic understanding of Pokémon battles could see that from the moment the weather changed, the scales had tipped in Luo Yuan's favor.
When Dragonair had knocked Arcanine down with Dragon Tail, the victor had been all but decided.
This only deepened their admiration for Dragonair.
"You did great, Arcanine."
Gary recalled Arcanine, looking at Luo Yuan.
"Seems like there's still quite a gap between us!"
"What's this? No desire for another match?" Luo Yuan asked, waving to signal Dragonair to clear the rain.
Was Gary surrendering?
"Arcanine's my strongest Pokémon. All I've got left are Wartortle and Pidgeotto... might as well call it."
In a 3v3 match, he was down two Pokémon already, with only one remaining.
If he couldn't seriously harm Dragonair with a two-on-one, a one-on-three was futile.
There were times when bravery was warranted; reckless persistence wasn't bravery, it was stubbornness.
Just as he finished, Luo Yuan's communicator rang.
He answered it.
"Hello? Misty, you've arrived? I'll be right over to pick you up from the airport."
He'd invited Misty to vacation here at Lampurchi, and she'd finally arrived.
Hanging up, Luo Yuan was about to excuse himself when he noticed Gary's odd expression.
"You're going to the airport too?"
"Also?"
The word "also" felt oddly... suggestive.
"That's right. My grandpa just messaged me, saying he's at the airport with Ash's mom," Gary replied.
"Uh..."
It sounded normal enough, but something about Professor Oak and Ash's mom being together had a strange undertone...
---
T/N: Poor Ash...
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check!
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