"Go on! Gyarados!"
Boom! A huge, fierce, blue Gyarados appeared on the battlefield, immediately activating its Intimidate ability to lower Bayleef's Attack by one stage. However, Bayleef showed no fear, instead glaring right back at Gyarados. Ash's Bayleef had always possessed an indomitable spirit.
"Ash, if you send out Pikachu, I'll send out Quagsire," Misty stated her plan, aiming to completely shut down Pikachu.
"So what? My Bayleef can take you down head-on just the same. Bayleef, get ready for Solar Beam!" Coinciding with Gyarados's entrance, Politoed's Drizzle ability had stopped. The dark clouds had dispersed, revealing the brilliant sunlight. Knowing that other moves would only have normal effectiveness against Gyarados, and with the sunlight being exceptionally strong right now, Ash decided to use Solar Beam right from the start to settle the match head-on. The energy for Solar Beam gathered rapidly, and before long, it fired from the leaf on top of Bayleef's head, shooting a golden beam straight at Gyarados.
Misty hurriedly ordered, "Gyarados, use Dragon Pulse to block it!" Gyarados let out a roar, unleashing a dragon-shaped wave of light from its mouth that collided directly with the Solar Beam.
"Now, use Twister."
Gyarados's eyes turned blue as it instantly manipulated several gusts of wind, whipping up the debris on the ground from the battle and sending it straight toward Bayleef. This was a signature move of Misty's Gyarados, and many Electric-type Pokémon had fallen to it. Ash shouted for Bayleef to dodge quickly. Bayleef tried to move, but the Twister closed in on the direction she was heading until all paths around her were completely blocked, trapping Bayleef inside the vortex. Ash's line of sight was entirely obstructed, making it completely impossible to recall Bayleef.
"Ash, looks like this round ends here."
Hearing this, Ash couldn't help but grit his teeth. Gyarados began gathering energy around its mouth—oh no, if Bayleef got hit by Hyper Beam, she would definitely suffer devastating damage.
"Hang on, it's not over yet, Misty! Bayleef, use Grass Knot!" Seeing Gyarados's massive body, Ash thought of using it to stop the Twister.
Just as Gyarados was about to unleash Hyper Beam, several giant grass ropes burst from the ground where Gyarados stood, wrapping around its body at lightning speed and forcing Gyarados, which had stood upright from the start of the match, down to the ground. The Hyper Beam it had just gathered went wide, exploding entirely against the ground in front of Gyarados, and most of the falling debris rained down upon Gyarados itself. Gyarados had never suffered such humiliation; it was now pinned down like a crawling reptile. Gyarados let out an angry roar, the sound practically deafening.
"Now's our chance! Use Solar Beam!" Ash wasn't about to let this hard-earned opportunity slip away, immediately ordering Bayleef to attack. Although Bayleef was injured, the speed of the Solar Beam was not slowed in the slightest. With a loud boom, it hit Gyarados directly, causing it to cry out in agony. Bayleef didn't stop there, firing another Solar Beam that struck Gyarados once more.
"Gyarados, quick, use Dragon Dance to break free!" Misty finally came up with a countermeasure, hoping to rely on the power of Dragon Dance to get up off the ground and break free. Gyarados let out an angry roar, its body thrashing violently as the grass ropes binding it snapped one by one.
"If grass ropes can't hold you, this will! Bayleef, use Vine Whip to bind Gyarados!" Bayleef quickly extended two vines from her sides, instantly wrapping them around Gyarados and dragging the Pokémon that had just broken free back down to the ground. With no other choice, Misty had Gyarados use Ice Fang to build an ice wall in front of it to block the Solar Beam.
With a loud crash, the Solar Beam struck the ice wall, but the barrier didn't hold for long before being melted by the Solar Beam, which carried immense heat. The Solar Beam struck Gyarados once again. No matter how powerful Gyarados was, taking three heavy Grass-type moves in a row was too much to bear. Although Gyarados still maintained its will to fight, its stamina was running critically low.
"Gyarados, go all out! Use full-power Hyper Beam!" Misty intended to let Gyarados use its last bit of strength to deal heavy damage to Bayleef.
"In that case, Bayleef, use Leaf Storm!" Ash shouted loudly, preparing for the final clash.
Gyarados's Hyper Beam and Bayleef's Leaf Storm collided fiercely, creating a massive explosion and kicking up thick smoke.
When the smoke gradually cleared, Gyarados had long since fainted. Although Bayleef was still standing, having unleashed multiple heavy moves in a row left her stamina extremely depleted, and she panted heavily.
"Great job, Bayleef, you beat Gyarados!" Ash said excitedly. Bayleef turned back to face Ash, and just as she started to move toward him, a bright light enveloped her body. The leaf on Bayleef's head slowly disappeared, replaced by two feelers, while the leaf-like structure around her neck transformed into a blooming flower, and her body slowly grew larger.
*Beep. Meganium, the Herb Pokémon, and the final evolved form of Chikorita. The breath emitted by Meganium has the power to revive withered grass.*
Ash's Pokédex provided its description, and Ash was thrilled to witness the evolution.
"Alright, Ash, our match isn't over yet," Misty reminded him from the side. After sharing his excitement, Ash signaled the referee that the match could resume.
"Go, Togetic!" This time, Misty sent out the Flying-type Togetic.
"Return, Meganium. You rest up for a bit. Go, Noctowl!" Ash sent out his Shiny Noctowl, preparing for an aerial mobility battle against Togetic.
"I actually thought Ash would send out Pikachu this time."
"Don't underestimate my Noctowl. Noctowl, use Steel Wing!"
Ash went on the offensive right away. Noctowl's wings gleamed with a metallic sheen as it flew swiftly toward Togetic. Steel-type moves were super effective against Togetic.
Togetic flew upward; Misty had no intention of letting Togetic trade blows head-on with Noctowl, knowing Togetic couldn't match Noctowl in pure physical power. Upon hearing Misty's command, Togetic immediately flapped its wings and soared high into the air. Noctowl missed its mark, but under Ash's command, it immediately pursued upward into the sky. Thus began an aerial dogfight. Misty's Togetic flew with incredible agility, pulling away rapidly every time a Steel Wing was about to land.
*Damn it,* Ash thought, beginning to feel anxious as he observed the situation. "Noctowl! Use Extrasensory!" Since Togetic was so agile, he would just have to control it. Noctowl let out a cry, releasing a beam of energy from its eyes straight toward Togetic.
"Togetic, use Air Slash," Misty ordered at that moment.
Togetic's two small wings instantly generated a blade of air, firing it toward Noctowl. The Air Slash successfully neutralized Extrasensory, but Togetic didn't stop. It kept launching Air Slashes continuously in midair like a bomber, forcing Noctowl to dodge endlessly.
*Damn it, Togetic's Air Slash is way too troublesome. There's no way to get close like this,* Ash thought anxiously as he watched the situation. If Noctowl got hit, Misty's Togetic's ability would surely trigger flinch. Without a countermeasure, Noctowl would get hit sooner or later, and the constant dodging was draining its stamina at an alarming rate.
At that moment, a thought suddenly crossed Ash's mind: what if his Noctowl knew that move? Though Ash wasn't even sure if his Noctowl could use it.
"No choice, I'll have to gamble. Noctowl, use Imprison!" Ash shouted loudly.
Noctowl let out a sharp cry, and after dodging several Air Slashes in a row, its eyes flashed red as it successfully unleashed Imprison. Togetic finally stopped using Air Slash, staring at its hands in absolute confusion, unable to figure out why it suddenly couldn't use the move anymore.
"Now's our chance, Noctowl! Use Extrasensory!" Seeing Togetic freeze, Ash knew his gamble had paid off. He hurriedly ordered Noctowl to grab Togetic. Noctowl's Extrasensory successfully seized hold of Togetic, and then Noctowl slammed Togetic hard down onto the rocky ground.
"Great! Now follow up with Steel Wing!" Ash pressed his advantage.