"Hmm? Alright! Gladly!"
Ash didn't actually want to battle him because he knew this person's character. To describe it in Earth terms, he looked like a human on the outside, but his character was a mess.
He knew this was someone who treated Pokémon as a tool for social climbing, but that was his freedom, and Ash wouldn't meddle. What bothered Ash most about his character was that he would interrupt a battle when it was nearing its end.
He would stop the match because he didn't want to lose face by losing in front of so many people, disrespecting the match itself. This was what Ash despised the most.
However, Ash would never refuse anyone's challenge. Hearing him actively seek a battle, Ash didn't refuse, but he wouldn't easily allow the opponent to interrupt the match.
Seeing this, Ash walked over to the boy who had been there earlier. The boy, seeing they were about to battle, quickly held his Starmie and moved aside. He then recalled Starmie into its Poké Ball but didn't leave, clearly wanting to watch the match.
Seeing someone accept the challenge, the atmosphere around them became lively again.
"Come, young man!" The gentleman, calm and composed, opened his mouth with a smile, holding his cane.
"Go, Charmander!!" Ash didn't send out Pikachu but instead sent out Charmander.
The gentleman didn't mind. He had only invited Ash because he saw him with Pikachu. As for whether Ash sent out Pikachu or not, he didn't care.
"Go, Raticate, use Quick Attack!!"
He looked like a gentleman, but he had no gentlemanly demeanor. Seeing Ash release his Pokémon, he immediately launched an attack. Raticate, hearing the command, glowed silver and instantly charged forward.
"Charmander, use Smokescreen!"
With a burst of lightning-fast speed, Ash didn't panic. With a command, Charmander, hearing him, immediately exhaled a large amount of smoke from its mouth. The black smoke spread, and the entire field was instantly enveloped in smoke.
Raticate charged into the smoke, immediately missed, stopped its movements, and quickly looked around, searching for Charmander.
The gentleman also frowned. In this situation, he didn't know where Charmander was.
"Charmander, use Scratch attack!!"
Ash, seeing the opportunity, gave the command. In the smoke, Charmander instantly moved, charging towards Raticate. White light flashed on its claws, and it slapped Raticate. Raticate immediately flew backward uncontrollably.
Bang!!
Falling to the ground, Raticate's body rolled a few times, then it supported itself and stood up. The smoke gradually dispersed, and the two Pokémon's figures reappeared.
"Raticate, pull yourself together, use Hyper Fang!"
Watching Raticate struggle to its feet, the gentleman immediately shouted. Raticate stood up, charged forward, and a crimson glow once again appeared on its fangs. It pounced towards Charmander, biting.
"Charmander, use Ember!!"
Ash looked at Raticate charging straight at him and gave another command. Charmander's mouth swelled, then it released flames. Countless fire particles were released, showering down on Raticate like rain.
Raticate continuously suffered Ember attacks. Its fur was singed, and then it was directly pushed back by the force of Ember.
One must know that Charmander had been training in the White Strait, using its fire moves against waves, and its firepower had greatly improved. It could even block waves, let alone Raticate.
"Ah! Raticate! Wait... wait a minute!" Seeing this, the gentleman had a bad premonition and instinctively spoke. However...
"Charmander, give it the final blow, Flamethrower!"
Ash seemed not to have heard him and continued to signal Charmander to attack. Charmander, hearing him, leaped into the air. The firepower from its tail increased, and the intense flames continuously surged. Burning energy continuously gathered in its mouth.
Boom!!!
Bang!!!!
Flamethrower, like a fiery dragon, erupted, directly hitting the fallen Raticate. The immense power pushed Raticate across the ground. Raticate's body was instantly engulfed in flames.
It rolled continuously on the ground to extinguish the flames. Its fur was completely scorched, and it lay unconscious on the ground.
"Ah, how could this be!!"
Watching this scene, the gentleman in the arena was surprised. His female companion beside him covered her mouth in disbelief. Charmander landed on the ground, hands on its hips, head held high, looking smug.
"You did very well, Charmander!" Ash, seeing this, walked into the arena and gently stroked Charmander's smooth head. Charmander also called out to Ash excitedly.
Lee!!!
"So amazing!"
"Yeah! He easily defeated that uncle's Raticate!" Everyone around showed surprised expressions. One must know that this gentleman had already defeated several trainers in a row earlier.
...
"Ahem... Young man, your Charmander is well-trained, but unfortunately, my Raticate had already battled several times in a row. Otherwise, it definitely wouldn't have lost to you."
At this moment, the gentleman looked at Ash, recalled Raticate, and then cleared his throat, saying to Ash and the others.
"So that's how it is. But since this is a trainer party, there should be medical equipment on board. When your Raticate recovers, you can come find me again anytime."
Ash listened, found it amusing in his heart, but didn't bother arguing with the other party. The meaning was already very clear: 'You're saying I won unfairly, right? If you're not convinced, let's battle again.'
"Uh... good! In that case, I'll take my leave next time." Hearing Ash's words, the gentleman also felt a bit embarrassed but couldn't really lash out. To outsiders, Ash's words were very appropriate and made a lot of sense.
After speaking, the gentleman left with his female companion, looking crestfallen. At this time, Ash also got up and recalled Charmander. The others, seeing that there were no other battles, gradually dispersed. Misty walked over.
"That person is so annoying. He clearly lost."
Although it was true he had battled a few times before, he was the one who proposed the match. When he lost, he made all sorts of excuses, which annoyed her a bit.
"Someone like him, who thinks he belongs to high society, caring about face is normal. Don't mind him. Let's go eat something!" Ash didn't care and calmly replied.
"Alright! I'm hungry!" Person.
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