"Cappa!"
"Yes, very keen observation. It seems I'll need to reevaluate you once again. Hard to believe you only reached Champion level less than half a year ago."
Blaine applauded Ash's sharp analysis. He was impressed that even in the middle of a heated battle, Ash could still analyze his opponent's tactics.
"You're right—I do emphasize raw power and speed. But you're mistaken about one thing. It's not that I didn't train Ninetales' speed… it's that she doesn't need it at all."
The moment Blaine finished speaking, Ash's eyes narrowed sharply.
"Arcanine, Quick Attack!"
"It's too late. Ninetales, Psychic."
Ash had barely given his command when Blaine's counter followed instantly. Just as Arcanine lunged forward, its body was enveloped in a blue glow, halted mid-charge by Ninetales' psychic grip.
"Damn it, I miscalculated… I knew Ninetales could use Psychic, but I let myself forget. Was the constant use of fire-type moves just a distraction, to make me ignore her other abilities?"
Ash grit his teeth, realizing the trap he had fallen into.
From the start, Blaine had Ninetales bombard the field with fire-type attacks, masking her hidden arsenal of psychic moves.
Though Ninetales was a Fire-type Pokémon, her naturally powerful mental energy allowed her to wield Psychic-type techniques. Ash knew this, but under Blaine's relentless pressure, he had pushed that fact aside.
"As expected of a veteran Champion… the way he manipulates the battlefield is incredible. Even I might have fallen for it." Cynthia, watching from the sidelines, spoke with quiet admiration as Arcanine struggled under the psychic hold.
"I hope Ash can pull through…" Suzie whispered nervously. She wasn't much for battles, but she couldn't help worrying about Ash.
"It's over, Ash. Ninetales—Fire Blast!"
Blaine's command came sharp and decisive. Ninetales opened her mouth, releasing a blazing torrent shaped like a massive flaming kanji. The temperature around them spiked dangerously as the flames roared toward Arcanine.
Fire Blast—the signature finishing move of Fire-types. At equal strength, unless the target resisted fire, few could endure it unscathed. Luckily, Arcanine was a pure Fire-type; even so, he would take heavy damage if struck head-on.
"Not so fast! Arcanine, open the first three gates!"
Ash's voice rang out. At his order, Arcanine's aura flared violently. The Eight Gates technique boosted his physical and mental power all at once. With the surge of strength, Arcanine shattered Ninetales' psychic hold in an instant.
Before Ash could even call the next move, Arcanine vanished in a blur—dodging Fire Blast with a blinding Quick Attack that left behind only a fleeting afterimage.
"Excellent—nice dodge!" Ash cried out, relief mixing with excitement.
"So fast… was that a self-made technique? Faster than even a Legendary's speed…" Blaine's eyes widened. Though still composed, he couldn't hide his surprise. Ash had used the Eight Gates to temporarily push Arcanine beyond his natural limits.
What stunned Blaine most wasn't just that Arcanine had escaped the psychic grip—it was the sheer speed at which he had avoided Fire Blast. Ninetales' attack had nearly struck an afterimage instead of her real target.
If Arcanine could maintain that velocity, then even Ninetales' strongest techniques would struggle to land a hit.
Narrowing his eyes, Blaine gave his next order without hesitation.
"Ninetales, expand your Psychic—cover the entire battlefield!"
It was the only way. By spreading her mental power across the arena, Ninetales could track Arcanine's position no matter how fast he moved. It was a massive drain on her energy, but against Ash's relentless momentum, it was worth the cost.
The Eight Gates had clear thresholds of power:
The Opening Gate corresponded to Elite Four candidates.
The Rest Gate aligned with full Elite Four members.
The Life Gate reached the level of Champion candidates.
The Injury Gate equaled true Champions.
The Closing Gate matched third-tier Legendary Pokémon.
The View Gate reached second-tier Legendaries.
The Shock Gate rivaled first-tier Legendaries.
And the final Death Gate… its power was still unknown.
Since Ash's Arcanine was already Champion-class, opening the first three gates dramatically boosted its strength and psychic resistance. The side effects were present, but tolerable. However, once the fourth gate was opened, the strain would multiply, causing severe backlash.
"Arcanine, Dig!"
Seeing the battlefield saturated with Ninetales' Psychic, Ash quickly issued his command. If Arcanine hid underground, the odds of being detected would drop. Ninetales' mental field blanketed the surface, but couldn't penetrate deep into the earth.
"You found a countermeasure so quickly?" Blaine muttered, surprised at Ash's quick thinking.
Ash knew the risk. The Eight Gates might grant temporary immunity to the backlash of the first three doors, but it won't last long. If this drags on, the recoil will double. I need to finish this quickly.
Blaine, however, was already adapting. "Ninetales, Flamethrower—into the tunnel!"
The words had barely left his mouth before Ninetales spewed a stream of searing blue fire straight into the opening Arcanine had dug. The flames roared into the earth, hunting down Ash's partner.
...
TN:
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