Hit by Dragon Breath, Articuno fell from the sky again. It plunged toward the ground.
Seeing this, Ash quickly ordered Charizard to rush in. He wanted to catch Articuno. However, Articuno was not easy to deal with. At the moment Charizard got close, Articuno reacted. It made a quick turn and dodged Charizard's two claws.
This really surprised Ash.
After all, Articuno had just been hit, but it could recover in such a short time. This showed how strong its body was.
This was also something that could not be understood just by watching the battle. Only by actually fighting it could someone feel how amazing the stamina of a Legendary Pokémon was. Otherwise, Natsui's Articuno would not have fought this Articuno for so long just now.
Just as Ash was surprised, Noland gave the command to counterattack.
Articuno used Ice Beam and hit Charizard directly. However, the type matchup was not in its favor. Charizard took the Ice Beam and charged at Articuno again. They attacked each other once more.
But this time, Articuno dodged the Flamethrower. Instead, Articuno used the chance to get close. It hit Charizard with Steel Wing! Because the type of the move had changed, Charizard could no longer take it. It fell from high in the sky and crashed onto the ground.
Boom.
Watching Charizard fall, Max frowned. He turned to Natsui and asked, "Why does it feel like Charizard suddenly can't beat Articuno?"
"It's not that it can't win. It's that its pattern has been figured out," Natsui shook his head gently. "From the start of the battle until now, Ash has been using Flamethrower. Noland saw through it long ago. Although he also tried to use Seismic Toss in the middle, it didn't succeed. If he still wants to rely on Charizard's type advantage to fight, the situation will likely get worse and worse for him."
"Then is Ash in danger?"
"It's very dangerous," Natsui smiled. "But he is Ash, after all. Charizard has the type advantage and is strong. Although they have run into trouble, he will definitely change his strategy soon. We just need to wait and see."
Although the others believed in Natsui's judgment, Ash still had to change the situation himself.
However, Noland did not give him time.
Charizard was just shaking its head and getting up from the ground when Articuno flew above it. Noland gave an order. Articuno opened its beak. Powerful water energy gathered and fired. It shot toward Charizard at high speed.
A huge water ball filled with energy flashed through the air.
With just one look, Natsui recognized it. This was the Water-type move Water Pulse!
People often say ice and water are related. But unlike some Water-type Pokémon that can use ice moves, an Ice-type Pokémon without a Water sub-type cannot use water attacks unless it specifically learns them. No one expected this Articuno to know this move and keep it hidden until now!
This completely surprised Ash and caught him off guard.
On the ground, Charizard could not dodge in time. It was hit directly by Water Pulse. This time, water beat fire. The damage was great. It gave Ash a taste of his own medicine with a type advantage!
At this moment, the confidence from the start of the battle was gone from Ash's face. Instead, he frowned and looked very nervous.
"This is bad..." Brock shook his head helplessly. "I didn't expect Articuno to know a Water-type move. This makes Ash even more afraid to get close."
Glancing at Noland, Natsui laughed. "I really didn't expect Noland to keep such a trick hidden. If he had used it when fighting my Articuno, Ash would have been warned and wouldn't be so stuck now."
Then his tone changed as he continued, "Noland looks like a very tough person, but I didn't expect him to have such a careful side. He waited until now to use Water Pulse because he wanted to land a decisive hit. He wanted to deal Charizard a heavy blow while it was struggling!"
After hearing this, Max and the others realized Noland was a Frontier Brain for a reason. He was clever. He only looked weak against Natsui because they were not on the same level. Against anyone else, even Ash, he was very strong. If they were careless, they would lose!
Back on the battlefield.
After being hit by Water Pulse, Charizard was seriously injured because of the type disadvantage. From the outside, its body was covered in scars.
But luckily, it could still fight. This meant the ending was still uncertain.
Noland pressed the attack. He ordered Articuno to strike again. Seeing this, Ash could only make Charizard dodge and fly around the field.
The situation had reversed.
But this fit Ash's usual battle style. It seemed that whenever he had the type advantage, he either struggled through a hard fight or lost from a winning position. It was rare for him to win easily! In short, it was nerve-wracking to watch!
Sure enough, as Charizard was moving around, it missed a detail. Articuno used a combination of Ice Beam and Water Pulse. Ice spikes splashed all over Charizard. Luckily, Charizard reacted quickly and blocked the ice with its wings to avoid more damage.
"Ash..."
Seeing this, May, Brock, and Max all became worried.
Max wanted to ask Natsui something, but he suddenly felt like he had seen this scene before...
It was as if it had happened recently!
When was it?
Right! It was at the Ever Grande Conference!
Ash seemed to have run into a similar problem then. But in the end, he turned the situation around. So now...
Thinking of this, he stopped himself from asking. He focused on watching the match. He decided to wait and see.
Although it blocked the attack, Charizard's wings were frostbitten. Its movement was affected. Seeing this, Noland ordered Articuno to use the combination attack again.
Just like before, Articuno used Ice Beam and then Water Pulse. The two moves collided in the air and formed countless ice shards that shot at Charizard!
Ash used Flamethrower to respond. But the fire couldn't melt the ice instantly. Before the heat could work, the ice shards pierced the flames and hit Charizard!
Charizard stumbled in the air and almost fell again. Seeing this, Noland planned to end the battle!
"Articuno, it's time to finish this! Fly up above Charizard!!"
Under Noland's command, Articuno accelerated. It flew higher. But just as Noland thought he had won, Ash finally made his move.
Ash had been waiting for this chance from the start.
At the same time, he shouted loudly, "Charizard, fly above Articuno and use Overheat!"
The moment Ash gave the command, Charizard's body turned bright red. The frozen parts of its body recovered instantly!
That wasn't all. Like a giant fireball, Charizard flew up quickly. It caught up to Articuno and passed it, flying even higher!
This was a move Charizard learned while training at Charicific Valley. The reason Ash waited until now to use it was because of the side effect.
As a very powerful Fire-type move, it does massive damage, but the drawback is obvious. Once used, the user pours out all its power. Afterward, its Special Attack drops significantly!
Frequent use makes the user's attacks weaker and weaker. Therefore, timing is very important. It is best to win with one hit. That is why Ash kept this card hidden until now!
He used it now because he knew the situation was critical. It was time to decide the winner!
Noland saw Ash's plan, but he just smiled. He didn't back down. He planned to settle it right here!
Charizard came from above, and Articuno came from below. One used Overheat, and the other used Water Pulse. The hot pillar of fire and the energy-filled water ball crashed together in the air. A huge explosion happened, creating bright light and a lot of steam!
In terms of power, Water Pulse was no match for Overheat. The levels of the moves were very different. However, the problem was that water beats fire. This gave the water move a natural advantage.
While Ash waited for the result, he didn't notice Noland smiling. Suddenly, Articuno's wings glowed. It flew out of the steam and hit Charizard hard with its wings!
This was bad.
Charizard's stamina was near its limit. Luckily, that Steel Wing didn't knock it out. But as Articuno turned around, its wings glowed with Steel Wing again!
Everyone could see Noland wanted to land the final blow! If this hit, Charizard would definitely be defeated!
Everyone's hearts were racing. They wanted to see how Ash would react!
But since his last card had been played, Ash seemed to have no other move left. He could only shout, "Block it!"
It seemed Ash was putting all his hope in Charizard itself.
The situation was bad, stamina was low, and they were on the defensive. Everything suggested Charizard was in danger.
But Charizard is Charizard. There was a reason it became Ash's ace and had beaten Natsui's Pokémon at the Silver Conference!
The moment Articuno got close, Charizard raised its claws. It used brute strength to catch Articuno's wings! It actually blocked the attack!
This really surprised Noland!
Ash's eyes lit up. He shouted, "Now! Use Seismic Toss!"
Charizard grabbed Articuno tightly. It didn't give Articuno a chance to escape. Using its remaining strength, it spiraled down. They fell faster and faster, crashing into the ground!
Boom!
They were too fast. In an instant, the two Pokémon hit the ground. A loud noise followed, and a lot of dust flew up. The shock was so strong that the people in the stands felt the vibration!
Max and the others grabbed the railing. They ignored the shaking and stared at the field. They wanted to see who won!
Soon, the smoke cleared.
To everyone's surprise, Charizard lay there without moving. Instead, Articuno struggled to stand up using its strong will.
"What!?" Max cried out. "Ash lost? But clearly..."
This surprised everyone. From what just happened, it looked like Charizard should have won.
But as Max spoke, things changed.
Articuno, which had just struggled to stand, suddenly collapsed. Meanwhile, Charizard, which was lying down, slowly climbed back up!
"This..."
After getting up, Charizard looked at the unconscious Articuno. It roared at the sky. It seemed to be telling the world that it had just defeated a Legendary Pokémon!
"We did it!" Before the referee could announce it, Ash and Pikachu jumped for joy!
It was no wonder he was so happy. After all, he had defeated the Legendary Pokémon Articuno! This was something Ash hadn't even dared to imagine before!
This proved he had truly improved. He was no longer the boy who knew nothing!
The referee announced the result. Noland and Ash looked at each other and shook their heads. Then Sergio took Articuno to heal its wounds, and Noland walked up to Ash.
Once Natsui and the others came down from the stands to join them, Noland sighed. He said with emotion, "I didn't expect that the first time I used Articuno in a battle, I would lose twice. You guys are even better than I thought."
Natsui had beaten him fairly easily with his own Articuno, which fit his title as Champion. But Noland didn't expect this boy named Ash could also win. Even with the type advantage, winning a one-on-one fight against a Legendary Pokémon proved he was special!
He accepted both defeats completely!
No matter which one of them it was, their potential was unlimited...