Chapter 46: Raichu vs. Beedrill!
Across the field from Beedrill stood Silas's Pokémon: a large, dark orange mouse about a meter tall, with a white belly and a long, thin tail ending in a lightning bolt shape.
It was Raichu, the evolved form of Pikachu!
Raichu
Level: 34
Ability: Static
Potential: C+
"Rai!—"
The moment it appeared, Raichu let out a battle cry filled with fighting spirit. Yellow sparks crackled from the electric sacs on its cheeks.
Beedrill, in stark contrast, remained silent, hovering motionless, its wings beating softly.
Kenji briefly scanned Raichu's stats, his expression calm and unconcerned. He didn't even need to check his own Beedrill's panel; he knew its stats by heart.
Beedrill (4-Star)
Gender: Male
Level: 32
Type: Bug / Poison
Base Stats: 675
Abilities: Swarm, Huge Power
Moves: Swords Dance, Agility, Quick Attack, Twineedle, Double Team, Fury Cutter, X-Scissor, Poison Jab, Protect…
Held Item: Last Whisper
Potential: [ULTIMATE]
After reaching 4-Star, Beedrill's level growth had accelerated even further. In just one week, it had gained another four levels, reaching level 32. The typical level thresholds that served as walls for other Pokémon seemed nonexistent for his [ULTIMATE] potential partner.
Its move pool had also expanded significantly. It had learned Poison Jab naturally through leveling up, while X-Scissor, Double Team, and Protect had been taught by the Scyther and Crobat tutors at the Edgecliff Gym. With its maxed-out potential, Beedrill's ability to learn new moves was simply beyond comprehension. Kenji was confident it wouldn't be long before it naturally learned Fell Stinger, a move typically learned at level 55 in the games.
As the two Pokémon faced off, a hush fell over the crowd for a moment, followed by excited whispers.
"Competitor Kenji has chosen not to use his powerful Gyarados from yesterday! Instead, he's sending out his Beedrill! And his opponent, Silas, counters with what looks like a very strong Raichu!" the announcer exclaimed, riding his Pidgeot above the field.
"Double Team!"
Kenji didn't wait for the announcer to finish. With a slight level disadvantage, he needed to be cautious.
Beedrill instantly blurred, creating multiple afterimages. Within seconds, ten identical Beedrill hovered in various positions around the field.
"Raichu! Use Thunderbolt! Find the real one!" Silas commanded simultaneously.
"Incredible speed from Kenji's Beedrill! Raichu responds with Thunderbolt, attempting to force out the original!" the announcer narrated excitedly.
"RAIII!—"
A massive bolt of yellow lightning erupted from Raichu's body, striking the rightmost Beedrill.
Seeing Raichu's target, Kenji relaxed slightly and issued his next command.
"Beedrill! Thunder Dance!"
At his order, all ten Beedrill on the field began to move simultaneously, executing the complex, high-speed dance.
Double Team was a highly deceptive move. It often confused not only the opponent but sometimes even the trainer. Unless the trainer possessed a special ability like Aura or telepathy, or had an incredibly deep bond with their Pokémon, distinguishing the real one could be impossible. Kenji, lacking such abilities, had devised a simple coded system with Beedrill beforehand. Using slightly different command phrasing ("Double Team" vs. "Shadow Clone," for instance) would tell Beedrill where to position its real body relative to the clones (e.g., far right vs. far left).
As the Beedrill danced, Raichu's Thunderbolt struck the first clone. It popped harmlessly, vanishing into thin air. Raichu then redirected the lightning, transforming it into a crackling whip that swept across the field, destroying clone after clone in a rapid series of pops.
"What?! Thunder Dance?! Could that be the signature technique of the Northern Elite Four's ace Weavile?!" the announcer shouted, his voice filled with disbelief.
While the announcer was losing his mind, Raichu's Thunderbolt had swept across the entire field, eliminating nine clones. Only the leftmost Beedrill remained. The lightning whip, seemingly losing none of its power, lashed toward the final target.
Just then, Beedrill's dance came to an abrupt halt, its aura flaring intensely.
"Protect!" Kenji commanded calmly.
Beedrill crossed its lances in front of its body, and a translucent green barrier materialized just as the Thunderbolt hit.
BOOM!—
The lightning exploded against the shield, momentarily blinding the audience.
"Unbelievable! It is Thunder Dance! Competitor Kenji's Beedrill has actually mastered the signature move of an Elite Four ace!" the announcer yelled, shielding his eyes.
"Beedrill! Use Quick Attack to close the distance! Then X-Scissor!"
The instant Kenji gave the command, a yellow blur shot out from the dissipating lightning, streaking toward Raichu.
"Damn it! Raichu, stop it with Thunderbolt!" Silas desperately shouted.
Raichu unleashed another barrage of electricity, trying to intercept the incoming blur. But Beedrill, boosted by both Agility and Quick Attack, was simply too fast. The Thunderbolts slammed harmlessly into the ground as Beedrill weaved through the "lightning storm" and arrived right in front of Raichu.
"Counter with Iron Tail!"
"RAI!—"
At Silas's command, Raichu's tail instantly hardened, glowing with a metallic sheen as it swung around to meet Beedrill's attack.