"What do you mean battling an Elite-level Pokémon? Just concede!" Misty said exasperatedly.
You might have a 0.1% chance against a Gym Level opponent if Pikachu goes all out with the Light Ball.
But against an Elite?
Even if your Pikachu self-destructs, it won't win!
"Heh heh, whatever you say, I'm fine with you using all seven Pokémon at once. If you beat me, I'll become your Pokémon," Gastly chuckled, unfazed by Ash's two-on-one proposal.
Although there's a barrier with the Pokeball, with Gastly's special sensing abilities, it can sense that Ash's strongest is just that electric mouse by his side. The rest of the Pokémon aren't any threat when tied together.
That electric mouse gave him a strange feeling but still couldn't win, which was one reason Gastly agreed so readily to Ash's proposal.
Those Pokémon together couldn't beat me, how are you going to capture me?
If you can't win, then you've got nothing to say, have you?
Hearing this, Ash nodded, then looked at the Ralts on his shoulder: "You'll take the lead, Ralts."
"Ralu? Ralulu!!" Ralts pointed at herself with her small hand, almost in disbelief.
Is such an important battle really letting her take the lead?
But since it was Ash's assignment, of course, she had to go up!
Ralts floated from Ash's shoulder to the ground, then looked at Gastly with fighting spirit.
"What is Ash thinking? Ralts hasn't even evolved into Kirlia yet, and he's letting her fight an Elite level Gastly... Ash usually wouldn't do this. He dotes on Ralts the most," Misty couldn't understand Ash's actions.
Ralts in the team was like a little princess. Despite her hard training and diligence in battle, Ash basically never sent her to difficult fights.
In battles that might require skipping ranks, Ash usually sends out Pikachu, Charmander, and others, while Ralts's role in the team is mostly to be adorable...
But now, facing an Elite-level Gastly, Ash actually chose her? What does this mean, to let Ralts suffer a bit? What's the point of that!
"Letting a little girl take the lead? Boy, I won't hold back, so don't blame me if she gets hurt somewhere,"
"Don't worry, you can't hurt her, Ralts, use Foresight!" Ash showed a confident smile and then commanded.
Foresight, which allows Ghost-type Pokémon to manifest, enabling Normal and Fighting-type moves to hit Ghost-types.
Normally, Ralts wouldn't be able to learn Foresight, but his Ralts… had learned quite a few moves.
The skills learned in the initial stage were countless, among them many that the folks said Ralts couldn't learn, but his Ralts could use them smoothly.
This was the unique aspect of this Ralts.
A glow flashed in Ralts' eyes, her hair moving without wind, and a mysterious force covered Gastly, making Gastly's somewhat illusionary body more solid.
"Foresight? Even though you've made me corporeal, what of it? You want to use Normal and Fighting-type moves against me? Keep dreaming~" Gastly's voice was relaxed, showing he was very at ease, not even intending to make a move.
Despite Ash's tough words that he couldn't hurt Ralts, in reality, it was impossible. As soon as he made a move, Ralts would collapse.
So, he was waiting for Ralts to attack, letting this little one hit him once before retaliating. Otherwise, it'd be too bully-like.
As Ash commanded Ralts to use Foresight, what was that supposed to do?
Even if Ash had a counter Pokémon, it wouldn't be his match.
In essence, Foresight was entirely useless...
Just as Gastly was pondering this, Ash waved Ralts over: "Alright Ralts, come back, you've completed your task."
"Ralu?" Ralts tilted her small head in confusion, did the task really end with just using one move?
But she did as her Trainer said, bouncing back to Ash. Just as she was about to jump on his shoulder, Ash picked her up and placed her on Pikachu.
"Pikachu, take Ralts a bit further away."
"Pika?!" Are you going to perform that?!
"What do you mean perform! It's more like a long-lost personal exercise," Ash rolled his eyes, slightly dissatisfied.
"Pikachu Pi~~" Then we'll go over there and watch you perform.
Pikachu carried Ralts, running towards where Misty and Brock were. Despite his small body, Pikachu carried Ralts effortlessly.
Misty and Brock saw Pikachu and Ralts come back and were puzzled. They couldn't grasp what Ash was up to anymore.
First, using Foresight, then having Pikachu retreat, does Ash really have some Pokémon to counter Gastly?
And one that has to use Foresight to make Gastly corporeal?
Suddenly, Misty remembered something and looked at Ash with an odd expression.
No way… could it be what she thought?
"Young man, who's your next Pokémon? Why not send them all out? No need to waste time," Gastly pretended to yawn with ghostly hands.
He didn't know why Ash had Ralts use one move and retreat, but understood Ash's statement that Ralts couldn't get hurt, since she was off the field.
It was troublesome at this pace; Ash had five other Pokémon excluding Pikachu and Ralts. Gastly didn't know what strategy Ash was employing, so figured Ash should just show all his cards.
In the face of absolute power, any tactics are futile.
Ash twisted his neck, flexed his wrists, and walked forward slowly.
"Don't worry, not that many will battle. A two-on-one means two-on-one, with Ralts off the field now, next is… Ash from Pallet Town, pleased to meet you."
Ash clenched his fist, bursting with powerful momentum, surrounded by a blue glow. His light jacket fluttered, waves of energy radiated, stirring dust around.
The Trainer is warming up, the Trainer steps onto the battlefield!
Gastly: …
Gastly: ???
"Wait, wait! You're saying one of the two is you? Aren't you talking about two Pokémon versus one?!"
"I never said I'd use Pokémon for a two-on-one." Ash grinned, his teeth gleaming in the night.
Upon hearing this, Gastly's face turned dark—though it was already dark.
Frankly, he hadn't considered Ash stepping onto the battlefield. It wasn't common for Trainers to join battles, right?!
When did Pokémon battles involve humans joining?
The reason humans don't partake in Pokémon battles is due to their fragile bodies, unable to endure it, even against Ordinary Level Pokémon, which human experts struggle with.
But if it's Ash, that's a different story…
The reason Gastly immediately cowered upon meeting Ash, apart from guilt, was the subtle menace he emanated.
He didn't want the Ghost Girl to suffer due to some external issue, so he chose to cower immediately.
Now, they faced off regardless!
This left Gastly's head aching. Ash's unexpected move made him feel at risk of no longer remaining a free Pokémon!