Since you don't care about losing face, don't blame me for going all out. Using telepathy for command, even the most experienced Trainer will be a beat slower in response unless they can predict ahead of time the move you're going to make.
The Flamethrower missed, but Blaine didn't show any disappointment; it was merely a probing attack anyway.
He was fully aware of the Psychic Type's agility; the first step is to seal the opponent's moves.
"Ninetales, use Disable!"
"Woo~"
Ninetales' cry echoed across the field. A massive surge of spiritual power spread across the venue. Gardevoir had just used Teleport to evade the opponent's Flamethrower and had just landed, only to be hit by Disable.
The effect of Disable is to seal the previously used move of a Pokemon for a period of time, meaning Gardevoir's Teleport was sealed by the opponent.
If Teleport is sealed, it is quite detrimental for a Psychic Type Pokemon.
This means the agility of a Psychic Type Pokemon is greatly reduced. Combined with their fragile body and level disadvantage, if hit once by the opponent's skill, the battle is basically over.
"Inferno." After sealing the opponent's Teleport, Blaine spoke again. This time, Gardevoir wouldn't be able to dodge so easily.
With Ninetales' cry, the entire field grew increasingly hot as if the air was all but consumed in flames. Countless flames suddenly surrounded Gardevoir, wrapping it like a hell made of fire!
'Protect.' Ash's calm voice sounded in Gardevoir's mind. Gardevoir spread its hands, creating a green barrier around itself, firmly keeping the surrounding flames at bay.
"Oh? Defense is up, but how long can you hold on? Ninetales, increase the intensity!" Blaine instructed Ninetales to intensify the attack, trying to push Gardevoir into a corner!
The opponent was at a complete disadvantage in both level and physical strength, and Blaine also had the field advantage. Although it wasn't a sunny morning, this was a volcanic area!
The volcanic region is rich in Fire Elements, significantly enhancing Fire Type moves, almost like Sunny Day.
So Ninetales' firepower was stronger than usual!
How long could Gardevoir hold up with its strength?
'Ally Switch.' Seeing the surrounding flames grow stronger and hearing the straining creaks of the green barrier, Ash played his prepared trump card – Ally Switch!
Gardevoir's orange eyes glowed with a bluish light. In the next moment, Gardevoir and Ninetales swapped positions, leaving Ninetales amidst the Inferno it created, enveloped by flames.
Why are Psychic Types the hardest to battle at the same level? It's because of these unpredictable moves.
Just now, Gardevoir was in danger, but in the blink of an eye, Ninetales was trapped in the hellish flames it set!
Blaine was surprised, and a hint of amazement flashed in his eyes behind his sunglasses. Even after sealing the opponent's Teleport, they managed to escape using this method.
However, this situation benefited his Ninetales!
The Inferno burned fiercely, seemingly engulfing Ninetales completely, but moments later, the blazing flames slowly disappeared, eventually forming a vortex and being absorbed by Ninetales!
Ability—Flash Fire!
With the Flash Fire ability, all Fire Type moves are rendered ineffective and converted into power for the ability holder, boosting its double attack by fifty percent when using Fire Type attacks.
So not only was Inferno ineffective on Ninetales, but it also served as nourishment for its enhancement!
"Ash overlooked it. Ninetales only has two abilities: Drought and Flash Fire. When it came out, it didn't trigger Drought, indicating its ability is the other one. This is actually easy to deduce," Gary commented from the sidelines.
Although Gary spoke the truth, Misty felt irritated seeing Gary's smug look. She tightened her hold on Togepi and said indignantly, "If it were you facing an Elite Level Pokemon, you'd be under so much pressure you couldn't breathe, let alone judge Ninetales' ability."
Gary: ...
No, did I offend her? Why is she blowing up at me! Ash did make a mistake!
Yet Gary instinctively felt it wise not to bicker with Misty, or he would learn the hard way about unreasonable women.
Doesn't Ash know about Ninetales' Flash Fire? That's impossible. It's just that under such circumstances, his Aura Power hadn't unraveled the Disable, but the opponent's Inferno was about to break Protect.
In a last resort situation, he had to use Ally Switch, and even if the opponent utilized Flash Fire to level up, there was nothing to be done.
'Time to counterattack, Gardevoir, use Psychic!'
After several probes, Ash had nearly grasped all of Ninetales' ability data, the pre-attack movements, attack power, and some habitual movements. Now it was his turn to strike back.
Gardevoir's eyes sparkled, an invisible force surged from its body, rushing straight to Ninetales!
"Ninetales, Extrasensory!" Psychic abilities are an absolute nightmare for low-level Trainers because they can't even see the attack's trajectory. But for a seasoned Trainer like Blaine, invisible Psychic attacks showed traces.
Gardevoir's use of Psychic was discerned by Blaine, who immediately countered with similar psychic abilities.
However, with telepathy communication and the very apparent psychic attack, Blaine ultimately fell a step behind. Ninetales got caught by Psychic, its body seemingly gripped by giant invisible hands.
Gardevoir lifted its veiled hands dramatically, clenching them, causing Ninetales to cry out in agony.
No doubt, MEGA Gardevoir's Special Attack is top-tier, with an excessively high S-level Ability Value, coupled with skyrocketed racial abilities and Spiritual Power.
The formidable restraint effect of Psychic kept Ninetales immobilized, and the overwhelming psychic power relentlessly corroded Ninetales' body.
Blaine's command for Ninetales to use Extrasensory was also a telekinesis-like skill; though slower, it could theoretically dispel Gardevoir's binding.
But Ninetales wasn't of the Psychic Type, and Gardevoir's Special Attack was too strong, leading to its current painful predicament.
Blaine sensed something was wrong. This was far from a Junior Elite-level attack; even a mid-level Elite Ninetales couldn't break free with Extrasensory. How substantial was the MEGA evolution's boost to Gardevoir's Special Attack?
To break free from Gardevoir's psychic grip, a more powerful move is needed, but that would heavily drain Ninetales. Moments later, Blaine retrieved the Pokeball: "Come back, Ninetales."
The Pokeball's light enveloped Ninetales, withdrawing it and breaking the Psychic hold.
This maneuver left Ash dumbfounded.
What, you can play like that? Using Pokeball retrieval to break the binding, that's so cheeky!
Blaine weighed the Pokeball in his hand, then looked at Ash's expression and smiled, "This is the real battle, Ash. Non-rotating battles are very harsh on Trainers. I must admit, your Gardevoir gave me quite a surprise, so how will you face this new Pokemon?"
Blaine placed Ninetales' Pokeball back at his waist, then took out a new Pokeball and tossed it.
A flash of light revealed a mighty dog-like Pokemon on the field, known as the Gale Speed Pokemon— Arcanine!