"During the final Seismic Toss, your Charizard's right arm experienced a brief power lapse, giving Glaceon the opportunity to not only break free with half of its body but also use Hydro Pump to cushion the impact upon landing, reducing the damage nearly to zero."
Lorelei provided an explanation for why the Seismic Toss couldn't defeat Glaceon, attributing it ultimately to the groundwork laid by the initial Hydro Pump.
If Charizard hadn't felt that brief pain in its right arm, Glaceon might have truly fallen.
At that time, Ash would have completed the feat of defeating Elite Peak with a Professional Peak level, making history.
However, there is no "if" in the world, every detail in a Pokémon battle deserves attention because losses due to minor details are not uncommon.
After this battle, Ash understood how challenging it is to surpass the Elite Peak level among normal Pokémon.
Charizard had leveled up significantly compared to its earlier battle against Koga!
Its use of Sacred Fire had become more adept; despite only being able to use it once, its quality was much superior compared to the battle against Koga.
Plus, with the Fire Type Ultimate Move Flare Blitz, Sunny Day, the Fierce Fire unleashed under nearly exhausted physical strength, and its restrictive effect on Glaceon, equivalent to four buff stacks plus divine level attacks, still couldn't take down Glaceon!
The final Seismic Toss was narrowly avoided by the opponent!
Ultimately, the gap in level was too vast. If Charizard had reached Gym Level...
There's no point in saying these things now; a loss is a loss. Ash accepts this fact candidly and aims not to repeat the same mistake in the next battle.
During the Seismic Toss attack, Ash was one with Charizard, so he could feel the pain in Charizard's right arm, but it was only for a moment. Both him and Charizard just suppressed the sensation immediately.
Yet, it was this momentary lapse that led to critical errors causing defeat.
"Don't be disheartened; fighting to this degree at such a level was already beyond my expectations. If your Charizard was just a bit stronger, I'd be the one who lost, and I'd be at a loss for where to hide my old face." Lorelei said, gently stroking her smooth, fair cheek.
If this was considered 'old face', then young faces might not exist in the world.
"I will become stronger, Miss Lorelei. By then, please battle with me again!" Ash said with determination looking at Lorelei. "Wherever you fall, stand back from there!"
Losing once to Lorelei, he vowed to win back again!
"Haha, no problem, if you want to battle me, just contact me anytime. Here's my phone number." Lorelei said, handing Ash a business card with the name 'Lorelei' and a string of numbers on it.
It looked quite straightforward, probably crafted by Lorelei casually.
"Ah~~ great, with Master Lorelei's phone number, I can call the master anytime to express my affection!" Brock sitting beside clasped his hands, his face displaying an infatuated expression.
"If you call Master Lorelei for no good reason, I'll rip your ears off!" Misty rolled her eyes, warning Brock.
Typically so mature and steady, whenever Brock saw a beauty, his intelligence seemed to drop to zero; his every move turned into that of a creep. Brock's ghostly demeanor might make it impossible for him to find a girlfriend ever!
Speaking of girlfriends... Misty silently glanced at Ash holding the card, looking excited.
If this guy can't find women eager for him in the future, he might never find a girlfriend. If Brock's extreme love is for women, then Ash's is his extreme love for Pokémon.
Would this guy spend his life with Pokémon? That can't be good; it'd be unhealthy for a person's body and mind. Maybe she would reluctantly... cough, cough, deal with it later. The journey is still long, and they're still young!
"Miss Lorelei, why are you in Cerulean City?" Having resolved the battle issues, Ash curiously questioned Lorelei's reason for being in Cerulean City.
Elite members are usually very busy, so why would they have time to visit Cerulean City for a water ballet?
How did he know Lorelei came for the water ballet? Isn't it obvious? Lorelei called him during a water ballet performance; if not for the ballet, what else would she be here for?
Surely not to see him; that's ridiculous.
"Haha, I heard there's an exhilarating water ballet here and happened to be free, so I decided to come watch and relax." Lorelei responded with a radiant smile; though the truth wasn't quite what she stated...
In fact, she came to Cerulean City primarily because of Ash.
Entrusted by Professor Oak, she was originally meant to wait in Viridian City for Ash and his companions. However, the Giovanni she was monitoring suddenly disappeared.
Giovanni, being the leader of Team Rocket, naturally has numerous ways to evade surveillance as expected.
Yet typically, both she and the opponent understand the surveillance matters tacitly; as long as neither acts, they coexist peacefully and harmoniously in the same area unworried.