Whoosh!
Flame Charge missed its target.
Before the fiery mass could connect, Pikachu shot forward like a streak of light, covering dozens of meters in seconds.
"Awooo~"
Arcanine chased after the mouse, its canine instincts in full display.
But Agility was designed to boost speed dramatically, and it increased velocity more effectively than Flame Charge could. As the seconds ticked by, Arcanine fell further and further behind.
Can't catch up!
Simply can't catch up!
Seeing the gap widen, Gary's mind raced. He quickly came up with a new strategy: "Arcanine, use Fire Spin to trap Pikachu!"
"Awooo~"
Arcanine howled and released a thin stream of flame from its mouth. The fire swirled through the air, forming a spiral barrier that sealed off the entire field.
"Pika~"
Pikachu, who had been running freely, skidded to a halt.
If it kept going, it would crash straight into the flames.
Even from a distance, the heat made Pikachu's cheeks flush red.
"It's over! Pikachu is trapped. There's no escape now."
"Still, this Pikachu lasting this long against Arcanine is impressive."
"Absolutely! No wonder Iono's interested in this trainer. That Pikachu has real talent."
Seeing Pikachu surrounded, viewers in Iono's livestream shook their heads in defeat.
But Caster's livestream remained calm. His regular viewers knew Pikachu could use Surf, so they watched with quiet amusement.
"Arcanine seems pretty fired up. Pikachu, use Surf to cool it down!"
"No rush! Let's play with it first!"
Gary didn't know about this trick. Seeing Pikachu's movement limited, he shouted, "Finish it! Arcanine, use Fire Blast!"
Boom!
A massive flame erupted from Arcanine's mouth, shaped like a character written in fire. It rocketed toward the trapped Pikachu, and the scorching heat raised the temperature across the entire battlefield.
But facing this devastating Fire-type attack, Caster didn't give any instruction. He let the terrifying flames rush closer and closer to Pikachu.
"What is that idiot doing? Use Surf already!"
"Fish bro, why are you choking at the worst possible moment?"
"If Fire Blast connects, this is over!"
In Caster's livestream, armchair coaches shouted in frustration, wishing they could take over the battle themselves.
Does this guy even know how to battle?
Boom!
Flames engulfed Pikachu. Both the battlefield and the livestream fell silent.
"Did Pikachu actually get hit?"
Watching from her screen, Iono blinked in confusion.
She'd watched all of Caster's battle videos. She understood his style.
When Caster goes quiet, he's definitely planning something.
That was her gut feeling.
On the opposite side of the field, Gary instinctively sensed something was wrong.
Too easy!
Even if Pikachu couldn't handle Fire Blast, it should have at least tried to defend itself, right?
But there was nothing!
Whoosh!
The flames dispersed, leaving scorched earth behind.
But against all expectations, there was no Pikachu on the charred ground. Instead, there was a small hole.
"Oh no!"
Gary realized the trap, but it was too late.
The ground beneath Arcanine's belly suddenly exploded.
Pikachu burst upward, both hands glowing yellow with Ground-type energy.
Boom!
Both palms slammed into Arcanine's underside, launching the massive Pokémon into the air.
Ground-type move: Dig!
Caster had gotten this TM when he caught Krabby. He'd used it to train Pikachu, bringing the move straight to Proficient level.
Dig was more powerful than Fake Out, and as a Ground-type move, it dealt massive damage to the Fire-type Arcanine. The effect was devastating.
Arcanine writhed in mid-air, whimpering like a wounded dog.
"Now's our chance! Electro Ball!"
Caster pressed his advantage.
"Pika~"
Electricity gathered at Pikachu's tail, condensing into a crackling sphere that shot toward Arcanine.
Boom!
The Electro Ball struck dead-on. Arcanine's smooth fur stood on end like steel needles.
When it crashed to the ground, its eyes were spinning. It had clearly lost the battle.
Both the battlefield and the livestreams fell silent.
What seemed like a disaster for Caster and Pikachu had reversed in an instant. Gary and his seemingly victorious Arcanine had been completely defeated.
After a long pause, comments began appearing in the livestream.
"The streamer's Pikachu can use Dig? That's a diverse skillset!"
"Right! Not many Pikachu can master that move. Raichu has an easier time learning it since it's evolved and stronger."
"So this was the streamer's plan all along? Pikachu can use Surf too, but that's a wide-range move.
Using it head-on would be too obvious. Even if it blocked Fire Blast, it would leave Pikachu open to another attack. But Dig? That's the perfect surprise."
During the break, Phone Rotom flew to Caster's side and displayed a few selected comments for him to read.
"There's an old saying: Dragons have dragons, phoenixes have phoenixes, and mice are born knowing how to dig holes."
Caster smiled casually. "Pikachu is an Electric Mouse, sure. But a mouse is still a mouse. So it knowing how to dig holes is perfectly reasonable, right?"
The livestream chat went silent.
"You fought well, Arcanine!"
After the shock faded, Gary recalled his Pokémon.
Though his first battle, which he'd thought was a sure win, had failed, Gary's eyes burned with determination. He called across the field, "Caster, you're incredibly strong. Battling trainers like you is what makes this exciting. This is how I grow!"
"So I'm going all out now!"
He grabbed another Poké Ball and hurled it forward. "Go, Nidoking!"
Boom!
The massive Nidoking hit the ground, making the earth tremble.
Compared to their last encounter, Gary's Nidoking had grown even stronger. Its presence was more imposing than ever.
"Nidoking, Earthquake!"
Gary didn't waste time testing the waters. He attacked with full force from the start.
Going all out was his way of showing respect for Caster's skill.
At the same time, on a viewing platform overlooking the battlefield, a red-haired woman approached.
She wore a red top beneath a blue jacket, revealing her fair neck. Below, she wore a fitted skirt that showed off long, elegant legs. Small black heels clicked softly with each step.
A striking figure combined with delicate features, she was stunning.
And she wore metal-framed glasses.
The complete package.