Brock had just made his bold declaration, saying that Ash was not a qualified Pokémon Trainer, only to be slapped in the face the very next second.
Geodude had been defeated by Pinsir in a single move, leaving Brock with no dignity and making him look extremely embarrassed.
Painful~
“Geodude, you worked hard.
Come back.” Brock sighed and could only accept it.
“Pinsir!”
After defeating Geodude, Pinsir’s [Moxie] Ability successfully activated.
Just as the Ability’s name suggested, Pinsir’s confidence swelled to the point of overflowing.
A surge of power flowed through its entire body, causing its Attack to rise.
“This Pinsir is indeed very strong, but this is as far as it goes.
Next, I’m going to send out my ace Pokémon.” Brock’s expression became very serious.
At this moment, he took back the rude words he had just said to Ash.
Ash’s powerful strength had won Brock’s recognition.
From the fact that Ash had recalled Pikachu when it wanted to battle, it could be seen that he was not the kind of Trainer who knew absolutely nothing about Pokémon type matchups.
But even so, despite clearly knowing that Geodude was a Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon, Ash had still sent out Pinsir, a Bug-type Pokémon that was weak to Rock-type moves.
Why was that?
There was only one explanation.
He had absolute confidence in both himself and his Pokémon’s strength!
Even with a type disadvantage, he could still defeat his opponent.
Thinking of this, a trace of admiration for Ash rose in Brock’s heart.
Just how powerful did a Trainer have to be to accomplish something like that…
If Ash and Misty knew what Brock was imagining at this moment, they would definitely be shocked speechless.
What type-disadvantage master…
What absolute confidence in himself and his Pokémon…
In reality, aside from Pikachu, I simply don’t have any Pokémon that aren’t weak to Rock-type moves.
“Ace Pokémon?” Ash’s expression also began to turn serious.
As one of the League’s Gyms, Ash believed Brock’s strength absolutely could not be underestimated.
At the very least, it would not be as weak as he had shown so far.
“Come out, Onix!” Brock threw out the Poké Ball in his hand.
With a duang sound effect, a giant serpent whose entire body was made of massive boulders appeared on the battle field.
Its enormous body blocked the light, bringing endless pressure.
“So it’s Onix.” Ash narrowed his eyes.
His black pupils seemed to be constantly thinking through a strategy for this battle.
“Onix, attack directly!
Use Tackle!” Brock did not dare to be careless anymore.
After sending out Onix, Brock chose to have it attack without the slightest hesitation.
Onix let out a roar, then immediately began wriggling forward.
Its speed was not particularly fast.
That enormous body and rock-composed frame brought unimaginable weight.
Likewise, a tackle with such weight behind it would become tremendously powerful.
Watch closely.
This collision…
Will be very cool…
“Pinsir, don’t be afraid.
It’s just a big, slow-moving target.
Dodge it, then use Bind!” Ash immediately came up with a strategy and quickly ordered.
Pinsir did as instructed.
With a twist of its body, it easily dodged the cumbersome Onix’s Tackle.
Then it repeated its old trick, using the pair of large horns on its head to clamp down on Onix.
However, Onix’s body was far too enormous, completely different from Geodude.
This made it impossible for Pinsir to completely clamp onto it.
Even so, after its Attack had been strengthened by the [Moxie] Ability, Pinsir’s Bind still caused Onix unbearable pain, dealing quite a bit of damage.
“Roar~”
Onix let out a roar.
Immediately afterward, with a sweep of its tail, it actually bound Pinsir tightly.
Seeing this scene, the corner of Brock’s mouth lifted, revealing a confident smile.
“Ash, I can tell that your coordination with this Pinsir isn’t very good.
This Pinsir should be a Pokémon you caught not long ago, right?”
Ash froze.
He had not expected his opponent to even be able to see that.
“That’s right.
It is indeed a Pokémon I caught not long ago.
How did you know?” Ash frankly admitted.
Brock grinned and said, “When a Pokémon has been with its Trainer for a long time, even without being given an order, it can understand what its Trainer is thinking.”
“I knew Onix was slow, and that its attacks would have a hard time hitting Pinsir.
So I deliberately exposed an opening to lure Pinsir into attacking.
Sure enough, you fell for it.”
Ash nodded thoughtfully.
One learned wisdom from each setback.
“Switch out your Pinsir.
Don’t let it suffer unnecessary damage.
Once any Pokémon is caught by my Onix, it is impossible for it to escape,” Brock said confidently.
Ash raised his head and looked at Pinsir, who was being tightly bound by Onix’s tail.
Just as Brock said, before an absolute gap in strength, it was difficult for Pinsir to break free.
“Pinsir, you worked hard.
Come back for now.” Ash took out its Poké Ball and recalled Pinsir.
The Poké Ball shot out a red beam of light, recalling the bound Pinsir from a long distance away.
The huge Onix looked down at Ash from above.
Its figure blocked the lights, leaving only a shadow.
Endless pressure rose from within Ash’s heart.
Ash clenched his fists, sweat dripping from his temples.
This Onix was too strong!
The current Ash would have a hard time dealing with it.
Did he have to give up on this battle, work hard to become stronger, and come back to challenge it again?
Perhaps sensing Ash’s emotions, Pikachu, who was beside him, patted his pant leg.
“Pika?”
Ash froze, then came back to his senses from the tremendous pressure.
“Thank you, Pikachu.
I’m much better now.”
“It’s still far too early to give up.” Taking out a Poké Ball, Ash threw it without hesitation.
“This is my strongest Pokémon right now.
Pidgeotto, come out!” Ash threw the Poké Ball.
At the same time, he also took out a pink disc from his pocket.
This was precisely the Agility TM.
“You didn’t say that using items during the battle wasn’t allowed, right?” Ash smiled slyly.
Brock nodded slightly.
League Gym challenges indeed did not forbid challengers from using items during battle.
“Pidgeo—”
Pidgeotto immediately flew forward and caught the TM.
The instant it touched the TM, the method of learning Agility appeared in its mind.
“Pidgeo—”
Pidgeotto cried out again.
With one flap of its wings, its speed surged, and a trail of afterimages could even be seen.
“Onix, Rock Throw,” Brock said.
Seeing Pidgeotto’s speed skyrocket, he could only have Onix launch a ranged attack.
Onix swept its tail, firing out a string of stones.
However, in the face of Pidgeotto’s speed, this was like child’s play.
With a contemptuous glance, its wings vibrated.
It dodged Rock Throw with ease.
“Now it’s my turn.”