Pokémon: Rebron as Red, The Strongest Champion - 290

Chapter 290: Venusaur’s Might, Ash’s Final Trump Card

The white light faded, and the massive, blue-green Venusaur appeared.

“Venaaaar!”

The moment it entered, Venusaur roared at Pikachu, trying to overwhelm Ash and Pikachu with sheer presence. It worked. With paralysis still lingering and facing such a powerful opponent, Ash and Pikachu had to proceed with caution.

“…”

After a brief standoff, Ash lost patience and chose to strike first.

“Pikachu, we are not backing down. Use Thunderbolt!”

Pikachu immediately unleashed high-voltage electricity, sending a coiled bolt straight at the towering Venusaur.

“Venusaur, use Power Whip!”

At Leaf’s command, eight vines shot from Venusaur’s back. Under Venusaur’s control, they twisted together into a single, thick green cable. Pikachu’s Thunderbolt crashed into it, charring the surface, but the reinforced vine still absorbed the attack and held firm.

“Pikachu, use Agility to get out now!” Ash blurted, suddenly tense.

Bang!

Venusaur swung the thickened vine down onto Pikachu’s previous position, leaving a massive crater. The force of that blow made the nearby referee retreat in a hurry, afraid of being caught in the strike. The crater spoke for the terrifying power of Power Whip. Thankfully, Pikachu had dodged in time, or it would have struggled to continue.

“Ash, my offense is not that simple. Venusaur, use Bullet Seed now!” Leaf ordered.

Venusaur spat a series of thick seeds from its mouth, firing them like a machine gun toward the constantly moving Pikachu.

“Pikachu, keep using Agility to evade!” Ash urged.

Just as Pikachu looked comfortable weaving through the barrage, something changed. A faint static crawled over Pikachu’s body. Paralysis resurfaced, locking Pikachu in place and forcing it to endure the continuous Bullet Seed.

“Pikapi!”

Pikachu cried out in pain. Seeing it, Ash felt a stab in his chest. He could not bear to let Pikachu take any more hits.

“Venusaur, now use Seed Bo—”

Before Leaf could finish, Ash recalled the badly hurt Pikachu to rest and prepared to send his next Pokémon.

Seeing this, Leaf quietly abandoned the follow-up order and allowed Ash to switch safely.

(As expected… I still cannot be that cruel to Ash.)

“Since Venusaur is the final form of Bulbasaur, then I choose you, Pidgeotto!”

Ash threw his Poké Ball, releasing Pidgeotto.

This time, Ash planned to rely on Flying-type moves to deal double damage and wear Venusaur down. But he ignored a basic truth. Against overwhelming raw power, type advantage can be erased.

“Don’t tell me Ash really thinks type advantage guarantees victory…” Gary muttered, then glanced at the awkward faces of Misty and Brock.

“Don’t ask me. Ever since he won in the fourth round, Ash stopped asking Brock and me to act as his tactical coaches,” Misty said helplessly.

“That figures for Ash,” Gary said calmly.

“Pidgeotto, use Hurricane,” Ash commanded.

Pidgeotto beat its wings hard, whipping up a violent gale toward Venusaur below. The awkward thing was, perhaps due to Pidgeotto’s lack of raw power, Venusaur did not budge at all. It let the wind wash over it as if enjoying a breeze, even narrowing its eyes in contentment.

“Pidgeotto, use Wing Attack,” Ash called again.

“Pidgeo—”

Feeling slighted, Pidgeotto rushed in, wings glowing white, aiming to slam Venusaur hard.

“Ash, you are too reckless. Venusaur, bind the target that flew right to you with Vine Whip,” Leaf said evenly, not treating Pidgeotto as a serious threat. The gap in strength was simply too large.

“Venaaaar!”

Venusaur lashed out with eight vines toward Pidgeotto.

“Pidgeotto, use Agility now to evade!”

Ash realized the mistake instantly, but it was too late.

“Pidgeo—”

Pidgeotto darted about with Agility to avoid the strikes, but with eight vines in play, Venusaur quickly seized an opening and wrapped Pidgeotto’s wings tight, preventing any further flight.

“Venusaur, use Energy Ball at close range,” Leaf said, a hint of excitement in her voice. She had not expected to defeat one of Ash’s Pokémon so easily.

Venusaur gathered a verdant Energy Ball at its mouth. As Pidgeotto struggled, the blast fired and struck it head-on.

“Venusaur, now use Vine Whip to lay Pidgeotto gently on the ground. Just knock it out,” Leaf continued.

Venusaur swung its vines and slammed Pidgeotto to the ground with controlled force. The impact left Pidgeotto unable to battle, eyes spiraling.

“Pidgeotto is unable to battle!” the referee announced.

“Return, Pidgeotto!”

Ash recalled his fallen Pidgeotto, face tight. He had not expected Venusaur to defeat it so easily. He had planned to chip away at Venusaur’s stamina. Instead, Pidgeotto had accomplished nothing beyond showing up. It was absurd.

(Primeape, Pikachu, Muk are not options now… looks like I have to send out Charizard early.)

With resolve in his eyes, Ash adjusted the cap on his head, squared his stance, then took the last Poké Ball on his belt and hurled it.

“I choose you, Charizard!”

The white light faded, revealing Charizard with its great wings for flight, thick and powerful hind legs, and comparatively slender forelimbs.