Pokémon: Rebron as Red, The Strongest Champion - 288

Chapter 288: Ash VS Leaf

“Ditto, use Rapid Spin.”

Leaf ignored Ash’s surprise and gave her command without hesitation.

At her order, Ditto stopped using Water Gun, withdrew into its shell the next second, and spun at high speed while charging straight at Squirtle. Using the spinning shell, Ditto cleverly blocked Squirtle’s Water Gun and struck it head-on, dealing solid damage.

“Ditto, follow up with Skull Bash!” Leaf pressed the advantage.

“What a sharp battle plan. I didn’t expect Leaf to use Squirtle’s style this flexibly,” Brock said in amazement. He hadn’t expected Leaf’s Ditto to suppress Ash’s Squirtle so convincingly.

“Leaf’s tactics here probably borrow a bit from Red’s Blastoise,” Gary said, chin in hand as he analyzed.

On Leaf’s command, Ditto shot out of its shell and drove its forehead into Squirtle at close range with a fierce Skull Bash.

Bang!

Caught off guard, Squirtle took the hit full on and collapsed.

“Squirtle, hang in there!” Ash shouted.

Spurred by Ash’s voice, Squirtle braced on the ground and tried to rise, but Ditto rammed it again from the front.

“Squirtle!”

Squirtle fell hard, too hurt to keep fighting.

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

“I didn’t think Ditto could be this strong…” Ash murmured, feeling a sudden weight of pressure.

“Ash, I put in a lot of prep these last two days to defeat you,” Leaf said evenly.

“In that case, I’m counting on you, Primeape!”

Ash hurled his Poké Ball.

White light faded to reveal Primeape, eyes fierce and that familiar stress vein bulging at its temple. The moment it arrived, it began throwing rapid punches at the air, winding itself up into peak fighting condition.

“Ditto, Water Gun,” Leaf ordered.

Ditto blasted a water jet from its mouth, driving it toward Primeape.

“Primeape, rush in with Cross Chop!”

Using a fighter’s footwork, Primeape weaved past the water and crossed its glowing arms, striking Ditto at close range with Cross Chop.

“Ditto, Withdraw!” Leaf called quickly.

Ditto immediately pulled its head and limbs into the shell, forcing Primeape to hit the hardened shell instead.

Bang!

To Leaf’s shock, the entire Ditto-shell form was launched to the edge of the field by a single Cross Chop. Primeape’s power was unmistakable.

“What incredible Cross Chop!” Leaf gasped. She hadn’t expected her fully braced Ditto to be nearly knocked out in one blow.

“Ditto, are you okay?” Leaf urged, willing Ditto back to its feet.

“Primeape, Scary Face, now!”

Seeing Ditto still trying to fight, Primeape fixed it with a savage glare. Ditto crumpled to the ground and reverted to its original form.

“Primeape, use Seismic Toss!” Ash said, energized.

Primeape charged, grabbed Ditto, leapt high, and slammed it into the ground with crushing force.

With a hard crash, Ditto fainted, eyes spiraling.

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

“Ditto, return.”

Leaf quietly recalled Ditto.

“As expected of one of Ash’s mainstays. Your strength is no joke,” Leaf said, wary now.

(But I already prepared a counter to Primeape!)

“I’m counting on you, Espeon!”

Leaf sent out her next Poké Ball.

White light revealed Espeon, sleek and violet, with a red gem set in its forehead.

“Espeon? What Pokémon is that?” Ash asked, pulling out his Pokédex to analyze it, only to find no data appearing for this Pokémon.

“Espeon is one of Eevee’s evolutions, the Sun Pokémon, Psychic-type. It was first discovered in the neighboring Johto region,” Leaf explained patiently as Ash stared.

“Espeon… So that Eevee evolved after all. And it’s a perfect counter to Primeape,” Red said lightly.

“Looks like Leaf’s lineup was structured to target Ash,” Gary murmured.

“Psychic-type? That means—?!” Ash stammered.

“That’s right—exactly what you’re thinking. Espeon, use Confusion.”

Espeon’s eyes shone blue. It released psychic power and bound Primeape in place.

“Primeape, break free!” Ash shouted.

Suspended unnaturally in midair, Primeape was moments from being smashed into the ground when it roared and, by brute will, tore itself out of the psychic bind.

“Espeon, use Swift.”

Espeon flicked its tail and sent a flurry of stars streaking forward.

“Primeape, use repeated Karate Chop!”

Realizing Swift could not be dodged, Ash gave the immediate counter. Primeape’s glowing hand chops flashed, cutting down the incoming stars one after another.

“Ash, it won’t be that simple this time. Espeon, Psychic!”

Espeon unleashed a surge of mental force, seizing Primeape again and slamming it into the ground repeatedly.

“Return, Primeape!”

Seeing where this was going, Ash recalled his partner at once. He had no intention of letting one of his strongest fighters get dismantled by Espeon.

After a brief thought, Ash chose the one he trusted most.

“I’m counting on you, Pikachu!”

Pikachu leapt from Ash’s shoulder, landing in front of Espeon. Electricity threaded across its cheeks as it readied itself.

“Partner Pikachu… Ash’s Pikachu,” Leaf said carefully. If Red’s Pikachu was that strong, then Ash’s twin partner was surely no slouch.

“Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!”

Pikachu erupted with high-voltage electricity, launching a thick bolt like a coiling thunder serpent toward Espeon.

“Espeon, Psychic!”

Sensing the power of the incoming blast, Leaf commanded at once, not daring to let Espeon take the hit.

Espeon’s eyes flashed as it raised its psychic force to parry, the two energies straining against each other as the battle for momentum truly began.