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Inside the arena, no matter how Ash called out, Squirtle showed no signs of waking up. Seeing this, the referee decisively raised the coloured flag, announcing the result of the first battle.
Recalling Squirtle, Ash hurriedly considered his next move. However, before he could decide, Pikachu sprang into action, darting forward on all fours and launching a Thunderbolt at Butterfree!
Caught off guard, Butterfree was struck directly. As it attempted to escape by flying into the air, Pikachu grabbed one of its legs and unleashed another powerful Thunderbolt, leaving Butterfree paralyzed and out of the battle.
Despite Pikachu's quick thinking and victory, it was visibly fatigued. Sweat dripped down its face, and its movements were sluggish.
Even Chloe, sitting in the audience with limited knowledge of battles, noticed something was wrong.
"Is Ash's Pikachu okay? Why does it look so exhausted?" Chloe asked with concern.
Kai nodded, his tone serious. "Remember what I mentioned earlier? This battle highlights two of Ash's biggest challenges his Pokémon's stamina and their occasional disobedience."
With the score tied at 1-1, Ash's opponent, Richie, sent out Charmander. The fiery Pokémon relentlessly unleashed Ember attacks, forcing Pikachu to dodge continuously, draining its remaining energy. Finally, Charmander landed a decisive Tackle, knocking Pikachu out of bounds.
The audience groaned with dissatisfaction.
"What kind of match is this? This is supposed to be the Top 16?"
"Yeah, this battle feels so underwhelming! It's not even as exciting as a street performance!"
"I missed the last round in the Ice Field the clash of Gyarados with Thunderbolt creating that massive water explosion was unforgettable!"
Hearing these comments, Brock and Misty shifted uncomfortably in their seats. While they wanted to defend Ash, they couldn't deny that Pikachu's condition and the lack of drama in the current battle left much to be desired.
Unaware of the audience's criticisms, Ash sent out Charizard as his final Pokémon.
However, Charizard appeared uninterested, barely reacting as it took its position. Seeing this, Richie's Charmander launched an Ember attack, which merely grazed Charizard.
Annoyed, Charizard retaliated with a massive Flamethrower, sending Charmander scurrying across the field.
Realizing Charmander was outmatched, Richie withdrew it and sent out his final Pokémon a Pikachu with a distinctive tuft of fur on its head.
But Charizard, now lying down, appeared completely disinterested in battling Pikachu. Ash begged and pleaded for Charizard to fight, but it stubbornly ignored him.
The audience erupted into an uproar. This was an unprecedented situation at the Indigo League! After waiting for Ash to regain control to no avail, the referee raised the flag again.
"Charizard is disqualified due to lack of fighting spirit! Richie wins!"
Ash took a step back, stunned. While he felt bitter about the outcome, he composed himself, smiled, and walked over to shake Richie's hand.
The audience, however, was far less forgiving. Many booed loudly, while others criticized the match's sudden and lacklustre ending.
Online discussions were already filled with harsh commentary about Ash's performance. Fortunately, Ash's lack of access to electronic devices shielded him from the worst of it.
Kai, watching from the stands, sighed. "I told Ash to spend more time bonding with Charizard. It seems nothing has changed."
Beside him, other spectators began leaving, some muttering angrily. Kai and the group quickly made their way to the player's exit to meet Ash.
A few minutes later, Ash emerged from the passageway, carrying Pikachu in his arms. His face was a mixture of disappointment and weariness. Seeing the group waiting for him, he gave a weak smile.
"Sorry, everyone, for letting you down."
Delia, Professor Oak, Misty, and Brock stepped forward to comfort him, offering words of encouragement. Their support seemed to lift Ash's spirits slightly.
Rubbing his nose, Ash turned to Kai. "It's up to you now, Kai. Don't let everyone down."
Kai patted him on the shoulder, grinning. "Don't worry, Ash. Every Trainer faces losses. This is just the beginning of your journey. You'll learn and come back stronger."
Ash stared at him incredulously. "Is that supposed to be comforting? It sounds more like a curse!"
With Ash's been disqualified, Kai's battle started late in the evening. Despite the delay, the crowd's energy surged as Kai took the stage. As a popular competitor known for both his skill and charisma, he was met with thunderous cheers.
Kai's opponent, Jim, sent out Persian, while Kai chose Venusaur. Though their types didn't give either a significant advantage, Venusaur's performance dominated the battle.
Using Razor Leaf to maintain distance and Vine Whip to control the field, Venusaur expertly avoided the Persian's close-range attacks.
After a sequence of Sleep Powder and Growth, Venusaur charged up a Solar Beam. The brilliant flash illuminated the dim arena as the powerful move knocked Persian out completely.
The crowd erupted in applause, thoroughly impressed by Kai's tactical brilliance and Venusaur's power.
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