"Amazing, you're really something, Ash! But I won't lose to you so easily! Onix, use Double-Edge!"
"Roooaaar!"
Onix endured the sharp damage from Razor Leaf and charged forward with Double-Edge.
Its speed was terrifyingly fast, closing the distance to Turtwig in an instant!
"Turtwig, dodge with Quick Attack!"
"Cha-wu!"
"Don't let it escape! Slam it with your tail!"
BAM!
Turtwig was fast.
But Onix's tail was even longer.
Before it could fully evade, Onix's tail swung down, striking Turtwig and sending it skidding backward.
"Turtwig, use Synthesis!"
Turtwig was still in its base form. Taking such a heavy blow from a massive Pokémon like Onix was definitely pushing its limits.
"Onix, use Iron Tail!"
Roark was confident. If Onix landed another attack like that, there was no way Turtwig could continue battling!
"Ah! This isn't good! If this keeps up, Turtwig's Synthesis won't finish healing before Onix lands Iron Tail!"
Dawn covered her mouth, worried that Ash had no way out.
Paul, watching from the stands, was equally focused.
What will he do in this situation?
Will he just take the hit head-on?
Or…
Anabel shook her head. "Dawn, you forgot about the special training Ash gave Turtwig. That included dodging while using Synthesis."
Dawn suddenly recalled the intense training sessions where Ash had Sceptile help train Turtwig.
And sure enough…
"Turtwig! Jump with all your strength!"
Synthesis required time to fully restore energy.
Both Roark and Ash were betting on that time frame.
"Too naive, Ash! Turtwig can't move in midair! Onix, finish it off with Iron Tail!"
"Roooaaar!"
Onix's Iron Tail came crashing down!
Turtwig didn't flinch.
It stayed completely calm, watching the incoming attack.
Onix was fast.
And Iron Tail packed immense power.
But just as the attack was about to land, Turtwig spun midair!
The sheer force of Onix's incoming attack created a rush of air pressure—Turtwig used it to adjust its position!
It evaded Iron Tail by the narrowest of margins!
And then… Turtwig rolled right onto Onix's massive body!
"Perfect! Now, Leech Seed!"
At that exact moment, Synthesis finished restoring Turtwig's energy.
The tiny branches on its head quivered, and a seed shot forward!
It landed directly on Onix's body!
Immediately, vines burst out from the seed, rapidly growing and wrapping tightly around Onix!
Leech Seed!
"Roooooaaaar…"
Onix groaned as its energy was drained, while Turtwig's stamina steadily recovered!
At this moment, Turtwig had returned to peak condition!
"Now, use Razor Leaf with all your strength!"
Ash swung his hand forward, and Turtwig took action immediately.
"Cha-wu!"
A barrage of razor-sharp leaves struck Onix, dealing massive damage!
The impact sent Onix crashing into a rocky hill at the edge of the battlefield!
BOOOOM!
The rock formation shattered under the force, causing secondary damage to Onix!
"Onix is unable to battle! Turtwig wins!"
The moment the referee announced the result, Ash activated his x8 Experience Multiplier Card in his mind!
The Battle Experience Sharing function was about to activate!
Roark's Geodude was at Level 30.
Onix was at Level 40.
Together, they would provide around 10,000 experience points!
Ding!
["Congratulations! The x8 Experience Multiplier Card has been activated!"]
["Battle Experience Sharing activated! x8 Experience Boost applied! Aipom and Turtwig, having defeated Geodude and Onix, each gain 86,800 experience points!"]
Just as expected!
With this massive experience boost, both Aipom and Turtwig saw their levels skyrocket!
Aipom, who had been Level 25 when Ash first caught it, had been steadily trained up.
Now, for the first time, its level was exploding upward!
Level 30!
Level 31!
Level 32!
Level 33!
Level 34!
And then, Turtwig—
Its level had been similar to Aipom's, and now…
Level 36!
It had just defeated Onix, with a four-times type advantage. If it battled Onix again at this level, Ash was confident it could win even faster.
But…
It still hadn't evolved yet…
"Impressive! Now, it's time for my third Pokémon! But let me warn you… This one won't go down so easily. Go, Rampardos!"
"RAAAMPAAARDOS!"
Rampardos!
"Come back, Turtwig! Aipom, it's your turn!"
"Gooh!"
"Aipom, use Agility!"
Ash recalled Turtwig—this Rampardos was at Level 45!
Like many of Ash's own Pokémon, it had only just evolved at this level.
Ash's goal was simple: land one solid hit with Focus Punch!
"So that's your plan, Ash… But I won't let you execute it so easily! Rampardos, track Aipom's movements and use Zen Headbutt!"
"RAAAMPAAARDOS!"
Roark's Rampardos had the ability to sense ground vibrations, allowing it to predict Aipom's movement pattern!
Rampardos roared and stomped down hard—then shot forward with Zen Headbutt!
Ash nodded.
As expected of Roark's Rampardos. It could keep up with Aipom's speed even after an Agility!
"Use Double Team to evade!"
"Don't let it escape! Use Stone Edge to eliminate the clones!"
The fierce exchanges left the audience breathless!
Rampardos' Stone Edge tore through the illusions one by one.
Then—one Aipom suddenly rushed toward Rampardos!
But Roark had learned from before.
Last time, Aipom's Double Team had fooled him, so this time—
He was on high alert!
Roark smirked.
Ash wouldn't repeat the same trick twice, right?
Wait—what was that?
A shadow flashed behind a rock!
There it was!
"Aim for the rock formation! Rampardos, use Head Smash!"
Ash grinned.
Gotcha.
The real Aipom was the one charging forward.
The shadow Roark saw?
That was fake. A decoy.
Roark realized his mistake too late.
His heart dropped.
"No! Dodge it!"
"FOCUS PUNCH!"
A direct hit!
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