Chapter 123:The Tactical Inferno – Ash vs. Blaine

"You four, come with me " Blaine said with that he stood up from the counter first and walked towards the sceret passage in his hotel.

Ash and his gang started to follow Blaine.

Blaine turned on the switch which led them to a secret door.

The door opened revealing a passage leading underground.

The further they walk along the passage the more they could feel a wave of heat emitting from the surrounding area.

Blaine seemed to have adapted to being here as Normal his expression was like yeah it's pretty normal and he didn't even break a sweat.

It is not difficult for Ash to withstand this heat with his physique.

Sabrina could easily withstand the heat with her psychic barrier along with Misty.

But considering Brock he directly propped up a Psychic Barrier around Brock who shot a understanding look towards Ash who nodded.

Ohh?

This boy could use Psychic similar to Sabrina?

This young man seems pretty good!

Blaine's eyes narrowed slightly and he was secretly surprised due to the display of psychic powers similar to sabrina.

For Blaine psychic beings and other supernatural entities are kinda enigma for him he once wanted to conduct research on these beings but scrapped away that idea.

Now coming to current scenario he didn't feel that Ash would pose a threat to him in the upcoming battle sure this kid seems to be talented but doesn't seem to be experienced enough but he was here to test him not bully him.

As the group went deeper thourgh the passage they finally saw an almost suspended battle site fixed by iron chains above the magma.

This should be the most dangerous and unique battleground they have ever seen in kanto region till now.

Cinnabar Gym is famous in the Kanto Region and few Trainers can successfully challenge it.

So much so that the Volcano Badge recognized by the Cinnabar Gym has become a legend among Trainers along with Earth badge of Viridian city.

Blaine was a former Elite four member just like Professor oak who was a former kanto champion along with Agatha they are from the same generation.

Ash was pretty sure johto Mahogany city gym leader pryce was also among this generation.

Now Trainers could have a idea just from this battlefield they could already tell that Cinnabar Gym is not simple.

Without a certain amount of courage opponent's really don't dare to fight in this kinda of battlefield which may harm their Pokemon and sometimes harm the trainers themselves.

If they are not careful there is a chance they could fall into the magma.

But Blaine won't let that to happen in his gym he prefers the safety and integrity in his gym.

Misty, Brock and sabrina quite impressed in Blaine's gym which is acute to the nature of his Pokemon which is firetype.

"Young man this is the battle venue of Cinnabar Gym here fire type Pokemon could fully utilize their full potential the power of fire type Pokemon will naturally get a boost in this kinda of environment." Blaine said to Ash who had a smile on his face.

"How about it kid? Have you thought about it carefully? Do you still want to fight me?"Blaine asked Ash fully knowing Ash's answer as he saw Ash with a smile and a challenging look on his face.

"Boy I can see the battle fire in your eyes this battle going to be amazing one! I know just by simply seeing you"

"Listen up the rules of the battle are 1v1 and the victory or defeat is based on one party's loss of fighting ability. "

"The battle is going to be for the Volcano Badge of the Cinnabar Gym and a special scenario from me as the Gym Leader."

Because of the so called scenario Blaine did not engage in a regular 3v3 battle like at the beginning of the original plot.

Instead just like in the original plot after Ash gained his approval by solving the problem of Volcano's outbreak.

The so called special scenario is nothing but Blaine testing him so that he could hand over the custody of Amber and Eeeve to him.

Blaine also made his decision with the thought that Ash could be a good trainer and a good person for his selfish motive.

"That's a deal!"

Ash's eyes lit up and he nodded without hesitation.

His main Fire Type Pokémon is Charizard. Regardless of whether the battle rules are 1v1 or 3v3 he can only fight with Charizard.

For Charizard, it can also save a lot of physical strength and have a greater chance of winning but Ash know Blaine won't send the regular magmar in the animation for the fight he was pretty sure it could be his any Pokemon from his main team.

Blaine is not the Normal Gym Leader he is the former Fire Elite and a former Team rocket scientist and top executive.

He was a menace in his mid prime imagining the kind of Pokemon in this man's possession Ash's blood pumped with excitement to face them but Ash is not delusion at his level Ash could only defeat 1 at max two Pokemons of Blaine with Charizard give him time at the end of Indigo league he will make Charizard a firey beast.

No matter how you look at the rules proposed by Blaine they are extremely beneficial to Ash so of course he has to agree to them!

"Then get ready boy meet one of my former buddy this is the Pokémon you are going to fight!"

"Go, Arcanine!"

In a flash of fire, Arcanine emerged onto the battlefield, growling deeply. Its majestic fur rippled with energy, and its ability Flash Fire made it immune to fire-type moves, growing stronger with every flame it absorbed. The two titans faced each other, the heat from their bodies already warping the air around them.

[ Pokemon: Archanine lv 52]

"Blaine your Pokemon is great, to show my full appreciation I am using my friend here he comes!"

"Charizard, I choose you!" Ash shouted, throwing his Pokéball into the air. The ball burst open, and Charizard erupted forth, letting out a roar that shook the stadium. Flames licked around its mouth, its wings casting a mighty shadow. The mutation in its Blaze ability had made Charizard even more fearsome, and its power radiated off its muscular frame.

Blaine looked at his opponent and had a spark in his eyes by just seeing his opponent's Charizard he could tell it was quite the same level as his Arcanine.

"Usually I will let the opponent to have the first move but for a change I will go first now

'Arcanine, Flamethrower!' "Blaine commanded.

Ash remained calm, but inside, he was already focusing. His aura flared, allowing him to anticipate Blaine's move. With a psychic link to Charizard, he gave the command mentally, not even needing to shout.

Charizard, dodge!

Instantly, Charizard shot into the air, dodging the stream of fire with ease. Blaine raised an eyebrow—he hadn't heard Ash say a word.

"Let's turn the heat up," Blaine said. "Arcanine, Extreme Speed!"

Arcanine blurred across the battlefield, moving at an almost invisible speed. But Ash's eyes glowed blue, his psychic powers kicking in. Time seemed to slow down for him as his mind raced ahead of Blaine's strategy. He could see where Arcanine was heading before it even made its move.

"Charizard, brace yourself! Catch it with Dragon Claw!"

With perfect timing, Charizard spun mid-air, its claws glowing with draconic energy. As Arcanine closed in, Charizard struck with precision, catching the charging Pokémon in a devastating counterattack. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground as Arcanine was knocked back, surprised but still standing.

Ash smiled, his psychic powers giving him an almost unfair advantage. But Blaine wasn't done yet. "Arcanine, let's show them our power! Thunder Fang!"

Arcanine's jaws sparked with electricity as it charged forward again. This time, Ash didn't need to call out a command. He closed his eyes for a moment, and his aura flowed into Charizard, empowering it.

Suddenly, a blue, glowing barrier formed around Charizard—Ash's psychic shield. When Arcanine's Thunder Fang struck, the barrier absorbed the attack, leaving Charizard unharmed. Blaine's eyes widened, stunned by Ash's newfound power.

"Charizard, Flare Blitz!"

With a roar, Charizard launched itself into a fiery charge, the blaze around it intensified by Ash's aura. The heat from the attack was so intense that the very air around it shimmered with waves of energy. Arcanine tried to dodge, but Charizard was faster, boosted by Ash's precise aura guidance.

The two Pokémon collided in a fiery explosion, but Ash's control over Charizard's movements allowed it to strike Arcanine directly. Arcanine was blasted back, but thanks to its Flash Fire ability, the fire didn't damage it much. Still, Charizard's sheer force left Arcanine visibly shaken.

Blaine knew he had to change tactics. "Arcanine, give it everything you've got! Flare Blitz back!"

Arcanine ignited into a blazing comet of flame, charging toward Charizard at full power. But Ash, his aura now fully merged with Charizard, felt every pulse of the battle. He could see the exact moment of Arcanine's approach. His eyes flashed, and suddenly he mentally connected with Charizard.

Charizard, now! Show them our true power!

Charizard's tail flame erupted into an inferno as Ash's aura intensified. Charizard's Blaze ability activated in full force, the mutation causing its flames to burn brighter and hotter than ever before. With Ash's psychic energy guiding it, Charizard unleashed a final attack.

"Charizard, Inferno Overdrive!"

Ash's voice resonated with psychic energy, and Charizard roared as it gathered all the fiery energy from its surroundings. The entire stadium seemed to glow as a massive vortex of flames swirled around Charizard. It unleashed the inferno directly at Arcanine, the attack combining the power of Charizard's Blaze and Ash's psychic enhancements.

Arcanine's Flare Blitz met the Inferno Overdrive in mid-air, but the overwhelming power of Ash's aura-boosted Charizard broke through. The flames engulfed Arcanine in a blazing storm, and despite its resistance to fire, the sheer force was too much. Arcanine collapsed to the ground, unable to continue.

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Good to be back 😁 I wanted to do a double Charizard fight but scrapped that idea I want Ash to show his full power along with Charizard that's why Ash used Aura and psychic powers in this battle rate the battle 1 to 10 let's see in next chapter.