Chapter 59: – Ash vs Huo La (4)

Seeing the undiminished fighting spirit in Ash's eyes, Huo La nodded to himself—this is the never‑giving Ash he remembers, and only an opponent like this is worth his serious attention.

"The first two rounds you sent out your Pokemon first, giving me the advantage in type and tempo," Huo La raised his hand, took a Pokeball from his waist, and twirled it on his fingertip. "This round, I choose first. Go, big needle bee!"

"Bzz—!" The Pokeball burst with red light, and a big needle bee far larger than ordinary ones appeared instantly.

Its two needles crossed in front of its chest, its jet‑black wings fluttered rapidly, emitting a low rumble; the aura around it was so sharp it seemed able to cut the air, and even its stance exuded a king‑like Deterrent Power.

Zheng Hui stared at the big needle bee, forgetting to write on his record board, and couldn't help exclaiming: "This big needle bee... its proportions are balanced, wing‑vibration frequency steady, its size at least a circle larger than a normal big needle bee; placed in any big needle bee group it would be a leader‑level presence! If it stayed in a low‑level forest, it could probably monopolize the entire area's niche and become the regional ruler!"

Xiao Gang immediately puffed out his chest, speaking with a hint of pride: "Of course! Raising this big needle bee took a lot of my effort—diet, physical training, all according to the standards for top‑tier Bug‑type Pokemon! After all, I aim to become the World's #1 Breeder!"

The two men's conversation reached Ash's ears; instead of panicking, his eyes brightened, and he tightened his grip on the Pokeball: "What a powerful big needle bee! But my choice won't lose either! Go, Pidgey!"

"Pidge—!" A crisp bird call rang across the beach as a brightly feathered Pidgey flapped its wings, circled in the air, and settled steadily opposite the big needle bee.

It spread its wings, its feathers glinting in the sun, its gaze sharply fixed on the big needle bee, showing no fear of its presence.

Huo La glanced at the Pidgey, and understood—this was the Pidgey the System Task had once prompted him to capture, which will eventually evolve into a Pidgeot and become the pack's leader.

Fate still let it meet Ash; this uncanny coincidence added a few more bits of fun to the battle.

"Flying Type restrains Bug Type; you chose Pidgey quite accurately," Huo La said calmly. "But since I sent out my Pokemon first, this round I attack first. Big needle bee, use Focus Energy!"

The big needle bee's Double Needle slightly unfurled, its wing‑vibration frequency slowed, while its aura kept rising—Focus Energy not only raises attack accuracy but also adds a vulnerability‑to‑critical‑hit state, and with the Sniper trait, a hit on Pidgey could end the fight instantly.

"Want to Focus Energy and charge? Not that easy!" Ash reacted instantly, shouting, "Pidgey, use Electric Flash, Break its Focus Energy!"

"Pidge!" The Pidgey's wings snapped, its body instantly became an after‑image, dashing like lightning toward the big needle bee's side abdomen; its sharp wings cut the wind, and Electric Flash's speed was so extreme that ordinary Pokemon couldn't dodge.

Spectating, Xiao Xia couldn't help clenching her fist: "Now Huo La's big needle bee is about to be broken, right? If Focus Energy is broken, the type advantage flips, and it'll be hard to beat afterward!"

But contrary to everyone's expectation, Huo La stayed where he was, his expression unchanged, and gave the big needle bee no command to dodge or counter.

The next second, the Pidgey's wing struck the big needle bee solidly! With a light "thump," the big needle bee was nudged sideways, its wing vibration went off‑beat, yet the Focus Energy aura didn't dissipate; instead, the impact made the aura condense even tighter.

"Why isn't Huo La dodging?!" Xiao Xia exclaimed.

Xiao Gang also furrowed his brows, then relaxed them, saying thoughtfully, "That's not right... he's doing it on purpose. His big needle bee, under my training and his, is already far stronger than a normal one; Pidgey's Electric Flash, though fast, generally lacks the force to cause serious injury; moreover, when Focus Energy is disturbed, if the aura can be steadied, the charge effect becomes stronger—Huo La is betting that the big needle bee can withstand this hit!"

Zheng Hui immediately lifted a magnifying glass to examine the big needle bee, his tone awed: "Exactly! Look at its antennae—they're still maintaining the Focus Energy frequency! Not only was it not broken, it turned the Pidgey's impact into a boost for Focus Energy! This big needle bee's willpower and command of its moves are astonishing!"

Ash was also stunned; he hadn't expected Huo La to use this Damage for Charge tactic.

Before he could react, Huo La's command rang out, coldly: "Big needle bee, now! Use Double Needle, Cross Cut!"

"Bzz—!" The big needle bee's Double Needle instantly gathered a cold glint, the stacked Focus Energy making the needle tips emit fine ripples of airflow.

Its wings snapped, its body shot out like an arrow released from a bow; the Double Needles crossed into a sharp Cross Cut, lunging at the Pidgey that hadn't yet retreated—this Cross Cut was several times faster than the earlier Electric Flash, even the air was sliced with two sharp whooshes, leaving almost no time for the opponent to react.

"Pidgey, dodge quickly!" Ash's shout rang almost in sync with the big needle bee's move, but it was already too late.

Pidgey just tried to lift its wings, but the big needle bee's Double Needles were already closing in.

It could only hastily sidestep, trying to avoid the vital spot, yet the Cross Cut still struck its right wing—there was a light "sizzle" as several feathers were sliced off, the wing throbbed with pain, its flight balance shattered, and its body fell uncontrolled toward the sand.

"Now! Chase it, use Poison Needle!" Huo La's command had no pause, his tone resolute and unquestionable.

The big needle bee's wings accelerated again, shadow‑like following the falling Pidgey; the Poison Needle at its tail suddenly glowed a pale violet, striking precisely at Pidgey's left wing—this strike wasn't meant to cause heavy damage but to completely seal its flying ability.

"No!" Ash shouted, trying to rush forward, but it was too late.

A light "puff" sounded as the Poison Needle brushed Pidgey's left wing; though it didn't cause a deep wound, it injected a trace of toxin.

Pidgey let out a painful cry; its left wing instantly went numb, unable to exert force, and it crashed heavily onto the sand, kicking up a cloud of dust.

It struggled to stand, but the sting and numbness in both wings prevented even a flap, leaving it to watch helplessly as the big needle bee landed before it, its Double Needles crossed pointing at its forehead, the wing‑vibration airflow making its feathers tremble slightly.

The beach fell silent in an instant, only the sound of waves crashing against rocks echoing.

Zheng Hui strode forward, crouched to examine Pidgey's condition, then raised his record board and announced loudly, "Pidgey has lost combat ability! Big needle bee wins! Huo La wins another round!"

Ash stood there dumbfounded, watching the immobilized Pidgey on the sand; after a while he recovered, recalled the Pidgey, and his eyes burned with revenge: "I haven't lost yet! I still have my last Pokemon!"

He turned his head toward the Pikachu behind him: "Go, Pikachu! This round, we must win!"

"Pika Pika!" Pikachu stepped from the edge of the battlefield into the fray, its body emitting a faint electric current.

Huo La looked at Pikachu, a smile curling at his mouth: "Finally, it's your turn, Pikachu."