Chapter 61: Just Like the God of Fire Descending
Gyarados, beside them, could no longer hold back. With an immediate roar, energy flowed through its body, and the water vapor in the air gathered, forming a surging wave.
Gyarados then twisted its long body and, with menacing momentum, charged through the breaking wave.
"(Human Language) Arcanine, dodge, then use [Thunder Fang]!"
The move Gyarados unleashed was [Waterfall], a Water-type move that breaks through waves to lunge at the opponent with astonishing force. Officer Jenny smartly chose not to confront Gyarados head-on, instead commanding Arcanine to counterattack from the side with an Electric-type move that was super-effective against Water-types.
"Awoof!"
Arcanine dodged to the side, evading the dragon body that came splitting through the waves. It bravely opened its large mouth, and a set of sharp teeth, glinting with electrical light, bit down on Gyarados.
Bitten by [Thunder Fang], Gyarados was immediately sent shivering from the electricity, yet a triumphant look appeared in its eyes.
"(Pokémon Language) Roar, roar, you've fallen into my trap!"
"[Whirlpool]!"
Its dragon tail coiled顺势 (opportunely/following the momentum), just managing to wrap around the Arcanine that had bitten it, trapping it in the center of its coiled body. As its dragon body continuously rotated around Arcanine, a watery vortex gradually formed.
"Oof, oof, (Pokémon Language) this, this damn water."
Arcanine let out a mournful cry. As a Fire-type Pokémon, it was naturally afraid of water. Now, tightly bound by an inescapable watery vortex, Arcanine felt as if its mouth and nose were suffocating from being submerged in water. Its body grew colder and colder, and the once vigorous fire within it began to slowly die out.
"Woof, woof—"
The other few Growlithe barked anxiously and chaotically. But they were also Fire-type Pokémon, equally afraid of this turbulent water. They could only spray small flames from a distance, attempting to rescue their companion.
But in the laws of nature, fire and water are inherently incompatible. The Growlithes' weak flames were extinguished one by one by the waves stirred up by Gyarados.
"(Human Language) Arcanine!"
Officer Jenny shouted anxiously. But she was not a professional Pokémon Trainer, after all. She was accustomed to carrying a maximum of 6 Pokémon at a time, and right now, she had only Arcanine with her. At this moment, she couldn't even summon another Pokémon to help Arcanine.
Just when everyone was at a loss, Takuma's urgent instruction reached their ears.
"Sister Jenny, and everyone, get down!"
Although they didn't understand why, the discipline cultivated in the police officers made them hit the deck immediately as instructed.
Machop and Poliwhirl also immediately dropped to the ground at Takuma's instruction.
"Go!"
Takuma threw out a small white ball from his hand. With a "pop," it exploded in the air, and countless white powder particles scattered into the watery vortex.
The moment the powder came into contact with the water.
"BOOM!!!!!!"
A deafening explosion immediately followed. The originally cold water instantly boiled, "gurgle, gurgle," bubbles churned, and the drastically rising high temperature created a large amount of steam, covering the center of the battle in a vast expanse of white.
The heatwave and steam spread throughout the room. The Golduck Leader snorted coldly, its psychic power fluctuating to block the billowing steam, but in doing so, it also conveniently shielded the group of humans behind it.
The people and Pokémon who had dropped to the ground felt the heat on their backs and looked at Takuma with horrified expressions, making him scratch his head.
"It's quicklime. You know, we intellectuals come prepared..."
"(Human Language) Quicklime reacts with water, causing it to boil, simultaneously producing high temperatures and a large amount of water vapor. I must say, that's a really good idea," Mr. Watanabe said with clicks of praise as he watched the scene. As a scientist, although his main field was biological research, he still knew his basic science.
However, Mrs. Watanabe beside him was looking at her husband with a disapproving gaze. "(Human Language) Our son is still so young, how could you teach him all these dangerous things..."
Leaving aside the Watanabe couple discussing whether their parenting principles had gone astray, Takuma's stroke of genius had indeed helped Arcanine out of its predicament.
It should be known that Arcanine's body burned with scorching fire energy. High temperatures would not only not harm it, but on the contrary, would be a great help to it.
"Awooo, awooo—"
The intense heat generated in the center of the explosion was absorbed by Arcanine, injecting it with powerful strength like a shot of adrenaline. At the same time, the watery vortex entangling Arcanine rapidly weakened due to evaporation. It could no longer form a strong restraint, directly allowing Arcanine to break free with a single leap.
Conversely, the originally triumphant Gyarados was now howling in pain from being scalded by the suddenly hot water and had to retreat several meters to get away from the high temperature.
But this gave Arcanine its chance.
"(Human Language) Arcanine, good chance! Use [Flare Blitz] directly!"
Amidst the spreading steam, a massive ball of fire suddenly formed overhead.
The white mist was torn apart, ripped open. Accompanied by Arcanine's long howl, raging flames, wrapping a single figure, descended from the sky!
Just like the god of fire descending, and even more like Mars crashing into Earth!
"(Human Language) Finish it, [Flare Blitz]!"
"(Pokémon Language) Awooo, take this!"
Officer Jenny and Arcanine shouted in unison.
"Boom—" The fireball, trailing a tail of flame, crashed into Gyarados.
The experimental base shook for a moment, and the floor of the third story was smashed, creating numerous cracks.
Even though Water-type Pokémon are naturally unafraid of fire, nothing in the world is absolute. The most extreme fire can also burn water dry.
"Roar, roar, roar..."
Battered by the explosion, burns, and impact, Gyarados could no longer bear it. Its eyes rolled back, and it collapsed on the ground, having lost the ability to battle.
"Awooo—"
The white mist dispersed. The majestic Arcanine, with one foot on Gyarados, howled at the sky.
"(Human Language) Well done, Arcanine!"
Officer Jenny's face was filled with joy.
"Don't let your guard down. There's still a stronger Pokémon waiting."
Takuma, however, threw cold water on the celebration at this moment.
And on the opposite side, apart from the Golduck Leader who had initially used its psychic power to expand a barrier to help Gyarados, it was now watching its subordinate Gyarados's defeat with a cold and indifferent expression, without a single ripple of emotion.
Officer Jenny immediately recalled Arcanine. Looking at her Pokémon's exhausted state, she was somewhat worried. "(Human Language) Arcanine, are you okay?"
"Awoof, awoof, (Pokémon Language) I can still go on!"
A resolute look was in Arcanine's eyes, but its slightly trembling limbs also showed its fatigue.
"(Pokémon Language) Pal, leave this to us!"
Unexpectedly, Machop stepped forward at this moment, patted Arcanine's body, and communicated in Pokémon language.
"(Pokémon Language) But..."
Arcanine hesitated.
"(Pokémon Language) Golduck is a Water-type Pokémon, and it also has a type advantage over you. It wouldn't be easy to deal with even if you were in perfect condition. It's better to let me and Poliwhirl give it a try."
"(Pokémon Language) After all, this is Poliwhirl's leader. He is more familiar with his own leader's moves."
"(Pokémon Language) And, I also have a reason why I must fight..."
Machop looked at the old man with closed eyes, his empty right hand clenched tightly.
Sensing Machop's insistence, Arcanine finally gave up the idea of forcing itself to fight. It walked to its trainer's side and nuzzled Officer Jenny, signaling for her to recall it into its Poké Ball to rest.
Although she didn't understand what the Pokémon were communicating, seeing Machop and Poliwhirl step forward while moving their bodies, Officer Jenny seemed to understand something.
"(Human Language) You've worked hard. Rest well."
A beam of light shot from the Poké Ball's button towards Arcanine, recalling it into its Poké Ball.