Pokemon : Rewind

The noise from the outside world couldn't distract Ash and Gary on the battlefield. At this moment, their only thought was to defeat their rival.

Ash's current situation was noticeably better than Gary's. He still had five Pokémon left to battle, although Pidgeot was in poor condition. Despite this, Pidgeot could still drain some of Gary's Pokémon's stamina if used strategically.

On the other hand, Gary's Blastoise had better stamina than Ash's Pidgeot, but it lacked the endurance needed to defeat one of Ash's Pokémon outright. 

This made both Pidgeot and Blastoise pivotal in wearing down the opposition.

The two trainers were thinking strategically. Ash was confident, with Charizard and Pikachu still in his lineup alongside Venusaur. 

These two powerhouses alone could handle all of Gary's remaining Pokémon. However, Ash wanted to give his other Pokémon more experience, so he held Charizard and Pikachu in reserve.

"The halftime is almost over. Can Gary turn the tide in the second half?" the commentator's voice echoed across the stadium.

"And what about Ash? Will he reveal another trump card in this second half? Or show us a new move that will leave everyone in awe?"

With those words, Ash and Gary stepped back onto the field, ready for the match to resume.

"The halftime break is over. Trainers, please send out your Pokémon," the referee announced as the five-minute rest period ended.

"Blastoise, you're up again!" Ash decided to let Blastoise continue. Though it was worn down, Blastoise could still help weaken Gary's team and push its limits further.

Blastoise reappeared on the battlefield, its exhaustion evident. Without food or restorative items during the break, its condition hadn't improved significantly.

"In the second half, Ash is sticking with Blastoise, but its condition is less than ideal," the commentator remarked.

Gary took a deep breath, holding his Poké Ball tightly. After a moment of focus, he kissed the ball and threw it into the air. "Go, my pride and joy—Blastoise!"

The spinning Poké Ball released a burst of white light, revealing a Pokémon nearly identical to Ash's Blastoise. 

It was none other than Gary's own Blastoise, the final evolution of the Squirtle he had chosen as his starter.

Gary's Blastoise was also at the Silver level. Its physical appearance and strength seemed nearly identical to Ash's, showcasing Gary's excellent training.

Ash quickly analysed the situation using information provided by his system. He noted that Gary's Blastoise didn't have the hidden ability Rain Dish, but rather the standard Torrent. 

This meant Ash had to be careful to avoid triggering its Torrent ability during the battle.

"Blastoise, use Water Pulse!" Ash ordered, opting for an offensive strategy to drain Gary's Blastoise's stamina. Defence wasn't an option in this situation.

"Water Pulse!" Blastoise roared, channelling its energy into the move. A swirling orb of water formed between its hands before being launched forward with a powerful blast.

"Dragon Pulse!" Gary countered. Instead of relying on a Water-type move, he had his Blastoise use Dragon Pulse.

Gary's Blastoise roared, channelling Dragon-type energy through the cannons on its back. The purple-blue energy formed into a dragon-like shape and surged forward, roaring silently as it tore through the air.

The two moves collided mid-air. Water Pulse exploded into a massive wave but couldn't hold up against the might of Dragon Pulse. 

The spectral dragon broke through and continued toward Ash's Blastoise.

Ash knew this outcome was inevitable. While Water Pulse gained a same-type attack bonus (STAB), Dragon Pulse was inherently more powerful. 

Additionally, Dragon-types resist Water-type moves, giving Gary the upper hand in this exchange.

"Use Water Pulse again!" Ash commanded swiftly. His Blastoise launched another Water Pulse, meeting the oncoming Dragon Pulse head-on. 

The resulting collision caused an explosion, scattering water droplets across the battlefield.

The clash neutralised the attack, but Ash's Blastoise had clearly used up more energy than Gary's.

"Dragon Pulse, again!" Gary wasn't about to let up. He repeated his strategy, sending another spectral dragon hurtling toward Ash's Blastoise.

Ash had no choice but to counter in kind. His Blastoise launched Water Pulse once more, neutralising the attack but at the cost of even more energy. 

The two trainers continued this cycle, trading moves back and forth as their Pokémon's stamina gradually wore down.

Finally, Gary spotted an opening. "Blastoise, Rapid Spin! Charge forward!"

Gary's Blastoise spun rapidly, using the momentum to follow its own Dragon Pulse and close the distance between them.

Ash's expression tightened. He knew that if he let this sequence play out, his Blastoise would be overwhelmed. 

If he used Water Pulse twice to counter the incoming Dragon Pulse, Gary's Blastoise would reach him unimpeded. If he didn't counter it, his Blastoise would take a direct hit.

Thinking quickly, Ash made his decision. "Blastoise, brace yourself and use Water Pulse at close range!"

The battle was about to take a decisive turn.

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