POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

"What?!" Asen growled, his face twisting in fury at Ash's confident remark. His voice trembled with barely contained anger. "I hope you'll still have the courage to talk like that after this battle!"

"You too," Ash replied calmly, showing little interest in Asen's provocations. He took a few steps back, putting some distance between them to prepare for the battle.

Asen, on the other hand, clenched his fists tightly. He was clearly used to dominating others in battles and humiliating them. The crowd of Trainers, drawn by the brewing conflict, began to gather. Most of them recognized Asen; his reputation as a bully who liked to pick on less experienced Trainers was well-known.

Among them, some pitied Ash, believing him to be outmatched. After all, Asen's Electabuzz had a high Species Strength, and compared to the other Trainers who were still learning, Asen often appeared unbeatable.

"The rules are simple: a two-on-two battle. The first Trainer to lose both Pokémon is defeated," Asen declared loudly, ensuring everyone in the crowd could hear him.

Ash nodded slightly, unfazed by the terms. Even if it were a six-on-six battle, Ash was confident that he could take Asen down with his current team of three Pokémon.

"Then let's begin! Spearow, you're up!" Asen wasted no time, tossing a Poké Ball into the air. From the light, a Spearow emerged, flapping its wings aggressively.

Spearow

Type: Normal/Flying

Ability: Keen Eye (Prevents accuracy from being lowered).

Strength: Ordinary Level

Spearow was clearly well-trained, its fierce demeanor setting it apart from wild ones. Ash, however, noticed Asen's smirk and realized his opponent wasn't taking him seriously.

"So, you're underestimating me right from the start," Ash muttered, narrowing his eyes. Adjusting his hat, he reached for his Poké Ball.

"Kakuna, I choose you!"

The crowd erupted into whispers of disbelief. A murmur of shock rippled through the gathered Trainers as Kakuna materialized on the field.

"What?!" Asen's smug demeanor faltered. His face darkened, realizing Ash had just turned the tables. Sending out Kakuna was a deliberate choice—an insult to Asen's overconfidence.

"Damn it, I'll make you regret this! Spearow, use Peck!" Asen barked, wasting no time in launching an attack.

Spearow screeched and dove toward Kakuna, its beak glowing with energy. The Flying-type move was a clear advantage over Kakuna's Bug-type. Some of the crowd winced, expecting Kakuna to be instantly defeated.

"Kakuna, use String Shot!" Ash's command rang out just as Spearow closed in.

Kakuna responded immediately, spewing sticky threads of silk at Spearow. The attack caught the bird Pokémon mid-air, wrapping around its wings and body. Spearow's movements faltered as its speed dropped, the silk hindering its ability to maneuver.

The crowd gasped as blue sparks—a sign of lowered speed—briefly flashed around Spearow.

Asen clenched his jaw. "Keep going, Spearow! Don't stop—finish it!"

Ash was unfazed. "Kakuna, Harden!"

Kakuna's body gleamed momentarily as its shell became denser and more reflective. The defensive boost gave it the resilience to withstand Spearow's dive.

Spearow struck Kakuna with a resounding thud, sending Kakuna skidding backward. Despite the impact, Kakuna remained standing, its defense having mitigated much of the damage.

"Not bad," Asen muttered, masking his frustration. "Spearow, keep attacking! Don't give it a chance to recover!"

Spearow soared upward and dived again, aiming for another Peck. Its movements, however, were slower and less precise due to the entangling silk.

"Kakuna, String Shot again! Pull yourself away from the attack!" Ash instructed, his voice calm and commanding.

This time, Kakuna's silk wasn't aimed at Spearow. Instead, it latched onto a nearby patch of ground. With a sharp tug, Kakuna propelled itself sideways, narrowly evading Spearow's attack.

Spearow hit the ground where Kakuna had been moments before, sending up a cloud of dust. The misstep left it momentarily dazed.

Ash seized the opportunity. "Kakuna, Harden again!"

Kakuna's shell gleamed as it boosted its defense further. The surrounding Trainers watched in awe, murmuring about Ash's clever tactics. Even Misty, standing at the sidelines, beamed with pride at her friend's skill.

Asen's frustration boiled over. "Spearow, get up and use Fury Attack!"

Spearow shook off its dizziness and launched another assault, its beak stabbing repeatedly at Kakuna. This time, the attacks landed, each hit chipping away at Kakuna's stamina.

"Kakuna, counter with Poison Sting!" Ash ordered.

Kakuna's response was swift, shooting small, venomous needles at Spearow. The attack struck true, and Spearow faltered mid-air, showing signs of being poisoned. Purple sparks flickered briefly, signaling the status effect.

The crowd gasped again, and Asen's face turned red with anger. "This can't be happening!"

Ash remained composed. "Now, Kakuna, finish it with String Shot and Harden combo!"

Kakuna launched another volley of silk, tangling Spearow even further. The added weight and reduced speed made it impossible for Spearow to maintain its balance.

With one last struggle, Spearow collapsed to the ground, unable to continue.

Asen reluctantly recalled his defeated Pokémon, his hands trembling with frustration. "You think this means anything? I'm just getting started!"

Ash smirked. "We'll see. Your next Pokémon better be ready."

The crowd erupted into cheers for Ash, impressed by his strategic battle style. Misty crossed her arms, a proud smile on her face. "That's Ash for you—always surprising people."

As the next round prepared to begin, it was clear to everyone watching: Ash wasn't someone to be underestimated.

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