Slaking's base stats surpass those of pseudo-legendary Pokémon. Even without special buffs, the legendary birds can't match Slaking's overall capabilities.
And of all Slaking's stats, its attack power is the strongest!
Among Pokémon of the same level, those that can go toe-to-toe with Slaking can probably be counted on one hand. And now, Ash has actually chosen to let Pikachu clash with Slaking!
How dare he?! Even if Ash uses special abilities to boost Pikachu's power, Pikachu's physical attributes are what they are. To go toe-to-toe with Slaking, Pikachu would need to reach Champion level!
This stems from the inherent difference in their physical and racial abilities. Pikachu is considered a purely ornamental Pokémon not only because its potential is extremely low, making it difficult to raise to a high level, but also because its base stats are quite weak.
Even if it's a level higher than others, its stats might not be as strong.
That's why few people train Pikachu!
Norman admits that Ash's Pikachu is indeed different, but at best, it's only slightly stronger than a regular Pikachu. To think it could rival Slaking in a direct confrontation is wishful thinking.
Just when everyone thought the clash between Pikachu and Slaking would inevitably end with Slaking's overwhelming defeat, something unexpected happened.
Pikachu leaped into the air, its hardened steel tail whistling through the air, slamming down hard on Slaking's foot!
"Boom—!!!" A deafening roar exploded in the center of the battlefield, a visible shockwave spreading outwards and ripples spreading across the surrounding barriers.
But the scene everyone expected—Pikachu being utterly defeated—did not occur. The two were actually locked in a stalemate in mid-air!
Slaking's powerful, million-ton kick was abruptly intercepted by Pikachu's Iron Tail, its downward momentum even halted instantly.
The lazy look in Slaking's eyes instantly turned serious. He hadn't expected that the seemingly tiny mouse could withstand his attack head-on. Their strength shouldn't be on the same level, and judging from the aura emanating from Pikachu, its level was far lower than his!
He attacked from above, while Pikachu attacked from below. In terms of attack direction, he had a clear advantage. This was the result; Slaking had never before fought a Pokémon of a lower level to a standstill in a power-on confrontation.
No, not evenly matched. Slaking could feel the steel-like force of its tail on its feet constantly increasing!
Pikachu gave Slaking no chance to react. The power in its tail surged dramatically, the silver luster becoming even more dazzling, forcefully lifting Slaking's several-meter-tall, muscular body upwards, then whipping it around!
Boom! Another deafening crash echoed as Slaking's massive body, as if struck by a runaway boulder, instantly lost all control and was sent hurtling backward like a leaf caught in a whirlwind!
He traced a long arc through the air, his speed leaving only a blurry brown afterimage, before slamming heavily against the barrier at the edge of the arena with another deafening thud.
Slaking's body bounced heavily against the barrier before crashing to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. His limbs stretched out, his former imposing size and power completely gone.
On the field, only Pikachu remained, landing steadily on the ground. Its hat was still neatly arranged, its steel tail slowly returning to its original shape, and its small body stood ramrod straight. Even its breathing wasn't rapid, a stark contrast to Slaking's disheveled state.
The entire arena was deathly silent.
Max's mouth gaped open, his eyes wide. The disbelief from before washed over him again, even more shocking than when he saw Chansey defeated in a single blow. He muttered to himself, "How could this be... How could Dad's Slaking... How could it lose to Pikachu in terms of power?!"
"Slaking is his father's ace! His strength makes Max think that even the Hoenn Champion wouldn't stand a chance against him!
If Slaking weren't so lazy, his father would probably be the top Hoenn Trainer by now!
And yet, this incredibly strong Slaking lost to Pikachu in a head-on confrontation, and Pikachu even used Steel Tail! That's not Pikachu's STAB move; Slaking's Mega Kick is his STAB move.
Slaking should also have a level advantage. Even in terms of move power, Mega Kick is stronger than Steel Tail, not to mention Slaking's physical attributes, which are many times stronger than Pikachu's!
No matter how you look at it, Slaking is...
"He shouldn't have lost! How could he possibly lose?!"
Even the usually calm and collected May was stunned. Her rosy lips parted slightly, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief and confusion. She knew better than Max how strong her father was.
Max blindly idolized his father, but May knew his strength clearly, especially his Slaking. It could easily hold its own against a Champion's ace.
Don't underestimate Slaking just because it's only a Champion-level mid-tier Pokémon. Its base stats are formidable, and under her father's training, it has successfully overcome some of its characteristic weaknesses. Her father's Slaking is undoubtedly the strongest Slaking in the world!
But what was she seeing now? That incredibly strong Slaking, which had never lost a direct confrontation, was actually fighting against a... Pikachu lost in a head-on clash? This joke isn't funny at all!
While Misty and Brock were somewhat surprised, they also felt it was reasonable. If it were any other Pikachu, this would be inexplicable except as a miracle.
But if it's Ash's Pikachu… it doesn't seem impossible.
Serena didn't know much about Pokémon, but she had blind faith in Ash and Pikachu, feeling that if it were the two of them… they absolutely wouldn't lose!
The surrounding children gasped in surprise at Slaking being knocked away.
On the field, Norman's expression froze slightly. He had just been thinking that Ash putting Pikachu against Slaking wasn't a waste of time… Death? It turns out the clown was himself.
Ash didn't blindly send Pikachu to clash head-on with Slaking; he had complete confidence in Pikachu, believing it wouldn't lose, which is why he made that choice.
On the contrary, it was Ash who, due to common sense and underestimating Pikachu, ultimately caused Slaking to suffer a significant loss in the direct confrontation.
He knew all along that Ash was an extremely powerful trainer; how could such a trainer make such a common-sense mistake? But most importantly, that Pikachu… was a bit abnormal!
No matter how outlandish his guesses, he could never have imagined that Pikachu could be stronger than Slaking!
"Slaking, don't panic, regroup!" Slaking can't use another move after using it once, even a Slaking with a long range is like that, so now the only option is to wait and see what happens.
"Pikachu, use Steel Tail again!"
"Slaking can't use any moves right now, it's the perfect time to attack."
At Ash's command, Pikachu's tail gleamed metallically once more, and in the next instant, Pikachu shot out like lightning, arriving before Slaking in a flash.
"Next," Norman calmly commanded, showing no panic, instructing Slaking to catch the powerful steel tail.
Ash's expression hardened. Logically, Slaking shouldn't be able to move after using a move, which is why, despite its strength, it's rarely trained.
Its ability is purely a hindrance; without it, even pseudo-legendary Pokémon would be sidelined.
But Norman's words suggested that his Slaking could still move after using a move?
"Bang!"
A dull thud echoed across the arena, shaking the entire area. Slaking, its broad arms crossed in front of it, had blocked Pikachu's heavy attack!
Spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the ground from Pikachu's strike. While Slaking's arms bore visible marks, they weren't severely damaged.
According to Aura observation, Slaking hadn't merely relied on its physical body to withstand Pikachu's attack; it had imbued it with its internal energy. This meant… Norman's Slaking could indeed continue moving after using a move.
"Wow, Norman, you've really trained Slaking to this level!"
"Oh, not at all, I should say you're amazing, Ash! To train a Pikachu to this extent, the title of Supernova is truly well-deserved." After a round of mutual flattery, both of them commanded their Pokémon almost simultaneously.
"Pikachu, Electric Speed Boost!"
"Slaking, Tackle!" Given Slaking's enormous size, a charge attack at this distance would practically guarantee a hit.
But as Slaking flung Pikachu away with both hands and assumed a charging stance, Pikachu suddenly vanished into thin air.
Only a lingering golden arc of electricity remained in the air. Before Slaking could react, he felt a sharp pain in his lower back as Pikachu's small body slammed into his side.
The terrifying force sent Slaking flying again, his massive body rolling wildly across the ground like a ball before crashing into the defensive barrier with a dull thud.
Norman's pupils constricted, his mouth slightly open, but he uttered no words. Fast…too fast! Ash's Pikachu is not only powerful, but also…Its speed is unparalleled.
Despite its large size, Slaking is actually quite fast and agile. As a Primal type Pokémon, its greatest strengths are agility and speed, and Slaking naturally possesses both.
However, Pikachu is even faster than Slaking.
That move called "Zippy Zap" must be Ash's Pikachu's special move. Rumors aside, seeing it in person still feels incredibly unreal. A Pikachu having its own special move? It's truly unbelievable.
After three exchanges, Slaking is basically at a complete disadvantage. If it doesn't find a way to reverse the situation, this gym battle might have to end.
"Pikachu, don't give it a chance to breathe! Use Thunderbolt!" Just as Norman was pondering a countermeasure, Pikachu's attacks came raining down.
This was a Pokémon battle, not child's play. Ash couldn't possibly wait for the opponent's moves to be off cooldown before engaging in a direct confrontation; that would be asking for trouble.
While Slaking couldn't use any moves now, he'd use Thunderbolt to inflict another blow, and then the opponent would be nearing the end!
"Get out of the way." Golden arcs of electricity rained down from the sky. Slaking, despite its massive size, moved with surprising agility.
Its hind legs powerfully pushed off the ground, propelling its massive body to the side like an arrow released from a bow—a movement far removed from its usual languidness.
Clearly, its extensive training had allowed it to overcome the immobility inherent in its Sloth ability. While it couldn't unleash a barrage of moves, performing basic actions was no problem; at least it wouldn't become easy targets.
The blinding golden lightning slammed into the spot where Slaking had just stood, instantly blasting a deep, charred crater into the ground. Sizzling arcs of electricity spread across the surface, billowing black smoke—a testament to the terrifying power of this 100,000-volt attack.
"Slaking, now's the time! Use Body Slam!"
"Tank, this is a desperate move, sacrificing its own life force to unleash a powerful impact far exceeding its own attack power. Combined with Slaking's terrifying attack, if it hits Pikachu, it can instantly reverse the tide of the battle, and might even decide the outcome!
"Tank, huh? Then bring it on, Pikachu, use Thunder Shock!!" Faced with Slaking's desperate gamble, Ash didn't let Pikachu dodge.
He also intended to decide the outcome with this one strike!
Thunder Shock is a move with similar power to Tank. Similarly, this move will cause the user to suffer damage from a counterattack. Whoever can overpower the opponent in this attack, combined with the damage from the counterattack, will basically defeat them!
Although Slaking is tough, it has already taken many attacks from Pikachu. And Pikachu is inherently extremely fragile with high attack and low defense. Therefore, the winner of this attack will also be the winner of this battle!