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Ash looked at the impatient Primeape and gently put his hand on its shoulder.
After quickly reviewing the match rules and situations for the Fighting competition, Ash decided to start training. Since he had entered, he needed to take it seriously.
"Okay, Primeape, show me your unique skills again. Let's see what you've got!"
During its evolution, the situation had been too chaotic to focus. Primeape's special moves included Mach Punch, Low Kick, Rock Smash, and its most powerful attack—Close Combat.
Close Combat was one of Primeape's most frequently used moves, but overusing it could lead to confusion. While in this state, Primeape might act unpredictably, even attacking itself.
Although it was a powerful move, caution was required when using it. However, Primeape's fiery and reckless nature often meant it didn't even notice the chaos it caused, doing things its own way regardless.
"Primeape!" it cried enthusiastically upon hearing Ash's request. Spotting a large tree nearby, it immediately lunged forward. A bright orange glow enveloped its fists as it unleashed Mach Punch, striking the tree.
Crack! Boom!
The tree trunk shattered instantly from the force, and the tree toppled with a resounding crash. Beating its chest in triumph, Primeape leapt to a large boulder and delivered another punch. This time, its fist shone with a pale golden light—Rock Smash.
Boom!
The massive boulder, several times Primeape's size, exploded into rubble, scattering shards in all directions. Though Rock Smash was relatively weak in traditional Pokémon battles, its effectiveness depended on the user's raw power. Primeape clearly demonstrated its mastery of physical strength.
"Primeape!" it roared in exhilaration, racing back to the fallen tree. Without missing a beat, it hoisted the enormous trunk over its head, showcasing its incredible strength.
Although the tree trunk was not particularly tall, it weighed several hundred kilograms. Primeape hugged it tightly with both arms, demonstrating its raw power as it hoisted it effortlessly.
After leaping to a higher vantage point, Primeape gripped the trunk firmly and somersaulted forward. Using the centrifugal force generated by the motion, it slammed the massive trunk toward the ground at the apex of the somersault.
Boom!!!
The resulting impact was deafening. Misty and the others jumped in surprise as the trunk shattered into multiple pieces, leaving a deep crater in the ground.
"Seismic Toss—now that's a fascinating move!" Ash exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with excitement. Seismic Toss, a powerful Fighting-type move, was not something he had seen Primeape use before. Perhaps it had learned it at Professor Oak's laboratory, or maybe there simply hadn't been an opportunity to showcase it in the past.
Nearby, Charmeleon observed intently. Its gaze hardened as it replayed the scene in its mind, analyzing every detail of Primeape's movements and the technique used to execute the Seismic Toss.
"Well done! We're almost finished testing your moves!" Ash declared with a satisfied nod. With this demonstration, he had a good grasp of Primeape's special techniques. There was no need to test Close Combat again—it was already powerful and potentially uncontrollable.
However, Primeape wasn't ready to stop. It was visibly excited, rushing toward the broken remnants of the tree trunk.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
It pounded its fists repeatedly against the shattered debris, pulverizing it further. Ash could tell that Primeape had lost control—not out of defiance, but from sheer excitement. Its fiery energy had spiraled out of control, becoming unmanageable.
"Tsk! Pikachu, use Thunder Shock!" Ash commanded, knowing the best way to calm Primeape down.
"Pika?" Pikachu glanced at Ash in surprise before turning to see the frenzied Primeape. Noting the situation, Pikachu nodded decisively. Sparks of electricity began to crackle around its cheeks.
"Pika~~~chu!" Pikachu cried as it unleashed a precise Thunder Shock.
The electricity struck Primeape, paralyzing it immediately. Unable to move, the fiery Pokémon slumped to the ground. This wasn't its first encounter with paralysis; back at Professor Oak's lab, Butterfree's Stun Spore and Ivysaur's status effects had often left it in similar states. The Smelling Salts-like effect of the paralysis quickly cleared Primeape's mind, and it lay on the ground, trembling but calmer.
Ash sighed in relief. "Looks like that did the trick. Good job, Pikachu!"
Ash let out a small sigh, stepped forward, and gently embraced Primeape, whose fur was slightly singed from its earlier outburst. He helped it to its feet, offering a reassuring pat. Though Primeape recovered quickly, its fiery energy was already building up again, and it began to grow restless.
"Primeape, listen to me," Ash said firmly, raising a finger to stop its next impulsive move. "You can't battle like this!"
Primeape paused, its eyes showing a flicker of confusion. For the Pokémon, battling had always been about diving headfirst into the fray with raw strength and instinct. The concept of restraint or strategy wasn't something it fully grasped.
"Fighting isn't just about charging in—it's about focus and control," Ash explained, meeting Primeape's gaze.