The cold continued to intensify, and with a sudden command, Feraligatr launched another attack as instructed by his master. This time, however, the ferocity of his strike was unlike any other. The chilling fangs combined with the force of his massive tail created a destructive force more terrifying than before.
A rock, which Cilan had previously used to dodge Feraligatr's onslaught, was reduced to rubble under the combined force of his massive tail and sharp fangs. Despite the overwhelming power of Feraligatr, he couldn't land a single hit on Cilan. The Pokémon was far too agile, expertly evading every one of Feraligatr's attacks with movements that seemed almost impossible to predict.
It wasn't like he was darting about like a mouse; no, Cilan's movements were far more fluid and graceful, akin to a cat. He was an elusive figure on the battlefield, always staying just out of reach of Feraligatr's powerful strikes.
At this point, Feraligatr had had enough. His temper flared, and his normally composed demeanor shifted to something far more volatile, a trait common to his kind. During one particularly reckless attack, Feraligatr's sharp fangs accidentally bit his own tail as Cilan dodged. In a fit of rage, Feraligatr stopped following his master's commands, no longer using his Ice Fang or Aqua Tail as instructed. Instead, he stood up on his hind legs and started spraying Water Gun after Water Gun in rapid succession toward Cilan, heedless of anything else.
No matter how loudly Samuel Oak called out to him, Feraligatr refused to listen, his mind consumed by rage. At this moment, Cilan's Smokescreen filled the entire arena. The dense fog obscured everything from view, leaving no one able to discern what was happening inside. The only sounds were the violent bursts of water from Feraligatr's attacks and the strained growls coming from within the smoke.
"Quilava, tactic number three!" Ash Ketchum's voice rang out clearly, breaking through the chaos. His eyes narrowed with focus as he issued the command to Mew, who had transformed into Quilava and was blending seamlessly with the smokescreen.
"Tactic number three? Pfft, you think we'll fall for this again just because you changed the name? You're dreaming, Ash," the girl who stood with the boy sneered, crossing her arms with a smug expression. Her brother, standing beside her, scoffed at the idea.
Ash merely shrugged nonchalantly, "Whatever you say. It's still tactic number three, no matter how you look at it."
Inside the smokescreen, a mournful growl echoed, the sound sending shivers through the air. It was Feraligatr's anguished cry, a sound that seemed to carry the weight of his fury. But the girl, still skeptical, leaned closer to her brother, whispering, "Don't worry, brother. That's just Quilava playing tricks again. He must have used Mimic to copy Feraligatr's Growl. It's all part of the act. He's trying to get us to surrender."
Her brother chuckled softly. "I know. Feraligatr and Quilava are both stuck in the same smokescreen, unable to see each other. It's no surprise Quilava's trying to deceive us with an imitation of Feraligatr's sound. After all, Quilava is a fire-type Pokémon, not some powerhouse like Feraligatr. There's no way it could stand up to my Feraligatr. Especially now that it's in Rage Contest Condition. Feraligatr's aggression is off the charts."
Ash, overhearing this exchange, raised an eyebrow and approached them. "Really? You don't think that growl from inside the smokescreen sounds a little too real to be a fake?"
The boy's eyes narrowed in response, and he sneered back. "Please, Ash. Don't try to trick me into giving up. You can talk all you want, but my Feraligatr is strong, and there's no way a Quilava could beat it, especially now that Feraligatr is enraged."
The boy's confidence radiated through every word, but as he finished speaking, an explosion erupted from within the smokescreen, followed by an agonized cry from Feraligatr.
Ash remained calm, his expression betraying nothing. "Keep acting like nothing's happening," he muttered under his breath.
The girl looked at her brother and nodded, still confident. "It's just another act. Quilava must have used an illusion skill to simulate the explosion."
But Ash was no longer listening to them. He could sense something was wrong. He wanted to explain that tactic number three wasn't some fake trick. This time, Mew, disguised as Quilava, was using real attacks—powerful skills that could counter Feraligatr. He was setting Feraligatr up for a real loss, no deception involved.
A few seconds later, a dark cloud suddenly gathered above the arena, followed by a bolt of lightning that descended from the sky, striking the area below the smokescreen with a crack of thunder.
The explosion of sound that followed was deafening, and the crowd fell silent in shock.
"That was… Thunder?" the girl stammered, her confidence faltering for the first time.
Ash watched with a knowing grin. The Thunder attack, something only Electric-types could use, had just been unleashed. There was no way a fire-type like Quilava could pull off such a move. The boy, realizing something was amiss, furrowed his brow.
"Is Thunder even a move that Quilava can learn?" the boy asked hesitantly, a small crack appearing in his confident facade.
The girl, however, was quick to dismiss it. "It's just another illusion. Quilava is using some sort of psychic trick to create the illusion of Thunder. Don't listen to him, brother. It's all part of the act."
But Ash's smirk widened as he observed the boy and girl's increasingly nervous expressions. "Keep telling yourself that," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Moments later, the ground began to shake, and pieces of rubble started to move toward the smokescreen. A large boulder formed before their eyes, seemingly held together by some unseen force. With a crash, the boulder fell, and once again, Feraligatr's anguished growl could be heard.
"That was Rock Throw," Ash said, watching the scene unfold. "Pretty sure your Feraligatr's not looking too good."
The boy's face grew pale. "Rock Throw? That's a Ground-type move. Why would Quilava be using it? Is this some sort of advanced mimicry?"
The girl tried to console her brother, whispering, "Don't panic. It's still just an act, I'm sure of it."
But Ash could see the doubt creeping into the boy's eyes. He glanced back at his opponent, whose expression was no longer so sure of himself.
"Don't worry, I'm sure Feraligatr can still take it," the boy mumbled, trying to reassure himself.
Ash sighed, watching the boy's desperation build. He knew the battle wasn't going to last much longer. It wasn't just the tactics or the deception; Feraligatr had already been pushed beyond his limits.
Another explosion rang out from the smokescreen, louder this time, lasting for several seconds. The sound of Feraligatr's growl faded after two seconds, and then silence.
Ash frowned. "It's over," he muttered, watching the smoke begin to dissipate.
The girl laughed nervously, pulling her brother toward her. "We're fine. It's all part of the show, right, brother?"
But the boy didn't respond. His eyes were fixed on the clearing smokescreen, his face pale. Something was wrong.
As the smoke cleared, the sight of Feraligatr lying motionless on the ground met their eyes. The giant Pokémon was in a state of misery—his skin torn and his flesh exposed. His once imposing form was now broken and battered, but the most haunting part of the scene was his gaze. Feraligatr looked at his master with a mixture of pain and betrayal, as though asking, Why didn't you save me?
Ash felt a pang of sympathy for the water-type Pokémon. "Sorry, Feraligatr. I tried my best."
The boy stood in stunned silence, his mind racing with disbelief.
Feraligatr's growls had become a symbol of his rage, and now, lying defeated in the arena, it seemed to reflect not just physical pain but the disappointment of being abandoned in a crucial moment.