Two ice beams clashed in mid-air, ultimately reaching a stalemate, but the arena became the final victim. The area, originally a water pool, directly turned into an ice surface.
"Lapras, use Ice Shard!"
"We'll use Ice Shard too!"
Countless small ice chunks gathered beside the two Lapras, then flew out together. Whether it's the size or number of ice shards, they were almost identical.
In mid-air, the ice chunks collided, constantly shattering, and the fragmented ice fell down like raindrops, ultimately landing on the ice surface with a pinging sound.
Ash finally understood why Yuji's Ditto was so difficult to deal with, because of Yuji's commanding skills as a Trainer.
When unfamiliar with the opponent's moves, first use the same moves to compete, with both sides having the same Ability Value, making it likely to end in a draw.
Once Yuji has gauged the opponent's Pokemon somewhat, he would then use his Trainer skills to command Ditto differently.
This is indeed a quite correct way to use Ditto, but sometimes this strategy might backfire due to cleverness...
"Lapras, use Thunder!"
"We'll use Thunder too!"
Lapras is a Water Type and Ice Type Pokemon, and Thunder is one of the moves it can learn. If Thunder hits the opponent, it would undoubtedly inflict terrifying damage, and Thunder isn't a move that can easily cancel each other out.
Yuji decided in less than a second to have Ditto use the Thunder move, just like Ash did.
In terms of physical strength, Yuji had the advantage because Ditto's Level was higher, with more robust physical strength. Even if both endured the Thunder move, Ditto could handle it completely due to a higher Level!
But the opponent was different.
This Thunder move might even directly cause the opponent to lose the ability to battle, showcasing the gap created by Level differences!
However, upon Yuji and Ash issuing commands, both Pokemon froze in place without moving, and the sky didn't summon thunderclouds due to electricity, as if nothing had happened.
Yuji was dumbfounded, unable to understand why the opponent could use Thunder while his Ditto, transformed into Lapras, couldn't. Such a situation had never occurred before!
"Now, Thunderbolt!"
"Woah!!" Lapras let out a cry, electric light surged forth from its body, striking the Ditto-transformed Lapras squarely, golden electric currents coursing through Ditto's body, causing it to emit a miserable cry.
The massive electricity poured in continuously, eventually causing Ditto to be shocked to the point of smoking, and only then did Lapras stop while panting slightly.
"I see... Your Lapras couldn't use Thunder from the start; you intended for Lapras to use Thunderbolt, didn't you? But you exploited my lack of information, thus initially having Lapras use Thunder to lure me into commanding Ditto to use the same skill as Lapras."
"With identical skills hitting each other, Ditto would definitely have the advantage, so you're sure I'd use the same Electric Type moves as Lapras, but Lapras can't actually use Thunder, meaning Ditto couldn't use it either."
"Ah!" Ash smiled and snapped his fingers in reply, "Exactly, Yuji, you're indeed a top Trainer to figure it out so quickly. My Lapras really can't use Thunder, which is why I was sure Lapras would understand my implicit meaning."
Once transformed, Ditto can only use the skills learned by the opponent. If it's a skill the opponent hasn't learned, then even with a higher Level, Ditto couldn't use it.
Ash's Lapras grew rapidly but hadn't progressed to the point of learning Thunder quickly. To increase its attack range, Ash had it learn Electric Type moves, but only to the extent of mid-to-high-level skills like Thunderbolt.
Thunder, a top-tier Electric Type skill, wasn't something Lapras could quickly learn; it's currently at the stage of learning comprehension, certainly incapable of using it.
Yuji's idea of first employing identical skills to gauge Lapras's moves was sound, but faced with a Trainer of Ash's level, it's easy to be misled, like now.
Ash and Lapras's synchronization wasn't on the level of Pikachu yet. If it were Pikachu, when Ash mentioned a skill it couldn't use, Pikachu would instantly react and counter with another restraining move.