*Note: Sorry for yesterday but I had to go to the doctor and I returned very late.
...
Ash didn't respond. There was no need. Floette floated gently in front of him, completely calm, as if the noise of the stadium didn't exist. As if this battle meant nothing to her.
Verity gripped her Poké Ball tightly. She couldn't hold back any longer. If she didn't start taking the battle completely seriously, she would lose without a doubt.
"Sylveon, it's your turn!" Verity said as she threw the Poké Ball with determination.
A pink flash illuminated the field and Sylveon appeared gracefully. Her ribbons moved softly in the cold air, but her gaze was firm, completely focused on Floette. For a moment, both Pokémon stared at each other without moving, as if assessing their rival's level before acting.
The atmosphere grew heavier.
"Sylveon, use Moonblast!" Verity ordered without hesitation.
"Floette, dodge it… and respond with Moonblast!" Ash said calmly.
Both attacks collided in the air. The impact lit up the field and created a gust of wind that made the icy ground tremble. Sylveon was pushed back slightly after the clash, forced to adjust her position on the slippery surface.
Floette didn't move an inch.
That small detail didn't go unnoticed. Verity noticed it immediately, and her expression tightened slightly.
"Sylveon, follow up with Swift!" Verity ordered quickly.
The stars spread out like a fan, covering practically all the space around Floette. It wasn't an easy attack to dodge. Ash knew that.
"Floette, Protect!" Ash said firmly.
The barrier appeared instantly, completely blocking the attack. The stars slammed against it and vanished without causing any damage.
Verity didn't stop. Her mind was already several steps ahead.
"Now, Calm Mind!" she said decisively.
Sylveon closed her eyes and her energy began to rise visibly. Her presence became more stable, more dangerous.
Ash saw it.
He wasn't going to allow it.
"Floette, disrupt her rhythm… use Light of Ruin!" Ash ordered.
Floette's flower began to glow intensely. It wasn't a soft or controlled light. It was dense, unstable, as if it were containing something that wasn't meant to be contained.
The beam shot straight toward Sylveon.
"Endure it and use Moonblast!" Verity responded instantly.
Both attacks collided in the air. For a moment, it seemed like they were balanced, but it didn't last long. Floette's energy began to push forward little by little, overpowering Sylveon's attack until it broke through.
Sylveon was pushed back, sliding across the ice as she tried to regain her balance.
Verity's eyes widened slightly.
That wasn't normal.
That… shouldn't be possible.
She gritted her teeth.
"Sylveon, don't stop! Hyper Voice!" she shouted.
The sound waves expanded powerfully, covering the entire front of the battlefield and distorting the air as they passed. It was a wide-ranging attack, impossible to dodge completely.
Ash didn't back down.
"Floette, move forward!" he said firmly.
Floette advanced directly into the attack. The waves hit her head-on. Her body trembled slightly upon impact, and for a moment her advance was slowed. The damage was real. The pressure of the attack was visible in every inch she moved.
But she didn't stop.
She corrected her position in the air and kept moving forward.
Verity stood completely still as she watched. Her expression clearly showed that this didn't match what she expected.
"Now… end this! Light of Ruin!" Ash ordered.
The flower glowed again. This time faster, without hesitation. The attack shot out with much greater precision, leaving no room for reaction.
Sylveon tried to resist. She tried to stay on her feet, but her body no longer responded the same way. The attack hit her and pushed her back until she finally fell onto the ice.
She didn't get up again.
"Sylveon is unable to continue!" the referee announced.
The stadium reacted strongly, but Ash didn't celebrate. Neither did Floette. Both knew this wasn't over yet.
Verity took a deep breath. Her expression changed completely. There was nothing left to hold back. No room left for doubt.
Verity didn't take her eyes off the field after Sylveon fell. Her expression had hardened completely. No more doubts, no margin for error. She only had two Pokémon left… and she couldn't afford for one of them to enter at a disadvantage.
She gripped the Poké Ball firmly.
"Roserade, it's your turn!" she said as she threw it onto the field.
The Pokémon appeared gracefully, spinning slightly before landing softly on the ice. Its eyes locked onto Floette instantly, and its posture changed subtly — more aggressive, more ready for battle.
Ash saw it coming even before Verity spoke. He didn't hesitate.
"Floette, return," he said calmly as he raised the Poké Ball.
Floette disappeared in a flash of light.
He wasn't going to risk it.
"Butterfree, you're up!" he added immediately after.
Butterfree appeared in the air, flapping its wings rapidly. Its body still showed signs of wear from the previous battle, but its gaze remained firm.
Verity understood instantly. It was a good switch, though even she wasn't sure if it was truly necessary. But she wasn't going to give up.
"Roserade, Sludge Bomb!" she ordered without wasting time.
The poisonous sphere shot straight toward Butterfree. Ash reacted quickly.
"Dodge and stay in the air!" he said.
Butterfree ascended sharply, avoiding the attack by a hair. The poison hit the ice, leaving a dark mark that slowly spread across the surface.
Ash narrowed his eyes. He couldn't allow that attack to hit even once.
"Butterfree, Psychic!" he ordered.
The psychic energy enveloped Roserade and lifted it slightly off the ground, pushing it back. Verity didn't flinch.
"Endure it… and use Energy Ball!" she responded.
Even under the effect of the attack, Roserade managed to gather energy and launch the projectile directly at Butterfree. This time it couldn't dodge completely. The impact shook it in the air, forcing it to lose stability for a few seconds.
Ash gritted his teeth.
That exchange wasn't in his favor.
"Butterfree, regain position… and use Quiver Dance!" he said.
Butterfree spun around in the air, increasing its speed and control. Its flight became more precise, harder to follow.
Verity watched carefully.
She wasn't going to let it power up too much.
"Roserade, pressure it! Sludge Bomb again!" she ordered.
This time she launched two in a row, forcing Butterfree to move constantly to dodge them. The airspace was becoming dangerous; every movement required more precision.
Ash saw it.
He couldn't drag it out any longer.
"Butterfree, get close… and use Psychic at point-blank range!" he ordered.
Butterfree dove down, dodging one of the attacks by millimeters before getting close enough to deliver the strike directly.
Roserade took the full impact.
But it didn't retreat.
Verity had been expecting it.
"Now! Giga Drain!" she shouted.
The vines emerged immediately, trapping Butterfree mid-attack. The energy began to be drained, slowing its advance and weakening it little by little.
Ash frowned.
That was the problem.
"Break free and use Psychic again!" he ordered forcefully.
Butterfree forced its energy, partially breaking free from the grip and launching another psychic attack. Roserade was pushed back this time, clearly affected, but it didn't relinquish control of the battle.
Both were at their limit.
Verity knew it.
Ash knew it too.
This exchange would decide it.
"Roserade, final attack! Sludge Bomb!" Verity shouted.
"Butterfree, finish this! Psychic!" Ash responded.
Both attacks launched at the same time.
There was no room to dodge.
No time to react.
The clash raised a small cloud of dust and ice fragments that momentarily hid both Pokémon from view.
When it cleared…
Butterfree slowly fell from the air.
Roserade lost its balance on the ice.
Both hit the ground almost at the same time.
And they didn't move.
The referee observed for a few seconds before raising both hands.
"Butterfree and Roserade are unable to continue!" the referee announced firmly.
A murmur spread through the stadium, followed by a stronger reaction. It had been an impressive battle and the best was still yet to come. The crowd was simply excited.
In the VIP box, Ash's family and his girls were cheering for him internally without taking their eyes off the field. Molly had complete confidence in her brother and knew the victory would be his, while Naria had almost forgotten about the stream and the millions of comments flooding the chat, focusing her gaze entirely on Ash. Her expression said it all — she was giving him encouragement. She wanted to see him win, to triumph.
Ash took a deep breath and so did Verity. In that moment, both understood: the time for the final confrontation had arrived.
Roserade had come out somewhat tired. Its previous battle had been exhausting.
"…Then let's end this the way it should be," Verity said quietly.
She stored Roserade's Poké Ball calmly, never taking her eyes off the field. Then she took out her last one.
Ash watched her in silence. He knew perfectly well what was coming.
"Good work… rest," Ash said as he stored Butterfree's Poké Ball.
Its performance in the Pokémon League had been excellent for a Butterfree and he was proud of it, but now wasn't the time to get sentimental. It was time to get truly serious.
The atmosphere grew even heavier. The entire stadium could feel it. The battle was about to reach its highest point.
Both Verity and Ash stared at each other intently. This was the moment of truth. This would decide whether the battle would get complicated for Ash or end in Verity's defeat. Whatever the outcome, both knew one thing: this could possibly be the decisive confrontation. At that moment Verity didn't realize that Ash still had all his Pokémon except Onix and Butterfree. She only knew that the next matchup wouldn't be like the others.
"Charizard, I choose you!" Ash said.
Charizard's roar broke the silence, filling the entire stadium with its presence.
"Lucario, go!" Verity responded.
Both Pokémon stared at each other intently. There was no longer room for long-term strategies. Everything would be decided in this final confrontation.
Ash took a deep breath before speaking.
"Charizard… we've come this far together. We're not stopping now."
The Mega Stone began to shine intensely.
"Set everything on fire… Mega Evolve!" Ash shouted.
Verity raised her arm without taking her eyes off her Pokémon.
"Lucario… show them what it means to fight until the end. Mega Evolve!" she shouted.
The light completely covered the field, enveloping both Pokémon.
The light of Mega Evolution slowly faded, revealing two presences completely different from what they had been just seconds before. Charizard spread its wings powerfully, releasing a brutal pressure that made the air around it vibrate, while Lucario stood firm, its aura expanding visibly — denser and sharper. The icy field cracked under their feet and no one in the stadium dared to speak.
Ash and Verity looked at each other for a moment. No words were needed. Both knew this would be decided in this confrontation and there was no longer any room to hold back.
"Lucario, Extreme Speed!" Verity ordered without wasting a second.
Lucario practically disappeared instantly, leaving behind only a slight distortion in the air. Ash narrowed his eyes. It was fast — much faster than before — but he had been expecting it.
"Charizard, stay calm… Dragon Dance!" Ash said firmly.
Charizard spun around in the air, increasing its speed and power just as Lucario reappeared in front of it. The impact came violently — a direct hit that pushed Charizard back several meters across the ice, but this time it didn't lose its balance. It adjusted its position in the air and responded almost immediately, refusing to give up the initiative.
"Dragon Breath!" Ash ordered.
The breath hit Lucario head-on and forced it to step back slightly — just enough to break the rhythm of the exchange. Verity clicked her tongue. It wouldn't be enough.
"Lucario, Close Combat!" she shouted.
Lucario advanced again, chaining blows at a brutal speed. Charizard blocked the first, dodged the second by a hair, and took the third squarely in the side, forcing it to lose altitude for a moment. However, it didn't fall. It regained control before touching the ground and responded with a sharp turn, refusing to let its rival breathe.
"Brick Break!" Ash ordered.
The blow landed directly and forced Lucario to step back several paces across the ice. Both Pokémon separated for the first time since the start of the exchange and for a brief moment only their heavy breathing could be heard.
"THIS IS INSANE!" Bob shouted.
"NEITHER OF THEM IS GIVING AN INCH!" Carl added.
Verity gritted her teeth. Lucario was faster, but Charizard was adapting. Each exchange made it more dangerous, as if it needed to take a few hits to fully read the battle and find the right rhythm.
"Lucario, Aura Sphere!" Verity ordered.
The energy sphere formed instantly and shot toward Charizard. Ash didn't hesitate for a second. He knew that if he kept retreating he would lose the initiative.
"Charizard, push through and use Flamethrower!" Ash responded.
Charizard advanced directly toward the attack. The explosion engulfed it for a moment, but it didn't stop. It emerged with force and unleashed Flamethrower at point-blank range, forcing Lucario to cover itself as it was pushed back. The ice beneath its feet cracked and a small cloud of steam rose around it.
Verity saw it clearly. She couldn't keep exchanging blows like this for much longer. Lucario was fast, yes, but that kind of frontal clash favored Charizard, who was showing monstrous endurance.
"Lucario, change the rhythm… Bone Rush!" she shouted.
The energy staff appeared in its hands and Lucario launched into the attack with a series of unpredictable strikes. Charizard blocked some, dodged others, and retreated just enough at several moments, but one of them landed squarely on its wing, making it lose stability for a moment. It was a small opening, minimal… but enough for someone like Lucario.
Lucario appeared in front of it and struck hard.
Charizard fell to the ground.
The stadium held its breath as it saw Charizard slide several meters across the ice. Ash clenched his fists. He knew this was a critical moment. If Charizard stayed down for even a second longer, Lucario would crush it without giving it the slightest chance to react.
Charizard slowly got up. Its breathing was heavier, its body showed clear signs of wear, and part of its wing had been affected by the impact, but its eyes remained firm. It wasn't over. Not even close.
Ash smiled slightly. That was his Charizard.
"Well… that hurt," Ash murmured quietly.
Then he raised his gaze, more serious than ever. There was no room for doubt.
"But we didn't come this far to fall now."
Charizard roared powerfully and the air tensed again. Verity understood instantly. This would be decided in the next big exchange. If she let Charizard take control again, the battle would slip away from her.
"Lucario, don't give it any breathing room! Extreme Speed!" she shouted.
Lucario disappeared once more. This time it left almost no trace.
Ash didn't hesitate. If he tried to react too late, he would lose.
"Charizard, now… Dragon Dance!" he ordered.
Lucario reappeared, but this time Charizard was already prepared. Its speed had increased enough to react in time. The blow wasn't clean. It deflected it just enough to not take it head-on and, without missing the moment, immediately counterattacked.
"Dragon Breath!" Ash ordered.
Lucario took the impact partially, but this time it couldn't maintain the same rhythm as before. Its advance was slowed enough. And that was all Ash needed.
"Now… close in!" Ash ordered forcefully.
Charizard advanced without hesitation. Verity's eyes widened slightly. That wasn't what she expected. It was too direct, too risky, as if Ash had decided to bet everything on one card. But it was too late to try to stop it.
"Brick Break!" Ash shouted.
The blow landed squarely. Lucario was pushed back several meters, sliding across the ice until it stopped. Its breathing became irregular. Its aura fluctuated slightly, as if the Mega Evolution was starting to demand more than its body could sustain. It was at its limit.
Ash saw it.
Verity saw it too.
Both knew it had reached its final point. The next attack would decide the battle. Neither of them would allow themselves to fail.
The entire stadium fell silent. An absolute, heavy, unbearable silence. No one took their eyes off the field.
Verity clenched her jaw. She had come too far to give up now.
"…Lucario," she said quietly.
Lucario lifted its head, exhausted but still firm.
"Let's give it everything."
Ash took a deep breath. Charizard was also exhausted. Every movement cost more than the last, but it was still standing. Still willing to fight until the end.
"Charizard… let's finish this."
Both trainers shouted at the same time.
"Aura Sphere!" Verity ordered.
"Flamethrower!" Ash responded.
The attacks collided in the center of the field. The explosion shook the entire stadium, raising a cloud of steam and ice fragments that completely obscured everyone's view. No one could see anything and for a few seconds there was absolute silence.
The smoke began to dissipate slowly.
One silhouette remained standing.
Charizard.
Lucario was on its knees, its body leaning forward and its aura slowly fading around it. It tried to get up. It really tried. Its arms trembled and its legs pushed against the ice, but there was no energy left. Its body gave out completely and it finally fell to the ground.
Silence.
A second later, the referee raised the flag.
"Lucario is unable to continue!" the referee announced.
The stadium exploded with cheers. The tension built up throughout the entire battle burst out in a deafening wave of noise. Bob and Carl were shouting almost at the same time, talking over each other, unable to contain the emotion of what they had just witnessed.
"WHAT A FINISH TO THE BATTLE!" Bob shouted.
"IT WAS A BRUTAL BATTLE FROM START TO FINISH!" Carl added.
Charizard remained standing, breathing heavily, its chest rising and falling powerfully and its body covered in marks from the battle, but firm. It had been a fierce battle. A real battle. One of those that isn't easily forgotten.
Ash smiled.
"Good work."
Verity recalled Lucario to its Poké Ball in silence. She stood still for a few seconds, processing the defeat, and finally smiled tiredly. She had given everything she had. She couldn't reproach herself for anything.
"You were better," Verity said sincerely.
Ash returned the smile.
"It was a great battle."
Both approached and shook hands while the stadium continued roaring. The crowd wouldn't stop chanting, commenting, and pointing out what had just happened. The commentators could barely keep up.
"PARTICIPANT ASH HAS WON THE BATTLE AND ADVANCES TO THE SEMIFINALS!" Bob shouted.
"AND AFTER WHAT WE'VE SEEN TODAY, THERE'S NO DOUBT THIS BOY IS GOING TO GIVE US A LOT TO TALK ABOUT!" Carl added.
Ash's battle would be hard to top even though there were still many ahead — Leaf, Gary, Giselle, Corey… there were still many battles to come. But with the high level that Ash and Verity had shown… it would be difficult for people to get as excited, but still no one was discouraged because even if those battles might not be as exciting as Ash vs Verity… these were the quarterfinals of the Pokémon League. They simply couldn't miss it!