"Dragon Pulse!"
"Giant Water Shuriken!"
"Graaaaargh!"
Mega Charizard X unleashed a roaring Dragon Pulse from its mouth!
The surging energy coiled into the shape of a raging dragon, soaring skyward before crashing down toward Greninja with overwhelming force.
Greninja reached behind its back, gripping the massive blade-like wings of the Water Shuriken with one hand and raising it high overhead.
Power surged through its body, and in an instant, the shuriken swelled to an enormous size!
With a mighty swing, Greninja hurled the colossal weapon toward the incoming Dragon Pulse!
"Again with that move? Ash-senpai and his Greninja's Giant Water Shuriken really is overwhelming. My Mega Sceptile couldn't withstand it… but Alain should be able to hold on. Ash-senpai, what's your next move?"
From the stands, Sawyer—now only a spectator—watched with shining eyes.
Before his gaze, the Giant Water Shuriken and Dragon Pulse collided head-on!
Shhhhhhkk!
The instant they clashed, the Giant Water Shuriken tore through Dragon Pulse without hesitation.
Charizard X's pupils widened in shock just as the shuriken slammed straight into its chest!
"GRAAAHH!"
A pained roar echoed as its wings faltered mid-flap. Its mighty body plummeted from the sky like a falling meteor.
"Kroaaa!"
Greninja too dropped from the air, but with its powerful legs, it absorbed the impact effortlessly, landing unharmed.
"That was intense! Alain's Mega Charizard X against Ash's special Greninja—what a spectacular clash of moves! The power is off the charts!"
The announcer's voice boomed with excitement, almost as if he wanted to leap into the battlefield himself.
"Alain's Charizard X is down! Can it get back up? Alain is down to his very last Pokémon—this Charizard X! If it can't stand, then the Kalos League finals will be decided right here! Can he still pull off a miracle?"
The crowd's hearts raced, tension rising with every word from the commentator.
"Stand up, Charizard! Stand up! We promised we'd grow stronger together! You can't fall here!"
Alain clenched his fists as he looked at his fallen partner.
Back when he first met Ash, he had dreamed of challenging his Sceptile with Charizard.
But now… Ash's Greninja, who had risen later, had already surpassed them.
Didn't this mean that while Alain believed he was getting stronger… the gap between him and Ash had actually grown wider?
No!
The prideful Alain refused to accept such a fate!
He and his Charizard would become the strongest!
"Graaaaargh!"
With a mighty roar, Charizard X forced itself upright once more.
"Kroaaa!"
Greninja exchanged a glance with Ash, both knowing exactly what to do.
"Alain, this next move will be the last one. I prepared it specifically for your challenge."
"Kroaaa!"
Greninja raised a newly formed Water Shuriken above its head, balancing it flat against its palm.
Suddenly, the shuriken began to spin—faster and faster.
Alain and Charizard X locked eyes, their determination burning as one.
"Fine! Let's decide it right here! Blast Burn!"
Alain already knew the outcome.
But even if he lost, he would lose charging forward!
This was Charizard's third Blast Burn. Its body could barely withstand the recoil anymore.
Above, Greninja's spinning shuriken rotated with ever-increasing speed.
Finally, a brilliant golden hue flickered into existence!
That golden glow came from power compressed to its absolute limit.
When Greninja's shuriken turned completely golden, the rotation accelerated even further, pulling in an immense force.
"Greninja, Golden Water Shuriken!"
Ash's voice thundered as the radiant golden shuriken sliced through the air toward Charizard X!
Charizard X roared defiantly, slamming a fist against the ground!
BOOOOM!!!
Flames erupted skyward like blazing pillars!
The battlefield itself seemed as if Blast Burn would consume it entirely!
Greninja's Golden Water Shuriken, glowing with blinding brilliance, crashed against Charizard X's ultimate Blast Burn under the gaze of thousands.
"Alain, in the original timeline, no matter how much Greninja fought, your Charizard X never seemed to tire. Even Ash's Giant Water Shuriken and Golden Water Shuriken looked like they only made your Charizard stronger. Fans even joked that the Golden Water Shuriken was actually the Golden Healing Shuriken. But this time… things won't end the same way!"
Ash's heart pounded with excitement. His greatest regrets had always been Darkrai's trainer in the Sinnoh League—Tobias—and Alain in the Kalos League.
And now, both regrets were about to be rewritten!
Golden Water Shuriken and Charizard X's full-powered Blast Burn slammed into each other once again!
Golden light exploded!
Flames roared skyward, wild and untamed!
Every spectator stared without blinking.
The moment of truth had come.
Would the victor finally be revealed?!
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T/N:
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