As mentioned before, once a Pokémon breaks into the Champion level, it becomes capable of drawing in external elemental energy to enhance the power of its moves.
This is different from simply restoring stamina—it's a direct borrowing of natural elemental forces.
Abilities like Blaze are similar to this Champion-level potential. When a Fire-type Pokémon with Blaze is pushed to its limits, it isn't only pushing its physical endurance—it is actively pulling in fire-aspected energy from the environment to empower its moves.
Because of this, a Pokémon's Ability becomes a major passive skill.
At Champion level, when a Pokémon enters its Blaze state, its move power can rise nearly half a tier higher, an enormous increase.
However—what is rare and difficult for others is absolute in Ash's eyes.
To others, Blaze triggers only under certain conditions.
But to Ash, the trigger rate is 100%.
The reason, of course, lies in the Sharingan.
As previously mentioned, besides perception and copying abilities, the Sharingan can borrow elemental energy from the environment—similar to how Uchiha in the Naruto world copy elemental jutsu beyond their own natural affinity.
Thus, the Sharingan has a third power, one overlooked even by the Uchiha: the ability to draw in and transfer elemental force.
Ash can channel the fire element stored in the Sharingan directly into a Pokémon's body, while isolating other surrounding elements—making the triggering of Blaze nearly guaranteed.
The reason Kyle's Infernape never managed to trigger Blaze was simple:
The fire element in the battlefield had already been almost completely depleted.
Meanwhile, Ash deliberately chose Arcanine earlier specifically because a Fire-type Pokémon, when attacking and restoring stamina, will naturally absorb any available fire element around them.
In the second match, Ash chose Pidgeot instead of Charizard for the same reason—using Charizard would have made it obvious how little fire element remained in the area. To avoid Kyle noticing this, Pidgeot was used as cover to divert attention.
Ash spoke calmly:
"Fire-types have a natural weakness. The fire element in a battlefield cannot support more than three Fire-type Pokémon in succession."
"And I knew your preference—you love Fire-types. So in every exchange, I left openings—just enough to tempt you. You kept focusing on the attacks, not on the state of the battlefield's elemental balance."
"You realized the fire element was thinning—but you ignored it.
You chose aggression over patience."
With every sentence, the color drained from Kyle's face.
If he had resisted even once, if he had stepped back and let his Blaziken charge its Blaze state, he could have reversed the entire match.
But he didn't.
He fell right into Ash's rhythm—every single time.
Reception Room
Elder Verenza:
"Remarkable… Ash was calculating the battlefield from the very first exchange. This is the precision of true analytical combat."
Nate Mugino:
"He got you good this time, Kyle. Loving Fire-types isn't wrong—but you can't depend on one element alone and expect no one to exploit it."
Skye Draconis:
"He's right. Even if you prefer Fire-types, you must raise Pokémon of other elements. Otherwise, you're announcing your weakness to your opponent."
Kazuya Verenza:
"He's had a smooth path up to now. Hitting this wall early is good. Better to learn now than later in a tournament where the cost is real."
"So this is true data-style battling…"
Nathan Glacienne sat in the audience, notebook open, glasses reflecting the battlefield. Even from a distance, he recorded every detail of Ash's battles—movement patterns, elemental flow, timing rhythm… everything.
He had always admired strategic battlers, but this… this was on another level entirely.
Especially after witnessing Ash's match with Kyle Verenza.
At first, Nathan thought Ash was fighting as usual. But now he understood—Ash's calculations had begun from the very first moment of the match. Every exchange, every choice, every tempo shift… had already been mapped out.
Kyle never even realized he had been pulled in.
Kyle clenched his fist, returning his Infernape to its Poké Ball.
"Infernape… you did great. I was the careless one. I'm sorry."
Then he raised his next Poké Ball.
"Come back out—Magcargo."
Even though Ash's analytical approach left Kyle feeling shaken and humbled, he had believed the gap between them couldn't be that large.
He was wrong.
Ash's strategic control had exposed Kyle's greatest weakness.
Kyle now understood what Ash meant earlier—Even if one loves Fire-type Pokémon, relying on only one attribute is the same as revealing your weakness in advance.
And if multiple Fire-types are used consecutively…
The fire-element density in a battlefield will drop.
It wasn't that the fire element disappeared completely—just like the wind in the air, elements are always present.
But concentration varies:
Some places are rich in fire element
Some are nearly barren
Water-type arenas naturally hold far more water element than fire element
Kyle had never considered this before—because ever since he began his journey, he had rarely suffered defeat.
His fire-types had always overwhelmed others.
But now he finally understood—
A battlefield is not just a stage.
It is a resource.
And once the fire element is depleted, even a Champion-level Fire-type will fail to trigger Blaze or elemental amplification.
Ash had known this from the start—and used it.
While Kyle charged forward, Ash had been controlling the very environment.
Kyle inhaled deeply, his frustration replaced by clarity.
"…I understand now. I need other types. I need to train a more complete team."
He finally made his resolve:
I will no longer limit myself.
I will grow—and one day, I will return to challenge you again, Ash.
Nathan Glacienne closed his notebook quietly.
"So that's the difference… data isn't just numbers. It's seeing everything—the field, the flow, the opponent, the future…"
His eyes shone, not with envy, but with determination.
"One day… I'll bring my own perfected data-style to face you, Ash Ketchum."
...
TN:
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