Dragapult's ghostly figure slammed heavily into the center of the arena.
Its entire body was covered in countless scars from shadow tears.
The originally radiant azure-green ghostly tail now dimmed, and the sharp horn on its head drooped down.
Its eyes were tightly closed, with not a trace of struggle, having completely lost its ability to fight.
From entering the shadow to being blasted out, the process lasted only a couple of seconds.
In that invisible shadow space, Dragapult's proud Ghost Type powers didn't even scratch one of Giratina's scales.
Conversely, Giratina's one move of Shadow Force completely crushed it.
"Shaa..."
Soon after, another shadow at the center of the arena slowly began to stir.
Giratina's massive form emerged slowly from the shadow, floating back into mid-air.
On its body, there wasn't a single trace of a scar, forming a stark contrast with Dragapult.
Its scarlet eyes calmly gazed down at the fallen Dragapult below, filled with a look of admiration.
Though it won this encounter, that was only to be expected.
If it had lost, that would truly be an incredible incident; hence, winning against Dragapult was not particularly thrilling for Giratina.
What made this battle valuable to it was Dragapult's attitude of giving its all despite knowing it could not contend.
This junior with the same attribute as itself, it acknowledged.
The entire Gym was silent.
The referee opened his mouth, took a long time to react, and tremblingly raised the flag in his hand.
"Drag... Dragapult has lost its ability to fight!"
"The challenger's Giratina wins!"
Raihan looked at the massive unscathed figure in the arena, then at his beloved companion collapsed on the ground, with an indescribable expression on his face.
He slowly walked forward, took out a Pokeball, and recalled Dragapult.
"You worked hard, Dragapult."
"This battle... It's not your fault; it's the opponent that's too absurd."
After a long time, he exhaled deeply, raising his head to look towards Ash on the other side of the arena.
The initial pride and competitiveness on his face disappeared, replaced by a genuine acceptance.
"Ash, I truly concede."
"Bringing out a God of Reversal, and yet saying regardless of victory or defeat, it counts as Giratina's loss..."
"At the time, I thought you were underestimating me, but now it seems you were just stating the plain truth."
Raihan chuckled self-deprecatingly, then straightened his posture again.
The fighting spirit in his eyes not only remained but burned brighter.
"However, to be defeated by such a Level opponent, I don't feel any humiliation."
"My goal, Raihan, is to be the man standing at Leon's level."
"Being able to witness Divine Domain Peak's power today is instead a wealth for me."
To battle the Divine Domain Peak and a Legendary Beast of the same attribute, although completely crushed and defeated, this was certainly an invaluable experience for Dragapult.
Thus, even though this battle ended in defeat, Dragapult gained much from it.
He's one step closer to defeating Leon!
After defeating Leon, his goal would be the elusive Divine Domain Level; sooner or later, he would bring Dragapult to reclaim the field from Giratina!
Raihan returned to his position, taking a deep breath, and brought out his last Pokeball.
"Didn't expect to be forced to this extent!"
"At the outset of battling you, Ash, I never imagined I would send him out because only Leon could force me to reveal this trump card Pokemon!"
Ash raised his hand to recall Giratina: "Thank you... Never mind, play well Giratina."
He originally wanted to say thank you to Giratina, but on second thought, where was Giratina struggling?
Instead, it was Raihan who got crushed rather hard, right?
Saying thank you to Giratina felt insincere, so Ash turned to say 'play well.'
Subsequently, Ash looked towards Raihan: "It's truly my honor to make Gym Leader Raihan bring out his trump card Pokemon! I will also bring out my own trump card!"
Raihan's hand holding the Pokeball suddenly froze.
"Cough, cough, don't misunderstand, Gym Leader Raihan, what I mean by trump card isn't one that surpasses Giratina, but a Pokemon I've trained step by step."
At this, Raihan exhaled a long breath, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly as he said: "If you really brought out a Pokemon stronger than Giratina, I would turn around and leave, leaving the badge for you."
Stronger than Giratina, what concept would that be? Beyond Divine Domain Peak? That would defeat you!!
Even as a Champion Trainer, he'd have to immediately surrender and hand over the badge.
Can't even fight a little!
Since the Pokemon Ash sends out isn't of Giratina's abnormality, then neither he nor his trump card would have any fear!
"Go, my final trump card, Duraludon!!"
"Boom!"
A flash of light, a majestic and commanding figure landed steadily on the stage.
It was a completely snow-white steel dragon.
Its body assembled from sharply geometric blocks, the whole figure looked like a meticulously folded sculpture made of pure white steel.
Its face was covered with a layer of yellow armor, and beneath that armor, its eyes glowed coldly with a faint light.
Jagged black markings ran from its head all the way to its tail, accentuating the striking whiteness of its body.
The entire physique exuded a sense of heavy majesty, a presence that only comes from surviving countless trials – the demeanor of a Steel Dragon.
Steel Type, Dragon Type, the Steel Dragon of the Galar Region—Duraludon!
From the audience, Misty gazed at the majestic figure, her eyes filled with genuine admiration.
"What an impressive Pokemon…"
"Those white steel scales, sharp and well-defined, look like a piece of art."
"And the aura it emits, calm yet domineering, feels completely different from the other Pokemon before."
Beside her, Serena blinked with a puzzled look on her face.
"What kind of Pokemon is this? How come I've never seen it?"
"Today, so many of the Pokemon that Gym Leader Raihan brought out are unfamiliar to me."
Serena had barely managed to recognize all the Pokemon from Johto and Kanto. She hadn't even yet fully learned those in her own Kalos Region, not to mention the Pokemon from the Galar Region.
Lance spoke softly, providing the answer.
"This is Duraludon, Raihan's ace Pokemon."
"It's also his greatest backing to dare to challenge Leon."
"A dual attribute of Steel Type and Dragon Type, with outstanding defensive power and equally impressive attack power."
"As for its Level… It's at the Champion Peak."
The instant the words 'Champion Peak' were uttered, Brock, who had been leisurely watching the battle, immediately turned serious.
"Champion Peak…"
He murmured again, his brows furrowing tightly.
"This Level is already the pinnacle that human Trainers can aspire to."
"One more step beyond that is the Divine Domain Level."
At present, no one has ever been able to train a Pokemon to that level; other than a Legendary Beast itself, no Pokemon can reach that realm.
Rumor has it that the one closest to that level is Leon's Charizard.
Yet the Champion Peak is undoubtedly the most formidable Pokemon Level among humans.
Brock's voice carried a trace of concern.
"In Ash's previous Trainer battles, I don't think he's ever faced such a Level head-on, right?"
Upon hearing this, Misty also earnestly thought back.
After careful consideration, it really was so.
Throughout Ash's journey, he had battled countless human Trainers, but when it came to the highest Level he'd faced, at most it had been Champion Advanced Level.
As for the Champion Peak Level…
"In the past, unless Ash used Mewtwo or Giratina, relying solely on the Pokemon he cultivated step by step, he certainly couldn't challenge the Champion Peak."
Misty said slowly, but her eyes showed no concern, instead gleaming with a hint of anticipation.
"But now it's different."
"Now Ash, even against a Champion Peak, already has the strength to fight."
She knew Ash too well.
After all this growth, the partners Ash had raised step by step were no longer what they used to be.
Especially one in particular…
Misty's gaze instinctively fell upon the small yellow figure at Ash's feet.
The little guy was raring to go!
In the center of the field, Ash slowly put away the Pokeball of Giratina.
He looked down at the Pikachu by his side, and the fighting spirit burned bright in his eyes.
"It's decided, Pikachu."
"Pika!!"
The Pikachu, which had been quietly staying at his side, suddenly lifted its head, and the little yellow figure dashed out with a swift leap, landing steadily in the center of the field.
Pikachu flicked its lightning-shaped tail, and the electric sacs on its cheeks continuously released fine bolts of electricity.
On the other side of the field, Raihan's eyes showed a hint of surprise.
However, within that surprise, there was more of an "as expected" understanding.
From the start, he had an intuition that Ash would send out this Pikachu in the end.
After all, this Pikachu had stayed by Ash's side from start to finish and had never been stored in a Pokeball.
A Pokemon that a Trainer is willing to keep by their side at all times and not store in a Pokeball is definitely not a simple character.
But even if he had a hunch, when Ash actually sent out Pikachu, Raihan still couldn't help showing an expression of astonishment.
Pikachu is a Pokemon that he'd heard of even in faraway Galar.
It's practically everywhere; you could casually run into a bunch in the wild.
For a Pokemon like this to grow to Elite Level is almost an impossible feat.
Yet Ash used such a Pikachu to compete in a Champion Level match and even placed it in the final position.
This means Ash's Pikachu is at least Champion Level.
"Heh, the rumors are indeed not unfounded."
Raihan looked at the little Pikachu in the arena with an excited curve at the corner of his mouth.
"I've long heard that Ash's signature Pokemon is a very special Pikachu."
"Today, I'll get a good look at what makes this Pikachu special."
Ash raised his chin, his face showing a confident smile.
"Don't worry, Gym Leader Raihan, Pikachu and I won't disappoint you."
As he spoke, he lifted the cap from his head and lightly tossed it toward Pikachu in the arena.
The cap traced an arc through the air.
Pikachu quickly pushed off with its feet, leaping into the air, and the cap landed smoothly onto its head.
In the next moment, Pikachu suddenly released a blazing ring of golden-yellow electricity.
Under the intense electric glow, Pikachu's power surged, rising to a whole new height in a blink of an eye!
This was Ash and Pikachu's exclusive form—Partner Form.
In this form, Pikachu's Level would climb another level, and its six-dimensional abilities would advance comprehensively to a new stage.
It was a comprehensive enhancement.
Raihan looked at the cap-wearing Pikachu, his mouth twitching.
"Does Pikachu have to dress up before going on stage?"
"What sort of ceremony is this?"
Ash grinned broadly.
"It's not just dressing up; it's the way Pikachu and I boost our combat strength."
In the audience, Dawn looked at the hat-wearing Pikachu, curiously asking Cynthia.
"Master, is Ash's cap something special?"
"Why does Pikachu get stronger when it puts it on?"
Cynthia chuckled lightly and said, "That cap is just a limited edition cap issued by the League, and apart from being limited, it doesn't have any special properties. What truly makes it special is Ash and Pikachu."
"Their deep bond forms a connection through the cap, so Pikachu becomes stronger when wearing it."
Dawn nodded in half-understanding.
Throughout the day's battles, the word "bond" had been repeatedly echoing in her ears.
From Greninja at the Blackthorn Gym to Pikachu here, it seemed that every time there was a strength boost, it was inseparable from those two words.
She gradually realized that "bond" seemed to hold an extremely important weight in Pokemon battles.
In the center of the field, the electric glow around Pikachu slowly subsided.
The cap rested firmly on its head as if it melded with it!
"Duraludon, let him witness the power of Champion Peak!" Raihan made the first move, "Use Dragon Claw!"
Duraludon received the command, and the forelimbs covered in dark-gray armor suddenly shone with the emerald-green claws of the Dragon Type.
Its massive body charged toward Pikachu, and the pair of sharp claws, carrying winds that tore through the air, swiped down fiercely.
Faced with this Champion Peak-level strike, Ash had no intention for Pikachu to dodge.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!!"
He chose to face it head-on.
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