But Pikachu, with a move they've never even heard of, single-handedly crushed a Dragonite in such a state. It's simply unbelievable!
"Qu…Dragonite has lost the ability to battle, Pikachu wins! The winner of this match is... Ash!!"
The first to react was the referee, who promptly waved the flag in his hand, declaring Ash and Pikachu's victory!
The referee, who had good professional conduct, was shocked for a while before regaining his composure, let alone others.
With the referee's command, Pikachu also relaxed its tense body and collapsed.
Although it hadn't lost the ability to battle, the successive collisions had almost drained its physical strength. The opponent was a Quasi-God Dragonite, while it was just a Gym Peak Pikachu. Even in partner form, it was merely Junior Elite Level.
Facing a Dragonite in Outrage, the victory relied entirely on the bond between him and Ash.
Pika Papow is a skill equivalent to the exclusive skills of Legendary Beasts, its power sufficient to reverse a match's outcome. That's why Ash chooses to use this skill every time at the deciding moment.
So far, Pika Papow has never lost, even Electivire, with its Motor Drive, would be overwhelmed by Pika Papow's terrifying power. This is the value of Pika Papow.
Strangely enough, since debuting, Pikachu has only lost one match apart from its initial battles with Ash, that match being against Cynthia.
In that match, they just happened not to use Pika Papow.
It wasn't that Ash and Pikachu didn't want to use it, but in doing their utmost, they used all the means they could, and their mutual understanding had reached its peak. Using Pika Papow would surely maximize its power.
However, the problem was that Pikachu had no energy left to use Pika Papow. Although this match looked like Dragonite's power completely suppressed Pikachu, in reality, the gap between the two was only Mid-Elite Level and Junior Elite Level.
But the match against Cynthia…that was Champion Junior Level against Champion Advanced Level!
The two sub-levels of the Champion Level are probably more exaggerated than a major level of the Elite Level. In such a situation, using Pika Papow would be miraculous.
Yet this final collision wasn't easy either. Pikachu burst out with Mid-Elite Level power using Pika Papow, colliding head-on with a Dragonite at the Elite Peak's strongest move.
Outrage combined with Dragon Rush, a pure all-or-nothing move combination.
Fortunately, Pikachu successfully blocked it, even counterattacked with Pika Papow to defeat the opponent, which was ultimately the reason Pikachu was completely exhausted.
"Thud." Pikachu collapsed on the ground but didn't feel the gritty sand, instead, it felt like it fell into a soft embrace.
Pikachu strained to lift its eyes, realizing Ash appeared before him when he fell, not landing in the rugged soil but in Ash's arms.
"Great job, Pikachu, you did well, we won!!" Ash excitedly tossed Pikachu high, his face full of excitement and joy.
"Pika Pika~~" Although wobbling in the air, Pikachu was very tired but seeing Ash's happy face, it felt as though much of its fatigue was dispersed, even recovering some physical strength, showing a bright smile as well.
"Pika Pika~~" After rising and falling, Pikachu finally returned to Ash's embrace, contentedly expressing its feelings—under Ash's emotional influence, it felt the injuries it just received weren't that painful, and its strength was much restored, how magical!
"No, I'm using the Power of Viridian to heal you, okay?"
Pikachu: ...
Give back my moved feelings, you jerk!!
On the other side, Yuji also recalled Dragonite and softly comforted it.
Dragonite had tried its best, it wasn't that it wasn't strong enough, but the opponent was too abnormal. This time, the power Dragonite unleashed was unprecedented, stronger than any previous battle.
After using Outrage, all-around attributes greatly enhance, but correspondingly, it's extremely difficult to concentrate on using skills in that state, generally using some minor skills is the limit.
But Dragonite could even use Dragon Rush in that state, for Dragonite, it was a move beyond its limits, yet it still lost to the opponent.
In that case, there's nothing to complain about. Losing after trying your best, just means you're not as skilled, go back to train well, and in the future, revenge on Ash and the others.
"Congratulations, Ash, for becoming the honorary Trainer of the Orange Archipelago." Yuji walked to the field after retrieving Dragonite, reaching out to congratulate Ash.
"Thank you, Mr. Yuji, it truly was an exhilarating and wonderful battle!"
"Exhilarating huh..." Yuji murmured, then quietly shook his head: "Ash and Pikachu, you haven't given it your all, have you? This can't be considered exhilarating for you."
Hearing this, Ash and Pikachu exchanged a glance. To say all-out, indeed, they hadn't used everything, one being the power of Aura Fusion, the other being, Pikachu wasn't in its best state now.
Before entering the Orange Archipelago, Pikachu's level was already Junior Elite Level, but after so long, it's reverted to Gym Peak. It's fair to say they didn't use full strength.
But in fact, this battle had used all the power Ash and Pikachu could currently muster, so describing it as an all-out battle isn't wrong either.
Either description could work.
"Dragonite and I will become stronger, by then, let's battle again, Ash!"
"Mm, there will be a chance!"
...
The grand match finally concluded, Yuji, undefeated since becoming the chief Trainer, finally lost once, and this defeat wasn't a simple one but a complete and utter defeat.
Ash's six Pokemon, not even one lost the ability to battle, if people outside didn't watch the match and only saw the news headline, they might think Yuji had no room to fight back and was thoroughly beaten by Ash.
In reality, Yuji coped well, but Ash's Pokemon were not only powerful but peculiar, constantly creating unexpected scenarios in battle, otherwise, Yuji could've at least dealt with one or two of Ash's Pokemon.
At least against the first three of Ash's non-main Pokemon, Yuji had a chance to win.
Post-match, the residue of battle lingered over the entire Ganju Island, people discussed Yuji and Ash's match details at home, while Ash and his companions followed Yuji to the Palace of Victory.
This place registers Trainers who defeated the Orange Archipelago's chief Trainer.
On a stone slab, it allows the Pokemon that fought to leave paw prints, hand prints, or a part of the body's mark.
A group photo of the Pokemon and Trainers is taken and hung inside the Palace of Victory, tourists or islanders of the Orange Archipelago entering can see the photos and marks left by Trainers who defeated the chief Trainer throughout history.
Undeniably, the Orange League winners, or champions, far surpass other League Conferences, which League Conference champions leave such marks in any hall?
Only here in the Orange Archipelago.
No wonder the Orange League has become increasingly popular in recent years.