After lunch, Ash and his friends continued their journey toward Fuchsia City.
This leg of the trip was taking longer than usual; they trained constantly as they went, and frequent wild battles slowed their pace.
Still, if all went smoothly, they'd reach the next town within a day or two. After resupplying, it would be another week or so before they arrived at Fuchsia.
If they could somehow resist getting into so many battles along the way, they might even make it in half that time, but for Ash, that was practically impossible.
About an hour later, while they were walking down an otherwise quiet road, a figure suddenly stepped into their path.
"Are you Trainers? I can sense a fighting aura on you!"
The man's voice was deep and rough, and Ash immediately stopped. He and his friends were used to this sort of thing by now, after all, half of Ash's battles started with lines exactly like that.
The stranger was a sturdy, broad-shouldered man who looked to be in his forties. Standing beside him was a humanoid Pokémon wearing red boxing gloves, Hitmonchan. Its stance was firm, eyes sharp. From its energy alone, Ash could tell it was Advanced Peak-Level.
That was already quite strong for a Pokémon found in the wild.
"A wild battle, huh?" Ash grinned, slinging off his backpack and handing it to Misty. "Alright, how much are we betting?"
With practiced ease, he took a Poké Ball from his belt.
Experience had taught him that wild battles didn't require much talking. You confirmed both Trainers were willing, set the stakes, and let the Pokémon do the rest.
Some Trainers didn't even bother betting, but Ash was fine either way, experience was the real prize.
The man blinked in confusion. "Wild battle? What are you talking about? My name's Anthony, and I'm the next champion of this year's P1 Fighting Tournament! I came because I sensed a strong Fighting-type aura from your team, and I wanted to ask if you'd like to spar."
Ash froze. "Wait, you don't know what a wild battle is?"
Anthony scratched his head. "What's a wild battle?"
Ash nearly fell over.
'Seriously? There's someone out here who knows even less than I did when I started?'
Regaining his composure, Ash patiently explained, "A wild battle's when two Trainers meet on the road and decide to battle. If they want, they can wager some money or items, nothing serious, just for fun."
Anthony coughed awkwardly, clearly embarrassed. "Ah, so that's what you meant! Sorry, I misunderstood. Then yes, I'll have a… wild battle with you! Let's say a thousand Pokédollars wager."
"Deal," Ash said immediately, stepping back to take his position. His casual attitude left Anthony blinking in surprise.
'They start that fast?'
"I choose you, Wartortle!"
Ash tossed the Poké Ball, releasing his turtle Pokémon onto the field. Since the opponent's partner was a Fighting-type Hitmonchan, using a Pokémon of similar level seemed fair. Sending out Charizard would just be bullying.
Anthony, however, looked confused. "Uh… don't you have a Fighting-type Pokémon? I came out here to challenge Trainers with Fighting-types, to prepare for the P1 Tournament. If it's not a Fighting-type, this sparring match won't really help…"
Ash blinked. 'This guy's weirdly picky.'
Battling other Pokémon was still good practice, any kind of combat built skill. Why restrict himself like that?
But since he insisted…
"Return, Wartortle." The turtle looked bewildered as it was recalled.
"I choose you, Riolu!"
"Rio!" The blue and black Jackal Pokémon landed on the field, eyes gleaming with determination.
Anthony leaned forward. "This little guy's a Fighting-type?"
"That's right," Ash confirmed. "Riolu's a Fighting-type from the Sinnoh region."
Strictly speaking, this would be Riolu's first true battle. Since his recovery, he'd only sparred lightly with Ash's other Pokémon, gentle practice matches where everyone held back. Against anyone on the main team, Riolu wouldn't last more than a single exchange.
But now, facing a same-type opponent two whole ranks above him, Ash saw the perfect opportunity for growth.
"Such a small Pokémon, does he even have any fighting strength?" Anthony asked skeptically.
"Why don't you find out?" Ash replied, his voice calm but confident.
A faint blue glow shimmered around him.
Riolu's eyes widened. He felt a surge of power rush through him, his whole body resonating with Ash's pulse. The bond between them flared like a living current.
He turned, meeting his Trainer's gaze. Ash smiled and nodded once.
Understanding passed silently between them.
It was the first time Riolu had truly felt that connection, the warmth of aura fusion flowing through him. Strength and trust as one.
From the sidelines, Brock leaned toward Misty and whispered, "Ash just activated Aura Fusion, didn't he?"
"Probably," Misty said, watching the battle closely. "Riolu only just recovered, and he hasn't been training long. That Hitmonchan doesn't look like an ordinary opponent. If Ash doesn't use that technique, no matter how talented Riolu is, he won't be able to win."
Though she couldn't gauge Hitmonchan's level directly outside of battle, Misty could still make an educated guess. If the man was aiming to win the P1, he had to be skilled, and his Pokémon's level would definitely be Advanced-Class or higher.
Meanwhile, Riolu was only at the Peak of Novice-Level. Under normal circumstances, this match was hopelessly one-sided.
But Ash wasn't "normal." With Aura Fusion, that might change everything.
On the battlefield, Ash and Riolu's auras flared in unison, intertwining like twin flames. Immediately, Ash felt something wholly different from any fusion he'd experienced before.
When he used Aura Fusion with his other Pokémon, the boost was limited. The experts in the group chat had once told him his Aura could rival the power of a god-tier Pokémon, but when shared with his own team, it only gave them a taste of that strength.
Even Charmeleon's best surge during their peak resonance had only raised him a single rank, from Advanced to Superior. Impressive, but still a fraction of what Ash knew he truly wielded.
But this… this was different.
Riolu's body, though trained, was still that of a novice. By Ash's own estimates, even with perfect synchronization, their fusion shouldn't have pushed him past Mid-Ordinary-Level, perhaps High Ordinary-Level at best.
And yet, the instant their auras linked, Riolu's power skyrocketed, straight to Early Advanced-Level.
Ash's eyes widened in astonishment.
"This… this is the strongest amplification I've ever achieved with any Pokémon…"
If Riolu could sustain that level, even a professional fighter like Hitmonchan wouldn't be out of reach.
"Hitmonchan, don't underestimate him just because he's small! Use Mach Punch!" Anthony barked.
"Hit!"
Hitmonchan burst forward like a red blur, its fists exploding in rapid motion, slicing through the air with lightning speed.
Ash didn't flinch. "Detect!"
A soft blue gleam flashed in Riolu's crimson eyes. His stance shifted, subtle but deliberate. To the untrained eye, it looked like a dance, but every motion was calculated, every movement just outside the path of each blow.
Hitmonchan's flurry of punches hit nothing but air.
"Now, Low Sweep!"
The timing was perfect.
Hitmonchan's momentum had carried him forward, his last punch missing, his stance open.
Ash had already studied the type matchups in detail. Hitmonchan's fists were his greatest strength, but his lower body stability was his weakness. A Fighter who relies on his hands will always be vulnerable at the legs.
Riolu darted low, spun, and swept his leg across the ground."Rio--lu!"
Hitmonchan's footing gave way instantly, and he toppled hard onto his back.
"Oh no! Hitmonchan, get up, quick!" Anthony shouted, shocked.He hadn't expected Riolu to dodge every single Mach Punch. Was Detect's effect supposed to last that long?
But Ash wasn't about to give him time to recover.
"Riolu, Bullet Punch!"
"Rio!!"
Riolu dashed forward and leapt onto Hitmonchan's chest. His small fists blurred into motion, punch after punch, rapid as gunfire, each one slamming into Hitmonchan's body with sharp, echoing thuds!
Hitmonchan had no choice but to cross his arms over his head, enduring the relentless barrage. Dust and air pressure kicked up around them with every strike.
No one could count how many blows Riolu landed before his arms began to slow. The little Pokémon's breathing quickened, his strength waning, but before Hitmonchan could counter, Ash's calm voice rang out:
"Retreat!"
Riolu immediately backflipped off Hitmonchan's chest, landing lightly a few steps back. Then, before the opponent could rise, Ash shouted, "Vacuum Wave!"
"Riolu!"
Still in midair, Riolu gathered power between his palms at his waist. In the next heartbeat, he unleashed a compressed blast of air, a transparent shockwave tearing across the field like a bullet.
The Vacuum Wave struck before Hitmonchan could fully dodge. Though the boxer Pokémon managed to roll with the blow, the impact still made him grunt in pain.
Anthony quickly recovered and barked, "Hitmonchan, Bullet Punch!"
"Detect!"
Ash's calm tone was a sharp contrast to Anthony's urgency. Riolu's crimson eyes flashed, and his body began to move with impossible precision. Hitmonchan lunged, fists cutting through the air in a blur, but every single one missed.
The whooshing of Hitmonchan's punches filled the field, followed by the sound of Riolu's light footsteps as he sidestepped each one flawlessly.
"Now-Vacuum Wave!"
"Rio!"
Spinning on his heel, Riolu drew his hands to his waist again, gathering compressed air before thrusting forward. The wave of force slammed straight into Hitmonchan's chest, sending him flying backward!
"Hitmonchan!" Anthony's voice broke through the impact's echo, his face tightening.
Ash, however, was already one step ahead. His hands moved to his own waist, his voice quiet but commanding:
"Riolu, Aura Sphere!"
A brilliant blue orb of energy formed between Riolu's palms, swirling with power far beyond what a Novice Pokémon should control. Normally, Riolu couldn't even use this move, but Ash's aura link changed that.
If Pikachu could wield Aura Sphere under Ash's guidance, then a Pokémon born with aura like Riolu could do it effortlessly.
The glowing sphere pulsed, then shot forward, an arrow of condensed light racing straight for Hitmonchan.
"Hitmonchan, dodge it!" Anthony shouted desperately.
Hitmonchan roared, bracing his fists against the ground and springing up into a powerful backflip. But the Aura Sphere curved midair, tracking him like a living thing.
It struck him square in the chest.
"BOOM!"
The explosion shook the field, smoke erupting into the sky.
But before the smoke could even clear, Ash's calm, unwavering command cut through the air once again:
"Riolu, Aura Sphere. One more time."
"What?!" Anthony's eyes widened. He's attacking again?
The smoke was too thick, there was no way Riolu could even see Hitmonchan in there. The move couldn't possibly connect.
But Riolu didn't hesitate. He gathered aura between his palms again, forming another gleaming blue orb, and fired it straight into the smoke.
Another deafening BOOM echoed across the road. The explosion made the ground tremble, the thick smoke roiling even higher into the air.
Riolu staggered slightly, panting, his aura flickering faintly around him.
Seeing this, Anthony seized the opportunity. "Now, Hitmonchan! Rush out and finish this! He's exhausted, this is our chance!"
But the field remained silent.
Only the fading rumble of the last explosion lingered.
"Hitmonchan?" Anthony called again, his voice uneasy. "Hitmonchan, answer me!"
No response.
As the smoke slowly cleared, the silhouette on the ground came into view, a brown figure sprawled motionless on the dirt.
Hitmonchan lay unconscious, unable to rise.
One Aura Sphere might not have been enough to defeat him.
But two, fired in perfect sync with Ash's aura, were more than even an Advanced-Class fighter could withstand.