"I didn't see wrong, did I? Koga-san actually lost again?!"
"Unless my eyes are also bad, then no, you didn't see wrong."
"Who is that kid? He's already beaten two of Koga-san's Pokémon in a row!"
"And the second one was taken down by Pikachu! That's insane!"
"Wait, that Arbok looked like Koga-san's main Pokémon, didn't it?"
"Heh, that's impossible. Koga-san's ace is Champion Level! You're telling me a Champion-level Pokémon got beaten by some kid and a Pikachu? Don't make me laugh!"
"…"
All around the Fuchsia Gym and the nearby buildings, spectators were buzzing with disbelief.
Koga losing once was shocking enough, but twice, in succession, against a boy barely into his teens? That was unheard of. Most challengers who had managed to win against Koga were adults, seasoned Trainers with years of experience.
Ash, on the other hand, had only been traveling for a little over two months. The youth in his expression hadn't even faded. Anyone with eyes could tell he was just a boy.
Naturally, that made the sight of him standing victorious on Koga's battlefield all the more surreal.
Many of the casual spectators didn't truly understand the distinction between Pokémon levels. To them, all the lightning, shockwaves, and shattered barriers were just spectacular.
A few of them assumed Koga had simply used Professional Level Pokémon this time, stronger than usual, but not absurdly so. After all, Gym matches often varied in power. The intensity of this one just meant it was probably an "advanced-level" bout.
The idea that the battle had involved Champion-tier Pokémon?
That was unthinkable.
Among the crowd, a handful of sharp-eyed Trainers recognized what had truly happened.
They had seen the distinctive aura and power output of Koga's main Pokémon, confirming the truth, those were indeed Champion-level combatants.
And the boy from Pallet Town had won.
That realization left even veteran Trainers numb.
Since when had Champion-level battles become so easy to win?
Could that boy really be started his journey two months ago?
Some people even began whispering wild theories that he might actually be an older prodigy who just looked young.
But even that explanation didn't hold up.
No matter one's age, training a Pikachu to fight and defeat Champion-level Pokémon was something no one had ever achieved.
In all of Kanto, Pikachu was considered a beginner's partner, popular, sure, but limited.
Powerful Trainers evolved them into Raichu for a reason. To insist on keeping a Pikachu and still bring it to this level of strength… that was beyond persistence, it was madness.
And yet, this "madman" from Pallet Town had done it.
Oak's Laboratory – Backyard
In front of the television, Professor Oak nearly spilled his tea as the image of Koga's charred Arbok filled the screen.
"This kid… he actually won!" the old Professor exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement.
"That was one of Koga's main Pokémon, an Arbok that's mid-to-high tier even among his team, and he beat it with a Pikachu! He truly is… he truly is a Trainer from Pallet Town!"
The last words stumbled awkwardly out of Oak's mouth, as if he had stopped himself from saying something else midway. Fortunately, the only ones present were Ash's own Pokémon, so nobody noticed the slip.
Butterfree fluttered with joy, Primeape pumped its fists in the air, and even Gengar, who usually acted aloof, had misty eyes as it muttered softly, "The kid's grown up… doesn't need me anymore…"
The line was so sentimental it made Oak's expression twitch.
'What's with that tone? Are you his parent now?'
Still, he couldn't deny it, Ash's progress was terrifying.
Not long ago, his only chance against a Champion-level opponent had been with Gengar's direct intervention.
Without Gengar, even Ash's entire team working together couldn't have stood a chance.
But now, Ash had won twice in a row, with no external help, just strategy, Aura synchronization, and the raw power he'd cultivated with his Pokémon.
It was hard to say if he could replicate this result immediately, but one thing was certain, with just a bit more time, Ash would only become stronger.
Given his current pace, by the time the Indigo Plateau Conference arrived in four months, he'd be one of the most dangerous contenders there.
Reaching Elite Level in two months had already exceeded every prediction Oak had ever made for him.
Rising beyond that level before the Conference, would be difficult.
If Ash can train one Pokémon in four months, that would be considered a success.
Gengar's usual grin faded as he grew thoughtful.
"Still… I'm curious," he said, tone unusually serious. "Ash didn't bring me along this time. Charizard and Pikachu are both barely standing. So… who's he going to send out next?"
It was a question that silenced the group around Professor Oak.
Gengar knew most of Ash's roster well. Aside from himself, Charizard, and Pikachu, only Gardevoir could stand close to that tier of strength. But even she, as gifted as she was, wasn't above Pikachu. Maybe equal to Charizard at best.
And Charizard had only won because it faced Koga's weakest Pokémon, and awakened that mysterious rainbow fire mid-battle. Without that miracle, Charizard would have been flattened.
Now, with Koga down to his last Pokémon, the stakes were clear: this would be his ace, his strongest partner.
If Ash wanted to win… his final Pokémon had to be stronger than both Charizard and Pikachu combined.
But where would Ash find such a Pokémon?
Professor Oak rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
If they were talking about a trump card, only one Pokémon came to mind, Gengar himself.
But Gengar was right here in the lab. There was no way Ash could suddenly call for him mid-battle. He couldn't exactly say, "Time-out, I'll run to the Pokémon Center and swap one real quick."
That wasn't how League battles worked.
So, what could Ash possibly use now?
Fuchsia City – Streets
Exclamations of surprise echoed through the streets.
Ash had once again defeated a Champion Level Pokémon, and he did it with a Pikachu!
This was a Pikachu!
A common, roadside Pokémon well-known in Kanto. As a pet, it was certainly popular, but for battling… it was only slightly more favored than Raticate.
After all, Raticate's appearance and species were pretty much on par with Pikachu's. The only difference was that Pikachu could at least evolve into Raichu, though the evolution cost was a bit high, requiring a Thunder Stone.
If Pikachu could evolve normally, it would probably be extremely popular among both battle enthusiasts and collectors.
But now, a rookie Trainer, using a Pikachu that hadn't even evolved into Raichu, had defeated an Arbok, a snake Pokémon naturally strong against rodents by species, at Champion Level, and commanded by an Elite Trainer.
With all those disadvantages stacked together, let alone Pikachu, even Raichu wouldn't have known how to win!
But somehow, he won!
No words of astonishment could describe the crowd's reaction to this battle.
It was too exaggerated!
Ash's battle at Fuchsia Gym today would likely be recorded in the League's history books.
An Elite Charizard battling an Champion level Toxicroak, a Pikachu battling an Champion level Arbok, and both had won!
Such a monstrous record… how could it not go down in history?
Gary watched Ash, who had stepped back into the arena, holding Pikachu, on the television screen, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
The gap was too big… the difference simply too great.
He now had to use all his strength just to deal with Elite Level Pokémon, barely managing to defeat Erika. In contrast, Ash had already started battling champions!
What the heck, did they really start their journeys together?! Why was the gap between them so huge?!
Back in their last battle, his Wartortle could still give Pikachu a bit of trouble. Although it had lost quickly, the difference wasn't as great as it was now.
If they fought again today, even if Wartortle had evolved into Blastoise, it probably wouldn't survive a single attack from Pikachu.
He sighed softly.
"Sigh… you, why can't you go a little slower? I have to fight for my life just to keep up!"
Sinnoh region
"Mmm, I know. I'm watching it now."
"Hmm, I started watching when Pikachu battled Arbok. That Pikachu is truly extraordinary."
"Oh? He also defeated a Psychic with an Advanced Level Pokémon? Then this last battle should be quite something to look forward to."
"Fifteen years old, huh… that's much stronger than I was back then. I'd already raised a Garchomp before I even started my journey."
"Alright, I'm hanging up. Let's talk after the match."
The woman, dressed in casual home clothes, gently closed her flip phone and set it on the sofa beside her.
She had long golden hair, naturally flowing, with black butterfly-knot ornaments interspersed throughout, adding a playful touch.
Her features were delicate; her light-gray eyes carried a faint weariness and calm. Long lashes framed her soft lines, and her fair skin appeared especially fine in the shifting light and shadow.
This person was none other than the youngest Champion in history, Cynthia, the Sinnoh Valkyrie!
Cynthia had been lying at home enjoying a rare day off when Lorelei suddenly called, asking her to turn on the TV and switch to the Kanto League's official broadcast.
Puzzled, Cynthia complied, only to see a young Trainer commanding Pikachu against Arbok.
With her sharp eye, even through the television, she could immediately tell Pikachu's level was only low Professional, while Arbok was already Champion.
Such a vast level difference should have been impossible to overcome.
Moreover, Ash looked extremely young, perhaps a Trainer who had been traveling for less than a year. Compared to Koga, a potential Elite, their experience wasn't even in the same league.
By all logic, Ash should have lost.
When she first began watching, Cynthia couldn't even understand why such a one-sided battle was being broadcast on the Kanto League's official channel, or why Koga looked so serious against a Rookie Trainer. Why had Lorelei even called her to watch?
But when the battle began, all of Cynthia's doubts were instantly dispelled.
Good heavens, a rookie fighting a Champion Level to a draw… no, not even a draw, but completely dominating the Champion Level Arbok!
The moves Pikachu used were unheard of: Electric Acceleration, Floating Fall… she'd never even heard their names before.
And most incredible of all, how could a Pikachu have such destructive power and unbelievable reaction speed? Combined with those strange moves, Koga and Arbok had been completely overwhelmed.
Cynthia had seen countless high-level battles and fought in many herself, yet none of them had ever been as thrilling as what she was watching now.
Ash's name was now deeply engraved in her memory.
...
Bonus @400 PS
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