Ash's first match came to an end,
and shortly afterward, Gary also won his own opening battle.
The first day of the Indigo Conference proceeded smoothly.
Once Ash finished competing, the gathered Champions came looking for him—
wanting to see this legendary boy up close,
and especially curious about Pikachu, whose strength fluctuated wildly between battles.
Thus, in a villa Steven had just purchased near the Conference grounds,
everyone gathered together.
For the first time in his life, Ash was surrounded by so many Elite Four members…
and even Champion-level Trainers!
Even Ash, usually fearless, was overwhelmed.
Champions—
the very people he aspired to surpass—
And now there were so many standing right in front of him.
He was more nervous now than he was for his first match today.
"…Ash, right? No need to be tense. We just came to meet you.
You raised this Pikachu wonderfully."
Leon gently stroked Pikachu's head.
And surprisingly—
The usually wary Pikachu wasn't bothered at all.
Maybe Leon's natural affinity with Pokémon was similar to Ash's own.
"Th-Thank you, M-Mr. Leon…"
Misty and Brock sat off to the side, amused by how Ash stuttered from nervousness.
He had traveled for so long, but this was the first time he'd seen Ash this tense.
Of course, Misty kept secretly watching Ash,
while Brock—
face flushed—
was scanning the room full of beautiful female Champions and Elites with his squinted eyes.
"Miss Diantha, Miss Cynthia, Miss Lorelei!
Dear Arceus—so many breathtaking goddesses gathered in one room!
Is this… is this heaven?!"
"YANK—"
"This is a room full of Champions!
Stop embarrassing yourself!!"
Misty pulled Brock's ear until it stretched like taffy,
snapping him out of his lovestruck trance.
"Ash, may I see the Pokémon you're carrying now?"
Cynthia asked calmly, curious.
Aside from Kingler, Bulbasaur, and Pikachu—what else did Ash have with him?
"O-Of course! Come on out, everyone!"
Pop!
With a toss of Poké Balls, five Pokémon appeared:
Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Kingler, Pidgeotto, and… Charizard!!
"ROAR!!"
The moment Charizard appeared, he blasted Ash in the face with Flamethrower,
turning Ash's face completely black.
Leon's eyes instantly lit up.
"Ash, you have a Charizard?! Haha! Good taste!"
As the world's biggest Charizard fanatic,
Leon loved every Charizard in existence.
Though… this particular Charizard looked a bit… underdeveloped?
Not only Leon—
Every Champion there had seen powerful Charizards before.
And Ash's Charizard was noticeably much smaller than the average one.
But after witnessing Kingler,
no one dared assume size equaled power.
Maybe this small Charizard was secretly a monster.
"Roaaar?"
Charizard finally noticed the room full of people.
He originally thought Ash brought him out to battle—
But clearly not.
So Charizard just walked to a corner, lay down, and went straight to sleep.
"Ahaha… sorry, Mr. Leon.
My Charizard still doesn't listen to me.
Guess my Trainer level is too low…
But it's fine! One day, I'll make sure it listens!"
Hearing Ash's embarrassed laugh and seeing his slightly downcast expression,
Leon grinned and ruffled his hair.
"I believe in you, Ash!
Someday, you will command Charizard.
And when that day comes…
Your Charizard will definitely battle mine."
Charizard's eyes twitched.
That man… also had a Charizard?
And judging by the scent—its flames were powerful.
But so what?
He wouldn't obey Ash.
He was strong.
Ash… wasn't worthy yet.
"Haha, Ash, your Charizard's talent must be incredible!
After all, Leon's Charizard is the strongest Charizard in the world!"
"The… strongest Charizard?"
Ash stared at Leon, dazed.
Could he really be able to command Charizard one day?
Could his Charizard really battle Leon's?
"ROAR!"
At some point, Ash's Charizard had walked forward—
And with a loud bellow, it beckoned Leon with a claw.
It had heard.
That man claimed to have the world's strongest Charizard.
Ash's Charizard—who believed he was number one under the heavens—
would never accept that!
He wanted—
"You want to battle my Charizard?"
"ROAR!"
"But… you don't even listen to your own Trainer."
"ROAR!"
Charizard didn't even look at Ash—
only snorted a spark from his nose.
He could fight perfectly well on his own.
"…I see.
In that case, allow me to teach you something."
"This room is too small.
Let's go outside."
Leon gave a thumbs-up and pointed toward the door.
"…Wh—WHAT is happening?!
Ash's Charizard wants to battle Mr. Leon?!"
Misty's jaw dropped.
How did things escalate this fast?
"Even in Kanto, Leon's reputation is well-known."
Brock began explaining like a walking encyclopedia.
"His mentor is Master Mustard—
The legendary Trainer who held the Champion title for eighteen consecutive years!"
"Leon inherited Master Mustard's full teachings.
Since his debut, he has never lost a single battle!"
"He's considered even more dominant than his teacher—
hailed as the strongest Champion in Galar history,
and known across the world as the Uncrowned King!"
The title Uncrowned King meant:
He wasn't officially named the world's number one Champion yet—
But nearly everyone believed he would become it.
"And his strongest ace—
Is a Charizard capable of Gigantamax!"
…
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