"L-Liza… Miss Liza… w-we made it!"
"Rooo… roar!!"
Ash and Charizard were both panting hard—
That short stretch of road had nearly killed them.
But they finally reached Charicific Valley.
"With this level of stamina, you won't even be able to keep up with the Charizard here~"
Ash and Charizard refused to back down just because of a few sharp words.
They entered the valley to challenge the Charizards inside.
But then—
Defeat.
Defeat.
And more defeat.
No matter which Charizard they fought,
Charizard/Ash's Charizard wasn't even close to their level.
Through each fight—and through their overwhelming size difference—
The gap became painfully clear.
Charizard was smaller,
weaker,
and even his flame burned less intensely.
He couldn't even defeat Liza's passenger Charizard—
a female Charizard named Charla, whose job was just to carry people around.
For the global audience, reality finally settled in:
Ash's Charizard… might truly be the weakest Charizard in the world.
Even with passion and sudden bursts of strength fueled by Ash's bond…
It couldn't erase the truth:
His base power was far too low.
…
"Is the brat's Charizard… really that tiny?"
"Hmph! What does that matter?!
He has the Rocket Trio's spirit of never giving up!
His future won't end here!"
"That's right! Charizard! We believe in you!"
Team Rocket… were cheering for their enemy again.
…
"Hahahaha! I knew it! You're still the same trash!"
Damian suddenly burst into hysterical laughter.
His decision was right all along!
Look at Ash—
Raising this Charizard for so long,
only for it to end up a complete weakling!
There was no way this Charizard could accompany Ash to greatness.
Serves him right!
This is what he gets for embarrassing me on screen!
Let's see how long you'll keep that worthless Charizard now!
"Freeze! Don't move!"
Damian's delusion was interrupted by a sharp voice.
He turned around—
Two massive Arcanine were glaring at him.
Behind them stood Officer Jenny.
"You are under arrest for Pokémon abandonment and illicit exploitation.
Everything you have said will serve as evidence!"
Silver handcuffs clicked onto Damian's wrists.
He never expected Officer Jenny to arrive so fast.
Facing the world's largest law enforcement network,
he didn't dare resist.
He could only stare with hatred at Ash and Charizard on the screen.
They did this.
They ruined him.
…
"Roa…"
Even though he didn't want to believe it,
Charizard lowered his proud head.
His future… had already been predetermined.
He could never become a truly strong Pokémon.
His current victories were only because Ash hadn't faced serious opponents yet.
He…
He was a Charizard without a future.
"Pika pi!!"
"Charizard!!"
Two calls made Charizard lift his head again.
Ash and Pikachu stood before him—
faces full of unwavering determination.
"No matter what happens, no matter what flaws you have—
You're my Charizard!"
"And I believe—you'll become the strongest Charizard someday!"
"Besides… we're not out of options, right?"
Ash glanced at the floating text screen—
the Heavenly Store interface.
Inside were countless items.
He believed—
There must be something that could fix Charizard's flaws.
"Ash… you're thinking of…"
Misty realized instantly what Ash intended.
"That's right.
No matter what, I will never abandon Charizard.
Because—he's the greatest Charizard in the world!"
"Roa…"
This time, Charizard could not hold back—
tears slid down his face.
Ash was such a good Trainer.
And he…
He had almost destroyed Ash's dream with his own claws.
Even if I'm weak in the future… at least I'm strong now.
I must help Ash—win the Indigo League!
Charizard swore to himself once more.
"Well said, Ash!
And I believe your Charizard won't stop here!"
Leon slapped Ash's shoulder hard.
A boy with such resolve—
a Charizard with such heart—
They were bound to create a miracle someday.
…
On screen—
Charizard was thrown out of Charicific Valley
straight into a shallow pond.
Liza's voice was cold:
"No matter what you do,
you can't change how weak you are.
So sit in that cold water and cool your overheated brain."
She returned to the valley, shutting the enormous gates.
A weak Charizard couldn't survive in Charicific Valley.
Her harsh words weren't from malice—
But to stop Charizard from entering a place
where he would live as the eternal bottom rank.
Outside, Charizard could at least pretend to be a dominant force.
Inside, he would be crushed forever.
"Charizard, come out of the water!"
As a Charmander, he had survived a raging storm—
That trauma made him terrified of water.
Yet now, he stayed perfectly still in the pool,
only his tail above the surface
to protect its flame.
"Roa!"
"You… want to prove you're not weak?"
"Roa!"
"I get it…
Then I'll stay with you!"
Without hesitation, Ash entered the freezing water
and stood beside Charizard.
The cold made him shiver violently,
but he still gritted his teeth and endured.
"How can I back off when even a Fire-type like you is standing here?!"
At that moment, their hearts were connected—
Ash could understand Charizard's feelings completely.
Charizard stared at the closed gates of Charicific Valley.
A single line of inner monologue appeared on the bottom of the screen:
[Yes, I am weak.
Maybe I really am the weakest Charizard in the world…
But for Ash—
for his dream—
I will become stronger.
I will become the world's strongest Charizard!
And the only place I can achieve that—It
is inside Charicific Valley.
So no matter what…
I WILL get in!]
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