Ash's answer left all the Champions speechless.
Truly—
You can never predict what Ash Ketchum will do next.
"Relax! He's just showboating a bit! Charizard has this in the bag!"
"For real! Charizard only took a few ice attacks, but Articuno's been blasted by multiple fire moves!
The hail's gone too! If this keeps up, Charizard might actually win!"
"Damn it!! I should've trusted Ash!!
Didn't the Heavenly List say Charizard had defects?!
How is he THIS strong right now?!
Unbelievable!!"
The global audience was already convinced:
Charizard — overwhelming advantage.
But the Champions and Elite Four didn't share that optimism.
Yes, on the surface, Charizard appeared to be ahead.
But in reality—
How many moves had Charizard used?
Flamethrower
Fire Spin
Heat Wave
Dragon Breath
And endured multiple Ice Beams and Blizzards.
Even resisting ice, damage is damage.
Charizard was clearly panting hard—
His stamina was nearly depleted.
But Articuno?
Despite taking multiple super-effective blows,
Its breathing wasn't even half as strained.
That was the difference between a normal Pokémon…
and a legendary.
A legendary's stamina dwarfs ordinary Pokémon—
twice as much at minimum.
If defeating a god were easy, it wouldn't be called "slaying a god."
This was also why people still had no idea how Pikachu once one-shotted Regice.
And now, Charizard's own congenital weakness was beginning to show—
He had grown stronger, yes,
but his damaged core and flawed evolution meant:
He couldn't sustain drawn-out battles.
So the one actually holding the advantage…
was Articuno.
"Now… Articuno, Water Pulse!"
"KRIIIII—!"
A sphere of swirling water formed at Articuno's beak—
then fired like a cannonball!
"Oh no—! Charizard, dodge it!"
"ROOAAR!"
Charizard tried to move—
But after exhausting so much stamina,
His wings just weren't fast enough—
Water Pulse struck him directly!
BOOOOM!!!
Water exploded across his torso—
then erupted into a spiraling vortex,
completely engulfing him.
Super-effective.
Charizard plummeted from the sky
and crashed violently into the ground!
The advantage flipped in an instant.
Moments ago, Charizard seemed ahead—
Now he was heavily injured and barely standing.
"I knew it…
How could Charizard possibly beat Articuno?"
"What a shame… Ash's Charizard fought incredibly well.
But the opponent is just too strong."
"A flawed Charizard against a legendary…
There's no way he wins."
Gary clenched his cup so hard it creaked.
For the first time, he fully understood Darach's plan:
First, he baited Charizard into constant exchanges.
Let Charizard burn stamina while Articuno, a legendary, endured easily.
Then, once Charizard was exhausted…
He revealed Water Pulse — his hidden trump card.
Professor Oak had warned them:
Articuno wasn't just an ice specialist—
It also commanded water.
Darach waited deliberately.
He saved Water Pulse for this exact moment—
to break the fight wide open.
"Don't you lose here, Ash…
The only person allowed to defeat you…
is me."
Meanwhile—
The world-famous collector Jirarudan,
owner of countless rare treasures,
watched with madness in his eyes.
Legendaries.
Perfect, priceless masterpieces.
Regice, Latios, Articuno…
All magnificent objects are worthy of possession.
"What a beautiful specimen…
Don't worry.
Soon, you'll be mine."
"Charizard!!"
Ash's shout jolted Charizard awake.
"Articuno, Ice Beam!"
"Charizard—dodge!!"
Charizard barely avoided the icy blast—
But Darach smiled sharply:
"Now—Water Pulse!!"
But this time, the target wasn't Charizard—
It was the frozen battlefield.
BOOM!!!
Water Pulse hit the ice sheet at an angle—
sending shards of ice and high-pressure droplets exploding outward—
A deadly shotgun blast of water and ice!
The range was massive—
Even airborne, Charizard couldn't dodge!
A combined water–ice attack.
Charizard was nailed again—
losing more precious stamina.
"Think… think…!
There has to be a way out of this…
There HAS to be!!"
Ash gritted his teeth.
Charizard's stamina was nearly gone.
Articuno was still plentiful.
On paper, Ash had already been cornered—
a hopeless position.
"Charizard—fly!!"
When in doubt?
Take to the air. Solve it up there.
"Articuno—after him!
Use Ice Beam and Water Pulse again!"
"KRIIIII!!"
Articuno streaked upward,
unleashing another barrage—
water droplets and razor ice filling the sky.
"Charizard! Counter with Heat Wave!"
Charizard beat his wings—
hot wind blasting outward!
The ice fragments melted instantly—
But the water droplets didn't.
They slammed into Charizard's body,
worsening his condition even more.
"This is it!
Articuno—Steel Wing!!"
"KRIIIII!!"
Its wings turned metallic—
shining like sharpened blades—
Articuno shot forward like a missile!
Ash's pupils shrank.
Then—
"Catch it, Charizard!!"
Charizard's eyes hardened—
his dragon claws ignited—
And just as Steel Wing struck—
He seized Articuno's wings with both claws!
BOOOOOM!!!
He actually caught it.
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