The impact on the ground was thunderous. A massive cloud of dust billowed upward, momentarily veiling the battlefield from the eyes of Professor Birch and Chloe.
But the sound alone told the story—a heavy, final thud that signaled the end of a rivalry. When the dust finally settled, the picture became clear.
Pikachu had landed gracefully on all fours, his sparks dissipating into a calm hum. Beneath him, Flygon lay motionless in a crater, its eyes swirled in defeat.
[Lance: Good grief. Is this Pikachu about to complete a full six-Pokémon sweep? Is he really this fierce now?]
[Caitlin: Lance, where did you pick up that accent? 'Turtle Turtle'? Really?]
[Sabrina: Your focus is incredibly strange, both of you. Shouldn't we be looking at the sheer power level here?]
[Volkner: Exactly. Look at Pikachu's strength. There is no longer any doubt—this Pikachu has reached the Champion tier. Its control over its environment is absolute.]
[Leon: It's remarkable. This time, Pikachu's growth is faster than any of his previous 'resets,' isn't it? Usually, he starts a new region a bit rusty, but here...]
[Wallace: Could it be because Galar is the 'final' region in this timeline? Perhaps Pikachu's latent potential has finally reached its zenith, causing his growth rate to accelerate exponentially.]
[Cynthia: That's a poetic theory, Wallace, but I believe in something more grounded. Pikachu's strength is a direct echo of Ash's soul. In the past, Ash's maturity as a trainer fluctuated, and Pikachu followed that wave. But the Ash we see now... he provides a sense of absolute stability. He isn't just a boy with strong Pokémon; he is a Champion-level commander. Because Ash has reached this peak, Pikachu has responded by rising to meet him instantly.]
The world watched in awe. Cynthia's explanation resonated with the masses. It was a known phenomenon that Pokémon reflect the heart of their trainer.
A Champion training a common Rattata would yield results vastly different from a novice doing the same. Ash and Pikachu's bond had transcended the normal limits of the world.
This revelation only heightened the anticipation for the upcoming Master Eight Tournament. Who would face Leon's Charizard? Would it be Ash's Charizard in a battle of fire, or Pikachu in a battle of legends?
[Blaine: Wait, did anyone else notice what Pikachu was doing in the air? Against Latios, he used the momentum of a dive. But just now? He did a parallel sprint through the sky! Is he literally flying now?]
[Volkner: I think I understand it. Remember the 'Thunder' Pikachu used at the start? That wasn't just an attack. It was so powerful that it turned the entire battlefield into an Electric Terrain. Look at the golden arcs still dancing on the ground.]
[Elesa: Oh! I see it! Under the influence of such a dense electric field, Pikachu is using electromagnetism to levitate his own body! He's effectively turned himself into a magnetic railgun. He isn't flying; he's 'falling' horizontally toward his target!]
[Volkner: Precisely. To achieve that kind of on-the-spot tactical adaptation... I don't think even Leon could come up with that in the heat of the moment. Ash's mind works in ways we can't predict.]
[Leon: Hehe, comparing me to Ash? You're giving me too much credit. I fight with power and perfection, but Ash fights with the impossible.]
In the Footage—
With Flygon's defeat, the rematch of the Silver Conference rivals ended in a staggering 3-0 sweep.
Harrison, the man who had once stood as a wall in Ash's path, had been dismantled without taking a single one of Ash's Pokémon down. It was a sobering realization, but Harrison didn't look bitter.
Ash had brought out his "Original Three"—Snorlax, Charizard, and Pikachu—specifically to honor their history. He had avenged his younger self's loss with absolute grace.
Harrison recalled Flygon and walked to the center of the field, extending his hand. "I really didn't expect this, Ash. You've moved so far ahead of me that I can barely see your back anymore."
"Hehe, I can't stay in the same place forever, right? I've got to keep getting better!" Ash replied with a grin that was both mature and familiar.
This victory pushed Ash's World Coronation Series ranking to 750, placing him firmly within the Super Class and inches away from the Great Ball tier.
After the battle, the group sat down to talk. Harrison shared his plan to head to Kanto for the Indigo Plateau's next session, while Ash spoke of his travels through Hoenn.
Chloe listened, mesmerized. To her, these stories of adventure were like fairy tales coming to life.
She admired Ash's passion, though a small part of her felt a twinge of "hostility" every time a new female name appeared in his stories.
"The Fallarbor Contest was where May won her first ribbon," Ash explained to Chloe as they boarded a bus later that day.
"She was so nervous back then! She was even more timid than you, and she didn't even like Pokémon at first. You guys are actually quite similar!"
Chloe's eye twitched. "Excuse me? Calling a girl 'timid and ignorant' is incredibly rude! And you said it about both of us!"
"Haha, sorry, sorry! It just slipped out!"
Chloe pouted, looking out the window. "So... how do you remember May so clearly? That was years ago, wasn't it?"
Ash leaned back, hands behind his head, a nostalgic look softening his features. "How could I forget? We traveled together for so long.
Misty, Brock, May, Max, Tracey, Dawn, Iris, Cilan, Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, Mallow, Lillie, Lana, Sophocles, Kiawe... no matter how much time passes, they're my family. I remember every step we took."
Chloe looked at his face, her heart sinking slightly. Will I just become another name on that list? she wondered.
Or can I be the one who stays by his side? She shook the thought away, blushing. "Tell me more about May. I want to hear about the 'Princess of Hoenn' from someone who actually knows her."
"Sure! At the start, May was..."
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