The commentator's voice rang out in disbelief.
"What is this?! Chimchar has actually converted the power of Blast Burn into its own flames!"
"Ya-ta!" Chimchar cried anxiously, turning its head back toward Paul.
In that desperate moment, it had finally broken through its limits—its strength rising once again.
And yet… Paul didn't give a single command.
"Paul! Give Chimchar an order!" Ash Ketchum shouted.
"…" Paul stared straight ahead, unmoving, as if nothing in front of him mattered.
Saikikka raised an eyebrow. "Did our opponent just disconnect or something…? Well, that works for me—Metagross, use Meteor Mash!"
"What are you doing, Paul?! What's wrong with you?!" Ash yelled, panic creeping into his voice.
This time, Paul simply turned around—completely abandoning command.
Ash clenched his teeth, anger flaring. "Damn it… Chimchar, use Flamethrower!"
"Ya-ta…" Chimchar hesitated for a brief second.
Ash swung his arm forward, pointing ahead. "Go all out! Let it rip—!"
"YA-TA!!"
With both hands, Chimchar forcefully dispersed the remnants of Blast Burn. A blazing, mist-like energy gathered in its mouth before erupting into a massive, roaring pillar of fire—slamming directly into the oncoming Metagross!
"Metaaa!!"
The steel giant cried out in pain as the searing flames engulfed it, blasting it backward over ten meters before it crashed heavily onto the ground.
It struggled weakly… then fell still.
The referee raised a flag. "Metagross is unable to battle!"
"Nice job, Chimchar!" Ash shouted, exhilaration bursting from his voice.
Saikikka stared, utterly stunned. "???"
The livestream chat exploded with question marks.
"WHAT THE HELL, that's hacks!"
"Saikikka just embarrassed Metagross (doge)"
"That Flamethrower looked like it had Blast Burn-level power…"
…
At the sidelines, the spectators couldn't help but shake their heads.
Conway frowned. "At this point… can this still be called a proper double battle…?"
Brock nodded slightly. "Yeah… but this is an opportunity."
Dawn pumped her fist. "Go, Ash!"
"Got it! Charge in, Turtwig!"
"Nae!"
Karate-ō wasn't ready to give up yet. "Zangoose, use Crush Claw!"
The gleaming claws slashed forward once more, but Ash seized the moment.
"Dodge!"
Turtwig spun in midair, narrowly evading the attack, then circled behind and unleashed a sharp barrage of Razor Leaf, followed immediately by a solid Tackle—taking Zangoose down in one decisive combo.
Off to the side, Peter watched silently, the familiar background music from the Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl echoing faintly in his ears.
He shook his head with a smile. "As expected… when Ash's theme music starts playing, no one can defeat him."
"The match is decided—! The winners are Paul and Ash's team! Congratulations on advancing to the next round!"
…
The tournament continued, but Peter didn't stay to watch. Instead, he followed the silent Paul outside the arena.
Paul released a Poké Ball. This time, a pale blue light emerged.
Which meant only one thing.
He had chosen… release.
"You can go wherever you want."
Chimchar froze in shock. "Ya? Ta-ta-ta?!"
At that moment, Ash and the others ran over.
"Paul! Are you starting special training for Chimchar again?!" Ash asked.
"There's no need," Paul said coldly, walking away with his eyes closed. "I'll catch a new Fire-type Pokémon."
"You're… abandoning Chimchar?!" Ash demanded.
Dawn stepped forward. "Didn't you say you'd grow stronger together?"
Brock added, "Are you really going to throw away all that effort?"
But the only answer they got… was Paul's retreating back.
Chimchar's expression crumbled into despair. It turned around slowly, stumbling as it walked away.
Its small, frail figure—covered in scars—looked unbearably pitiful.
Ash's face tightened with emotion. His fists clenched.
"Come with us, Chimchar!"
"Hm?" Chimchar stopped.
Even Paul, in the distance, paused and turned back.
Ash stepped forward without hesitation, kneeling down and extending his hand.
"Let's grow stronger together!"
The sadness on Chimchar's face shifted into hesitation… into hope.
"Pika, pika!" Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder, encouraging it.
Ash smiled warmly. "You know… I really like how hard you try. So I promise—I won't let your efforts go to waste. Ever!"
Chimchar stared at him, its large, uncertain eyes slowly filling with tears.
Just as it was about to respond—
"You really are a perfect match… both completely useless."
Paul's cold voice cut in from afar.
Dawn clenched her fists. "Do you even have the right to say that?!"
"Piplup!" her partner chirped angrily.
"It's okay, Dawn…" Ash said calmly, stopping them. Then he looked straight at Paul. "I'll show you just how strong Chimchar really is."
"…"
Chimchar froze.
Ash's smile seemed to shine straight into its heart. The hesitation in its eyes melted… replaced by emotion.
"Hmph." Paul shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away.
Ash turned back, his voice gentle. "Come on… come with me."
Chimchar's lips slowly curled into a smile. "Heh-ta~"
It reached out its small paw—
—but suddenly, several attacks shot in from afar.
"BOOM—!"
Explosions rocked the ground, kicking up clouds of dust. In the chaos, a giant mechanical claw snatched Chimchar away.
Dawn gasped. "That's—?!"
Brock's eyes sharpened. "Pin Missile and Bullet Seed!"
"Which means…"
All three looked up.
A massive Meowth-shaped hot air balloon floated overhead.
The Team Rocket trio struck their pose.
"Prepare for trouble—!"
"Make it double—!"
Ash's eyes widened. "Chimchar!"
Jessie smirked. "We heard the call of 'Chimchar'!"
James grinned. "So we rushed here at the speed of light!"
"Wind!"
"Earth!"
"Sky, meow~!"
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket, blast off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now, or prepare to fight!"
"Meowth, that's right!"
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet popped out.
"Mime Jr.!" Mime Jr. spun happily.
Ash shouted, "Team Rocket, what are you planning to do with Chimchar?!"
James grinned. "A hardworking Chimchar like that is perfect for Team Rocket!"
Jessie added, "We'll make it evolve quickly—then it'll be even stronger!"
Meowth rubbed his paws. "And if we get a Soothe Bell too, it'll be perfect, meow~"
Jessie suddenly brightened. "Oh right! Chimchar, if you join us, we'll even give you your own special catchphrase~!"
Chimchar struggled desperately, refusing to respond.
"Everyone, let's go save Chimchar!" Ash shouted.
James laughed. "Not so fast—Cacnea, Carnivine! Use Pin Missile and Bullet Seed!"
Another barrage of attacks filled the air with dust and chaos.
Ash refused to back down. "Chimchar, hang on! I'm coming to save you!"
Hearing those words, something deep inside Chimchar stirred.
"FWOOSH!!"
The flame on its tail suddenly exploded, blazing wildly—growing several times larger than its own body.
"YAH—TA!!!"
A terrifying Flamethrower erupted skyward, engulfing the entire balloon.
"BOOM—!"
The hot air balloon exploded on the spot, sending Team Rocket blasting off again.
"What a twerpy feeling—!!"
Chimchar fell weakly from the sky—but in a classic move, Ash leapt up and caught it midair. The two crashed to the ground together.
For someone like Ash, though, this was nothing.
He sat up, completely unharmed. "Are you okay, Chimchar?"
"Ha-ta…" Chimchar nodded.
"That Flamethrower just now was incredible! Come with us!"
Chimchar smiled brightly. "Yih-ha!"
"Alright! Let's go, Chimchar!"
Ash tossed a Poké Ball into the air. Chimchar leapt up, tapping the button—
—and transformed into a beam of red light, entering the ball.
From behind a nearby tree, Peter watched with a faint smile before turning his gaze away.
Standing beside him, Paul leaned against the trunk, arms behind his head.
"Are you really okay with giving up like that?" Peter asked.
Paul closed his eyes. "It… probably suits someone soft-hearted better. That Flamethrower just now proves it."
He paused, then added coldly:
"A flower raised in a greenhouse… can't withstand real storms."
With that, he shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away.
Peter watched his departing figure, the smile on his lips slowly deepening.