It was a battle between an Elite Four-level Pokémon at the entry-level stage and one at the peak stage; both were of the same species and were using the exact same move.
One didn't need to think hard to predict the outcome of such a clash—barring any outside interference, the latter would inevitably win.
However, if it was Ash's Pokémon on the field, the result suddenly became a question mark.
Ash was different; that was the unanimous opinion of Misty and the others who had traveled with him for so long.
Whenever faced with the impossible, Ash always found a unique way to resolve the crisis, and this time would be no different!
In fact, if Ash were to use "Aura Fusion," a predicament of this magnitude could be reversed in the blink of an eye.
Yet, he likely wouldn't use it in this battle; after all, he had chosen this "out-of-his-league" challenge specifically to let Lucario experience the feeling of being backed into a corner.
It was a situation of "break through or be defeated."
For Ash, the win or loss wasn't the most critical factor—he had already secured the Gym Badge, so the outcome wouldn't have a major impact. What mattered most was whether growth could be achieved through this battle.
On the field, Ash watched the clash between the two Lucarios with intense focus, silently praying: "You can do it, Lucario! As long as you fully unleash the power of your Aura, even with a three-tier gap in strength, the opponent won't be able to defeat you."
The next second, both Lucarios unleashed their fully charged Aura Spheres simultaneously. The two spheres tore through the air with a whistling sound, slamming violently into each other in the center of the arena!
"BOOM!"
The two Aura Spheres collided with a thunderous crash in the middle of the arena!
In an instant, a shockwave of violent energy surged outward like a tsunami!
Debris on the ground was instantly sent flying, and the sturdy Fighting-type arena floor began to crack inch by inch, radiating outward from the point of impact like a rapidly spreading spiderweb!
Misty and the others instinctively raised their arms to shield themselves, only to discover that the shockwave—powerful enough to tear through steel—was firmly halted by a pale blue, transparent barrier just as it reached the edge of the arena.
It was Mewtwo.
She had used her psychic powers to completely isolate the battle arena from the outside world the moment the initial shockwave from the clash had rippled outward.
Inside the barrier, gale-force winds raged and debris flew wildly, creating an apocalyptic scene; outside, however, all was calm—not even the slightest stir of air could be felt.
Korrina's eyes widened in sheer astonishment.
On one hand, she couldn't fathom how the terrifying shockwaves of the battle failed to spill over to the outside at all. She hadn't paid close attention during the first clash, but this time she saw it clearly: that violent, explosive power was being completely contained within the confines of the Gym!
What on earth was this?
On the other hand, witnessing the terrifying spectacle unfolding before her stirred a complex mix of emotions within Korrina—was this what a battle at the peak of the Elite Four level looked like?
The mere shockwaves alone were enough to level the entire Gym!
She still had such a long way to go to reach that level.
At this moment, the two Aura Spheres in the center of the arena were locked in a fierce struggle for dominance!
Initially, the Aura Sphere belonging to Ash's Lucario was clearly at a disadvantage. The opponent's Aura Sphere glowed with intense brilliance and was larger in size; it inched forward, slowly overpowering and pushing back Ash's Lucario's attack.
"See? I told you Grandpa would win!" Korrina said.
She wore an expression that suggested the outcome was a foregone conclusion, her tone tinged with a hint of grievance that the others hadn't believed her.
She acknowledged that Ash was strong—impressively so—but strength had to abide by the fundamental laws of the world, after all.
It was one thing to use technique and special abilities to hold one's own against a peak Elite Four-level opponent while only being at the entry-level of that tier; that was just barely plausible.
But now, they had entered a phase of direct, head-on collision. In terms of stamina, energy reserves, and actual level, Ash was completely outclassed by his opponent. How could he possibly win?
Unless he was cheating!
Misty pursed her lips and remained silent, though she tightened her hold on Togepi just a little more. A hint of worry appeared in Serena's beautiful eyes; judging by the situation on the field, things certainly didn't look promising for Ash.
Even Brock began to feel a bit uncertain.
Yet, Pikachu—standing right there at their feet—remained brimming with confidence: You guys still don't trust Ash enough!
It might not be nice to say this about my own Trainer, but that guy is a monster!
Ash isn't going to lose!
...
On the battlefield, Ash's Lucario gritted his teeth, bracing his limbs firmly against the ground; his feet plowed two deep furrows into the shattered arena floor.
His Aura Sphere was being steadily compressed, its glow dimming as if it were on the verge of collapsing.
'Is this how it ends?' A fleeting moment of doubt crossed Lucario's mind.
He stood no chance in a direct clash of power. If he had relied on the power of Aura to predict the opponent's moves and maneuver around them, victory might have been possible.
But engaging in a head-to-head clash with an Aura Sphere was an order from his Trainer.
Ash's commands had helped him defeat countless high-level opponents to date; he didn't believe Ash would make a mistake now.
Yet, how could he win in a situation like this? Why had his Trainer issued such an order?
Don't stop thinking... there has to be a reason—a reason why my Trainer gave this command.
'Lucario, did you know? Even the most well-trained Pokémon can usually only unleash eighty percent of their potential. But you are different; you can sense and control the Aura within you.'
'Why is it that, after merging with my Aura, you can suddenly unleash power that jumps up a whole tier? It's not just because of the boost from my Aura; it's also because I'm manipulating that Aura to draw out one hundred percent of the power within you.'
'If you could unleash that one hundred percent on your own, then even if your level were far lower than your opponent's, you'd still be able to put up a real fight. After all, one hundred percent and eighty percent are worlds apart!' '
Words Ash had spoken during a past training session suddenly echoed in Lucario's mind; struggling to hold his ground, Lucario paused for a moment before slowly closing his eyes.
Korrina's grandfather narrowed his eyes. Was Lucario—Ash's Lucario—preparing to give up?
No, it couldn't be that simple.
As his own Aura Sphere was steadily losing ground, Lucario's consciousness delved deep within his own body. There, he "saw" it—a dormant power waiting to be unleashed!
It was a power held back by the body's instinctive defense mechanisms—a restriction designed to prevent self-harm caused by excessive energy depletion.
Releasing it briefly wouldn't cause issues, yet almost no Pokémon could break through those internal restraints to unleash that hidden power—unless faced with a life-or-death threat.
But, just as Ash had said, he was different!
If he could master the manipulation of Aura, he could unleash that power!
He could do it!
After all, with Ash's help, that power had been unleashed countless times before; this time, he would unleash it on his own!
"Awoo—!!"
Lucario let out a resounding howl toward the sky!
In the next instant, the Aura Sphere—which had been on the verge of collapse—suddenly erupted with a profound, deep azure radiance!
The color was so intense it seemed almost tangible, shining on the battlefield like a concentrated star!
"What?!" Korrina's grandfather's pupils contracted sharply.
To think such a thing was possible!
Despite being completely overwhelmed in every aspect, that Lucario was mounting a counterattack—it defied the very laws of nature!
"Rumble—!!"
The previously suppressed Aura Sphere surged instantly, its deep blue light surging back like a raging torrent!
The tide turned in a heartbeat; the Aura Sphere unleashed by Korrina's grandfather's Lucario was completely overpowered, its blue glow dimming and fading in the brilliance of that dazzling, star-like radiance!
"No... impossible!" Korrina gasped in shock.
Gurkinn's Lucario's pupils dilated; it could only watch helplessly as the deep-blue sphere of light—charged with terrifying Aura energy—slammed into it like a meteor!
BOOM!
A deafening explosion rang out, and the violent Aura energy erupted into a towering pillar of light, completely engulfing Gurkinn's Lucario!
Dust and the lingering shockwaves of Aura flooded the entire arena; the deep-blue radiance raged like a tidal wave within the barrier, completely obscuring everyone's vision.
"Lucario!" Korrina clenched her hands tightly, her azure eyes fixed intently on the chaotic swirl of energy, her breath caught in her throat.
She had never seen her grandfather's Lucario pushed to such an extreme, nor had she ever imagined that a boy her own age could achieve such a feat.
This battle had completely defied her expectations. While the outcome remained uncertain, Misty was right: Ash and his Pokémon simply couldn't be judged by conventional standards.
Even when backed into a corner, they could still turn the tide through unpredictable means!
Misty and the others also held their breath; the light and dust from the explosion blocked their view, making it impossible to see what was happening inside the arena.
Who had won the match?
Inside the barrier, the dust swirled, and the sound of tumbling debris rang out with startling clarity in the silence.
One second, two seconds, three seconds... time seemed to stretch on endlessly.
Finally, the dust began to dissipate, revealing two blurred silhouettes: one figure kneeling on the ground, the other standing tall and straight.
All eyes were fixed on the arena. When the standing figure came into clear view, a look of joy lit up Korrina's face, while Misty and the others felt their hearts sink.
The figure standing there was none other than Gurkinn's Lucario! Although both Lucarios had undergone Mega Evolution, there were noticeable differences in their physiques, so everyone could tell at a glance that the one on the field was not Ash's Lucario.
"Sigh... I never expected it to end this way," Gurkinn sighed. Before Korrina could ask her grandfather the reason for his sigh, the Lucario standing upright on the field suddenly toppled backward; a glow flashed across its body and then faded—the Mega Evolution state had ended.
As for Ash's side, although his Lucario was panting heavily and could no longer even stand, it had not lost consciousness.
And so, the winner of the match was—Ash!
Korrina's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief; she never imagined that Ash's Lucario would actually win—and in a way that seemed utterly impossible, no less!
"You worked hard, Lucario; you did a great job!" Ash jogged to the center of the battered battlefield and helped the Lucario, which was half-kneeling on the ground, to its feet.
"Awoo..." The Mega Evolution energy faded from Lucario's body. It turned its head toward Ash and let out a soft sound; even those who didn't understand Pokémon language could grasp its meaning: I didn't let you down, did I?
"Of course not. I always believed you wouldn't lose. This battle will be a huge help for your future. Congratulations on overcoming such a major milestone in your life," Ash said with a smile.
This battle hadn't just enabled Lucario to unleash 100% of its power on its own; it had also boosted its level to a new height!
Lucario had now reached the Intermediate Elite Four level—something Ash hadn't anticipated.
Had it not been for the stamina recovery that came with the level-up, Lucario likely would have collapsed by now, resulting in a draw.
But the outcome of the battle didn't really matter; winning was great, but not winning would have been fine too—Lucario had already gained so much. "You've worked hard, old friend. I'll take you to the Pokémon Center in a bit." Nearby, Gurkinn recalled his own Lucario into its Poké Ball.
He looked at Ash with a mix of admiration and puzzlement. "Ash, could you tell me how your Lucario managed to unleash such extraordinary energy at the end? I could sense that its level hadn't actually increased; so, where did that sudden burst of power come from?"
There was no rise in level or aura intensity, yet Lucario had unleashed power far beyond its usual capabilities. Gurkinn had seen Ash use special methods to boost his Pokémon's strength on TV before, but this instance seemed different.
While he couldn't pinpoint exactly how Ash enhanced his Pokémon, it was clear that Ash hadn't actively intervened this time; the power had come entirely from Lucario itself.
That was precisely why Gurkinn found it so baffling: how could a Pokémon—originally at the low-end Elite Four level and reaching the mid-tier Elite Four level after Mega Evolving—suddenly unleash power rivaling that of a Champion?
"Actually, it has to do with controlling Aura..." Ash had no intention of keeping it a secret; the fact that a Pokémon unleashing 100% of its potential undergoes a qualitative shift in power wasn't exactly a state secret.
The problem was that virtually no Pokémon could actually achieve this—perhaps only those at the Legendary tier could.
However, ever since Ash began synchronizing his Aura with his Pokémon, he had been able to use his own Aura to unlock their full latent potential. That was the reason his Pokémon—regardless of their level—could battle and defeat opponents a full tier above them.
"So, mastering Aura control can actually achieve something like that! It makes me want to send my Lucario to you for training!" Korrina exclaimed sincerely after hearing Ash's explanation.
A Lucario that could freely control its Aura and one that couldn't were practically two different species of Pokémon!