[Leon: Haha, it looks like my future self was quite startled! Ash must have been only fourteen or fifteen then? A Champion that young is truly unprecedented.]
[Wallace: Isn't the point... Leon, as the strongest Champion, why don't you recognize the Champion of Alola?]
Leon: "..."
This is awkward. Perhaps he was too focused on battling to watch the news?
[Diantha: It's not a big deal. Aside from Leon and myself, other Champions are mostly famous in their own regions.]
[Diantha: I have my career as a world-renowned actress, and Leon is the Rank 1 of the Master Class. Only the very top leaves a lasting impression. Besides, Ash probably doesn't have a rank yet.]
[Wallace: Hmm, fair point. But wait, are Ash and Leon clashing this early? I thought they'd wait for the Masters Eight tournament.]
[Cynthia: It's likely just an exhibition match. Leon might go 1v1 with Ash. A full 6v6 will definitely wait for the Masters Eight.]
In the Footage—
Leon invited Ash to Wyndon Stadium for a 1v1 match. Ash ecstatically agreed, while Chloe quietly changed their train tickets to the afternoon.
At the stadium, unlike the packed stands from the day before, it was nearly empty; Chloe was the sole spectator. Since Ash hadn't registered for the World Coronation Series yet, this match wouldn't affect the rankings.
Before the match, Leon gave Ash a Dynamax Band and explained how to use it. Ash noted that his Pikachu didn't like going into a Poké Ball—as for how to Dynamax without the ball... they'd find a way!
The battle began! Ash chose Pikachu, and Leon deployed his ace—Charizard! Leon didn't underestimate Ash. Alola might be a new league, but a Champion is a Champion; one mistake could lead to an upset.
"Strike first! Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Pikachu blurred across the field, appearing before Charizard in an instant. "Charizard, intercept with Thunder Punch!" The golden electricity erupted from Charizard's orange fist, slamming into Pikachu and sending him flying back.
"What a reaction! Pikachu, Electroweb!" Pikachu leaped, swinging his tail to cast a massive golden net of high-voltage electricity.
"Ancient Power!" Rocks coalesced around Charizard and launched like cannonballs, tearing through the web and hurtling toward Pikachu.
"Cut them with Iron Tail!" Pikachu's tail turned metallic, slicing the boulders into smooth halves.
"Thunderbolt!" "Fire Blast!" The classic clash! Golden lightning met searing flames. The shockwaves were so intense that Chloe felt the air temperature spike. However, the Fire Blast slowly began to overwhelm the Thunderbolt.
[Lance: Do you all notice it?]
[Elesa: I saw it immediately. Pikachu's brilliance isn't as bright as it was at the start of the journey.]
[Volkner: I thought it was just me. You all saw it too?]
[Wallace: Why did Pikachu suddenly get so much weaker? It makes no sense!]
[Diantha: Leon's Charizard hasn't even used 50% of its power yet. Even with a gap, it shouldn't be this wide!]
The experts saw through the "excitement." Leon was testing Pikachu, and Pikachu couldn't even force out Leon's full strength.
[Cynthia: Have you forgotten? Pikachu's unique 'Reincarnation' power.]
[Volkner: Oh man! I forgot about that!]
[Mr. Goodshow: Every time Pikachu enters a new region, he resets 80% of his power to trade for a higher growth ceiling! This rule triggered when they arrived in Galar.]
[Professor Oak: In the imagery, it hasn't even been a month since he arrived. At most, he's recovered 30-40% of his power.]
[Professor Kukui: So... this is a 'Level 6' Beginner Pikachu? No wonder he's weaker. It looks like Ash will lose this one.]
In the Footage—
Fire suppressed lightning. Fire Blast was inches away from Pikachu! In that crisis, Ash's Dynamax Band glowed. Pikachu—without entering a ball—successfully Gigantamaxed! His electrical power surged, pushing back the Fire Blast and hitting Charizard.
Leon was stunned—not by the power, but by the illegal "no-ball" Dynamax.
[Leon: ...That Pikachu is illegal!]
[Raihan: It's a gift from Professor Oak. Mind your business.]
[Bea: I knew it was illegal the moment I saw the 'Reincarnation' forms. You're slow, Leon.]
In the Footage—
Leon Gigantamaxed his Charizard as well. He could have won without it, but he wanted the battle to peak. After a clash of G-Max moves—searing fire and crashing thunder—Pikachu reverted to his small form and fainted.
Ash lost, as expected, but it was a "noble" defeat given Pikachu's reset state. Leon gave Ash the Dynamax Band to keep and encouraged him to climb the ranks: "I'll be waiting for you at the top of the Masters Eight!"
[Lance: Case closed! Team Rocket was there to make sure Ash got a Dynamax Band!]
[Wallace: That's a very... unique perspective!]
[Raihan: But it's true! If they hadn't caused the Drednaw riot, Ash and Leon might never have battled so soon.]
[Nessa: Indeed. Dynamax Bands aren't cheap; they're as rare as Z-Crystals. Only someone like Leon could just give one away.]
[Ash: So... Team Rocket are actually good guys?]
Around the Indigo Plateau: "Let me go! I need to argue with the twerp! He's insulting our integrity!" Jessie screamed. James and Meowth held her back. "Don't, Jessie! If the Boss notices us for the 'wrong' reasons, it's over!"
In the Footage—
On the train back to Kanto, Chloe explained the WCS rules. "The ranks are Normal (Poké Ball) Class, Great Class, Ultra Class, and the Master Class!" "Ranks below 1000 are Normal.
1000 to 100 are Great. 99 to 9 are Ultra. Above that are the Masters Eight!" "Leon is Rank 1. Ash, if you want to face him again, you have to reach the Master Class before the season ends!"
Ash was fired up! "Once we're back, I'm signing up! And this time, I'm bringing my best partners out to fight!!"
—To Be Continued
The video ended abruptly, leaving the world dazed. "What? We just got to the good part! He's finally using his old Pokémon!"
[Special Inventory: Ash's Path to the Masters Eight (Part 1) — END]
[Because the next part involves deep lore from the past, we will now play a Special Feature: The Hero of Aura!]
[The Masters Eight Path will resume after this special feature.]
[Reward Recipients: Ash, Chloe (based on appearance frequency).][Rewards Dispatched. Next inventory starts in 10 minutes.]
Two beams of light descended. Ash and his friends were used to it, but Chloe and her classmates were terrified. Once the light faded, Chloe held a small manual.
"This is... a guide for Pokémon Contests and TriPokalons," she whispered. It contained secrets on enhancing beauty and performing with Pokémon. For a girl just starting to find her interest, it was perfect.
Ash, meanwhile, held a brilliant emerald stone. Steven Stone's eyes lit up. "Ash... is that a Thunder Stone?" "Pika?! PIKA-PI!!" Pikachu immediately jumped behind Cynthia. Is the sky trying to kill me?!
Ash laughed. "It is a Thunder Stone, Mr. Steven! But it's different. This one is specifically for my Pikachu!" Cynthia was curious. "Does it make Raichu stronger?" "Pika-pika!" Pikachu shook his head violently. He wouldn't evolve for anything!
Ash shook his head. "No, this stone doesn't cause evolution. Instead... it stabilizes Pikachu's current form!"
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