In the footage—
Metagross barely managed to withstand the full brunt of the Thunderbolt, but its remaining stamina was clearly running on fumes.
"We have to risk it all! Metagross, use Agility to break away, then commit to a full-power Meteor Mash!"
Alain's plan was clear: use sheer speed to create distance, fully charge a devastating Meteor Mash, and attempt to secure a one-hit knockout against Pikachu.
Even if Pikachu possessed god-tier offensive capabilities and blinding speed, its defensive thresholds couldn't possibly be as high.
As long as the blow connected cleanly, it would either end the round or heavily cripple the electric mouse.
Metagross vanished in a flash of speed, reappearing at the very edge of the arena boundaries. It raised its two massive forelimbs and slammed them together, a brilliant, starlit blue energy enveloping its entire body as it converted itself into a roaring meteor rushing across the field.
Facing the incoming comet, Ash didn't show a hint of panic. "Alain, let us show you a brand new technique we picked up during our travels in other regions! Electroweb!"
"Pika-pika-pika... CHU-PIKA!"
A condensed mass of crackling yellow electricity formed at the tip of Pikachu's tail before being hurled forward. In mid-air, the sphere unraveled into a massive, interconnected web of pure electrical energy, completely blocking Metagross's charging lane.
The meteor-like figure crashed directly into the glowing mesh, its forward momentum instantly grinding to a halt as the automated static sap completely drained its power.
By the time Metagross broke through and reached Pikachu, its remaining force was a mere fraction of its original strength.
"Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
"Chu... PIKA!"
A brilliant silver sheen coated Pikachu's tail as he spun through the air, carving a sharp metallic arc through the space.
In the next split second, Pikachu landed gracefully behind his opponent, the metallic luster fading from his tail. Metagross stood frozen on the battlefield for a few agonizing seconds before its knees finally buckled, and it collapsed heavily onto the dirt.
"Unbelievable! Player Alain, who completely dominated his matches earlier this morning, has suffered a massive setback in his very first round!"
The announcer's voice echoed across the stadium, filled with genuine shock. "The pseudo-legendary Metagross from the Hoenn region couldn't even survive four direct trades against Ash's Pikachu!"
"This isn't a case of player Alain being underprepared; rather, Ash's Pikachu is operating on a level of raw power that defies belief! Let's see how this incredible match continues to unfold!"
The commentary perfectly mirrored the feelings of the crowd. Alain's standard of power had been clearly demonstrated during his earlier sweep against Korrina, where her Mega Lucario couldn't even survive five exchanges against his Charizard.
He was clearly a cut above the average competitor. Yet, facing this overwhelming force, Ash had just secured a near-flawless victory in the opening round.
"Come back, Metagross," Alain said, recalling his fallen partner. His expression was dead serious as he reached for his next Poké Ball, a bead of sweat tracing down his temple. Facing an Ash of this caliber brought an immense, crushing pressure. But he wasn't about to give up.
"Go, Tyranitar!"
A massive, green-armored behemoth materialized onto the field, its immense weight causing a localized tremor that shook the entire arena floor.
Alain's second choice was yet another pseudo-legendary—the absolute terror of the Johto region.
The moment Tyranitar's feet touched the ground, a fierce, howling sandstorm whipped up across the stadium, blinding the view with swirling yellow sand. It was Tyranitar's Sand Stream capability.
Looking at the towering Tyranitar, a wave of nostalgia washed over Ash. He couldn't help but wonder how the little Larvitar he had protected long ago was doing over at Mount Silver. He made a mental note to visit after this tournament concluded.
Shaking off the memory, Ash called out to his partner, "Take a break for now, Pikachu! Let's give our other teammates a chance to shine!"
"Pika~" Pikachu trotted back to Ash's side, thoroughly satisfied with his performance. Even though he had completely outclassed his opponent, he always enjoyed a good battle.
Ash unclipped a different Poké Ball from his belt and hurled it forward into the swirling sand. "It's all on you, Sirfetch'd!"
"Sir-Fetch'd!"
Brandishing a massive, sturdy leek and a thick leaf shield, the sharp-eyed Galar-native Pokémon stood tall on the battlefield.
Despite facing a towering, armored behemoth that heavily outsized him, Sirfetch'd didn't show a single ounce of fear, casually gesturing for Tyranitar to bring it on.
"Is that... a Sirfetch'd from the Galar region? What an incredibly rare sight!" the announcer noted.
"Yeah, he joined my team not too long ago!" Ash called back proudly. "But don't underestimate him under any circumstances! My Sirfetch'd is incredibly tough!"
Ash had been pouring an immense amount of focused training into Sirfetch'd recently, and the wild duck's combat prowess had skyrocketed.
While there was still a noticeable gap in raw experience compared to Alain's veteran Tyranitar, it was a deficit Ash intended to bridge through pure strategy and fighting spirit.
"Sirfetch'd, let's show them what we can do!"
"Fetch'd!"
Facing the highly motivated bird, Alain took the immediate offensive initiative. "Tyranitar, use Rock Slide!"
A cluster of massive boulders materialized around Tyranitar before being launched forward like high-velocity missiles.
"Deflect them with Fury Cutter!" Ash countered.
"Sir-Fetch'd!"
Sirfetch'd deftly swung his massive leek sword through the air, leaving a series of brilliant emerald trails in his wake. Every single oncoming boulder was cleanly sliced to pieces, falling harmlessly into the sand around him.
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