"Shelgon and Torkoal are both unable to battle!"
As the two Pokémon collapsed at the same time, Aiden Flint calmly recalled Shelgon. For a Pokémon that still hadn't fully formed its combat power, being able to take down two opponents was already more than respectable.
"Then next… go, Swellow!"
"Glaceon, battle ready!"
Ash's luck clearly wasn't great. This time both trainers sent out their Pokémon simultaneously, but Swellow was instantly at a disadvantage—its Flying type was heavily countered by Glaceon's Ice.
What made it worse was that Ash's Swellow was already level forty-eight, one of his strongest Hoenn Pokémon.
"Glaceon, Ice Beam!"
"Swellow, use Quick Attack to dodge, then Aerial Ace!"
Glaceon fired a beam of freezing light, but Swellow was even faster. It flashed past the attack and curved around behind Glaceon in a sharp arc.
"Glaceon, Dig!"
At Aiden's command, Glaceon instantly smashed into the battlefield and disappeared underground. Swellow's strike cut through empty air.
"Got you!"
Swellow tried to pull up into the sky to create distance—but in the next moment, Glaceon burst out of the ground behind it and unleashed another Ice Beam straight into its back.
Swellow let out a cry as its body froze mid-air and dropped sharply.
"Now finish it—Ice Shard!"
Countless shards of ice materialized and shot forward like a storm of blades.
But Ash's Swellow was unbelievably stubborn. Even half-frozen, it beat its wings wildly and forced itself back into the sky.
"Impressive willpower," Aiden said calmly. "But it's still not enough. Glaceon, Blizzard!"
"Swellow, go all out—Brave Bird!"
Knowing this was likely Swellow's last chance, Ash gave the command with everything he had.
Swellow's body ignited with blue-orange flames as it charged forward like a living missile.
At the same time, Glaceon's Blizzard swallowed the entire battlefield. The temperature dropped instantly. Snow and ice roared through the air, even creeping into the Pokémon Center. Spectators shivered, breath fogging in the cold.
Swellow's speed dropped as ice coated its wings. Snow fell, melted, then froze again.
Even so, Swellow forced its way through and reached Glaceon.
And then it collapsed at her feet.
Its eyes were spirals, but its body was still leaning forward in an attacking stance.
It had fought until the very end.
The crowd fell silent for a moment.
That kind of fighting spirit deserved respect.
With that, the first half of the battle was over.
Ash had lost three Pokémon.
Aiden had lost only one.
After a brief rest, the second half began.
Ash sent out Sceptile.
Aiden's eyes narrowed slightly.
So Treecko had finally evolved all the way.
Level fifty.
As expected of Ash's Hoenn ace.
But even so… it was still far below Aiden's Milotic.
Milotic glided gracefully onto the field, radiating a presence that made Sceptile hesitate.
Strangely, instead of focusing, Sceptile seemed flustered, unable to meet Milotic's gaze.
Aiden blinked.
"…Is it already affected by her Charm Body?"
He didn't wait.
"Sceptile, Leaf Blade!"
"Milotic, Hyper Beam."
As Sceptile rushed forward, a blinding orange beam exploded from Milotic's mouth at point-blank range.
The blast swallowed Sceptile completely.
When the smoke cleared, Sceptile lay in a deep crater, unmoving.
One hit.
Ash's strongest Hoenn Pokémon had been erased instantly.
"S-Sceptile…!"
Ash recalled it with trembling hands.
Then he took a deep breath and threw his final Poké Ball.
"Pikachu… it's all up to you now!"
"Pika!"
The small yellow Pokémon stepped forward, eyes blazing with determination.
Aiden watched quietly.
This was the real star.
Ash's Pikachu.
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