Ding! Pidgeot defeated Bulbasaur. Gained 1,659 experience points. Level up. Current level: Lv.68.
Two consecutive losses.
Ash clenched his teeth and recalled Bulbasaur.
This time, he had truly brought all his strongest partners—his earliest companions, the six Pokémon with the deepest bonds and greatest strength. If he still couldn't win…
Then he would have failed their efforts.
The pressure weighed heavily on him.
Finally, he sent out his strongest Pokémon at this moment.
"I'm counting on you—Charizard!"
Ding! Charizard's current attributes:
Pokémon: Charizard
Level: 65
Ability: Blaze
Type: Fire / Flying
Aptitude: Gold
Mega Evolution: Locked
Moves: Dragon Claw, Seismic Toss, Flamethrower, Fire Spin, Steel Wing, Dragon Rage…
Level 65. Elite-tier Charizard.
As expected of the king of Charicific Valley—undisputed No.1 in Ash's lineup.
"Charizard really is strong," Aiden said lightly. "In that case… my choice is him."
He recalled Pidgeot and released another Poké Ball.
Sceptile appeared.
Ash blinked in surprise—then grinned with excitement.
Sceptile was Aiden's original partner.
Choosing it meant recognition.
Even against Tyson, Aiden had only used two Pokémon.
"Sceptile," Aiden said calmly, "our opponent isn't weak. Mega Evolve."
If he was going to defeat Ash overwhelmingly, then facing his strongest Pokémon with Mega Evolution was perfectly reasonable.
Light burst forth.
Mega Sceptile descended onto the field.
After Mega Evolution, it gained the Dragon type and the Ability Lightning Rod, rendering Electric-type attacks ineffective.
Originally, Aiden had planned to use Mega Sceptile against Pikachu.
But this worked just as well.
Sceptile would handle Charizard.
As for Pikachu—
It could face Rayquaza.
After all, they were both aces.
…
"Mega Sceptile—Dragon Pulse!"
The draconic energy surged forward.
Charizard roared defiantly.
"Dragon Rage!"
The sphere of draconic energy collided with Dragon Pulse, triggering a violent explosion.
Using the smoke as cover, Charizard lunged forward, aiming to grab Sceptile for Seismic Toss.
"Dragon Tail!"
Mega Sceptile's massive tail, wreathed in a dragon phantom, whipped out.
The strike sent Charizard flying.
"Press in—Leaf Blade!"
In a flash, Sceptile appeared before Charizard. Twin blade-arms slashed down across its neck.
The cut was deep.
Blood spilled.
Charizard's eyes flared with fury.
"Charizard! Go all out—Burn Up!"
At close range, the ultimate Fire-type attack erupted.
Mega Sceptile couldn't evade.
It took the attack head-on.
Fortunately, its added Dragon typing mitigated the damage.
Without Mega Evolution—
That Burn Up might have knocked it out instantly.
But there were no "ifs."
Between the explosion and the grievous wounds from Leaf Blade—
Charizard collapsed.
Three consecutive knockouts.
Ash's first half was over.
Ding! Mega Sceptile defeated Charizard. Gained 2,000 experience points. Level up. Current level: Lv.74. Sceptile's normal level: Lv.69.
"Charizard is unable to battle! Sceptile wins! As three of Ash's Pokémon have lost the ability to battle, the first half concludes!"
Ash quickly recalled Charizard, asking May to rush it to the Pokémon Center.
Then he looked up at Aiden.
Why… could he never surpass this man?
The second half began.
"Snorlax—let's go!"
Seeing the agile heavyweight, Aiden smiled faintly and released his Shiny Aggron from a Luxury Ball.
The moment both Pokémon appeared, they instinctively nodded at each other.
A worthy heavyweight opponent.
The commentator gasped.
"Aiden keeps surprising us! Earlier it was a Shiny Donphan—now a Shiny Aggron! Since when did Shiny Pokémon become this common?!"
Sidney added with a dry laugh, "The outcome may already be clear… but both trainers have the potential to challenge the Elite Four—even the Champion. I'll be waiting for you in the Elite trials."
Ding! Snorlax's current attributes:
Pokémon: Snorlax
Level: 61
Ability: Thick Fat
Type: Normal
Aptitude: Gold
Mega Evolution: Locked
Moves: Defense Curl, Belly Drum, Rollout, Hyper Beam, Ice Punch, Metronome, Body Slam…
Ash's Snorlax was also Elite-tier.
Counting Charizard, Sceptile, Pikachu, and now Snorlax—
Ash already possessed four Elite-level Pokémon.
Though still early-stage Elite, he was only two away from being a complete Elite-tier trainer.
In time, his growth would be terrifying.
"Snorlax—Belly Drum! Defense Curl! Then Rollout at full power!"
Ash called out commands rapidly.
Aiden's lips curved slightly.
He was truly going all in.
Belly Drum sacrificed half of Snorlax's HP to maximize its Attack.
Even if its level was slightly lower than Shiny Aggron's, that power boost made it dangerous.
"Aggron—Iron Defense. Then use Superpower. Stop it head-on."
The collision—
Was imminent.
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