Snorlax had unleashed everything.
After Belly Drum, its already terrifying Attack skyrocketed. Combined with Defense Curl and Rollout—and its overwhelming body mass—the power behind that spinning charge was monstrous.
But—
Aggron stepped back with its right leg, arms raised, bracing itself.
Then it met the charge head-on.
Snorlax had turned into a perfectly rounded boulder, rolling forward at full speed, grinding violently against Aggron's armored frame.
Even with Aggron's immense strength, it was forced backward step by step.
"Aggron, hold the line! Brick Break!"
Aiden changed tactics instantly.
If Rollout continued successfully, its power would double each time. Letting it chain uninterrupted would be disastrous.
He had to break the momentum.
Aggron's right claw flared with Fighting-type energy—
Brick Break struck.
With double effectiveness, Snorlax cried out, its rolling speed dropping sharply.
"Snorlax! Hang on—keep rolling!"
Ash's voice rang out.
Snorlax roared and forced itself to accelerate again.
Two giants locked in a brutal contest of power.
Thirty seconds.
Grinding.
Impact.
Shockwaves rippled across the battlefield.
In the end—
Aggron prevailed.
Another Brick Break shattered the Rollout sequence entirely.
Snorlax toppled onto its back.
Aggron roared and drove forward—
Focus Punch.
One blow.
Knockout.
Snorlax's stamina was immense, but after sacrificing half its HP with Belly Drum, it had left itself vulnerable.
Under sustained Fighting-type attacks, it simply couldn't endure.
Still—
If Aggron hadn't been strong enough to withstand that initial Rollout, the momentum might have shifted.
Ash had truly improved.
Ding! Aggron defeated Snorlax. Gained 1,985 experience points. Level up. Current level: Lv.66.
Silence fell over Ash.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then Pikachu nudged him encouragingly.
Ash flipped his cap backward.
"Go—Squirtle!"
Ding! Squirtle's current attributes:
Pokémon: Squirtle
Level: 59
Ability: Torrent
Type: Water
Aptitude: Purple
Mega Evolution: Locked
Moves: Water Gun, Hydro Pump, Rapid Spin, Withdraw, Skull Bash, Aqua Jet, Aura Sphere…
His fifth Pokémon.
The former leader of the Squirtle Squad.
If not for the twists of fate in past journeys, this trio—Charizard, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle—should long ago have reached mid-to-high Elite tier together.
"Water-type?" Aiden smiled faintly. "Then this one's yours—Milotic."
Gasps rose from the audience.
Throughout the tournament, Aiden hadn't constantly rotated Pokémon like this.
But in the finals—
He was deploying them one by one.
Was this respect for Ash?
Or overwhelming confidence?
Aiden's answer was simple—
He wanted every one of his main team members to have their moment on the League stage.
As for Regirock, Latios, Latias, Kyogre, Groudon…
There would be plenty of chances during Elite Four and Champion challenges.
"Squirtle! Skull Bash!"
Squirtle dramatically adjusted its sunglasses.
Its aura changed instantly as it charged forward.
If there were a caption, it would read:
"Take this—Turtle Headbutt!"
Milotic let out a soft cry.
Its beautiful tail, wrapped in flowing water, lashed forward—
Aqua Tail.
The collision rang out sharply.
Squirtle felt a crushing force slam into its head—
The impact literally knocked its head back into its shell.
Then it was sent flying.
When Squirtle landed and looked at Milotic—
Its eyes turned pink.
Both were Water-types.
But Milotic's gender and its Ability, Cute Charm, had triggered upon contact.
Squirtle was infatuated.
It couldn't attack.
"Then finish it. Milotic—Ice Beam."
A beam of freezing energy shot forward.
Squirtle was instantly frozen solid.
Ding! Milotic defeated Squirtle. Gained 1,685 experience points. Level up. Current level: Lv.68.
Only one Pokémon remained.
"Well… it's come down to Ash's final Pokémon! Can he turn the tide?!"
Ash clenched his fists.
"Pikachu… I'm counting on you!"
Pikachu leapt onto the battlefield, sparks dancing across its cheeks.
Its eyes burned with determination.
The final ace—
Had arrived.
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