"Dodrio—Tri Attack!"
Asu's command rang out. Dodrio's three heads opened their beaks simultaneously, releasing beams of red, blue, and white light that converged toward Ralts. Once struck, the attack could inflict burn, paralysis, or freezing.
"Psychic Barrier."
A surge of blue psychic energy condensed in front of Ralts, forming a translucent shield. The three beams struck it head-on and dispersed harmlessly.
Ralts' defensive options were still limited. Its psychic power hadn't fully matured yet—forcing out raw mental energy like this was already pushing its limits. Ash watched closely, knowing that if Ralts overextended itself, the backlash could be dangerous.
Fortunately, the barrier held.
"That's… externalized psychic power?" Asu's eyes widened slightly. "Even Champion-level Psychic-types struggle with that kind of control."
He stared at the blue barrier in disbelief.
"How is this Ralts pulling it off?"
Asu hadn't expected to win easily—but he hadn't imagined the gap would be this obvious either. Both Pokémon were at comparable levels, yet the battlefield control was completely one-sided.
"I can only gamble now," Asu muttered, clenching his fists. "At least I have to take one Pokémon down."
"Dodrio—Drill Peck!"
Dodrio burst forward, accelerating sharply before leaping into the air. Its body spun rapidly, three heads aligning into a triangular formation as it plunged downward like a living drill.
"It's over," Ash said calmly. "Psychic Blade."
The blue barrier in front of Ralts reshaped itself, condensing into a sharp, shimmering psychic blade. In a flash, it intercepted Dodrio mid-dive.
"—!"
A piercing impact echoed through the battlefield.
"Do—!!!"
Dodrio was struck squarely, a blue psychic shuriken embedded in its body. It was knocked out of the air and slammed onto the ground, letting out a painful cry before going still.
"Dodrio has lost its ability to battle. Ralts wins. Gym Trainer, please send out the next Pokémon."
The apprentice referee hesitated for a moment before announcing the result. Watching his Gym Leader lose again left him visibly unsettled.
"Come back, Dodrio."
Asu recalled his Pokémon and took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"Stay calm… stay calm," he muttered. "He's the strongest Champion in Kanto. This kind of strength is normal."
Once his impatience faded, Asu finally released his trump card.
A powerful gust swept across the field as a Pidgeot descended from the air, its wings fully spread.
"Pidgeot, huh…" Ash smiled faintly. The sight reminded him of his own former partner.
"Pikachu, you're up."
Ash recalled Ralts and gestured to his shoulder. Pikachu leapt down eagerly and landed on the battlefield.
"Pika!"
Ralts and Ibrahimovic had already gained plenty of valuable experience today. This round would be different.
"You're not going to forfeit?" Ash asked calmly. "My Pikachu is an Electric-type. It has a clear advantage over Flying-types—and even in raw power, it surpasses your Pidgeot."
"I'll never forfeit!" Asu shouted. "I'll show you the true power of Flying-type Pokémon! Pidgeot—Hurricane!"
High in the air, Pidgeot beat its wings furiously. Violent winds converged, forming razor-sharp wind blades that surged toward Pikachu.
"Pika!"
Without waiting for instructions, Pikachu darted between the wind currents. Compared to Pikachu's speed, Pidgeot's attack was far too slow—nothing like Ash's own former Pidgeot.
"What? He dodged all of it?" Asu said in shock.
Hurricane was powerful, and its overlapping wind pressure made it notoriously hard to evade. Yet Pikachu slipped through effortlessly.
"Thunder Mode."
Electric arcs erupted around Pikachu's body, lightning crackling across the ground.
"Pika—Chu!"
The battlefield trembled as Pikachu prepared to strike.
At Ash's command, Pikachu was instantly wrapped in blazing golden lightning, crackling violently around its body like a suit of thunder-forged armor. In this state, Pikachu's physical power and speed surged to an extreme level.
"Pika!"
With Thunder Mode fully activated, Pikachu leapt upward. The ground beneath its feet shattered from the recoil, cracks spreading outward as Pikachu's body shot into the sky. In the blink of an eye, it had risen dozens of meters, lightning trailing behind it.
"Impossible!" Asu shouted in disbelief. "Pikachu can jump that high?!"
The sight completely overturned his understanding of Pokémon combat.
Above the battlefield, lightning gathered around Pikachu's arms and torso. Using bursts of electrical propulsion, Pikachu adjusted its position midair, appearing directly above Pidgeot.
"Thunder Crash."
A pillar of lightning descended.
"BOOM—!!!"
"Pidge—!!!"
The impact was devastating.
Pikachu slammed down from above, striking Pidgeot squarely in the back. The massive force sent Pidgeot plummeting toward the ground like a meteor.
"BOOM!"
When the dust finally settled, Pidgeot lay embedded in the battlefield, the ground beneath it caved in. Its body was covered in wounds, feathers scattered everywhere, blood seeping out as it lay motionless.
"One… move…" Asu muttered blankly.
He couldn't accept it—his strongest Pokémon had been defeated the moment it entered the battle.
The apprentices watching from the sidelines were completely stunned, none of them able to say a word.
"Pika."
After confirming the victory, Pikachu calmly deactivated Thunder Mode. The golden lightning faded, and it hopped lightly back onto Ash's shoulder, rubbing its cheek against his face affectionately.
It was hard to believe that such a cute Pokémon contained such terrifying power.
"Master…"
"That boy is too strong…"
"Quiet," someone whispered urgently. "That's Kanto's strongest Champion—Ash Ketchum."
The battlefield fell silent.
(End of Chapter)
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