"Clang!"
It was Steel Wing!
Tapu Koko had used Steel Wing to successfully block Guzzlord's Poison Jab!
And yet—
The dazzling glow of Dazzling Gleam around Tapu Koko's body suddenly expanded at a terrifying speed, as if it was about to swallow Guzzlord whole in the next second!
Sensing danger, Guzzlord didn't hesitate for even a heartbeat. With a powerful flap of its wings, it shot skyward.
At that moment, even this Ultra Beast understood the insurmountable gap between itself and the Island Guardian.
A frontal clash was impossible—it could only win through tactics!
Even the Triple Dragon Pulse it unleashed with all its might had failed to cancel out Tapu Koko's Dazzling Gleam.
Ash came to the same conclusion.
"Guzzlord! Keep using Sludge Bomb!"
Right now, Sludge Bomb was the best option.
If Guzzlord tried to close in with Poison Jab, it would inevitably get ensnared by Tapu Koko's Nature's Madness, just like before.
Though Sludge Bomb risked being blasted apart midair, at least it minimized danger to Guzzlord itself.
Aerial Bomber Form, engage!
Having synced with Ash's intent, Guzzlord understood the plan perfectly.
It soared higher, its three spines at the tail rapidly forming spheres of toxic sludge.
This time, instead of massive blasts, it made them compact—only a little bigger than basketballs.
The advantage? Numbers.
In just the blink of an eye, Guzzlord had conjured dozens!
The tactic worked.
Facing this overwhelming rain of Sludge Bombs, Tapu Koko—bearing double weakness to poison—furrowed its brow for the first time.
"Tapu Koko…"
So disgusting!
It wasn't just physical damage.
To a divine being like Tapu Koko, the real injury was spiritual.
The sludge, reeking as if dredged from a sewer, was utterly revolting.
Forced back, Tapu Koko retreated into its thorns of Nature's Madness, weaving them frantically to skewer every incoming Sludge Bomb, refusing to let a single glob touch its body.
And just like that, Ash's ingenuity managed to stall what had been a one-sided battle.
[Sabrina: Only you, Ash… how did you even come up with something this clever?]
[Cynthia: Indeed. To exploit your own advantages so well… Ash, I see great potential. Honestly, if you come to Sinnoh, I'll personally mentor you. Next Sinnoh Champion, no doubt.]
[Diantha: Sorry, sis, but no! He should come to Kalos—Kalos needs talent like his. And of course, bring Pikachu.]
[Rose: Galar will always welcome you!]
[Steven: I'm different. Both Ash and Lance, come to Hoenn! Next Champion? The one after that too! Both yours!]
[Lance: You guys are shameless! Poaching Kanto's future star? Don't you feel guilty?]
[Diantha: Not at all. I'm just serving the Alliance's future.]
[Lance: …]
Meanwhile, Ash—caught in this tug-of-war between regions—was utterly bewildered.
I'm just an ordinary fourteen-year-old boy!
On the battlefield—
After enduring Guzzlord's relentless bombardment, Tapu Koko's displeasure was obvious.
"Tapu Koko~"
"I know how to break this."
Professor Professor Kukui pushed up his glasses, eyes flashing.
He'd already found the key.
"Tapu Koko—use Wild Charge!"
"Ka-puuuu!!!"
Having long been infuriated by Guzzlord's bomber tactics, Tapu Koko instantly obeyed.
First, it dispersed all the thorny vines of Nature's Madness.
Then—golden electricity erupted over its body!
The bolt of lightning tore through the thorns, transforming Tapu Koko into a golden thunderbolt streaking toward Guzzlord in the sky.
Its speed was so great the naked eye couldn't follow—spectators only saw a glowing trail across the arena.
Every Sludge Bomb it touched was vaporized instantly.
In the next heartbeat, Tapu Koko was face-to-face with Guzzlord, shield smashing brutally into its abdomen.
All the electricity discharged in a blinding surge!
"Crackkkle!"
Electricity coursed through Guzzlord's body. Its blue eyes instantly turned scarlet, and a crimson glow erupted from within.
It was…
Beast Boost!
The Ultra Beast's unique ability.
A desperate eruption of hidden power in critical moments—a last resort in its world of life-and-death battles.
But even that wasn't enough.
"Ka-puuu!"
One electrified punch—just one—sent Guzzlord crashing to the ground like a meteor.
"Boom!"
The earth cracked, dust erupting skyward.
Guzzlord was on the verge of collapse, saved only by the triggered Beast Boost. Without it, that strike would have ended the fight outright.
Even so—
From within the pit, Guzzlord roared hoarsely.
"Guzzlord!!!"
Its red eyes blazed with fury at Tapu Koko abov~e.
Though resistant to Electric attacks, this was Tapu Koko's Wild Charge.
It was far from easy to endure.
Charred black, battered beyond recognition, Guzzlord looked nothing like the fearsome beast it had been at the start.
Yet Beast Boost not only amplified its stats—it also suppressed pain.
As long as it wasn't knocked out cold, it could keep fighting.
"Tapu Koko~"
Tapu Koko's cold gaze bore down on the Ultra Beast.
These creatures are so annoying. Like cockroaches that refuse to die.
Ash, however, looked up at Tapu Koko, lost in thought.
Scenes from Alola flashed before his eyes.
Right now, Tapu Koko was like the final boss of a game.
Defeat it, and the game was cleared.
This exhibition match against Professor Professor Kukui was his true Championship battle.
Only by overcoming Tapu Koko could he claim the title of Alola Champion without doubt.
And he was ready to stake everything.
"It's been a while since I felt this fired up… the last time was at the Lumiose Conference. But back then—I failed."
Ash's voice trembled with emotion.
"My Greninja couldn't defeat Alain's Mega Charizard X. We lost. And losing means no excuses. I can still see Greninja collapsing helplessly, defeated. That moment is burned into me forever. I swore then: if I try harder, I can win it all!"
He turned his cap backward, eyes blazing at Tapu Koko.
"Now, true glory stands before me. This may be the only chance in my life! To restore Kanto's honor—this is my duty!"
The declaration set the entire arena aflame.
Not just the crowd in Alola, but viewers worldwide felt their blood surge with his words.
[Leon: The only chance in life? You're right. To defeat a god on the stage of battle… that's once in a lifetime.]
[Lance: Ash! I knew I was right about you! Even if Kanto doesn't need its honor restored, your vow makes my blood boil—I feel like I just won a Championship!]
[Lorelei: Then let's give him the chance. Ash, when you enter the World Championships, I'll give you a fair fight.]
[Bruno: Lance, you'd better not waste it!]
[Alain: Me? Compete in the Lumiose Conference? I'm just a harmless researcher!]
[Gary: Where the heck did you crawl out from this time! Don't you know Ash can only have one true rival—and that's me! I'll crush you myself!]
[Ash: What are you even talking about, Gary! Who said you're my rival?!]
[Professor Oak: Ah… you two really are close, aren't you.]
From this moment, the world saw Ash differently.
He wasn't just a reckless boy with talent.
He wasn't merely a kid.
For the first time, he'd shown the heart of someone who truly yearned for the title of Pokémon Master.
And maybe…
Just maybe, he could really become one.
Now, the world would witness one battle on that journey.
Would he disappoint—or astonish?
For victory required one thing above all.
Courage.
And with courage, even gods could be defeated.
(Defeating gods is my job! That's right—it's me, Pikachu!)
On the battlefield—
Guzzlord, its eyes burning scarlet, slowly clawed its way out of the crater.
With pain blocked, it felt invincible.
Victory might already be out of reach.
But before this Island Guardian, it swore to land one fierce blow.
"Tapu Koko! Set Electric Terrain!"
High above, Tapu Koko raised its right hand.
A spark leapt from its palm to the ground.
In an instant, the once-grassy field turned into a glowing lattice of crackling electricity.
Golden arcs rippled across the arena.
The Electric Terrain was fully deployed.
Within it, Electric-type moves gained tremendous power.
Tapu Koko, master of this terrain, wasn't holding back anymore.
"Tapu Koko~"
"Guzzlord!!!"
The two locked eyes, trainers calling in unison:
"Guzzlord—last Poison Jab!"
"Tapu Koko—Steel Wing into Wild Charge!"
In the next moment, Tapu Koko's arms gleamed with metallic light, layered with golden electricity.
Even the arcs from the terrain itself surged into its arms, supercharging them.
Across from it, Guzzlord's spines glowed violet—its final Poison Jab.
Both knew—this was the end.
They launched at the same time.
The sky was filled with only one color.
Gold.
And in the end—Tapu Koko triumphed. Effortlessly.
With Electric Terrain amplifying Wild Charge, reinforced by Steel Wing, Guzzlord was smashed into the ground once more.
The pit grew deeper.
Ash didn't hesitate.
In three strides and a leap, he jumped in, wrapping his arms around the massive Ultra Beast and hauling it up with all his might.
Tapu Koko: Wait… who's the Pokémon here, you or me?
After confirming Guzzlord wasn't gravely hurt, Ash sighed in relief and returned it to its ball.
The arena fell silent once more.
The score now stood at 5 to 5.
Only the final battle remained.
The field quickly restored to normal thanks to Ground-type repairs.
Tapu Koko descended gracefully to the ground.
"Ash," Professor Professor Kukui called across the field, "send in Pikachu."
"Pikachu!"
At being named, Pikachu leapt eagerly from Ash's shoulder.
Electric Terrain didn't just power up Tapu Koko—it boosted Pikachu too.
Its body crackled with overflowing energy.
"Pikachu!"
Pikachu was delighted. At last, it could unleash its full strength!
"This is it," Ash said firmly. "The final moment."
"We won't lose—Pikachu and I!"
Just like the day he'd first left Professor Oak's lab with Pikachu, he repeated that vow.
Together, they'd become Pokémon Masters.
Pikachu wasn't just his Pokémon.
It was his partner. His family.
"Pikachu—use Thunderbolt!"
"Tapu Koko—use Dazzling Gleam!"
Ah, Professor Kukui…
Even under Electric Terrain, you still call for a Fairy move?
Truly a dragon-and-phoenix duo, you and Ash.
The audience couldn't help but laugh.
But still—
Pink radiance flared around Tapu Koko, while Pikachu's body blazed golden.
The next second—
Tapu Koko once again showed its style as a close-range mage, compressing Dazzling Gleam into a shield before charging headlong.
Pikachu wasn't cowed.
Thunderbolt surged forth, bolstered by Electric Terrain, the arcs visibly thicker and more savage.
The bolt struck Tapu Koko square, piercing even through its radiant shield of Dazzling Gleam!
Unbelievable.
The Island Guardian's sacred light was forced back—by Pikachu.
"Pikachu!!!"
So this was the true power of Electric Terrain!
Pikachu's eyes gleamed with fierce joy.
It hadn't felt this alive in ages.
Right now, Pikachu was no longer Pikachu.
It was Pika-God.
The Pokémon that stood against gods themselves.
"Ash shouted: "Pikachu! Now—use Iron Tail!"
In the instant after releasing Thunderbolt, Pikachu's body sprang into motion.
It leapt high, tail gleaming with metallic light.
Whipping its tail down, Pikachu shot forward at lightning speed, aiming at the still-stunned Tapu Koko—
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