Without the slightest hesitation, Tapu Koko rushed to Professor Professor Kukui's side.
It pointed at the Z-Ring on Professor Kukui's wrist—
then tossed him a shining Z-Crystal.
Professor Kukui froze.
He looked down at the crystal in his palm, utterly stunned.
Was this really happening?
This was… Tapunium Z!
The legendary crystal tied to Alola's giant guardian!
[Kiawe: Ahhh! Isn't that the legendary Tapunium Z—the very power that once defended Alola?!]
[Cynthia: What's the difference between this Tapunium Z and the Z-Move Ash used before?]
Her question mirrored the doubts of nearly everyone outside Alola.
[Professor Professor Kukui: …That's a bit complicated.]
[Cynthia: Then keep it short.]
[Professor Professor Kukui: Alright… Tapunium Z is a legendary Z-Crystal, usable only by the Island Guardians. In times of great crisis, the Tapu and their chosen warrior unite to unleash it.
…Turns out, I'm one of those warriors.]
[Cynthia: I see. A move of legend… I can't imagine how powerful it is. Ash… can you handle this?]
[Ash: Believe me! Pikachu and I will definitely win!]
Things were getting more and more exciting.
On the battlefield—
"Ash! You're making this battle more and more fun!" Professor Kukui shouted.
"Tapu Koko and I will use a Z-Move!"
He clenched the Tapunium Z and thrust his arm toward Ash.
"Tapu Koko!"
Tapu Koko raised its arms with a cry, matching Professor Kukui's movements.
"You and Pikachu—use your Z-Move to answer us!"
Both Ash and Pikachu were dumbfounded.
Wait—Lucario: What?
Weren't Professor Kukui and Tapu Koko the ones in danger of losing?!
Why did it suddenly feel like they were the challengers again?!
"The question is—will you and Pikachu win? Or will Tapu Koko and I?"
Without waiting for a reply, Professor Kukui slotted the Tapunium Z into his Z-Ring and began the ritual dance.
"This is a technique passed down from ancient legends!
When Pokémon, people, and nature stand united, braving storms together—
the ultimate Z-power is born!"
His movements synchronized perfectly with Tapu Koko's.
The guardian fused into his form.
Golden energy erupted, and from it—
A massive, headless golden giant rose from the cracked earth, Tapu Koko inside it.
The Alolan Giant.
It was breathtaking—a form capable of destroying everything, or creating anew.
[Jindai: No way! How can there be a body more perfect than my Regi pillars?! This is impossible!]
[Professor Professor Kukui: So this is the Alolan Giant… this is its true form!]
[Ash: So cool!! I wanna try it too!]
[Gary: Idiot! You better not lose! If you lose, it should only ever be to me!]
[Hala: There's no way Pikachu's Z-Move can beat the Alolan Giant. Professor Kukui's basically cheating, forcing a Z-Move clash!]
[Lana: Yeah, totally unfair!]
[Future Professor Kukui (comment): Hey! Don't blame me—that's the future me!]
[Cynthia: Ash… create a miracle. I believe in you.]
[Serena: Ash, if you win—I'll be your girlfriend!!! So you HAVE to win!]
[Delia: My child…]
Nobody thought Ash could win.
But neither did anyone truly want him to lose.
Falling to a god's ultimate Z-Move wasn't shameful.
But… what if?
What if he won?
If miracles had a color—
they would be Pikachu's yellow.
On screen—
Ash stood frozen, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead.
The Alolan Giant was brokenly overpowered.
It was like Professor Kukui had brought a Gundam into the arena barehanded.
How could they win? Every scenario flashed through Ash's head—
all of them ending in failure.
Was this it?
Were they going to fall short now, after coming so far?
"Pikachu!"
Pikachu roared, echoing Ash's determination.
They had given everything. They couldn't stop here.
No.
They wouldn't surrender.
Not after all they'd been through.
Voices rang out across the stadium:
"Go, Ash!"
"Don't give up—we're with you!"
The cries of his friends reached him.
Ash clenched his fists.
"Alright, Pikachu! Even if we lose, we'll lose fighting with everything we have!"
"Pikachu!!"
Their hearts aligned perfectly.
This would be their final battle in Alola.
And then—
A golden light shimmered in Ash's palm.
A Z-Crystal.
Not just any Z-Crystal—their Z-Crystal.
Shaped like Pikachu's lightning-bolt tail, it pulsed with the bond they shared.
It had been born of faith, forged by the guardians themselves—
but even they didn't know its true power.
Because its strength came from one thing: belief.
Ash smiled, understanding completely.
"Ready, Pikachu?"
"Pikachu!"
He placed his cap on Pikachu's head and rubbed it affectionately.
Then slotted the crystal into his Z-Ring.
The ultimate clash was about to begin.
Even the other three Island Guardians appeared, silently watching.
"Professor Professor Kukui! Witness our full power!" Ash declared.
"Pikachu!!"
They struck their poses in unison.
Energy poured into Pikachu.
"This time—it won't just be a hundred thousand volts, or even a million!" Ash shouted.
"Together—we'll unleash TEN MILLION VOLT THUNDERBOLT!!!"
"Pikachu!"
Lightning stormed through the arena.
Dark clouds churned above, thunder booming.
The world itself seemed to cheer for Pikachu.
"Tapu Koko! Guardian of Alola!" Professor Kukui countered.
"Use Guardian of Alola!!"
The golden giant raised its mighty fists.
"Pikachu—NOW! TEN MILLION VOLT THUNDERBOLT!!!"
Pikachu became a living storm, wrapped in rainbow lightning, charging forward like a thunder god.
The Alolan Giant swung down to meet it.
Their clash erupted in blinding radiance.
Ash drew his hands to his waist, pouring his Aura into Pikachu.
"This is our ALL-OUT ATTACK!!"
"Pikachu!"
Pikachu mirrored his movement, sharing his Aura.
The rainbow current exploded outward—
overpowering the giant's fist.
The Alolan Giant staggered.
Piece by piece, it crumbled—
until the Ten Million Volt Thunderbolt swallowed it whole.
Boom.
The stadium was drowned in light and thunder.
When the smoke cleared—
Pikachu still stood.
Tapu Koko collapsed, unable to fight.
"Tapu Koko is unable to battle! The winner is—Ash Ketchum!!"
For a moment, silence.
Then—an eruption of cheers.
"Alola Champion—Ash!"
"Strongest Pokémon—Pikachu!"
"We are the champions!!!"
Pink rain fell from the sky.
Ash's Poké Balls burst open, his team revived and cheering.
Tapu Koko itself lifted Ash and Pikachu high, presenting them to the world.
They had done it.
Ash was the Champion of Alola.
Photos filled the screen—
Ash's journey through Alola.
Battles, friendships, laughter.
Finally, one picture lingered.
Ash beaming with the Champion's trophy, surrounded by his Pokémon and friends—
Lana, Sophocles, Kiawe, Professor Kukui—
Incineroar, Lycanroc, Naganadel, Rowlet, Melmetal.
Even the four Island Guardians stood in the frame.
And at the very front—
Ash, grinning, Pikachu perched on his shoulder with the Champion's cap.
Behind them—
a radiant white lion, shining like the sun itself.
The final battle of Alola had ended with Ash's victory.
The chat was filled with one message repeated over and over:
"Congratulations, Ash."
Even those who had voted against him admitted it—
Ash had proved himself.
This Champion title carried no doubt, no weakness.
Pure, absolute victory.
The screen shifted again:
[Special Broadcast Complete]
[Alias: The Birth of Ten Million Volt Thunderbolt]
[Winners of the prediction rewards: Ash, Cynthia, Serena, Delia, Gary]
[Rewards being distributed]
[Legendary Trainer countdown will resume shortly]
Silence fell across the chat.
But the next scene already began.
[Ash: Gary! Never thought you, of all people, secretly voted for me.]
[Gary: Don't get the wrong idea. I just felt bad—nobody else was voting for you, so I did.]
[Misty: Still won't admit it, huh?]
[Gary: I'M NOT!!]
[Brock: Hah, so tsundere.]
[Cynthia: Congratulations, Ash. Thanks to you, I got a reward too.]
[Serena: I knew you were the best, Ash!]
[Daisy: This prediction game is unfair. If I'd known the prizes, of course I'd have chosen Ash!]
[Alder: Exactly! I can't believe an old man like me was tricked like this. Truly heartbreaking.]
[Drake: Yeah, two of us over a hundred years combined and we got played like fools.]
[Mustard: Don't whine. You didn't choose Ash, so you got what you deserved.]
[Alder: Oh, and you did?]
[Mustard: I was busy at the time! Otherwise, I would have chosen Ash.]
[Drake: Fine, fine. Keep talking. Wait right there—I'll go grab a pan to hit you with!]
The chat raged on—some praising Ash, others regretting not choosing him.
But most of all, they were stunned.
Almost everyone had picked Professor Kukui.
Only 1% had chosen Ash.
What kind of incredible rewards did that lucky 1% just earn?
Pallet Town.
Delia stared as a glowing orb materialized before her.
Her eyes lit up.
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