Faced with Suicune's challenge, Ash chose Pikachu as his opponent this time.
On one hand, Pikachu's Electric type is effective against Suicune; on the other hand, Pikachu has just returned to the Elite Four level and needs a high-pressure battle to unleash its full potential.
The Elite Four level is a level Pikachu already possessed; he's simply returning. The next level is where Pikachu truly begins its ascent.
For most Pokémon, the Gym Leader to Elite Four level is a hurdle, far more difficult than the Elite Four beginner to Elite Four intermediate level. However, for Pikachu, the Gym Leader to Elite Four level is relatively easy, as he has already reached that level.
The Elite Four beginner to Elite Four intermediate level is a completely new realm. Even so, Pikachu is already close to catching up with Charizard and the others. This battle might just be the key to his advancement. If he can break through, it would mean Pikachu has returned to the ranks of the "Big Three," and even become the top one among them.
However, it seems that all of Ash's losses have been due to type disadvantage.
In the battles between Charizard and Glaceon, and Pikachu and Togekiss, Ash held the type advantage, yet he still lost.
On the other hand, he has won many battles against opponents with type disadvantages. If trainers had titles, Ash would probably be a master of type disadvantages by now.
Can he win this battle against a type advantage and wash away the shame of always losing against type advantages?
As Ash's voice fell, Pikachu jumped in front of him, golden electricity crackling on its cheeks, looking eager and excited.
At the same time, the Poké Ball on Ash's waist opened, and Mewtwo appeared before Suicune.
The moment Mewtwo appeared, Suicune's fur stood on end, and its eyes fixed intently on Mewtwo. It sensed an extremely terrifying aura emanating from that Pokémon.
This Pokémon had reached the same level as Ho-Oh!
It hadn't expected Ho-Oh's messenger to possess such a Pokémon. No wonder Ho-Oh had sent the three legendary beasts to test it.
Initially, when Suicune saw Ash, it thought he was far too young. Although it hadn't appeared before humans for many years, it and the three legendary beasts had been silently observing them.
They roughly understood the level humans could reach at different ages. At Ash's age, having a Pokémon at the Gym Leader level would already be considered genius; to accept the test from the three legendary beasts was somewhat of a pipe dream.
But now it seemed that the clown was actually itself. Even if the three legendary beasts attacked together, they might not be a match for it, let alone one by one.
However, Ash didn't seem to intend to send out that Pokémon in this battle, but instead…
Suicune's gaze fell on the small figure before it. Compared to the oppressive aura emanating from Mewtwo, Pikachu's presence was negligible.
Although it was somewhat surprised that a Pikachu could achieve this level, it wasn't qualified.
It would be more appropriate to send the newly released Pokémon, but if that new Pokémon were to battle, then it was Suicune that was unqualified.
"Whoa~ I am Ho-Oh's messenger, are you sure you want to use Pikachu in this battle?"
"Of course, Pikachu is my partner. Don't underestimate him, or you'll suffer a great loss!" Ash said confidently to Suicune with a smile.
Those who looked down on Pikachu were all slain by his tail, and Suicune would be no exception!
As Ash finished speaking, he took off his hat and threw it forward. The hat landed squarely on Pikachu, and instantly, Pikachu and the hat seemed to merge into one—Partner Form!
Facing an opponent of Suicune's caliber, not using Partner Form from the start would be disrespectful.
Besides Partner Form, there's also—Aura Within My Heart!
"Boom!!" The combination of these two powers caused a qualitative change in the aura emanating from Pikachu. The usually calm and collected North Wind avatar watched helplessly as the previously insignificant Electric Mouse had reached a level almost on par with it in just a few seconds.
For a moment, Suicune was questioning its existence. What was this thing?
Has humanity progressed to this level without anyone noticing? This is illogical!
Even Ho-Oh's messenger should abide by the basic laws of the world!
What does it mean to go from Elite Four member to Champion in a few seconds?
This is as absurd as a Pidgey evolving into Ho-Oh!
"We've got Suicune ready! Let's begin this first test! It'll be perfect as a prelude to our entry into the Johto region!" Ash exclaimed excitedly, waving his hand.
It had been a long time since he'd fought at full power. The last time he'd gone all out was commanding Mewtwo, and before that, Charizard and Lorelei.
Pikachu hadn't experienced the power of a Champion in a truly long time, as he'd been in recovery.
He'd only just returned to Champion level, and hadn't fought a single battle since then. This was his first battle in his rehabilitation!
In Ash's eyes, Suicune's stats were already displayed. Besides reaching Champion-level, its HP, Special Attack, and Speed were all S-rank, and the other three were A-rank. These stats were incredibly impressive for a typical Pokémon.
However, when applied to legendary Pokémon, it's only considered average. Ash has seen many legendary Pokémon with S-rank stats, even those with all S-rank abilities, and his Gardevoir is at the upper limit of all S-rank stats.
Therefore, Suicune's stats aren't surprising. Its combat strength is roughly equal to Pikachu's.
Pikachu's rank is beginner Elite Four level, reaching intermediate Elite Four level in its partner form, and intermediate Champion level after Aura Fusion. With the boost from Electric Ball, it can easily go toe-to-toe with advanced Champion Suicune.
'I'll take care of the surrounding safety. You guys fight freely.' Mewtwo's voice appeared in Suicune and Ash's minds. A barrier then enveloped Pikachu and Suicune, covering an area the size of the arena, the area where the mist dissipated.
The area above the barrier was empty. Some moves require the power of nature; if even the top was blocked, some moves wouldn't be usable.
Mewtwo, now at a mid-level Legendary rank, could easily handle battling two Champion-level Pokémon.
It could even withstand the aftershocks of a battle between Legendary-level Pokémon. Psychic-type Pokémon are the most well-rounded of their level, and Mewtwo is a Legendary Psychic-type.
Suicune glanced at the surrounding barriers and understood why Ash had released Mewtwo. It hadn't expected this Ho-Oh messenger to carry a Terrain Limiter.
This allowed for a truly unrestrained battle. Otherwise, a Champion-level battle, if not decided quickly, could destroy the entire forest, even affecting the distant town of New Bark.
"Whoa!!" Suicune cried out and launched the first attack. It opened its mouth, and a jet of azure water shot out in a spiral towards Pikachu.
The moment the water jet appeared, the surrounding moisture even increased!
This power, this size—without a doubt, this is a Water-type ultimate move—Hydro Pump!
A water cannon fired instantly; this is the power of a legendary Pokémon.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack to dodge!"
"Only a fool would try to withstand such a powerful move," Ash decisively told Pikachu to dodge first.
Before the words were even finished, Pikachu's golden figure blurred into a streak of light, a crackling of electricity beneath its feet, instantly shifting several meters to the side.
Almost the instant it left its spot, the azure water cannon crashed down!
"Boom!"
The violent impact shook the ground, blasting a deep crater several meters in diameter into the once-flat forest. Soil churned at the bottom, and surrounding bushes and shrubs were snapped in half by the force of the water. Water sprayed down like a torrential rain.
Even with Pikachu's lightning-fast reflexes, it was still splashed with water, but this had no effect whatsoever on it.
"Now!" "Pikachu, unleash Thunderbolt with full power!" Ash seized the opening when Suicune was about to use its move, slamming his arm to give the command.
Pikachu, having just landed on one leg, saw its eyes blaze with electricity, its cheek sacs flashing wildly, and golden currents coalesced into thick pillars that coiled around its body, transforming Pikachu into an electric mouse cast in gold. Its fur stood on end from the surge of electricity, and the air around it seemed to distort slightly from the heat.
"Pika pika pika!!" With Pikachu's shout, the high-voltage electric shock, carrying an aura of destruction, transformed into golden lightning and blasted straight towards Suicune.
Where the current passed, the stagnant water on the ground was instantly electrolyzed, bubbling up countless white bubbles.
The once-damp soil was scorched and cracked by the current, which flowed over the remaining water, leaving spiderweb-like scorch marks on the ground.
The entire battlefield seemed to have transformed into a hellish inferno of electric light.
Suicune's pupils contracted sharply, sensing the terrifying energy contained within the high-voltage shock. Its expression turned grave, and a rapid voice escaped its lips.
"Ugh!" As the sound rang out, water vapor surged around Suicune, and the water beneath her feet seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, spinning rapidly and forming a deep blue vortex several meters in diameter in moments. The vortex's walls were turbulent, with a howling wind protecting Suicune firmly in its center.
Water-type move Whirlpool!
This move corresponds to the Fire-type Flame Vortex. Although the damage it inflicts isn't very high, it deals continuous damage, making it impossible for anyone to escape from the vortex.
While Whirlpool is an offensive move, it can also serve as a solid defensive barrier.
"Boom!!" The golden, high-voltage electricity collided violently with the deep blue vortex, the ear-piercing roar of electricity mingling with the crackling of water, causing the barrier to tremble slightly.
Initially, the vortex barely withstood the electric shock with its turbulent currents, white mist constantly erupting from the point of impact, and the vortex walls covered in tiny sparks of electricity.
However, as Pikachu and Ash's power increased, the golden electricity began to erode the vortex created by Suicune. The electricity coiled around the vortex like a giant python, while Pikachu, as the core of the vortex, relentlessly surged through its center.
"Crack!" Cracks first appeared on the walls of the whirlpool, the water's rotation gradually slowed, and the once deep blue vortex began to murky.
The next second, accompanied by a deafening roar, the high-voltage electric shock completely shattered the whirlpool's defenses. Golden electricity, like a burst dam, slammed directly into Suicune, simultaneously spreading across the entire battlefield.
Suicune let out a painful cry, its body blasted several meters away by the electric current, crashing heavily to the ground. Its fur was slightly smoking from the shock, and many parts of its body were charred black.
In terms of attack... Pikachu is the best in the team, and its Thunder Shock is a powerful move of the Electric type. Even Suicune wouldn't be able to withstand it with just a Whirlpool.
On the battlefield, the water that was stirred up by the Whirlpool is now boiling, the ground is covered with craters of varying depths, the branches of the surrounding trees are scorched black by the electricity, and the air is filled with a mixture of water vapor and burnt smells.
The terrifying aftershocks of the battle didn't harm Misty and the others in the slightest. You can always trust Mewtwo!
"Ash's Pikachu has gotten stronger again! It was able to break through Suicune's Whirlpool head-on. Before, even with Ash's strength and its partner form, it probably wouldn't have been able to break through that defense at all." "Brock said with a sigh.
He and Ash had only been apart for a month, yet Pikachu had made significant progress. This wasn't just about moving from a gym to an Elite Four member; within the early Elite Four level, Pikachu was among the strongest Pokémon.
Otherwise, how could it possibly break through the defenses of a high-level Champion Suicune, even with external assistance to reach the intermediate Champion level?
Even type advantage wouldn't help.
"What's Partner Form? Is it because of Ash's hat?" Serena didn't know about Pikachu's Partner Form. Although it wasn't the first time Ash had shown it, it was the first time Serena had heard the term.
Misty explained Partner Form to Serena. It was a special state for Ash and Pikachu. Wearing the hat boosted their power, gave them a unified body, and granted them exclusive moves—in short, a power boost.
"Wearing a hat can make them that powerful! Is it Ash's hat that's magical, or is Ash's Pikachu special?!" "
Misty shook her head: "Neither, the special thing... is Ash!"