Dragonite's level had already reached the peak of Elite.
However, in terms of overall strength, it still hadn't reached the Champion level.
Even for Dragonite itself, unless it evolved beyond its natural limits, it couldn't reach that level.
Even if Dragonite became Ash's Pokémon and used all its abilities, it might still fall short of the Champion stage.
There was a huge gap between Elite and Champion.
Normally, it was a wall that no one could cross.
But for Ash, the word "impossible" didn't exist.
Even without relying on his entry system, he still possessed the mysterious power of wave guidance!
Let's leave that aside for now.
As the super ancient Dragonite slowly approached the lighthouse, Ash calmly stepped forward.
"The guide is in my heart."
He whispered these words softly, then closed his eyes.
A faint blue-green light began to glow around his body.
Professor Bill froze at the sight, completely stunned.
"What in the world…? Is that Psychic power?"
What was Ash planning to do? Was he going to communicate directly with this mysterious Pokémon?
The power of wave guidance wasn't exactly the same as Psychic energy.
Unlike Psychic, it couldn't directly send thoughts into another's mind,
But through calm focus and intent, it could transmit emotion and understanding.
The greatest obstacle between ancient Pokémon and modern humans was not hostility, but the lack of a common language.
Modern Pokémon could understand human speech.
But Pokémon from ancient eras had lived for thousands of years apart from civilization.
It was impossible for them to recognize human language.
Thus, wave guidance was the best and only bridge to connect both sides.
As Ash's aura flared brighter, Dragonite suddenly halted mid-air.
Low, surprised growls escaped its throat as its massive wings flapped slowly.
Even though Bill couldn't understand the Pokémon's language,
He could feel the emotion behind it—joy, excitement, even longing.
"What did Ash say to that Pokémon? That glow… could it really be Psychic?"
Bill's researcher's curiosity flared to its peak.
Every movement Ash made, every sound from Dragonite—it was all new knowledge waiting to be discovered.
But now was not the time to interrupt.
Ash and Dragonite were in the middle of something crucial.
More than ten seconds passed before Ash finally opened his eyes.
There was a faint smile on his face.
Even though this Dragonite was super ancient,
Its nature was still the same as modern Dragonite—kind, pure, and gentle.
Ash had initially believed he would have to fight it to earn its recognition.
But surprisingly, the mighty creature had agreed to trust him with only a few words.
Perhaps it was because it had been alone for so long.
After countless centuries of silence, hearing another's voice again was enough to soften its heart.
Meeting someone who could truly understand it must have felt like a miracle.
Although Ash was slightly disappointed he couldn't test himself against the top Elite level,
It was better this way.
After all, if a battle broke out here, he might not be able to protect Misty and Serena.
And it wasn't that he doubted his own strength.
In fact, Pikachu's level had recently reached the quasi-Elite stage.
That meant Pikachu was now standing just a step below true Elite strength.
With all of Pikachu's enhanced entries, plus Ash's wave guidance,
There was no one below Champion rank that Pikachu couldn't defeat.
So, facing the super ancient Dragonite, Ash felt no fear at all.
The only thing that worried him was the safety of his friends.
If everything went peacefully, it would be ideal to tame the Dragonite directly,
Shrink its size, and send it to Professor Oak's Laboratory to meet his own Dragonite there.
However, at that very moment, something unexpected happened.
A deafening explosion tore through the air!
A huge rocket shot out from the darkness, striking the ancient Dragonite squarely in the chest.
The sudden blast made everyone freeze.
Dragonite roared in agony and fury, shaking the entire lighthouse with the force of its cry.
"What's happening?!"
Ash immediately closed his eyes and expanded his waveguide sense.
Within moments, he picked up three all-too-familiar signatures.
His face darkened.
"It's you three again… You're like cockroaches that can't be killed, or glue that won't come off!"
There was no doubt about it—it was Team Rocket.
Once again, they had shown up at the worst possible moment.
That rocket had completely ruined the calm connection Ash had just built with Dragonite.
Even a gentle Pokémon had its limits.
Being attacked for no reason was enough to drive anyone into a rage!
Ash didn't even bother to look at Team Rocket this time.
Right now, his attention was on the raging storm above.
A normally mild-tempered being, once angered, would never calm down easily.
The super ancient Dragonite roared and broke through the clouds, its eyes glowing with light.
It swung its colossal claws downward in fury.
The sheer pressure of the air was enough to make Misty and Serena feel as if death itself was staring at them.
But before they could even react, a figure stepped in front of them.
Ash crossed his arms in front of his chest, and a brilliant blue-green wall erupted outward.
Waveguide Barrier!
"Boom!!!"
The claw slammed into the barrier, the impact shaking the ground.
But the translucent wall didn't even crack.
Even Dragonite's raging strike couldn't shatter it.
Not a single scratch appeared.
"Dragonite?! That's Dragonite?!"
Professor Bill fell backward in shock, unable to believe what he was seeing.
The mysterious Pokémon that had haunted his lighthouse was actually Dragonite.
But how could it possibly be so enormous? This was beyond any known record!
And that glowing barrier—was that Ash's power?
The energy radiating from it was unlike anything he'd ever seen.
Bill's scientific mind was overwhelmed.
"This can't be real…" he whispered in disbelief.
Ash turned sharply to him and shouted, "Professor Bill, take Misty and Serena and get to safety! I'll handle Dragonite!"
"No way! We can't just leave you here alone!"
"That's right, Ash!" Misty cried out. "How could you fight that thing by yourself? It's enormous—no one could win against that!"
Even an Elite Champion might not stand a chance against such a gigantic opponent.
To them, letting Ash face it alone was unthinkable.
The pressure radiating from the Dragonite's body was so intense that even standing felt heavy.
The girls had never seen such a terrifying Pokémon in their lives, not even on television.
Yet, despite the danger, Ash only smiled faintly as the light around him grew stronger.
(End of Chapter 40)