Next up are two Elite Peak Pokemon, Charizard and Gardevoir.
At this level, to be blunt, even a light touch from an Elite Level could knock them out!
Even the strongest Pikachu is two full levels below Koga's weakest Elite Level Pokemon! How the heck are they supposed to win!
"Ash didn't seem to have sent for Gengar, did he?" Brock suddenly said.
"Hmm? It seems not, I didn't see Ash exchange any Pokemon... Wait a minute, he's not bringing Gengar to challenge Koga's three main Pokemon, is he crazy?!" Misty only realized halfway through her sentence.
Ash actually intends to challenge Koga's three Elite Level Pokemon without Gengar!
How dare he!!
If he doesn't bring Gengar, he'll probably get swept 3-0!
Aya just mentioned that Fuchsia Gym has been live streaming these days, and they saw those cameras outside the gym, meaning this match is broadcasted on TV!
If Ash boldly claims a 3-on-3 challenge against the Elite and ends up getting crushed 3-0... then Ash will really be famous afterward, but infamously.
After this, if people see Ash, they'll probably say— "Isn't that the boastful, overconfident Trainer who challenged the Elite-in-waiting and got crushed?"
Has Ash not thought this through? Why would he do something so irrational as to challenge Koga's main forces without Gengar?
On the field, Ash took a deep breath upon seeing Toxicroak appear.
According to the information he had gathered and his predictions, Koga indeed sent out Toxicroak first, the weakest of Koga's main team, only at the Heavenly King Junior Level.
But even a Heavenly King Junior Level is still genuinely an Elite Level, and without Gengar, defeating the opponent is about as easy as climbing to heaven by stepping on your own foot.
Yet since Ash made this choice, he naturally has some trump card; a small bit of pressure is necessary to make a big step on the path to the strongest.
"Go for it... it's decided, Charizard!!" Ash murmured, taking out a Pokeball and throwing it!
A flash of light, and the orange-red dragon roared onto the field, flames soaring skyward, yet crashing against the barrier and unable to blossom into a dazzling firework.
"Charizard, huh? But that level..." Koga initially found it somewhat interesting when he saw Charizard.
A final evolution Pokemon, its level should not be too low, possibly one of those Pokemon Ash mentioned capturing through special means.
But as Charizard spewed fire, Koga quickly realized Charizard's level was at Elite Peak.
In the hands of a Newbie Trainer, Elite Peak is already decent, but for this battle, an Elite Peak level really isn't enough, huh.
"Ash, are you sure you want to use Charizard?"
"My Charizard is very strong, Mr. Koga, you'd better be careful." As Ash finished speaking, he slowly closed his eyes—Aura lies within my heart.
A faint blue light covered Ash's body, and Charizard's aura became increasingly profound.
Koga didn't perceive anything, but Ash's words made him shake his head.
In his view, Ash might be somewhat inflated due to never losing in previous Gym battles.
Thinking that an Elite Peak Pokemon could contend with an Elite Level Pokemon.
How much alcohol would one have to drink to get that drunk?
If Charizard can withstand a single move from Toxicroak, Koga would find a place to bury himself.
"Let them see the gap between an Elite and a Professional, Toxicroak, use Poison Jab."
As the words left his mouth, Toxicroak's sharp fingertips became enveloped with a ghostly purple energy, disappearing from the spot in an instant!
The next moment, Toxicroak appeared before Charizard, a sinister smile on its gloomy face, its purple energy-laced hand slashing through the air towards Charizard's belly!
The sharp energy even caused Charizard's skin to feel a slight sting.
Ash gave no command, merely shifting his body, and then reaching his hands forward, causing Charizard on the field to mimic the action precisely.
Poison Jab passed by with an almost imperceptible margin, and Toxicroak's arm was captured by Charizard at that moment.
Koga and Toxicroak's faces both showed extreme shock!
How did he dodge it?!
Just before Toxicroak's arrival, there was no movement at all, but at the instant Toxicroak revealed itself, Ash acted, dodging the Poison Jab with an almost negligible distance!
This is not a response and action that an Elite level could perform.
"Flamethrower!" Ash said coldly.
"Roar!!" Scorching flames erupted from Charizard's mouth, the burning red fire engulfing Toxicroak's head, doing a sear-grilled frog head!
Those watching, and Aya who was the referee, almost had their eyes pop out.
What the heck, her brother's main Pokemon, Toxicroak, not only didn't win the battle decisively, but was restrained and counterattacked!
And that Charizard was only of Elite level, what kind of international joke is this! Her brother must have gone easy!
As the fire slowly dissipated, the Toxicroak whose head had been enveloped by flames reappeared before everyone, its aura previously forceful enough to scorch stones, ultimately leaving only a trace of charring on its head.
Even with Aura Fusion, the level gap between them was too vast, and Flamethrower's direct hit could inflict only minor damage, yet...
"Toxicroak, Drain Punch!" Having been briefly surprised, Koga quickly demonstrated his qualities as an Elite Trainer.
Even being restrained on one arm presented the best opportunity for a close-range counterattack!
Toxicroak's claws shone with dazzling white light, then moved toward Charizard's arm.
Charizard quickly released its grip, both claws glowing with vivid green light, the light forming sharp claws around its hands, clashing head-on with Toxicroak.
"Bang!!"
"Crack!!"
In an instant, both Dragon Claws were shattered by Toxicroak's punch, but Charizard used the momentum from the impact to pull back sharply, widening the distance between them.
Ash relaxed his hands; that previous clash left his fist feeling slightly numb, and that was with the Dragon Claw blocking it, not even a direct hit. If it had landed directly, even with Aura Fusion, Charizard's arm might be crippled.
This is the gap between an Elite and Charizard now!
'Boss, can this really be won? The gap is just too large; are you playing a prank on me?' Ash lamented inwardly.
In reality, Ash really hadn't intended to challenge Koga's Elite main forces in this match.
Knowing there were cameras broadcasting live, he felt that challenging an Elite main force could earn fame initially, but being swept would only lead to disgrace!
So reasonably speaking, to either seek the spotlight or avoid disgrace, he should rightfully choose Professional Level for the battle.
Overcoming a Professional at Elite Peak would also earn Ash great fame in the entire league, not merely a usual rank-up but surpassing a level under an Elite Trainer!
So why did he ultimately choose Elite Level for the challenge? Because someone in the group said he could utilize Elite Level Pokemon to unleash the hidden power within Charizard.
The power belonging to the Legendary Pokemon, Ho-Oh!