Does he still want the position of Johto Elite?
"Ash, I've actually been looking forward to battling you for a long time, but I never expected battling you would turn out like this. I didn't even think we'd have a three-on-three Elite match, and I've been pushed to the brink by you. This Pokémon is my strongest trump card, and if I lose this match too, I should 'make history'."
Koga said with a tone of humor, expressing his true feelings.
If he really lost consecutively to a Trainer who debuted two months ago with three Elite Level Pokémon, including his trump card, it would not just be making history but rather being infamous through the ages...
This battle record would definitely nail him onto the pillar of historical shame, so for the sake of the upcoming Johto Elite position, and to not 'make history' infamously, he couldn't lose!
"Mr. Koga... do your best." Ash called out Koga's name, and then strangely cheered for him, which made Koga stumble as he was about to throw his Pokeball, nearly falling flat.
What does this mean? Ash, as his opponent, cheering for him? Doesn't he want to win?
If it were someone else, Koga would definitely think the opponent was mocking him. Honestly, Ash also had achievements to mock him.
But given Ash's character, he probably wouldn't do that. From the moment they met, Ash left a good impression on him. Even when defeating his Pokémon repeatedly, he never showed arrogance or mockery.
Instead, after each battle, he would go to his Pokémon first, encourage and praise them, then return them to the Pokeball or leave the battlefield with them.
Koga hadn't seen a boy with such a character for a long time.
That's why Koga found it strange what Ash meant by cheering for him.
Meanwhile, Ash, after encouraging Koga, closed his eyes, seeming to be resting, but was actually entering the chat group.
...
[Newbie Ash: Big guys, I've won two victories! For the last match, Mr. Koga should use his trump card, who wants to take it on?]
[Champion Ash: Let me take it. It's been a while since I faced an Elite, time to feel it again.]
[Tactical Ash: Tsk, since you spoke first, I'll let you have it, but you have to let me play next time. No one here is willing to battle with me.]
[Champion Ash: Heh, how many in the group are willing to battle against you?]
[Ash the Aura Guardian: That's not right, didn't I just battle him last time?]
[Champion Ash: And didn't he make you lose your appetite for a day?]
[Ash the Aura Guardian: Hey, it was mutual, he wasn't much better off.]
[Newbie Ash: Ahem, since everyone is an 'Ash', let's not hurt each other, Champion big guy, how should I operate?]
[Champion Ash: Look at the right side of the group chat, there should be an icon that's lit up.]
Upon hearing this, Ash's virtual self looked at the left side of the chat box, where there were many icons. Previously, no matter how he tried to click or mentally envision using these buttons, there was no response.
But now, one of the icons among them had lit up, a hat-like icon. Ash lightly tapped on it, and instantly, numerous options appeared before Ash.
These were the names of each Ash in the group, and now Ash wanted to choose one to descend upon him.
This was the one-time A-level ability [Top-tier booster] he had drawn a few days ago.
This ability allows Ash to choose a big shot in the group to possess his body, to train Pokémon for him or assist him in battle.
The one coming isn't just an Otherworld Ash, but also... one of their Pokémon.
As mentioned earlier, all draws in the chat group would not manifest physical objects, such as carry items cannot be drawn out of the group chat.
So, summoning other Ash's Pokémon from a Parallel World should be impossible.
Accurately speaking, physical manifestations of their Pokémon are impossible, but they can come as energy forms.
In the first draw, Ash received Ash the Aura Guardian's Aura Power, and the chat then imbued it into his body, granting him the strength to battle a Champion-level Pokémon.
The same applies this time, Ash can designate one of his Pokémon to receive the power of a big shot's Pokémon in the group.
Simply put, if Ash chooses to let Champion Ash possess him, and he has Charizard, then Ash can choose his Charizard to gain the power of Champion Ash's Charizard.
However, this power is one-time use; once the possession period ends, the power will disappear from the Pokémon.
At first glance, this thing seems to be useful only in dangerous situations or unwinnable battles, assisting in gaining a victory, but provides no substantial enhancement to the Pokémon.
But with Ash's Aura Power, unless it's two Divine Domain Levels at once, it basically won't matter.
As for lending a hand in unwinnable fights... victories gained through others' power don't count as true victories for Ash, unless it's a must-win match, like a world-ending scenario if lost.
Otherwise, even if it's the Eight Great Masters Champion match, if won by others, even a version of himself in a Parallel World, Ash wouldn't acknowledge it.
While this ability seems quite underwhelming, that's not actually the case.
Besides helping to fight a battle, this one-time ability has an extra effect, which is that the possessed Pokémon will retain a portion of the talent and power from the possessing entity.
This is the most precious aspect of this one-time ability.
Ash hadn't planned to use this opportunity to battle Koga, it would have been used at the onset; even a one-on-six might not have been won by Koga.
But the big shots in the group suggested using this opportunity for the Fuchsia Gym challenge, but not at the battle's start.
Ash's growth has now reached a certain limit, indeed progressing fast, but could be faster.
Ash's potential is endless, and now with the chat group as a kind of cheat, if he doesn't reach Champion in a year, it would be hard to justify.
Thus, to push Ash's potential further, he needs to undertake challenging battles, such as... battling an Elite.
In a one-on-one, Ash doesn't feel much pressure due to his partner Pikachu being too overpowered, and coupled with Ash's Aura Fusion, as long as it's not a Champion, there's hope for victory.
Two-on-two brings some pressure, but Fuchsia Gym's rule of three-on-three is just fitting.
This way, Ash can pressure his first two Pokémon in battle, giving them a chance to win the first two rounds, then hand the third to one of the big shots in the group.
If Koga is defeated with two Elite Level Pokémon, he will undoubtedly send out his trump card as the third, just perfectly granting Ash's Pokémon a chance to feel what it's like battling an Elite's trump card after gaining power.
As an opponent, he is average, but short-term there's no more fitting opponent, plus Ash's team has a problematic child, just able to use this battle to resolve his heart's knot.
That's why Ash finally decided to have a three-on-three Elite match with Koga.
From the beginning, Ash planned that if he could win two matches against Koga, he had already succeeded; as for the third, it wouldn't be his battlefield, and winning wouldn't count as his.
After defeating Koga's two Pokémon, his challenge was considered over, then it would be a showcase for the group big shots, and that's why Ash told Koga before the match—do your best!
This was not mockery or sarcasm but a heartfelt cheer for Koga because what awaited him might be his greatest nightmare since debuting!