Hearing that, Serena didn't doubt him either. "Anything else you want to eat?"
"Another curry pork cutlet rice, please. Sorry, I'm still a bit tired, I'll rest for a bit first. Call me when the food comes." As he spoke, Ash yawned, leaned back on the seat, closed his eyes and tilted his head, looking like he'd fallen asleep in an instant.
Misty and Serena exchanged a helpless look, then chose not to bother Ash and continued ordering.
The food options at the Pokemon Center were actually quite varied, with both free and paid choices. The paid dishes were definitely much better than the free ones, but compared to what Ash and Brock could cook, they were still way behind.
Ash, with his eyes closed, wasn't just resting; he had dived into the group chat.
He needed to go into the group chat to figure out what was causing Pikachu's condition.
...
[Advanced Ash: Guys, today my Pikachu, it…]
In the group, Ash carefully went over Pikachu's performance today. He'd actually already more or less guessed the reason for Pikachu's changes, but he still chose to come to the group to confirm it.
[Advanced Ash: Could this situation with Pikachu have something to do with that S-Class reward I drew back then, the Light of Hope?]
This time, none of the big shots replied instantly, but after Ash patiently waited for half a minute, Champion Ash appeared.
[Champion Ash: We don't actually know exactly what that Light of Hope is; none of us have drawn it. But the rewards in the group are actually things that all of us in the Parallel Worlds possess in some form—like S-Class Aura Power, like S-Class adventures, etc.]
[Champion Ash: It's just that the chat group can convert those abstract things into tangible items. The so‑called Light of Hope is the Miracle Power that appears when we are on the brink of despair.]
[Champion Ash: And the Light of Hope you drew infinitely amplified that Miracle Power, which is why Pikachu was able to erupt with a strength that was almost impossible, and even achieve that unbelievable Third Transformation.]
Ash's guess was indeed correct. The reason Pikachu could unleash that Level of power was because of the Light of Hope.
After all, as an S-Class ability, there's no way it only sounded good on paper. Just look at the S-Class abilities Ash had drawn before—was any of them easy to handle?
This time, the S-Class ability didn't just let Pikachu burst out with enough power to instantly kill Regice, it also allowed Pikachu to successfully reach the Third Transformation.
If not for this eruption of the Light of Hope, who knew how long it would've taken Pikachu to reach the Third Transformation.
On one hand, they needed to reach Champion Level; on the other, Ash had to draw that S-Class Break the Limit. The conditions to achieve it were insanely harsh!
Yet now, all it took was a single battle, and all the conditions were fulfilled. Their obsession with victory played no small part in this.
It was precisely because of this obsession, and the bond between the two, that this miracle‑like power was triggered.
Otherwise, even if Pikachu went berserk, at most it could only barely defeat Regice. To beat Regice into that near‑death state? That would've been impossible no matter how hard they fought.
[Breeder Ash: Tsk tsk, gotta say, newbie, your Pikachu's reincarnation speed is crazy fast! You haven't even walked out of the Johto Region and it's already at the Third Transformation. Don't tell me you're going to hit the Fourth Transformation before you even leave Johto?]
[Friend of the Divine Beasts Ash: If it really reaches the Fourth Transformation, that would be insane. A maxed‑out Fourth Transformation Pikachu can arm‑wrestle with gods.]
[Unlucky Ash: So nice~ So nice~]
[Ash the Aura Guardian: At this growth speed, newbie is probably among the very top of the entire group, right?]
[Champion Ash: Not just the top—he's one of a kind. Newbie will probably be the youngest Super Trainer in the group to command a full team of Divine Domain-level Pokemon. We'll be waiting for your good news when you become Eight Great Masters Champion.]
[Advanced Ash: Hehe, I'm really not that amazing. It's all thanks to your guidance and the help from this group.]
Ash wasn't being modest; that was what he truly believed in his heart.
In fact, his starting point was probably the lowest among all the Ashes in the group. Among them, there probably wasn't another Ash who, when setting out on his journey, hadn't even memorized the type matchup chart, and didn't even recognize a Pikachu—the Pokemon that's as common as stray dogs along the roadside, right?
That was the level he started from.
If not for the guidance from the veterans in the group and the prizes from the group's lottery, don't even mention becoming an Elite Champion—he might not even have a single Gym Level Pokemon right now.
Even if he did have Gym Level Pokemon, it would at most be one or two. How could he possibly have a full team of Elite Level and above Pokemon like he did now?
[Champion Ash: Whether it's the chat group or our help, all of that is part of your own destiny. There's no need to overthink it—just charge forward with everything you've got. But remember one thing: becoming Eight Great Masters Champion… is only the beginning.]
[Advanced Ash: Only the beginning?]
[Champion Ash: Once you've become Eight Great Masters Champion, you'll understand what I mean.]
[Advanced Ash: Got it, big bro. If there's nothing else, I'll head out first!]
...
Back in reality, Ash slowly opened his eyes, just as the staff brought over the set meals they had ordered.
"Ash, your timing is impeccable. Don't tell me you woke up from the smell of food?" Misty teased with a smile.
"Hehe, maybe." Ash didn't deny it. He sat up straight and looked at the steaming curry pork cutlet rice in front of him, and his stomach immediately growled in protest.
That fierce battle just now had drained not only his Physical Strength and Spiritual Power, but also emptied his energy reserves.
"Dig in!"
...
After the meal, everyone went back to their rooms. Ash took a hot shower, feeling his whole body loosen up considerably, then lay on the bed and scrolled through information about the Goldenrod Gym on his phone.
Goldenrod Gym, Gym Leader Whitney, specializes in Normal Type Pokemon; her ace is that famously troublesome Miltank…
Pikachu and Charizard would both need treatment until tomorrow to fully recover. But Ash actually didn't plan on sending Charizard and the others out tomorrow anyway—that would really be bullying.
Whitney was strong, but compared to Brandon, she was nowhere near his level, just around a normal Gym Leader's strength.
Come to think of it, it had been a while since he'd had a normal Gym battle. The only relatively standard Gym match he'd had lately was with Korrina.
And he'd even fought Korrina's grandpa right after that.
Both of those battles were one‑on‑one.
This time against the Goldenrod Gym, it would be a solid three‑on‑three. He had to think carefully about which Pokemon to use…
...
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, sunlight slipped through the gap in the Pokemon Center's curtains and spilled into the room. Ash was woken up by Pikachu's growl.
"Pika pika!"
Ash opened his eyes and saw that Pikachu had somehow already returned from the treatment room and was squatting by his pillow, lightly brushing his face with its fluffy tail.
"Pikachu! You're okay?" Ash sprang up, scooping Pikachu into his hands and looking it over from head to toe.
"Pika pi!" Pikachu punched the air energetically with its little fists, its cheek pouches crackling with electricity. It looked completely recovered.
"That's awesome! Brock, let's go challenge the Goldenrod Gym!!" Lying in bed, Brock squinted at his phone to check the time—8:05.
"The Gym doesn't even open until nine. After being that exhausted yesterday, you can still get up this early? Are you even human?" Brock's phone slipped onto the pillow as his head flopped to the side, and he was about to go back to sleep.
But Ash was already up washing and getting ready. The clanging sounds kept Brock from falling back asleep, so he could only jerk himself upright.
"I really should let Ash and Misty room together and just get a single with Serena. If I keep getting woken up this early by Ash every day, I'm going to end up with a nervous breakdown."