[Steven: I want to ask… could Groudon use this method?]
As Steven's words appeared, the live broadcast room fell silent.
After a moment, Lugia commented quietly.
[Lugia: This method likely wouldn't work for a being like Groudon, with its cumbersome form and slow movements… Also, Steven, you are the Hoenn Champion, correct?]
[Lugia: Well… I can only wish you good luck here.]
[Steven: Hey, hey, hey! What do you mean by wishing me luck? You make it sound like Groudon will come for revenge!]
[Steven: I'm asking this for Groudon's sake! If it could learn this, maybe it could fly!]
[Ho-Oh: This method is less about flying and more about briefly suspending itself in mid-air through rapid movement… Sustained flight is impossible. It's purely a combat technique, not for travel.]
[Ho-Oh: Of course, Groudon shouldn't be capable of even this brief suspension… Precisely because it cannot, Champion Steven of Hoenn, you and your region should be cautious.]
Continually bringing up Groudon's inability to fly was undoubtedly rubbing salt in the wound!
Regarding this, Ho-Oh and Lugia could only offer a moment of silent sympathy to Steven and Hoenn. They would intervene if things went too far, but under normal circumstances… they did not interfere in the affairs of other regions.
So… Steven could only hope for the best!
Steven's face darkened at the Legendaries' words. What the heck! He was just concerned about Groudon! Could he really be targeted by it now?
If Groudon could speak in the chat, he'd want to confront it! But fortunately… all the Legendaries' powers were currently sealed, so Groudon wouldn't be able to find him for a while…
Forget it, focus on finding the Key Stone first. If Metagross can truly achieve Mega Evolution, I might not need to fear Groudon anyway!
...
In the Black World —
Pikachu, stepping on air, slowly drew down the lightning it had summoned in the sky.
At that moment, a cheetah-like figure shot up from the clouds below at blinding speed!
Before it arrived, the spear came first!
Feeling the sharp sting on its skin, Pikachu's tail lit up instantly!
Clang—
Clang-clang-clang—
The sound of metal clashing rang out endlessly from within the dark clouds. Though he couldn't see, Giovanni knew his Beedrill had found Pikachu.
He looked at Ash opposite him. He knew from the earlier fight that Pikachu's senses were currently linked to Ash's. If Pikachu got hurt… Ash would feel it too! Therefore, Giovanni could gauge the aerial battle by observing Ash!
The smile had vanished from Ash's face, replaced by a pained expression on his youthful features, though his eyes remained fiercely determined.
The sounds from above the clouds lasted nearly a minute.
Suddenly, Ash groaned, and a golden figure plummeted from the sky, slamming hard into the ground!
Boom!
Cough—
Ash felt a heavy impact on his back, staggered, and spat out a mouthful of bitter fluid.
The Beedrill swiftly descended from the clouds, its sharp stingers aimed directly at Pikachu, who had been blasted to the ground!
Strike while the iron is hot! It wouldn't wait for the dust to settle to see if Pikachu could fight. This wasn't a sporting match from the start, but a fight to subdue the opponent. Beedrill showed no mercy. No quarter given!
Zzzzzap—
A thick, golden bolt of electricity shot through the dust, arcing through the air straight toward Beedrill!
Seeing this, Beedrill didn't take a defensive posture. Instead, it wildly swung its twin stingers! The silver-white needles became a blur, as if countless silver spears were striking!
Point against point!
The golden lightning collided with the silver spears and stalled momentarily!
A moment later, the frequency of the silver spears increased again, the countless piercing shadows scattering the incoming bolt!
Beedrill… had punched through the Thunderbolt with its attack!
"It's over, kid! Beedrill, Fury Cutter!"
What Beedrill had been using was Fury Cutter! The more it was used, the more powerful it became! After multiple uses, its power had clearly peaked! If this Fury Cutter hit, Pikachu would be done for—ten times over!
A pale green light condensed around Beedrill's stingers! Then, like a knight with a lance, it charged!
Seeing this, a weary, mocking smile appeared on Ash's face.
"That's right… it's over. For you, Giovanni!!"
"By the thunder—be gone!"
Ash roared, stretching out his arm and then slashing it downward.
As Beedrill rushed in, the dust was blown away by the rushing wind, revealing Pikachu, clutching a bolt of blue lightning!
Pikachu held the lightning in its right paw, a nearly tangible blue lead connecting it to the sky above!
When Giovanni saw it, the excitement and bloodlust in his heart cooled instantly as if touched by millennia-old ice! He instinctively looked up and saw a massive blue form breaking through the black clouds, a colossal blue figure baring its fangs and brandishing its claws!
Its head was like a dragon and a ram, with a long horn, appearing mighty and majestic! The entire form was composed of thunder and lightning!
Before Beedrill could react, the Kirin in the sky descended like judgment!
The brilliant blue lightning came in the blink of an eye, like a meteor! It opened its abyssal maw as if to swallow the world, the sound of thunder resonating across Clear Cliff!
In one bite, it swallowed the fleeing Beedrill whole!!
Crackle—
BOOM!!!
A deafening roar sounded!
Brilliant blue lightning swept across all of Clear Cliff! Where it passed, the ground was scorched, sand and stone flew, leaving not a blade of grass! Fortunately, the area was a barren plain; otherwise, the place might have been razed by this move!
Giovanni's eyes widened as he watched the blue light approaching. A profoundly complex expression appeared on his wrinkled face—shock, awe, resignation, and a touch of fear…
The breath of death was upon him!
BOOM!!
The entirety of Clear Cliff was bathed in blue lightning!
On a small island not far from the cliff top, a light blue barrier blocked the spreading thunder…
...
[Lance: Good grief, another blue screen, huh?]
Indeed, the entire screen had turned bright blue again, obscuring the view.
[Volkner: Counting this, Pikachu has used the Thunder Kirin three times total, and each time it's a massive AOE. By the way… Giovanni won't die in that, will he?]
[Cynthia: No. Black Ash would definitely use his Aura to protect him. After all, what Black Ash wants is to send Giovanni to prison to atone and to disband Team Rocket.]
[Cynthia: Besides, while Black Ash is colder than White Ash, his ruthlessness has limits. At his core, he's still a kind person… so he wouldn't take Giovanni's life.]
[Diantha: That makes sense. Here's the question: do you think the Beedrill can withstand the Kirin?]
Everyone fell silent for a moment, looking at the thunder-filled screen.
[Lance: If it doesn't die, that's a mercy, right?]
[Lorelei: Even if it doesn't die, it's finished.]
[Cynthia: +1]
Could Beedrill stop this devastating attack? Forget Beedrill—even Lugia would struggle if caught unprepared! Of course, that's assuming it was caught off guard. With preparation, the current Thunder Kirin's power likely couldn't breach Lugia's barriers.
And Beedrill had committed fully to its attack, clearly unable to defend against the Kirin. Otherwise… if it had used its fully stacked Fury Cutter and those countless spear shadows to slash, there might have been a slim chance to block it.
The blue screen lasted about a minute before slowly fading.
...
In the Black World —
At the base of Clear Cliff, Misty and Brock looked shocked.
"Did Pikachu just use the Kirin?"
"That was definitely the Kirin… Who did Ash run into that made him use that move?"
"Kirin… what's that?"
Sabrina slowly typed a question mark. She hadn't been present for either of Pikachu's previous uses of the technique—once against Koga and once against the ancient Pokémon. Since Ash didn't practice it regularly around her, Sabrina knew nothing about Pikachu's ultimate move.
Brock and Misty gave Sabrina a brief introduction to the Thunder Kirin.
Sabrina's expression changed instantly.
"Did Ash run into a Champion?"
Based on what they said, whoever faced the Kirin was done for! At the Champion-level, it meant either death or severe injury. It could even threaten those above Champion-level. And that was Pikachu's move from three months ago—who knew how much stronger it was now?
If Ash was forced to use it, his opponent was certainly no pushover! At least Champion-level… possibly peak Champion!
But… why would a Champion be fighting Ash in this desolate place? Besides, wasn't Ash supposed to meet Domino? Why was he fighting a Champion?
"No, I need to go up and see!"
As she said this, Sabrina activated her psychic power, preparing to fly up. A small, pale hand stopped her.
"Don't leave me behind, Sabrina~" a delicate voice said from behind. Sabrina followed the jade-white arm to its owner. Misty's determined smile met her eyes.
Brock patted his chest beside them. "And me!"
"You and Ash are too much, treating us like outsiders! We might not have psychic powers like you, but… we're partners!"
"If you stand in front of us every time there's trouble, aren't you treating yourselves like bodyguards?"
"When there's difficulty, we face it together. That's what partners do! Greater ability means greater responsibility, but relying on your companions… there's no conflict!"
Brock had noticed a growing issue within their team for a while now…
For small matters, Sabrina would take the lead, standing in front of them, whether it was a battle, conflict, or anything else.
For big matters, Ash and Sabrina would protect him and Misty… This wasn't to blame them. They were doing it out of goodwill. But… taking all the responsibility and letting their partners watch from the sidelines… was torture for Brock and Misty!
At the very least… let them do what they could do! Instead of just standing by like statues!
Sabrina must have felt this too! Because… often, she was the one being protected. For example, during the last incident with Ho-Oh, Ash rushed to the Bell Tower alone while they stayed to protect Delia. Put nicely, it was protecting Delia; put harshly… it meant going to the Bell Tower would only cause chaos! Strategically, staying put was the best choice, but… was the best choice the right one? Brock didn't know… He just knew he didn't want to be a bystander anymore, a side character just watching Ash take all the risks.
After a moment, Sabrina nodded slowly, an almost imperceptible smile touching her usually cold expression. Somehow… she felt a little happy hearing Misty and Brock's words!
"You're right… we're partners. We should advance and retreat together!"
"But… you should save telling Ash about this for later~"
With that, Sabrina turned and playfully winked at the two, her face returning to its usual cool composure as she addressed Lorelei and the others.
"We're going to find Ash. Although the storm has stopped, judging by the mountain's condition, the cliff vibrations, and the falling rocks from the battle just now… I recommend not driving to Clear Cliff yet."
"Either wait for Ash and us to return, or take a detour."
After reminding Lorelei and the others, Sabrina and her Alakazam entered a psychic link, then activated her immense psychic power to carry Misty and Brock as they flew toward the mountaintop!
Lorelei and the others looked on, bewildered. She… just flew off? Come to think of it… the four they'd met… seemed far from ordinary! Champion this, Kirin that, world-destroying… it all sounded terrifying!
On the Mountaintop —
As the thunderous light slowly dissipated, the nearly completely charred Beedrill lay before a massive crater. However… Pikachu wasn't faring much better. The Thunder Kirin utilized lightning drawn from the heavens, different from the controllable electricity Pikachu usually emitted. This technique didn't distinguish friend from foe. Detonating the Kirin at such close range had dealt significant damage even to Pikachu, its originator!
Now, Pikachu also lay in a small crater, covered in scratches, though it could barely stand.
Ash was half-kneeling on the ground, one hand outstretched. He felt as if every part of him ached! But fortunately, compared to before… it was much better. While the damage Pikachu suffered still synchronized with him, due to his upgraded Aura and the evolution of Aura Fusion, he no longer needed to divert as much Aura power to maintain balance in this fused state. His durability was much stronger now; even if Pikachu fainted, he wouldn't necessarily follow suit. But… the pain was real!
Ash retracted his hand, and the blue barrier in front of Giovanni slowly faded.
Giovanni's expression was dazed. After a long moment, he collected himself, sat down on the ground, and lowered his head weakly.
"Why save me?"
"Do you want to welch on our deal? If you die, who's going to disband Team Rocket?"
"Hah… right. You win, young man."
Giovanni's address changed again, from "brat" back to "young man." His downturned face now held an extremely complicated expression. This battle was more than just a wager; it was a duel for his very self. Meeting Ash had made him revert to calling him "kid," trying to draw a line with his past! By defeating Ash, he thought… he could surely return to being the villainous overlord he once was! Ash… was his psychological weakness!
But now… Not only had he not reverted, this battle had… changed him somehow!
It was as if… he'd become that boy who loved to battle once more!
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