"You can't say that so definitively yet! Just look at Brandon—he looks calm and composed, sure! But look at the battlefield! That Ice Beam froze the entire ground into a crystalline wasteland! Isn't that pressure suffocating enough?!"
Pressure?
This wasn't pressure anymore—
This was sheer, bone-crushing terror.
Diantha: Lance, I clearly remember you swearing that one day you'd face Brandon's Regice head-on and experience Ice Beam firsthand.
Now that you've seen this—
In an ice-sealed hell like this…
Shouldn't you start rewriting your last will and testament?
Lance: First of all, let me say this again—I am not called Dodrio.
Second, who said I have to use Dragonite?
Bruno: Oh? Not using Dragonite? Then can you still call yourself a Dragon-type Champion?
What, are you switching careers to role-play that flightless Dodrio that just runs around on the ground?
Lance: "..."
That said…
He might have other Dragon-types he could use instead… right?
Lance struggled internally, his thoughts drifting.
Dratini. Dragonair. Aerodactyl…
They were all technically dragons by bloodline… weren't they?
There was no helping it.
Ice-types had a four-times type advantage over Dragon-types.
Dragonite versus Regice?
Heh.
Just imagining that matchup was already an artistic masterpiece of instant annihilation.
A one-hit kneel—no exaggeration whatsoever.
Hide it. Hide it deep.
Lance decisively chose to go completely silent.
If this topic continued, his dignity as a Dragon Champion would shatter into dust in front of the entire world.
Brandon stared at the frozen battlefield on the screen, his gaze lingering on the ice-covered ground as if realizing something.
But he chose to remain silent.
He continued watching the battle intently.
Although he didn't fully grasp the true depths of Ash's potential—
There was one thing he knew with absolute certainty:
From the moment he sent out Regice,
he had been fighting at full strength.
There was no mercy.
No holding back.
No underestimating the opponent.
More importantly—
This battlefield trap had been meticulously designed, step by step.
Ash…
A trace of anticipation rose in Brandon's heart.
He longed for the day he could stand on the battlefield himself and face Ash directly.
By then—
Would this boy's strength be even more astonishing?
On Screen
"Go, Regice!"
"Execute—Focus Punch!"
The Regice that had been standing like an ice statue, relying purely on ranged attacks—
Suddenly swung its massive fists and charged forward toward Pikachu!
Its speed was so terrifying that the audience had no time to react!
Both Ash and Pikachu were caught completely off guard, shock written all over their faces!
Pikachu instinctively tried to dodge sideways—
But its limbs completely betrayed it.
On the ice-covered ground, it slid uncontrollably, skidding and drifting in place!
Professor Oak (Live Chat): Look! Thanks to the frozen battlefield, Regice has actually become faster and more agile!
Professor Oak (Live Chat): But Pikachu is the opposite! The slippery ice severely restricts and delays its movement!
Professor Oak instantly grasped the entire tactical truth!
That was it—
The stage had finally been completed!
Yes!
From beginning to end, Regice's Ice Beam had never been meant to directly snipe Pikachu!
As the rest of the audience read Oak's god's-eye explanation, realization finally dawned.
Brandon (Live Chat): The advantage is mine.
Brandon (Live Chat): The advantage is mine.
Lance (Live Chat): Damn! As expected of you, Brandon!
This is true battlefield calculation—three moves planned, ten steps ahead!
Ash didn't see this coming at all, did he?
Diantha (Live Chat): This is brutal…
Poor Ash. He hasn't even truly risen yet, and he's already been ambushed by veteran-level tactical warfare.
Leon (Live Chat): This isn't a scheme.
Once you step onto the battlefield, both sides are equal competitors.
Brandon simply made perfect use of Regice's attributes to design the optimal strategy—minimum effort, maximum victory.
Wallace (Live Chat): I'm with Lance on this one.
This does feel like some old fox-level scheming.
Poor kid… truly pitiful.
Steven Stone (Live Chat): Every Trainer grows through battles like this.
Facing top-tier veterans is how experience is forged.
Brandon (Live Chat): Well said.
No matter who my opponent is, I must fight with everything I have.
That is the greatest respect I can offer.
Seeing all this—
Brock and Misty's hearts tightened completely.
"Brandon's calculation is terrifying…"
"That level of battlefield awareness—this isn't something a hot-blooded rookie like Ash can match."
"I think… Ash is really done for this time. What do we do…"
"What can we do? Wasn't this obvious from the start?
Since when did we ever dare to expect Ash to defeat an opponent like this?"
They exchanged a knowing glance.
Yep.
Perfect.
This calm, fully surrendered mindset—
Exactly what they needed.
Sigh.
After all, they never expected Ash to pull off an upset, right?
"Hey! You two!"
"Don't say such depressing things right in front of me!"
Ash jumped up angrily.
"It's not over yet!
How can you give up now?!"
"I'll win—just you watch! I absolutely will!"
Brock and Misty completely ignored his shouting.
Hm?
Someone talking?
Strange. They couldn't hear anything.
Better keep watching the battle footage—that was what mattered.
Having already lost their precious 100 points, they decided to "cut ties" with impulsive Ash for ten minutes as punishment.
Back to the Battle
Restricted by the ice, Pikachu completely lost control of its footing and crashed helplessly onto the smooth surface.
But Ash showed not a trace of panic.
Instead—
A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.
"No retreat means no hesitation!"
"If that's the case—then we face it head-on!"
"Thunderbolt!"
Blinding golden lightning struck Regice mid-charge with absolute precision!
After the previous ineffective hit, the audience had no expectations.
But—
To everyone's shock—
This time, Thunderbolt worked!
Regice let out a suppressed, painful roar!
Crackling arcs of electricity burst across its body like energy overload—
Scars of damage left behind by Thunderbolt!
Its charge slowed dramatically, falling into brief paralysis!
Ash seized this once-in-a-lifetime opening instantly, arm slashing downward!
"Now! Iron Tail!"
"PIKA!!!"
Using the friction and momentum from the ice—
Pikachu leapt into the air!
A point-blank, zero-distance execution!
The silver-white Steel Tail slammed down with thunderous force onto Regice's torso!
Regice screamed in pain for the second time, its massive body violently trembling!
The attack landed!
The tide had turned!
"WHAT?! Are you kidding me?!
What kind of divine anomaly is this?!"
"Holy hell! This makes no sense!
With such overwhelming terrain advantage, a Legendary like Regice is getting face-ridden by a Pikachu?!
No counterattack—no resistance?!"
"Regice! What the hell are you doing?!
Where's your Legendary dignity?!
Don't let a damn electric mouse climb onto your head and run wild!"
The audience erupted into chaos, excitement exploding out of control.
They nearly rolled up their sleeves, ready to jump through the screen and fight for Regice themselves!
Damn it—this was an absolutely legendary reversal of humiliation!
~~--------------------------
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