"Show everyone your full power!"
He roared the command, his voice sweeping across the frozen battlefield like a storm.
"Crush Grip!"
Using the mirror-smooth ice that covered the entire field, Regice's speed surged to its absolute limit, its massive body flickering like a phantom. There was no need for any excess wind-up—
BOOM!
As if an invisible warhammer had smashed down, Pikachu was sent flying, gouging several meters of deep ice scars across the ground!
"As expected of Regice!"
The stands exploded instantly, adrenaline surging sky-high.
"That's it! Crush it! Don't give it a chance—finish him!"
Just moments ago, when they had watched Pikachu trapped in absolute disadvantage, their hearts had ached as if bleeding.
But the instant Pikachu revealed its terrifying resilience—
the very moment it seemed on the verge of overturning the battle—
The gamblers watching the live broadcast were plunged into sheer terror!
"AAAAAAHHHH—!"
Their wealth—
their entire life savings—
were all riding on Regice!
"Regice! You absolutely cannot lose!"
"Damn it! If you lose, I won't even have underwear left!"
"Rise up! A Legendary's dignity cannot be trampled!"
"Show your true power already!"
Pikachu bounced and tumbled across the ice after being blasted away, finally slamming hard into the arena's energy wall!
But at the very instant of impact—
A sharp bolt of lightning flashed!
Not collapse—
But leverage!
Using the rebound force, Pikachu shot forward once more like an arrow loosed from the bow, launching a ferocious countercharge straight at Regice!
Just like its Trainer, Ash—
Until the flames of battle were fully extinguished,
there would never be retreat or surrender in those golden eyes!
"Use the recoil—
Chain Iron Tail attacks!"
Ash seized the fleeting opening, shouting himself hoarse.
"Chu—PIKA!"
Pikachu descended from above, its tail coated in steel-like brilliance, screaming through the air as it slashed downward!
BANG!
The once-unstoppable Regice was forced back—one full step!
"…What kind of control was that?!"
Even Brandon, the normally mountain-steady Frontier Brain, was visibly shaken by this sudden counterattack!
But the onslaught didn't stop there!
Before Regice could recover from the violent impact—
Pikachu's Iron Tail swung again,
like the scythe of death itself, cleaving down a second time!
"Chu—PIKA!"
CRACK—!
Amid the piercing explosion, glittering shards of ice were blasted off Regice's body, scattering everywhere!
The livestream chat detonated:
[RIGGED! THESE OLD MONSTERS ARE HEARTLESS!]
[WAIT—WHAT JUST HAPPENED???]
[THAT DOUBLE HIT—DID WE REALLY SEE THAT?!]
Every single viewer stood frozen in shock, mouths wide enough to fit a Poké Ball, brains completely blank—utterly unable to process the lightning-fast tactical shift that had just occurred.
Veilstone City
In front of the screen, Reiji was deeply shaken by Pikachu's earth-shattering Double Iron Tail Slash.
Unlike those who only knew Brandon by reputation—
Reiji had personally fallen at the Battle Pyramid.
He had swept aside the other Frontier Brains, only to be utterly crushed beneath Brandon's icy smile.
That defeat became a nightmare, completely shattering his will to battle.
His career change later on wasn't just because of Brandon's advice—
At its core, it was fear.
Fear of battle itself.
He had lost the courage to ever stand beneath the spotlight again.
And now—
On the screen stood a small figure burning with indomitable will—
Ash.
Reiji's gaze grew complicated.
He had never faced Regice directly, but that was a Legendary Pokémon under Brandon's command—
Even more terrifying than the Regirock and Registeel he had once lost to.
Yet Ash and Pikachu were forcing the God of Ice into this state…
"…That kid is unbelievably strong."
"In a completely different world from trash like me who ran away."
A relieved yet bitter smile appeared on Reiji's face.
He stared at Ash's profile on the screen and murmured softly:
"Even if he loses in the end…
Ash will keep moving forward without hesitation."
"And maybe…
just maybe they really can drag Brandon down from his throne?"
At that moment—
Reiji chose to entrust all his hope and will to this boy he had never even met.
"As expected of that brat and his Pikachu!"
"Ohhh yeah! Pikachu is the very definition of strength!"
"Hahaha! I'm gonna get rich overnight, nya~!"
In their secret base, Team Rocket danced wildly, hands on hips, laughing themselves hoarse!
"Pikachu! Brat! CHARGE—NYA!"
Back on the Battlefield
The two Iron Tail strikes had dealt undeniable damage to Regice.
Any ordinary Trainer would have panicked by now—
But Brandon, the apex Frontier Brain standing atop the battle pyramid, was anything but ordinary.
Cold as ice, his command didn't waver in the slightest.
"Ice Beam."
"Regi—"
Regice brought its arms together as extreme cold gathered violently—
A lethal blue beam shot forth like the blade of death itself!
"Evade—now!"
Ice pillars erupted from the ground!
At the last possible instant, Regice repeated its old trick—
Using Ice Beam to construct towering ice walls, sealing Pikachu firmly inside!
A confident smile appeared on Brandon's face.
"Use… Rest."
—HISS!
At that moment, countless master-level spectators couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath!
Lance: …I don't really want to say this, but Brandon—this tactic is honestly a bit shameless.
Cynthia: Heh. It really is irritating. Ash's advantage just now was obvious.
Diantha: Good grief! "Advantage"? That was practically a guaranteed win! If Brandon hadn't pulled out Rest again—how shameless can you get?! Using that kind of tactic against a kid!
Steven Stone: …My feelings are extremely complicated. Brandon, this strategy truly lacks grace.
Wallace: Honestly, the moment I heard "Rest," I was already thinking about starting a real-life PvP.
Brandon (himself): Hmph! What do you mean shameless? This is strategy! Do you understand strategy?! Once you step onto the battlefield, age and experience don't matter! Going all out and using every means available is only natural!
Professor Oak: Hahaha! Brandon did nothing wrong. When you're pushed this far by a kid, getting heated is perfectly normal!
Brandon: "..."
This was a finisher.
Seeing Professor Oak's casual conclusion, Brandon felt his chest tighten, almost coughing up blood.
He wanted to refute it—
But found no words.
So Brandon chose selective deafness.
He clenched a fist to his lips and coughed twice.
"Ahem…"
"It seems this kid truly is stronger than I ever imagined."
He had already been forced to rely on an absolute defensive tactic.
Brandon had no choice but to admit it—
He had accepted Ash's challenge.
But accepting a challenge did not mean holding back!
Losing face was one thing—
But losing after losing face?
That would be the ultimate joke.
Right now, Brandon was suppressing a powerful urge—
A desperate need to prove that he and Regice were invincible!
No!
He had to become even stronger!
His coordination with Regice still wasn't perfect enough!
Pokémon League Headquarters
Chairman Goodshow let out a heavy sigh.
"Ah…"
"If this were a different setting, or a different Trainer—
Ash would already have won."
"Brandon is relying entirely on sheer experience to bully a kid here!"
He sighed deeply, his face screaming embarrassment.
"Haha! Brandon isn't wrong either. When you're pushed this far by a kid, getting heated is normal!"
Professor Oak's message appeared again—
Like two sharp knives stabbing straight into Brandon's heart.
Cough cough!
What else could it be?
Ash was a Trainer who came from Pallet Town!
Every one of Ash's glories—
Would become Pallet Town's unique and irreplaceable pride!
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