“What is that?!”
Max stared wide-eyed at the faint blue aura rising from Ash’s body.
His voice was filled with shock.
“What’s happening to Ash, Dad?!”
May also stood up anxiously from the audience seats.
This was the first time she had ever seen anything like it.
Hearing his children’s voices, Norman finally snapped out of his brief surprise.
He looked at Ash seriously before speaking slowly.
“You’ve truly surprised me, Ash.
If I’m not mistaken… this is some form of Aura power, correct?”
As the strongest Gym Leader in Hoenn, Norman had naturally heard rumors regarding certain extraordinary individuals within the Pokémon world.
For example, the Saffron Gym Leader in Kanto, Sabrina, possessed powerful psychic abilities.
Several Psychic-type specialists throughout the world were also rumored to wield mysterious powers beyond ordinary humans.
Ash nodded honestly.
“Yes.
It’s called Aura.”
The blue light surrounding his body became calmer as he continued.
“With Aura, I can sense Pokémon emotions directly and communicate with them mentally.
It allows me to synchronize my thoughts with Pikachu during battle.”
“That’s actually possible?”
May covered her mouth in disbelief.
To her, understanding Pokémon emotions already sounded incredible.
But communicating without words altogether?
That was practically unimaginable for a beginner Trainer like her.
“That’s so unfair…”
Max muttered subconsciously, clearly astonished.
However, Norman immediately interrupted him.
“There’s nothing unfair about it, Max.”
His expression became unusually serious.
“The Pokémon League has never forbidden Trainers from improving themselves.
Battles are not fought by Pokémon alone Trainers fight alongside them.”
Then Norman glanced toward Pikachu.
“Besides, this battle was already uneven from the very beginning.
Pikachu is facing an opponent much larger and physically stronger than itself.”
“And despite that, Ash still chose to trust Pikachu completely.”
Those words instantly silenced Max.
Norman then looked back toward Ash and smiled.
“This battle is becoming more enjoyable by the second, Ash.”
Ash smiled as well.
“I feel the same way, Mr.
Norman!”
“Pika!”
At that very moment, outside the battlefield window
three familiar figures were secretly peeking inside.
“So that twerp really used some weird Aura power before!”
Jessie narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“Still doesn’t change the fact that Pikachu belongs to Team Rocket, meowth!”
Meowth grinned greedily.
“And that Slaking looks crazy strong too!”
James adjusted his binoculars excitedly.
“Once both sides are exhausted after the battle, we’ll snatch Pikachu and Slaking together!”
“Then we’ll present them to the Boss!”
“What a perfect villainous strategy, meowth!”
“Wobbuffet!”
Meanwhile, the battle inside the arena had already reached its climax.
“Pikachu, Thunderbolt!”
“PIKA CHUUU!”
Electricity burst violently from Pikachu’s cheeks.
At the same time, Ash used Aura to subtly coordinate Pikachu’s movements mentally, allowing verbal commands and Aura synchronization to overlap seamlessly.
The result was terrifying.
Pikachu’s speed increased even further.
Its movements became almost impossible to predict.
Facing the incoming electric assault, Norman remained calm.
“Slaking, Counter!”
“SLAAKING!!”
The instant Thunderbolt struck
a crimson glow suddenly enveloped Slaking’s massive body.
The electric force rebounded violently back toward Pikachu.
However, Pikachu had already adjusted its footing beforehand.
Its tail struck the ground like a spring, launching itself high into the air just before the reflected electricity arrived.
Norman’s eyes flashed sharply.
“Now!
Focus Punch!”
“SLAAKING!!!”
A powerful blue-white light gathered around Slaking’s fist.
The terrifying pressure generated visible shockwaves across the battlefield as the giant Pokémon launched its devastating attack upward.
This time, Ash chose not to evade.
“Pikachu!
Full power!”
“PIKAAAA!!”
Using the momentum from its descent, Pikachu charged directly downward.
At the same moment
golden lightning exploded around its entire body.
ext{Quick Attack} + ext{Volt Tackle}
The fusion of speed and electricity erupted perfectly.
Boom!!!
Pikachu and Slaking collided head-on.
Golden lightning and blue-white force exploded violently across the arena.
The resulting shockwave blasted both Pokémon backward simultaneously.
Then
crackle!
Static electricity suddenly spread across Slaking’s body.
Pikachu’s Ability, Static, had activated.
Ash’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Now, Pikachu!”
“PIKA-CHUUUU!!”
Without hesitation, Pikachu unleashed another Thunderbolt.
Norman shouted immediately,
“Slaking, block it!”
“SLAAKING!”
Even while partially paralyzed, Slaking raised both massive arms defensively.
The giant palms actually managed to stop the incoming Thunderbolt head-on.
Electricity sprayed wildly across the battlefield.
Ash could not help narrowing his eyes in amazement.
“What unbelievable defense…”
Because of Truant and paralysis, Slaking temporarily could not move freely.
Yet even then, it still blocked Pikachu’s Thunderbolt using pure physical durability alone.
This Slaking’s defensive power was horrifying.
From the audience seats, Caroline sighed softly.
“To push your father’s Slaking this far…”
May pressed her hands tightly against her chest.
The intensity of the battle made it difficult for her to breathe normally.
“Ash and Pikachu are incredible…”
Even Max stared in complete shock.
Originally, he had believed Charizard was Ash’s strongest Pokémon.
But now he realized
Pikachu itself was monstrously powerful.
Ash suddenly clenched his fist tightly.
“No matter how tough your arms are, there’s no way the rest of your body is equally durable!”
Then he shouted
“Iron Tail!”
“PIKACHU!!”
Like a yellow flash, Pikachu suddenly appeared beneath Slaking.
Using its momentum, it spun upward violently.
Its tail gleamed with metallic white brilliance before slamming directly into Slaking’s chin.
Clang!!
Slaking let out a painful roar.
Its gigantic body staggered backward several steps before dropping to one knee.
“How did Pikachu get there so fast?!”
Max shouted in disbelief.
May covered her mouth.
“Is… is Slaking going to lose?”
“It’s not over yet!”
Ash’s eyes remained sharp.
He had no intention of wasting this precious opportunity.
“Pikachu!
Finish it with Volt Tackle!”
At that exact moment
Slaking suddenly lifted its head.
Its crimson eyes flashed fiercely.
“SLAAKING!!”
Norman reacted instantly.
“Hammer Arm!”
“Pika ?!”
The moment Pikachu approached
Slaking’s gigantic arm smashed downward violently.
Boom!!
The terrifying impact dispersed the electricity surrounding Pikachu instantly.
Pikachu cried out painfully as its body was sent flying across the battlefield.
“Amazing!
Dad’s Slaking is so strong!”
Max shouted excitedly.
But May only stared worriedly at the fallen Pikachu.
“Ash…”
Norman immediately pressed the advantage.
“Slaking!
Body Slam!”
“SLAAKING!!”
Like a charging locomotive, Slaking rushed forward with overwhelming momentum.
However
just before it could leap
crackle!
Residual paralysis suddenly spread through its body again.
Slaking’s movements froze abruptly.
Norman’s expression changed instantly.
“Slaking?!”
The lingering paralysis from Static had activated at the critical moment.
Ash’s eyes flashed brilliantly.
“This is our chance!”
“Pikachu Thunder!”
“PIKAAAAA CHUUUUUU!!!”
Pikachu forced itself back onto its feet.
Lightning exploded into the sky.
An enormous bolt of thunder descended violently from above, engulfing Slaking entirely.
Boom!!!
The battlefield shook violently.
Dust and debris scattered everywhere.
Moments later
Slaking’s massive body crashed heavily onto the ground.
That final Thunder had become the decisive blow.
Its enormous body twitched once before finally falling still.
Bang.
Almost simultaneously
Pikachu collapsed as well.
After unleashing its last attack, its stamina had finally reached its limit.
“Is… is it a draw?”
May asked nervously.
“That was incredible!”
Max was practically trembling with excitement.
“Dad and Ash were both amazing!”
Norman, however, slowly shook his head.
Then he looked toward Ash seriously.
“No.
I lost.”
“Slaking fell first.”
Ash smiled lightly.
“If this had been an official three-on-three Gym battle, though… it probably would’ve ended as a draw.”
Even so, Ash felt extremely satisfied.
During the battle, Pikachu had finally broken through once more.
PikachuLevel: 56
Type: Electric
Ability: Static
Newly Mastered Move: Iron Tail
At the same time, familiar system notifications echoed in Ash’s mind.
Ding!
Pikachu gained 32,000 experience points!
Ding!
Pikachu leveled up to Level 56!
Ding!
Reward acquired: 2,000 points!
Ash was secretly stunned.
The rewards for battling Norman were incredibly generous.
Ever since winning the Silver Conference, Ash had spent very few of his accumulated points.
Aside from Pokémon food and training equipment, he had been saving almost everything.
Because he knew
the truly important investments would come later in Hoenn.