"BOOM!!!"
A colossal water pillar rose skyward, as if connecting sky and earth.
The sheer energy contained within that pillar was immeasurable, beyond anyone's ability to gauge.
"It's here—Ash-Greninja!!! A form never before seen—Greninja!"
The announcer was stunned. The audience was stunned.
Under the watchful eyes of thousands, the towering water column condensed into a massive deep-blue shuriken, which locked into place on Greninja's back.
From a distance, it looked as though Greninja had sprouted wings.
"Kroaa!"
On the opposite side, Sawyer's Sceptile had completed its Mega Evolution.
"Sceptile, even though we can't compare to Ash-senpai's Sceptile, we've been constantly improving ourselves. Let go of everything—fight with all your strength!"
"Shaaa!"
Sawyer and his Mega Sceptile locked eyes with Ash and his unique Greninja form.
"Greninja, are you excited too? Their fighting spirit is fierce—but we are the strongest! Go—Cutting Water Shuriken!"
"Kroaa!"
THUD!
Greninja stomped the ground hard, and in the next heartbeat, its body was already gone, replaced by blinding afterimages streaking across the battlefield.
"Mega Sceptile, use Protect!"
"Shaaa!"
The green shield flared to life around Mega Sceptile!
So… it had learned a new move?
Ash's eyes narrowed. Greninja's lightning strike and combined slashes were stopped dead by Protect.
"Leaf Blade!"
"Slash to counter!"
Clang! Clang!
The metallic clashing rang out. Mega Sceptile's twin Leaf Blades clashed against Greninja's twin kunai-like blades. Sparks flew with every blow!
"Use Frenzy Plant!"
"Double Team!"
From the earth below, massive thorny vines burst forth, covered in sharp barbs, lashing out in every direction.
Each vine targeted Greninja's afterimages one by one!
"There! Attack!"
Sawyer pointed to the last Greninja still standing—it hadn't been destroyed, meaning it was the real one!
"Slash!"
With a sweeping motion, Greninja's blade cut through every vine, shattering the forest of thorns.
The battlefield was soon filled with tumbling, massive debris of broken vines—and Greninja vanished into them like a shadow in smoke!
"Use Leaf Storm! Target all the vines!"
Sawyer hadn't expected his Mega Sceptile's Frenzy Plant to be turned against him. Now Greninja used the vines as cover, and he couldn't even spot where it was hiding.
"Aerial Ace!"
The moment Leaf Storm began to condense on Mega Sceptile's tail, Greninja struck!
Two precise Aerial Ace strikes landed squarely against Mega Sceptile!
"In that case—Leaf Storm, directly at Greninja!"
BOOM!
Sawyer adapted quickly, and Leaf Storm caught Greninja full on. Ash winced—his bond with Greninja made him feel the attack as if it had hit him too!
"This won't be enough, Sawyer. Are you ready? Greninja—it's time to give it our all!"
"Kroaa!"
Greninja tore through the raging storm of leaves, then reached behind and seized the deep-blue shuriken strapped to its back.
BZZZZ!!!
The power radiating from it was terrifying—the shuriken swelled, growing ten times its original size!
Greninja now held aloft a colossal water shuriken, massive enough to blot out the light above.
"What… what kind of move is this?!"
Sweat rolled down Sawyer's forehead.
"It's here! This is the result of Ash and Greninja's first stage of special training—the Giant Water Shuriken!"
From the stands, Serena jumped to her feet, eyes shining with excitement.
To finally see the move Ash and Greninja had painstakingly developed—it thrilled her more than it did Ash himself.
"What the—how the heck did that thing get so big?!"
Tierno gaped, eyes wide as saucers.
But Delia, Anabel, Sabrina, Misty, May, Dawn, and the others who already knew how incredible Ash was, remained composed.
After all, this was Ash.
"Mega Sceptile, use Protect again! Block it, then counterattack!"
Sawyer's nerves trembled. Anyone facing this overwhelming shuriken would feel the same dread.
Its sheer presence was devastating.
"Shaaa!"
Mega Sceptile raised its Protect shield again.
"Go!"
Ash swung his arm with all his strength!
"BIUUU!!!"
Greninja mirrored the motion, hurling the Giant Water Shuriken forward with incredible force!
The shuriken's tip slammed into the Protect barrier.
Cracks immediately spread across the shield.
Like a dam breaking from a single breach, the barrier collapsed entirely with a deafening crack.
The Giant Water Shuriken struck Mega Sceptile directly in the chest!
"BOOM!!!"
The explosion rocked the entire arena.
Dust and smoke filled the battlefield.
Everyone instinctively held their breath, waiting.
Waiting to see the outcome.
Seconds ticked by—thirty long, suffocating seconds.
Finally, as the smoke cleared, Mega Sceptile lay on the ground, completely motionless, unable to battle.
"Sceptile is unable to battle! Greninja wins! Therefore, the victor of this match is—Ash!"
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T/N:
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