While Paul was waiting for his next ranking battle application, two other matches in the Masters Eight Rotation Tournament unfolded right on schedule.
On the first day, the former and current Kalos Champions faced each other.
Diantha led with her Hawlucha, while Calem sent out Greninja.
Although Hawlucha had a type advantage, Calem had no intention of switching. He commanded Greninja to weave in and out with fluid ninja-like maneuvers, unleashing a relentless series of unpredictable attacks. Hawlucha was toyed with from start to finish, never landing a single strike.
Diantha's second choice was Gourgeist. Using ghostly trickery, Gourgeist managed to suppress Greninja and nearly turned the tide—but a small mistake gave Greninja the opening to defeat it.
However, Greninja was also knocked out due to Destiny Bond.
As expected, Diantha's third Pokémon was her ace: Gardevoir. She Mega Evolved it at once. Calem countered by sending out Charizard, who Mega Evolved into its Y form. After a fierce clash, Charizard's flames overwhelmed Gardevoir.
Compared to other challengers, Calem's performance was impressive—winning with only two Pokémon while once again toppling Diantha. The battle highlighted both his rising strength and Diantha's shift in focus. Ever since losing her Champion's throne, Diantha had clearly dedicated herself more to her acting career.
...
The next day brought the match everyone had been waiting for: Blue Oak versus Ash Ketchum.
Two Trainers who had known each other for years stood face-to-face. After a moment of quiet determination, the battle began.
Blue led with Aerodactyl. Ash countered with Lucario.
Realizing the opponent's aerial advantage, Ash didn't recklessly push forward. Instead, he switched to Pikachu.
Thanks to inspiration from Red's Pikachu and Paul's Electivire, most Champion-level Trainers had taught their Electric-types the use of Magnet Rise to gain aerial mobility.
Pikachu was no exception. Nimbly darting through the air, it clashed with Aerodactyl evenly.
Yet, Aerodactyl's raw power gradually pressed Pikachu down.
But in the decisive moment, Ash raised his Z-Ring, unleashing Pikachu's Gigavolt Havoc. The overwhelming surge shattered Aerodactyl's Giga Impact head-on, snatching victory.
Unshaken, Blue recalled Aerodactyl and sent out his Rhyperior, Dynamaxing it on the spot. Just as it prepared to crush Pikachu, Ash withdrew his partner.
He called Lucario back into battle and immediately Mega Evolved it. Lucario created Shadow Clones, striking swiftly with Aura Sphere and Flash Cannon.
Rhyperior retaliated with Max Quake, shaking the battlefield with a roaring sandstorm. In an instant, all of Lucario's clones were destroyed, and the real Lucario was about to be overwhelmed.
But Ash had an idea, he commanded Lucario to form its Bone Rush staff into a slingshot, launching itself straight onto Rhyperior's body to evade the Max Quake. From there, Lucario rained down furious close-range strikes.
Rhyperior tried to shake it off, but failed. Blue ordered Max Flare, cloaking its body in flames to burn Lucario off.
Yet Lucario refused to let go. Even while engulfed in fire, it endured by using Detect, narrowly avoiding the brunt of the attack and surviving.
Seeing this, Blue commanded another Max Flare. Thanks to the first one, sunlight now blazed intensely—the second strike's power was even greater. This time, dodging was impossible.
"Aura Revival! Now!" Ash shouted.
Enshrouded in flames, Lucario awakened as if reborn. It launched into a frenzied assault, hammering Rhyperior's head with relentless blows. With Mega Evolution's Adaptability boosting its damage, Lucario struck with terrifying force.
At last, the attacks ceased. Both Pokémon reverted from their powered-up forms and collapsed.
Ash sent Pikachu back into the field. Blue responded with Blastoise, Mega Evolving it instantly.
Empowered by Mega Launcher, Blastoise skipped simple Hydro Pumps and unleashed a storm of Aura Spheres from all three cannons, relentlessly tracking Pikachu.
Pikachu struggled valiantly but managed only a single Quick Attack before being blasted down in an explosion.
"That's Ash's last Pokémon. What will he use against Blue's high-level Mega Blastoise?" Reggie wondered aloud.
"It won't be easy." Paul observed coolly. "Blue's Blastoise is on another level. None of the Pokémon in Ash's current roster match it. The simplest path would've been Pikachu using a Z-Move to end it, but that was already spent against Aerodactyl. Unless Ash has captured a powerful Legendary Pokémon, his only hope is luck and bonds."
Reggie grinned. "If it were you in Ash's shoes, restricted to only the Pokémon in his known roster—who would you send? The Gigantamax Gengar? The Bond Phenomenon Greninja? Or the ever-popular Charizard?"
Paul thought seriously for a moment, his eyes firming. "I'd choose—"
"Infernape! Against Blue's mighty Mega Blastoise, Ash has chosen Infernape! Does he have a secret strategy in mind?!" The announcer's voice cut in over the live broadcast before Paul could finish.
"…Called it."
Paul released his own Infernape from its Poké Ball. "Let's see how it does."
"Waa-cha~!" Infernape nodded slightly, watching the match with burning focus.
"Infernape?" Blue raised a brow. "It's strong, yes—but do you really think Sunny Day alone will let it overcome my Blastoise?"
Blue knew Ash well enough to recognize that his Infernape was special. Still, sending a Fire-type against Blastoise seemed reckless.
Ash scratched his head with a grin. "No choice. I've got to save some tricks for later battles. For now, it's you against Blue, Infernape."
He admitted to himself there was some gambling in this choice. But this was the time to take risks. Even if he lost, he could always re-enter the ranking challenge later.
"I won't hold back. Blastoise—Hydro Cannon and Water Pulse!" Blue commanded.
Mega Blastoise extended all three cannons at once, the massive one on its back firing Hydro Cannon, while the twin arm cannons launched Water Pulses.
Despite the lingering harsh sunlight from Rhyperior's earlier Max Flare weakening Water-type moves, Water was still one of the most effective ways to take down Infernape.
"Infernape, return—Gigantamax!" Ash shouted.
He recalled Infernape, activated his Dynamax Band, and hurled the Poké Ball.
When Infernape reemerged, its body expanded skyward, towering dozens of meters high. Crimson storm clouds swirled above its head, a crushing pressure radiating from its form.
"Gather all your power!"
Under Ash's command, Infernape drew on every ounce of strength. The dormant Blaze within it ignited, shrouding its entire form in blistering flames.
Seeing its opponent charging up, Blastoise didn't even wait for Blue's signal—it unleashed a full-force barrage.
At the very moment Hydro Cannon and Water Pulse blasted backward, Earthquake erupted simultaneously, shaking the entire battlefield.
The combined might of all three attacks was overwhelming. Even a Gigantamaxed Infernape could have been taken out in a single instant if struck head-on.
Ash knew this. So did Infernape.
"Max Guard!"
Just before the strikes landed, the still-charging Infernape raised both arms. A massive barrier shimmered into existence, blocking the incoming assault.
Within the barrier, Infernape kept gathering power. Only when the shield finally began to collapse did its Blaze ability ignite fully. Flames erupted from its body, so intense the air itself warped around them.
"Infernape, Max Flare!"
Ash shouted. Infernape raised its arms high and hurled a colossal fireball, like a falling sun, straight at Blastoise.
With Max Move power, Blaze in full effect, and the boost of Sunny Day, Infernape unleashed a terrifying force.
Blastoise tilted its head upward. Even as the sunlike inferno descended, it countered with Water Pulse and Hydro Cannon, desperately resisting.
But as soon as it realized resistance was futile, Blastoise decisively unleashed Protect, hoping to withstand the strike.
It was in vain. Max Moves were irresistible. In a heartbeat, the blazing fireball shattered Protect like glass, exploding in a maelstrom that engulfed Blastoise in a sea of fire.
"Max Flare!"
One strike landed—and Infernape launched another.
This time, it opened its mouth wide, spewing a torrent of flame with explosive force.
The attack connected, flames scorching Blastoise relentlessly. Infernape did not relent, keeping up the blaze until its Dynamax power finally waned. Only then did it stop, forced back to normal size.
"Go!"
At Ash's command, Infernape continued its assault even as its body shrank down.
"RAAAAH!"
With a roar, searing blue flames erupted from its body, compressed to their absolute limit. Golden sparks of electricity intertwined with the fire, streaking like a meteor toward Blastoise.
It was a perfected fusion of Flare Blitz and Thunder Punch.
"Blastoise, full power!"
Though battered, Blastoise rallied. It withdrew its limbs and cannons into its shell, spinning rapidly as a torrent of water cloaked its body. Then it hurtled forward in a desperate charge.
It was a reckless blend of Rapid Spin, Water Pulse, and Giga Impact.
BOOM!!
The collision detonated with explosive force. In an instant, the two Pokémon switched places, now standing back to back.
"Waaah…"
Infernape's face twisted in pain. Its body staggered before dropping to one knee.
"Bla—"
Blastoise opened its mouth, ready to roar in victory—but no sound came.
Its vision blurred. Then, with eyes still open, it toppled forward onto the ground.
"Waaah-ya!"
Though collapsed moments ago, Infernape braced its hands against the floor and slowly pushed itself upright.
Its body trembled violently, but it was the one left standing.
"Blastoise is unable to battle. Infernape is the winner! I declare victory for Ash Ketchum!"
The referee's voice carried across the arena. Thunderous applause followed. Ash rushed forward and threw his arms around Infernape.
"That was incredible. Ash, your Infernape is a lot like yours, Paul. Its Blaze burns far stronger than a normal Pokémon's."
At the end of the match, Reggie laughed lightly.
"No surprise there. Most likely, the two Infernape are alternate-world counterparts."
Paul replied coolly.
"Waaah-ya?!"
Infernape's eyes widened. Could it be—that other Infernape was… another him? No wonder it had looked so familiar!
But… so weak…
Even with Blaze and Sunny Day, its flames weren't as strong as his own Blaze alone.
Was that serious?
Still, even as he mocked his "other self" inwardly, he couldn't hide the smile on his face watching the screen—watching "himself" share such a strong bond with Ash.
It was good. Everyone deserved a bright future.
"All right, go on. Play outside with the others."
Paul ruffled Infernape's head and handed over all of his Poké Balls at once.
"Waaah-cha!"
Infernape cried happily. Carrying the Poké Balls, it dashed outside and released all of its teammates, then carefully brought the empty Poké Balls back to Paul.
"Paul, are you planning to travel to other regions again?"
Seeing this, Reggie couldn't help but smile.
"With the World Coronation Series going through so many changes lately, my schedule's hard to manage. Better to focus on making it into the Masters Eight first. Then I'll see if there's time."
Paul shook his head slightly.
Travel could wait. If he went wandering now without even securing a place among the Masters Eight, it would be like celebrating before the battle was truly won.
The real problem was that, being ranked so high, it wasn't easy to get new matchups. One reason he had time to watch recent broadcasts was simply because he hadn't been assigned any opponents.
Just as he thought that, his phone chimed with a sharp "beep-beep".
'A new notification: a match assignment from the tournament organizers.'
His next opponent was—
"…Hm? Wally?!"
Paul blinked, eyes glinting with anticipation.
'This legendary figure was no less a rival than any protagonist. How much had Wally grown in all this time? It was truly worth looking forward to.'
(End of Chapter)
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