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"Battle, begin!"
"Greninja! Strike first! Use Water Pulse!"
"Ninja!!"
The moment the referee's voice fell, Ash shouted his command. Greninja instantly brought its webbed hands together, condensing a swirling ball of water in its palms before thrusting it forward with force!
"Here it comes! Garchomp, charge straight in! Use Dragon Claw!"
Seeing Greninja's attack, Liam immediately responded, giving his order without hesitation.
"Raaagh!!"
At once, Garchomp shifted its right leg back, both fins glowing with surging draconic energy. Twin long claws of light extended outward as it let out a fierce roar. Raising its right fin high, Garchomp brought it down with a sharp slash, striking the heart of the Water Pulse!
With a thunderous crack, the water sphere was split in two, each half whizzing past Garchomp's body before exploding into mist.
"What?!"
Ash's brows furrowed—Garchomp's first strike alone had shaken him.
"Rooarr!!"
But Garchomp didn't stop there. With a low growl, its powerful legs dug into the earth, launching it forward like a flash of light. Its Dragon Claw slashed down upon Greninja like a bolt of lightning.
"Ninja!!"
In barely the blink of an eye, Garchomp had closed the gap, its claws descending. But even then, Greninja managed to evade. Just before the claws struck, Greninja bent sharply backward, the slash grazing past its abdomen.
Using that momentum, Greninja flipped several times through the air and kicked hard at Garchomp's shoulder, sending the dragon-type flying!
"Raaagh!!"
Garchomp snarled as its body was hurled back. Enduring the pain in its shoulder, it spread its wings to stop its fall, landing heavily on the ground once more. Its gaze turned sharper, focused intently on Greninja.
"Haah… haah… Ninja…"
Greninja panted, its movements from earlier clearly taxing its stamina. Lowering itself close to the ground, one leg coiled tightly, one hand pressed to the earth—it assumed a strange stance.
"Greninja! Use Double Team!"
Ash's battle style was relentless offense, never giving his opponent a chance to breathe. And for Greninja, it was a perfect fit.
"Ninja!"
With explosive force, Greninja shot forward in a streak of blue light. As it dashed, the light split into dozens of clones, each one indistinguishable from the real Greninja, swarming Garchomp in an instant.
"Garchomp! Dragon Claw!!"
"Raaagh!!"
Unfazed by the numbers, Garchomp's claws lit up once more. It slashed left and right, shattering clone after clone in a storm of blinding arcs.
"Now! Greninja, use Cut!"
Ash's bright eyes locked onto Garchomp, watching closely. At the very moment Garchomp destroyed another clone, Ash's voice rang out like thunder.
"Raagh?!"
"Ninja!!"
Startled, Garchomp's eyes flicked toward Ash for an instant. That split-second of distraction was enough. One of the "clones" at its side suddenly vanished, reappearing behind it—the real Greninja. Mid-air, its crossed arms held twin glowing blades, which it slashed down with terrifying force!
"Counter!"
"Rooarr!!"
At the critical moment, Liam's calm voice reached Garchomp. Acting on reflex, Garchomp suddenly shot upward, then twisted back, bringing a claw down in a counter-slash.
"Ninja!"
Clang!
The blades collided with Garchomp's claw. The force sent Greninja skidding backward across the ground until it braced itself against a tree root, barely stopping.
"Rooarr!!"
Garchomp landed, its sharp eyes glancing over its back. Its dorsal fin, already chipped, now bore a cross-shaped gash. Thin lines of blood trickled down.
"Grrr…"
Seeing its own wound, Garchomp roared at Greninja, battle fire burning hotter in its gaze.
"Huff… huff… Ninja…"
Greninja stood across from it, panting heavily. Its arms still trembled faintly from the impact of the clash.
"What an incredible fight, Ash. I knew you were strong, but I didn't expect this. Honestly… I'm happy."
Liam smiled proudly as he looked from the battlefield to Ash.
"So strong! Truly strong!" Ash's eyes blazed with excitement. "This is the kind of battle I've always dreamed of—so fierce, so real!"
On the sidelines, Celebi had forgotten its cheers, staring wide-eyed at Liam and Garchomp. Realizing it had been rude to Liam earlier, it nervously edged backward.
Behind Liam, Delia covered her mouth in shock. She had never imagined the Ash she had been casually teasing these past days possessed such overwhelming strength—it was beyond her expectations.
"Ash! Greninja may be strong, but you must see it too—your Greninja isn't a match for my Garchomp. If you continue, your partner may be hurt. Aren't you going to give up?"
From Liam's perspective, the outcome was already clear. But he deliberately provoked Ash—because he knew the bond between Ash and Greninja was the same as his own bond with Garchomp: a power that surpassed limits. He wanted to see it. Ash's true strength.
"You shouldn't underestimate us! This battle is only just beginning!"
Ash's voice rang out with firm determination.
"Greninja!"
"Ninja!"
"Show them our power!"
"Gre-Ninja!"
"Stronger! Stronger! Stronger!"
"Ninja!"
"We can still go beyond!!"
"NINJA!!"
And in the next instant, with Ash and Greninja's cries in unison, Liam felt a familiar wave burst outward from Ash's body.
Greninja roared, and a massive column of water surged skyward, spiraling into a towering water tornado that shredded the branches overhead and stormed into the sky!