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Because of the Asagi Conference, Ash had only one day left to spar with Luther.
That day, Luther and Ash both woke up before dawn. After eating the food they had prepared the night before, they immediately threw themselves into battle.
Luther knew that Ash was trying to figure out his own strategy. At this stage, although While Ash's Battle intelligence was sharp, he lacked a secondary strategy to fall back on in critical situations.
Relying on love, trust, bonds, and the efforts of his Pokémon, Ash had already gone farther than many others. Yet Luther could clearly see that Ash was capable of going even further.
In their first battle, Luther employed every technique he had learned since arriving in this world, blending them into a cohesive system. His strategy was designed to make Ash understand the necessity of having one.
'Absolute strength crushes all illusions.'
During his travels, Luther had heard many people say this, and he once believed it to be very reasonable, even putting it into practice himself. Yet almost without exception, those people all fell in the end.
Many tried to imitate Cynthia, scoffing at battle techniques and strategies, treating them as beneath notice.
However, they seemed unaware that Cynthia didn't use any strategy in ordinary battles because it simply wasn't necessary.
Yet when Luther watched her spar with Lance at Diantha's villa, a three-on-three match that nearly demolished Diantha's training grounds, it was clear that both Cynthia and Lance were employing their own strategies.
That Battle had deeply shocked Luther, who was still recovering from his injuries at the time.
It was the first time Luther had witnessed a Champion-level battle. It was a height he couldn't possibly comprehend back then. Even from the perspective of a transmigrator, their battle was imbued with the aura of a clash between gods.
In a world without "Red," that Battle was Luther's equivalent of the Mt. Silver battle. Even after Lance claimed he and Cynthia were just fooling around, Luther refused to believe it.
Cynthia had once remarked to Luther that the so-called "absolute strength" simply meant that they hadn't found a worthy benchmark yet.
In the entirety of Sinnoh, there was only one person who could claim to possess absolute strength, and that was Cynthia.
In the Indigo League, there was likewise only one person who dared to say he stood at its very peak: Lance.
Those people never learned the humility and caution of Champions. Instead, they learned arrogance, and learned plenty of it. Which was truly a baffling human behavior.
In battles where the gap in strength wasn't so vast as to be beyond salvation, strategy could serve as insurance and provide more options to turn the tide. That alone made it meaningful.
…
Just as before, Luther held nothing back except for devising the training plan, turning this sparring match into a near-teaching session.
During this time, Luther witnessed Ash's array of "miraculous techniques":
"Dodge it," "Hang in there," and various forms of morale-boosting roars that could practically revive a Pokémon.
The most absurd instance occurred when Luther's Darkrai's 'Dark Void' struck Infernape. In the very next turn, Ash shouted Infernape awake, and it retaliated with a 'Mach Punch.
'Impossible to replicate, impossible to replicate,' Luther thought. This maneuver must be unique to Ash. He even suspected that when Ash spoke in the battle arena, his words carried some kind of magic. While it wasn't quite "what he says comes true," increasing the probability of it happening definitely seemed possible.
Dawn and Brock made no attempt to interrupt Ash.
They understood the invaluable gift Ash was receiving.
While some Pokémon Trainers were generous enough to share their insights, none would ever offer such systematic, hands-on guidance, teaching while training, and even helping analyze the battles.
Everyone's insights and systems were different, and the paths they walked were different as well. But people who could share so openly like Luther were exceedingly rare.
As a Gym Leader, Brock even joined in some of the discussions, the passion from his days as a Gym Leader surging up unconsciously.
Dawn sat together with Mai. Though there was a slight age gap between them, they got along quite well, chatting about everything from Pokémon accessories to Pokémon Contests, and even girls' clothing.
By the end, the topic inevitably drifted to Luther and Ash.
"They really get along well," Dawn remarked, watching Luther pose Darkrai in a Move stance while explaining something animatedly. She glanced at Ash and Pikachu, who were listening intently.
"They're probably the same kind of people."
Mai was feeding Wurmple. Recently, for reasons unknown, Wurmple had been sleeping much longer than before and couldn't be woken up no matter what. Even when it did wake up, it was groggy and unfocused, so it almost always missed mealtimes.
After examining Wurmple, Brock found nothing physically wrong. He concluded that continued observation was necessary to understand what was happening.
"That's true. Idiots who love Pokémon and love battling are all like this. But Luther isn't a block of wood, on that point, he's way better than Ash."
Dawn let out a sigh.
Mai simply smiled without saying anything. A girl's thoughts were always hard to hide, but this wasn't the place for her to speak up.
Before they realized it, night had fallen.
As soon as dawn broke the next day, it would be time for Ash's group to part ways with Luther. Ash had never so desperately wished for time to slow down.
Luther had clearly taught him a great deal, but he had only pushed open the door. He hadn't given Ash any specific directions on how to proceed.
Brock told him that if Luther said too much, Ash would only end up walking Luther's path, and that this was actually the best way for him.
Ash wasn't foolish in this regard. He quickly understood Luther's painstaking intentions.
But once he understood, a deep sense of confusion arose.
Ash hadn't considered why Luther was so willing to teach him these techniques. Throughout his years of traveling, he had encountered almost exclusively kind-hearted people, so he simply regarded Luther as a friendly Pokémon Trainer who loved Pokémon.
…and he placed Luther somewhere between a rival and a friend.
His real confusion stemmed from the fact that, after spending these days together, he realized Luther truly understood him.
Luther knew about the Spearow incident that occurred right after Ash left Pallet Town. He knew that Ash had seen Ho-Oh. He even knew that Ash had met Pikachu because he was late.
He knew how Ash's Krabby had been looked down upon by Professor Oak for being too small when it was first caught. He even knew the details of catching Caterpie... how Ash had been chased all over the place by a raging Primeape.
He knew that Bulbasaur had nearly evolved after being tempted by Ivysaur.
He knew how Squirtle had joined the team. He knew where Ash caught Heracross. He knew that Butterfree's partner was a pink Butterfree.
He knew how Muk was captured. He knew that Ash had once encountered a Crystal Onix.
…
He knew too much.
He was like a friend who had grown up with Ash and traveled with him since the beginning of his journey as a Pokémon Trainer.
He silently accompanied Ash as an observer through spring, summer, autumn, and winter. No matter where Ash went, whether climbing mountains or crossing rivers, he was there.
No matter what Ash experienced, he never left. He was always there.
It was as if he was waiting for something.
Yet Ash had never truly noticed his presence.
There was something in Luther's gaze, anticipation perhaps; it was as if he hoped Ash would grow up faster.
This felt completely different from the encouragement Ash received from the elders.
'Luther… who are you, really?'
Ash looked at Pikachu, and Pikachu looked back at Ash.
After a wordless exchange, their eyes hardened with determination. They nodded in unison, having made up their minds.
Luther, who had been playing with Espurr, smiled and stood up as Ash approached.
The last traces of youthful innocence seemed to have vanished from Ash's serious and focused face. He glanced around, confirming they were alone, and took a deep breath, and said,
"Can you tell me who you really are?" Ash asked, his gaze fixed on Luther as a strange light flickered in his eyes.
Pikachu's expression mirrored Ash's exactly.
Luther froze for a moment, then broke into a foolish grin.
The eternally unchanging Ash from the anime didn't exist here. After all, he was a teenager now, being perceptive was only natural.
'If only he'd use that sharpness in matters of the heart, I wouldn't have to agonize over which stock to buy for him.'
"Luther," he said with a smile, stating the obvious. "My name is Luther."
Ash's sharp gaze dimmed slightly, hesitation creeping across his face as he seemed to struggle with whether to continue.
Luther didn't rush him, knowing Ash was carefully organizing his thoughts.
"When we first met, I didn't feel anything special. I just thought you were an interesting person, a good Pokémon Trainer."
"But during this time, I've realized... you're like..."
Ash faltered and sweat began to bead on his forehead as he desperately searched for the right words.
"You're like someone who grew up alongside me."
It was the closest description he could come up with.
'Is that right... a childhood friend?'
Come to think of it, that was true. Hadn't a part of his childhood belonged entirely to Ash and this world?
Luther chuckled. "Your only childhood friend should be Gary Oak, right?"
"Tell me!"
Once Ash became stubborn, even ten Tauros couldn't budge him. Luther knew this well and reached out to gently stroke Pikachu's cheek.
"I used to have a dream, to touch Pikachu's cheek with my own hands." Watching Pikachu nuzzle comfortably against his fingertips, Luther felt truly content.
"It's not impossible for you to know."
Luther's words made Ash's eyes light up.
"I'll be waiting for you on the main stage of the Lily of the Valley Conference," Luther said, extending his hand to Ash. "If you defeat me, I'll tell you."
Ash's blood instantly began to boil. Those words were nothing less than a formal challenge, an invitation delivered with unstoppable momentum.
Aside from Paul, Ash now had one more opponent to defeat.
For the sake of the doubts in his heart, he had no reason to lose.
Ash took Luther's hand.
"Don't get knocked out by some strong opponent before you even reach me," Ash said.
"My goal is the Champion title. I might even wait for you in the finals. You're the one who needs to be careful, don't lose easily, or everything I've taught you will have been for nothing."
"And Pikachu, give it your all and keep winning!"
Pikachu paused, electricity crackling in its cheeks, its eyes brimming with confidence. "Pika!" it chirped, as if to tell Luther, "Piece of cake!"
(End of Chapter)