Three days later — At Bill's Lighthouse
Ash had spent the past three days intensely training his Pokémon. Their skill mastery had improved significantly, stabilizing at a level comparable to that of a Champion. Even Cynthia was astonished by the new techniques Ash had developed.
Though she herself was a Champion, she had never created new moves. At best, she could combine existing moves more effectively. While she wanted to learn the techniques Ash had taught his Pokémon, she understood these abilities were far too precious to share lightly—let alone be taught.
Watching his companions laugh and play by the shoreline, Ash stood silently, gazing out at the sea. His expression was serious. He could already sense it—a powerful presence not far from shore. Activating his Sharingan, he locked eyes on a massive aura coiling in the distant mist.
"It's today," Ash murmured. "We'll rest for now. Whatever happens in this battle... I need to be ready."
He deactivated his Sharingan and sat cross-legged in the sand, meditating calmly.
Over the past few days, Cynthia had begun to notice something unusual about Ash's personality. Without the Sharingan active, he was cheerful—sometimes even passionate. But the moment those crimson eyes awakened, his demeanor turned icy cold. Unnaturally so.
Ash had noticed her glances, too. He wasn't sure what her intentions were, but he didn't mind. Let her look—there was nothing to hide.
Three Hours Later
"WOOOOOHH!!!"
Around 2 PM, a thunderous roar echoed from the depths of the ocean. A thick fog rolled across the beach, masking the horizon.
"He's coming… he's finally here!" Bill exclaimed. His eyes gleamed as he stared into the mist, fixated on the massive silhouette emerging from the sea.
Nearby, Brock, Giselle, and Cynthia stood stunned by the sheer size of the creature. Even the Legendary Birds paled in comparison to this beast's scale.
Ash had expected the Ancient Dragonite to be large, but not this massive. The sheer pressure it exuded was awe-inspiring.
"Dragonite!" Ash called out.
The giant Dragonite paused. It was the first time it had heard someone speak its name aloud.
"Dragonite? Ash, is it really a Dragonite?" Bill asked eagerly. The fog was still too thick for him to make out the details.
"It's definitely Dragonite," Ash confirmed, activating his Sharingan once again. "Its meridian structure and cellular activity are unmistakable."
Hearing Ash's words, Bill's heart surged with emotion. He had waited for years just to lay eyes on this ancient Pokémon.
A deep bellow echoed again as the enormous, golden Dragonite emerged from the mist. Its otherwise gentle appearance was now transformed by its imposing size and presence—it looked positively regal.
"Woo?" Dragonite's eyes locked onto Ash. It sensed the hidden power within him—equal to, if not greater than, its own.
Though Ash's raw strength exceeded Dragonite's, his stamina was a different matter. At most, he could maintain that strength for ten, maybe fifteen minutes.
As Dragonite studied him, Ash stepped forward.
"Dragonite. I want you to battle my Pokémon. It may seem sudden, but… I have a reason you can't ignore."
From his coat, Ash pulled out a fragrant capsule. The aroma reached everyone nearby, and they instantly sensed it wasn't ordinary.
"Wooo…" Dragonite's eyes narrowed. Whatever Ash was holding—it needed it.
Ash smirked slightly, his scarlet eyes glowing with eerie light. Cynthia, watching from behind, felt her cheeks flush at the sight.
"Just as I thought. There's damage deep in your body. The Sharingan reveals it clearly—those black spots inside you are eating away at your healthy cells, feeding off them like parasites."
In ancient times, Pokémon didn't evolve slowly—they fought to survive, and those with strength ruled. Dragonite's massive wounds were likely the result of a forced evolution during a brutal age, and they had never fully healed.
"WOO!" After a moment of deliberation, Dragonite nodded, then gestured to the Pokémon behind Ash—asking which one would battle first.
"I'm not done." Ash raised his voice. "If you win, this Full Restore Capsule is yours. But if you lose… I get you as my Pokémon. Dare to wager?"
Dragonite froze. The proposal was bold—even reckless.
System, give me this Dragonite's data! Ash commanded internally.
Ding!
Name: Super-Ancient Dragonite
Level: Tier 2 Legendary
Traits: Berserker Scale, Psionic Core
Type: Dragon / Flying
Potential: S+
Thunder Law Comprehension: B+
Staring at Dragonite's data, a drop of sweat rolled down Ash's forehead.
"As expected of an ancient Pokémon… it's actually mastered the Laws—and not just any law, but the most destructive one: Lightning."
Seeing that Dragonite had mastered the Law of Thunder, Ash grew concerned. Among his team, only Suicune could potentially go toe-to-toe with such a powerful opponent. But Suicune specialized in the Water Law. And at the same level, Water was at a natural disadvantage against Thunder.
Dragonite wasn't just any Legendary-class Pokémon. As a pseudo-Legendary, it was known for its terrifying versatility—capable of using a wide variety of elemental moves with great proficiency. That made it a nightmare to counter.
"WOOOHH!!!"
After a moment of deep consideration, Dragonite let out a powerful roar—it had made its decision. The Full Restore Capsule in Ash's hand was simply too tempting. Its chronic injuries had kept it from advancing for years. Sometimes, the pain grew so unbearable, it felt like its entire body was being torn apart.
If that medicine can heal me… it's worth the gamble.
"There's no point overthinking it," Ash said, stepping forward. "My first Pokémon—Steelix!"
Without hesitation, Ash flipped open the Poké Ball. With a heavy rumble, the massive Steelix burst forth behind him, letting out a deep, echoing roar. Its steel body gleamed under the sunlight, its presence solid and unyielding.
Facing down the mighty ancient Dragonite, Ash showed no fear. The battle was about to begin.
...
TN:
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