"Roar!!!"
After being struck by Pidgeot's Vacuum Wave, Dragonite let out a pained roar. Vacuum Wave is a high-pressure wind-type move, similar in force to Hydro Pump. Its power was immense—Dragonite's chest had been slashed open, several shallow wounds marking his scales.
Gasping for breath but still unwilling to back down, Pidgeot hovered mid-air, eyes locked on the opponent. Seeing this, Ash gave a small smile, a glint of emotion flickering in his eyes.
"Pidgeot, return. You've done great. Now, let the others take it from here."
To Ash, his Pokémon were more than just battle partners—they were family. While the newer members might still lack complete synergy, Ash believed that with sincerity and trust, they would always rise to the occasion.
Pikachu, Steelix, Arcanine, and Pidgeot—these four had been with him for nearly five or six years. Pikachu had grown up at Ash's side, and the others had trained relentlessly. All of that—every trial and every battle—had led to this very moment.
"Pidgeot!" The fierce glint in the bird's eyes shimmered with tears at Ash's words. With the last of its strength, it dove and struck Dragonite one final time with its beak, then collapsed mid-flight, falling toward the ground, unconscious and out of the battle.
Just before losing consciousness, Pidgeot's thoughts drifted back to when it was still just a Pidgey, training alongside Ash and Pikachu. Back then, it was nothing special—just an ordinary Pokémon.
Compared to rare Flying-types, Pidgeot was far from impressive. Despite its potential, its slow growth meant most trainers ignored it, dismissing it as just another bird found in the forests of Kanto.
But Pidgeot wasn't willing to accept that. Why should rare Pokémon be inherently stronger? Was it just because they developed faster? Everything changed when it met Ash. With those unique and self-taught moves, Ash helped it grow in ways it never imagined possible.
In truth, this battle against Dragonite was Pidgeot's first real coordinated fight alongside Ash. Yet even though it was their first official partnership, it meant everything to Pidgeot… and still, it had lost.
As it plummeted from the sky, a beam of red light shot out from the center of Ash's Luxury Ball. Pidgeot vanished mid-fall, safely returned to the Poké Ball. A single tear slid down Ash's cheek, hidden partly by his dark, medium-length hair, casting a shadow over his eyes—a quiet loneliness settling over him.
"Pika…"
"Graaah…"
"Steel…"
"Arf!"
"Char!"
"Gaa!"
Seeing Ash's grief and silent frustration, his Pokémon gathered around him, wanting to comfort him but not knowing how.
Bill let out a soft sigh. "Ah… this may be the hardest moment in Ash's life yet."
Seeing Ash like this, even Bill's heart ached. Beside him, Cynthia stood in quiet worry and thoughtfulness. It wasn't hard to understand what Ash was feeling, but it was far from a simple emotion.
Ash could handle defeat. What he couldn't accept was his partners' long-term efforts going unrewarded.
"It's been a long time since I felt this way," Ash muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "I guess I've gotten too comfortable. No pressure, no edge."
He handed Pidgeot's Poké Ball to Brock and ran his left hand through his hair, briefly covering his left eye.
"But don't worry… You're the strongest Pidgeot there is. Just look at that wound you left on Dragonite's chest." His voice steadied, and his eyes sharpened with renewed resolve.
"Arf!" Arcanine barked, stepping forward eagerly. Seeing Ash bounce back, it was clear—Arcanine wanted in on the fight.
Dragonite landed heavily on the beach, looking toward Ash with a strange expression. Perhaps it realized it had gone too far in the heat of battle. But in the ancient past—where strength ruled—every clash had been a matter of life and death. In truth, Dragonite had already held back in the previous two fights.
There was no room for regret now.
"Arcanine! Eight Gates Release — Six Gates Fully Open! Let's give it everything we've got!"
Ash's voice rang out as his eyes spun with the intricate pattern of the Kaleidoscope Sharingan. He stared straight at Dragonite, unwavering.
"Arrrooo!!!"
Upon hearing Ash's command, Arcanine's body flushed red. The pupils in his eyes disappeared, replaced by bloodshot whites. His once-silky fur bristled, standing on end as if charged by lightning. He radiated raw power—fierce and untamed.
"That's the move he used when battling Grandpa," Brock murmured, his eyes narrowing.
Cynthia looked surprised. "Wait… He activated Blaze Mode without even reaching critical HP?"
Dr. Bill adjusted his glasses, visibly shaken. "So, all six gates are fully open now… I've heard Ash talk about it, but this is the first time I'm seeing the state beyond Three Gates in action."
Giselle stared at the transformed Arcanine, unable to hide her curiosity. Turning to Bill, she asked, "Dr. Bill, what exactly happened to Arcanine?"
Bill nodded, explaining with gravity, "This technique is called the Eight Gates Release. I saw it when Ash battled my grandfather once. Back then, he only opened two gates. Even then, Arcanine's speed and power increased dramatically—his ferocity heightened without losing control."
Brock nodded in agreement. "Yeah. What Bill said is right. Eight Gates is probably Ash's strongest self-created technique. I've only seen it used up to Two Gates back when it was still a Growlithe. I've never seen this."
"The inner workings can't even be picked up with conventional medical devices," Bill continued. "There's no precise way to detect the meridian points Ash targets. But he somehow found a way."
Everyone present leaned in as Bill continued, drawn in by the sheer mystery of the technique. Ash had created many unique moves over the years, but Eight Gates was something else entirely. It was said to stand at the peak of his innovations.
"Ash has always had a peculiar gift—he can sense every change inside a living creature. I thought it was nonsense at first, but it's very real. That sensitivity gave birth to this idea."
"The Eight Gates are essentially the body's internal limiters—closed meridians that restrict growth," he explained. "Opening them temporarily allows the Pokémon to surpass their natural limits."
Bill raised a finger and began enumerating:
"Gate of Opening corresponds to a peak Elite-level Pokémon."
"Gate of Rest matches the level of a Trainer's Top-tier Ace or a Regional Top Four."
"Gate of Life is on par with a pre-Champion level."
"Gate of Pain equals Champion Class."
"Gate of Limit aligns with a Tier-3 Legendary Pokémon."
"Gate of View rivals a Tier-2 Legendary Pokémon."
"Gate of Wonder compares to a Tier-1 Legendary Pokémon."
He paused briefly before adding, "As for the final gate—the Gate of Death—Ash never gave a clear answer. Perhaps even he fears what lies beyond."
Bill's tone turned somber. "To even attempt this technique, a Pokémon must first reach the peak of elite strength. Opening the gates allows temporary access to that higher plane of power. But the side effects are dangerous—severe strain, and if misused, it could cripple the Pokémon or worse."
"Even then," he added, "while it doesn't make a Pokémon equal to a Legendary in total strength, in terms of raw physical capability, it won't fall behind—not even a god-tier Pokémon."
Bill's explanation gave the others chills. They had all known Ash created his own moves, but this—this was something bordering on myth.
Fortunately, Bill had a close relationship with Professor Oak. That bond earned Ash's trust. Ash didn't reveal his secrets lightly, but he believed in those whom Professor Oak trusted.
...
TN:
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