Thinking about the faith he had always held onto, Nathan's hands trembled. He clenched his fists tightly, his hair falling over his eyes as tears streaked down his cheeks. Two consecutive defeats — a devastating blow for someone once hailed as a prodigy.
Seeing this scene, both Lorelei and Ferb Ignatius could only watch in silence. The path of the data-driven trainer was never easy. Yet, for Nathan to reach the Elite level through sheer analytical mastery was already an extraordinary feat.
"Have you given up?" Ash asked from across the field, exhaling faintly as a cigarette hung from his lips.
"This isn't the same determination I saw before. Two losses… and you're doubting your entire path?"
"This guy…" muttered Cynthia from the stands, frowning as she saw Ash's behavior.
"Why is he smoking during an official match? He's just making things worse."
Nathan was fifteen — a year younger than Ash. To be honest, Ash had considered taking him as a disciple. After all, trainers who specialized in data analytics were rare, and Nathan was a genuine genius among them.
Don't forget — Ash's own path combined two schools of thought: Dominance and Data Flow.
His combat prowess was built on raw power, while his analytical insight rivaled the precision of the world's best strategists. Even without using psychic focus, his perception was razor-sharp — easily on par with a Champion.
"Quit talking nonsense," Nathan snapped, eyes blazing. "I won't give up!"
With that, he hurled his final Poké Ball — his last trump card.
A brilliant flash erupted, revealing his trusted partner — Blastoise, the Pokémon who had accompanied him since the beginning of his journey, just as Charizard had stood by Ash all along.
Blastoise, Water-type Pokémon.
Ability: Torrent.
Water Affinity: Over 80%.
Known Moves: Water Gun, Water Pulse, Bubble Beam, Skull Bash, Bite, Hydro Cannon, Mega Punch, Flying Kick, Seismic Slam, Body Slam, Ice Beam, Surf.
Combat Habit: Rapidly replenishes hydration after using powerful water-based moves. During close-quarters battles, its cannons shift laterally to block attacks from both flanks — suggesting frequent experience with dual battles.
As Blastoise appeared, Ash muttered softly to himself — but his words made Nathan's pupils contract. Ash had described not only Blastoise's strengths, but also its habits and weaknesses in flawless detail.
"H-how could you know that?" Nathan stammered, stunned beyond words. To pinpoint his Pokémon's entire combat profile at a glance — that was supposed to be the pinnacle of data-style analysis.
"You're wondering how I know your methods, right?" Ash smirked faintly.
"I've walked that same path."
"What do you mean?" Nathan asked uncertainly, though a realization flickered in his eyes.
"I follow both the Dominance Path and the Data Path," Ash explained, taking a slow drag of his cigarette.
"And I've reached the Champion level in both. You've only seen my brute force style — that's because most of my matches haven't been worth using my analytical side. The last time I used it was in my match against your uncle… though, to be fair, my Charizard had just returned then. Our coordination wasn't perfect yet."
His words struck the stadium like thunder.
Ash Ketchum — Champion-tier in two distinct disciplines.
"What kind of monster is he…?" muttered Ferb Ignatius from the observation room. "To master both the Dominance and Data Paths — that's beyond belief."
Data-path Champions were legends of the past. Each had been a once-in-a-generation strategist, yet no one in recent memory had reached that height again. Until Ash.
"Ash's aura abilities allow him to perceive everything within a Pokémon's body — from energy flow to muscle strain," said Professor Oak thoughtfully. "It's likely that this unique perception inspired his creation of the data-based battle system."
He smiled faintly. "But as for the Dominance Path… well, that's just Ash's nature. He's always been strong-willed — even stubborn. When he was younger, he barely listened to anyone."
Oak's words drew quiet chuckles from those around him, though their eyes remained fixed on the battlefield. Because in that arena — between Blastoise and Charizard — was not just a clash of Pokémon, but a meeting of two philosophies.
Faith versus resilience.
Logic versus instinct.
And in both — burned the same, unyielding fire.
"No wonder you can create your own moves — that kind of mastery, coupled with your Aura, is truly incredible," Kenjiro Sasaki said with genuine admiration to Professor Oak and Skye Draconis.
"The so-called Data Path requires exceptional talent to grasp," Ash said evenly, smoke curling from his cigarette as he spoke.
"Without that talent, a trainer can't rise beyond the Elite level. You do have talent — your observation and memory are impressive. But in the end, you've forgotten the most important principle of the Data Path."
Nathan Glacienne's eyes widened in surprise at those words. Ash's calm, matter-of-fact tone carried a weight that silenced the arena.
The crowd leaned forward, hanging onto every word. Many were ordinary families who barely understood the intricate philosophies of Pokémon training — yet now, they were listening to one of the most powerful trainers in the world explain it firsthand. No one dared to miss a single word.
Even rising stars like Gary Oak and several heirs from elite families listened intently.
They might not walk the same analytical road, but insights from a master of the Data Path were priceless to any serious trainer.
"What… what is it?" Nathan asked nervously, his voice trembling. He could already tell Ash was right.
After all, Ash had described his Blastoise — its habits, its instincts, its flaws — with a precision that even Nathan's own father couldn't match.
Ash exhaled softly, flicking a bit of ash from his cigarette.
"It's observation," he said at last.
"I told you earlier your perception is sharp — but there's something you've overlooked."
Nathan swallowed hard. His eyes were locked on Ash.
"You only observe your Pokémon through the data you've already collected," Ash continued.
"Numbers, stats, test results — all that's useful, but it traps you in a box. You've focused so much on the recorded data that you've forgotten to see the living Pokémon in front of you."
Ash's gaze sharpened as he gestured toward the battlefield.
"When you fight, your focus isn't on your partner — it's on the variables around your partner. The terrain. The energy readings. The field. You analyze everything… except the soul of the Pokémon standing beside you."
The crowd was silent — completely drawn in.
Nathan's breath hitched.
He realized Ash was right. He had become a prisoner of his own system — precise, calculated, but disconnected. He had been looking through data, not beyond it.
Ash took another drag, the ember at the tip glowing faintly.
"The true Data Path," he said quietly, "isn't about memorizing numbers or building formulas. It's about understanding the unseen — feeling every movement, every heartbeat, every spark of instinct in your Pokémon. Data isn't meant to replace that connection. It's meant to sharpen it."
He glanced toward Blastoise, whose eyes glimmered as if it understood every word.
"If you can't see that," Ash finished, "you'll never reach the next level — no matter how much data you collect."
...
TN:
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