The entire Wyndon Stadium roared with cheers.
They were about to witness history.
To witness the birth of the strongest Champion.
Just one line from the announcer was enough to ignite the whole crowd.
Amid thunderous applause, the two finalists walked onto the battlefield!
First came the Kanto Elite Four's mightiest member—Dragon Master Lance!
Then, the undefeated Champion of Galar—Leon!
After the match details were announced, the long-awaited Championship battle officially began.
This was it—the duel to decide who was truly the strongest in the world!
Yet, Ash tilted his head in confusion.
"Why is the final just a 1v1?"
Normally, from the Top 16 onward, League tournaments were fought in full 6v6 battles.
But the crowd's excitement wasn't dampened in the slightest.
Lance and Leon both drew their Poké Balls.
To Ash's surprise, Lance didn't choose his ace Dragonite. Instead, he sent out the shiny Gyarados Ash had once encountered.
As for Leon, he wasted no time summoning his ace—Charizard.
The stadium's energy exploded to its peak the moment Charizard appeared.
Hearing the endless chants, Ash understood just how revered this Charizard was.
The strongest ace of the strongest Champion!
Ash's eyes sharpened, burning with a fighting spirit.
"So strong… I really want to battle him!"
The clash between Leon and Lance was more intense than expected.
Their power seemed evenly matched.
But no matter how hard Lance's shiny Gyarados tried, it couldn't land a decisive blow on Leon's Charizard.
Even Ice Fang and Aqua Tail failed to deal real damage.
And then—Leon had his Charizard unleash Thunder Punch.
Who in the world teaches a Charizard Thunder Punch?!
Still, Lance proved why he was hailed as the strongest Elite Four member. Even when Gyarados faltered, he managed to keep the battle balanced.
Until—
Both Trainers made their move in unison.
They Dynamaxed.
If Lance's Gyarados had barely kept pace before, once the Dynamax battle began, the rhythm fell entirely under Leon's control.
Gigantamax Charizard's G-Max Wildfire shattered Gyarados's Max Guard, and its burning multi-stage assault finally overwhelmed Lance's Dynamax Gyarados.
Leon not only preserved his undefeated record—he once again secured the title of Strongest Champion.
At this moment, Leon stood unrivaled, the Champion of Champions!
But if anyone had it rough, it was Lance—reduced to nothing more than Leon's stepping stone.
[Lance: Wait—why did I even pick Gyarados? My ace is Dragonite!]
[Lorelei: Hah, you're the Flying-type Master. What else would you use? Gyarados is Water/Flying—on paper, it's the perfect counter to Leon's Charizard.]
Lance stared at her words in disbelief.
Excuse me? Flying-type Master? I am a Dragon-type Master. Future Dragon Champion! How dare you label me like that!
[Lance: Lorelei, you spinster hag, just wait. I'll show you what the true Dragon Master can do!]
[Diantha: Uh oh. Lance is tilted. Everyone knows he can't beat Lorelei.]
It was true. Lorelei's team naturally countered Lance's, leaving him helpless every time.
[Lorelei: YOU JUST WAIT!!!]
[Aaron: I think I get it now. This is why, even after five years, Lance is still just an Elite Four member.]
He dug his own grave.
Of all people to provoke, why pick the one who hard-counters you?
On screen—
After his victory, Leon basked in the roaring cheers.
Lance, gracious as ever, admitted defeat.
Losing to the strongest Trainer alive was no shame.
Under the gaze of the world, Leon once again defended his title as the top Champion.
In the stands, Ash's eyes sparkled like stars as he watched Leon.
"So this is the strongest Trainer in the world… I really, really want to battle him!"
A fire roared in his chest.
After all—who could resist striving to be the world's strongest?
Koharu silently watched Ash. The moment she chose to travel with him, she had resolved to support him unconditionally.
Even if Ash's only Champion title was from a newly founded League.
Even if that glory wasn't dazzling enough.
Who could deny that Ash was a true Champion?
[Narrator: Well, except for Goh, that rival.]
Such burning passion, such relentless effort toward his dream—
That was Ash!
But how could he possibly face the strongest Champion, Leon, in battle?
Meanwhile, outside Wyndon Stadium—
Team Rocket's trio blended into the dispersing crowd.
They had come under orders from HQ—to witness Dynamax firsthand, and to assess Leon's strength as the world's greatest Champion.
But after the match, they were completely captivated by Dynamax itself.
So much so that they wanted a Dynamax-capable Pokémon of their own.
Right at the stadium's entrance, a Drednaw appeared.
Without hesitation, the trio tried to capture it.
Their actions enraged Drednaw.
Under mysterious energy, it Gigantamaxed on the spot!
Now a raging, colossal beast, it lashed out wildly, threatening to destroy everything.
Panic erupted among the crowd.
Thankfully, Ash and Pikachu arrived in time.
Sensing danger, Ash immediately ordered Pikachu to use Thunderbolt against Drednaw—drawing its attention away so others could escape.
[Jessie: First of all, this was an accident. Second, it was the future us, not the present us.]
[James: Most importantly—it was our personal actions! This has absolutely nothing to do with Team Rocket.]
[Jessie & James: Official statement!]
[Lusamine: …What's with them? Were they threatened or something?]
Viewers were baffled. The once-arrogant Jessie and James were suddenly acting humble.
It felt… creepy. Like ants crawling over their skin.
[Ash: Team Rocket, you've gone too far this time! Putting so many people in danger!]
[Jessie: Brat! We already said—it was the future for us. Stop trying to pull time-travel law enforcement!]
Back in White Silver Town—
Jessie and James were sweating bullets.
The moment they appeared on the broadcast again, Boss Giovanni had called them directly.
Just when they thought they'd be praised—maybe even promoted and given a raise—
They got chewed out instead.
Worse, Giovanni warned them: if they damaged Team Rocket's reputation again, he'd ship them off to Alola to work in the coal mines!
!!!
In desperation not to be exiled, they were now scrambling to explain themselves.
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