[Misty: There it is — Ash's signature move: "Stand up!"]
[Aaron: Uh, what's so special about that?]
[Brock: Allow me to explain. Every time one of Ash's Pokémon is about to collapse or on the verge of defeat, Ash shouts "Stand up!" to inspire it.]
[Bea: That's nothing strange. I shout encouragement to myself all the time during training.]
[Brock: No, this is different. That's just ordinary encouragement. Ash's "Stand up!" is like a buff. Every time he shouts it, his Pokémon burst forth with strength far beyond their limit.]
[Brock: I call this phenomenon "The Rejuvenation Roar"—like a healer's touch restoring life.]
Oh, so this is how it works?
Other Trainers rely on tactics.
Ash relies on… magic?
It sounded absurd, yet—
watching Pikachu on screen, whose eyes sharpened and body steadied after Ash's cry…
It really was hard to explain any other way.
[Aaron: Are you kidding me? Ash, you're cheating, aren't you?]
[Flint: I once joined a cheat-tournament and unlocked psychic powers. Aaron, you should try too.]
[Aaron: Wait, really? Sign me up!]
[Bruno: Count me in!]
[Lorelei: …Unbelievable. Ash's bond with his Pokémon is real. Flint's powers are innate. He's just messing with you, and you all believe him?!]
As a fellow Elite Four member, Lorelei felt utterly drained.
She glanced back at the broadcast.
Ash might be young, but… he really was handsome enough to attract every girl's attention.
On screen—
Revitalized, Pikachu's eyes gleamed sharper than ever.
Ash, seeing Pikachu regain its spirit, pointed fiercely at Leon's Charizard.
"Let's do it—G-Max Volt Crash!"
"Piiikaaa!"
Pikachu's body trembled as golden lightning surged out.
Even the black storm-clouds conjured by Dynamax energy now shimmered with electricity.
Like instinctively recalling Thunderbolt's rhythm, the plump Pikachu even hopped twice on the ground.
The entire arena shook.
Seeing Pikachu gathering energy, Leon knew the battle's end was near.
If Ash could command a G-Max signature move so smoothly—
He had passed Dynamax's entry test.
"Let's end this, Charizard! G-Max Wildfire!"
A blazing fire dragon clashed against the roaring thunderstorm.
In Gigantamax combat, Leon was the veteran.
With just a breath, his firestorm was about to shatter Pikachu's thunder.
Even as Pikachu poured every ounce of electricity into the clash!
"Still not enough… Losing like this doesn't feel right." Ash muttered.
The outcome of this battle wasn't important.
But being crushed so one-sidedly still stung.
Leon might be world number one—so what?
Ash was the challenger.
Then he glanced down.
On his wrist, his Z-Crystal gleamed faintly.
Z-Crystal…!
Of course!
Because Pikachu was Gigantamaxed, it couldn't wear Ash's cap.
At first, Ash hadn't thought of Z-Moves at all.
But maybe fate wanted this battle to shine brighter.
Even without the cap, Z-Moves could still be unleashed.
It wouldn't be as strong as 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt.
But if that was the case—
Why not gamble everything?
Ash performed the familiar motions, tapping the golden Z-Crystal embedded in his Z-Ring.
Rainbow lightning burst from Ash's body.
And poured into the colossal Pikachu before him.
Power surged!
Pikachu, barely holding on, felt that familiar warmth flood its body.
Like a starving soul taking a bite of a Snickers—
Pikachu was back!
"PIKA—CHUUU!!"
Rainbow lightning lanced into the heavens.
The storm itself shimmered in prismatic colors.
The weakening thunder current was reborn, revitalized.
Now, lightning and fire were evenly matched!
"Not bad… I've never seen that move before. Ash, you really are a genius!"
Even Leon, seasoned in countless battles, was impressed.
To awaken a new power at such a critical moment—
This was worthy of respect.
But Leon was Leon.
"Charizard—push harder!"
"Charizard!"
Cheat codes? Everyone's got one!
The fire dragon swelled in power, both faster and stronger.
Flames engulfed half the arena in an instant.
Pikachu roared back, unleashing every last volt.
And in its refusal to surrender, the lightning pierced the fire dragon.
The inferno and rainbow lightning exploded together, striking both sides.
When the dust cleared—
Pikachu had reverted, collapsed on the ground, utterly spent.
Leon's Gigantamax Charizard had also been struck, forced out of Gigantamax.
But Charizard still stood, battered yet ready to fight on.
The result was clear: Pikachu had lost.
But it was expected.
Ash's first time wielding Gigantamax—it was natural to lack control.
Yet the strength he and Pikachu unleashed had finally made everyone take him seriously.
This boy, the Alola Champion—
was far stronger than they had imagined.
Ash and Pikachu had lost.
But it wasn't really a defeat.
This was only the appetizer.
The true showdown would come when Ash reached the Masters Eight.
That day wasn't far.
After the battle, the two stood once again at the center of Wyndon Stadium.
Leon encouraged Ash to enter the World Coronation Series—
and promised to await him at the Masters Eight's peak.
Then, as a gift, Leon handed Ash the very Dynamax Band used for the battle.
A keepsake from their first meeting.
[Sonia: Leon is just too kind… even gifting a Dynamax Band to someone he just met.]
[Raihan: True. Normally Leon's stingy—if I try to freeload one meal, he makes me pay him back twice! Never thought he'd be so generous with Ash. Don't tell me… is Leon trying to recruit him to Galar?]
At once, the audience perked up.
Gossip time!
After all, Leon had already said he wanted Ash in Galar.
But Cynthia had said the same, inviting him to Sinnoh.
Could this mean… a rivalry?
Fight, fight, fight!
Meanwhile, at the eye of the storm—Ash was utterly clueless.
[Ash: Why would I join Galar? I'm from Kanto! My mom still lives in Pallet Town.]
Ah—
so he'd have to bring Delia with him to any other region first!
[Cynthia: Don't listen to Leon. Come to Sinnoh. I'll take care of your mom!]
[Aaron: Wait… Cynthia, are you serious??]
In Celestic Town, Sinnoh—
Cynthia's eyes narrowed at Aaron's comment.
This was the second time he'd crossed her…
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