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Originally, Ash would take damage from his Pokémon when using Aura Fusion; now, Partner Mode also inflicts damage on Ash, meaning he bears double the pain Pikachu receives.
However, similarly, the rewards for enduring such a high price are also quite remarkable.
On one hand, Pikachu's own strength has increased. The two layers of buffs have directly elevated Pikachu from Gym Peak strength to Champion-level.
This leap is terrifying; even with Aura stacked, Pikachu could only barely reach Elite Peak (Rank) when his body was at its limit.
But now, Partner Mode has forcibly boosted Pikachu by one level from his original foundation, breaking through Elite to reach Champion-level.
Originally, given Pikachu's current body, he couldn't improve further, but the principles of Partner Mode and Aura are different.
Although Partner Mode also boosts strength, it's not a simple energy increase, but an all-around enhancement.
All powers, including physical strength, have been comprehensively improved, and this improvement is quite mysterious. When his strength was weaker, the improvement was a small stage; now that his strength has reached this level, the improvement is still a small stage.
This rule-defying improvement is, in a sense, much more 'bugged' than Aura. Don't look at how terrifying Ash's Aura boost is; that's because Ash himself is strong enough!
If Ash wasn't that strong, the boost from Aura would be extremely limited.
Furthermore, the boost from Aura also heavily depends on the Pokémon's own endurance. For example, Monferno, when he first evolved, couldn't withstand the peak boost of Aura.
He could only advance to Superior High, and couldn't even fully utilize Superior High strength... In short, while Aura Fusion and Partner Mode seem to show the latter having a more significant boost, in reality, the former is more 'bugged'. This is equivalent to a small-level increase without side effects, and it can stack on any other boost.
So what's the cost? The cost is on Ash. Greatness, no need to say more.
Besides this benefit, another advantage is that Ash takes more damage, relatively reducing the damage Pikachu receives.
The damage dealt by the opposing Pokémon is conserved. If Ash takes more, Pikachu naturally takes less. So, this Extreme Speed attack only caused about one-third of its usual damage.
Of course, at Pikachu's current level, if he were to directly suffer Champion-level damage, even one-third would likely make him dizzy and knock him out until nightfall.
Yet now, Pikachu slowly stood up after falling from the barrier. Cynthia, seeing this, showed a hint of surprise on her beautiful face.
"He didn't fall? That's a bit different from what I imagined... Could that power increase his defense as well as his attack speed?" Cynthia, being as intelligent as she is, had long studied the amplification effects of Ash's Aura.
While that power boost was somewhat outrageous, it wasn't without weaknesses. The most prominent one was stamina, followed by defense, and then the negative impact on the Trainer.
Stamina aside for now, as the battle has just begun, wearing it down through attrition wouldn't happen this quickly. But in terms of defense... if Pikachu's defense hadn't changed, theoretically, that Extreme Speed should have directly severely injured or knocked out Pikachu.
Even if he wasn't knocked out, he wouldn't be almost unharmed as he is now, unless Pikachu's defense also increased to the same energy level as his current offensive power.
As for the damage on the Trainer's side, it was quite evident. Judging by Ash's appearance, the previous Extreme Speed also caused him considerable damage, but Cynthia wasn't worried about Ash at all. According to her best friend, he was someone capable of battling deities.
Even a little damage wouldn't affect him at all.
"Such fast speed, I feel like it's a bit troublesome, right Pikachu?" Ash said to Pikachu, clutching his stomach and half-opening his eyes.
"Pikachu." Pikachu supported himself and stood up from the ground, nodding with a solemn expression.
This opponent was the one with the biggest disparity he had ever faced, not only in terms of strength, but even his proudest speed was no match for his opponent.
That Extreme Speed just now was clearly visible in Ash's Aura scan, but Togekiss's movements seemed like slow motion to him, and his own movements seemed like they were paused.
Even if he could predict Togekiss's landing spot, he couldn't dodge because his body movements were simply too slow compared to Togekiss's.
Helplessly, Ash and he could only mobilize the power within their bodies and use electricity for defense.
If they were hit directly by the opponent, it wouldn't be as simple as just receiving a minor injury. After all, there was a vast difference in levels between them.
"First, let's find a way to reduce their speed. Pikachu, use Volt Tackle, then Nuzzle!" Ash thought of a way to deal with the opponent's speed in less than a second of contemplation.
If he's fast, then just slow him down.
The best way to reduce speed is to paralyze the opponent. A paralyzed state halves speed. Even if Togekiss's speed rivals an airplane, once he's paralyzed, he'll become a grounded chicken!
Receiving the command, Pikachu's four limbs touched the ground, and with dazzling golden electric light flashing around him, he instantly vanished from his spot. A golden lightning bolt flashed across the arena. Brock and the others didn't even see Pikachu's figure before he had already flashed in front of Togekiss.
"Double Team." It was still a calm command. Cynthia remained unhurried. She always seemed this way, as if even if a mountain collapsed before her, she could remain unfazed, like an absolutely calm Valkyrie.
"Kiss~" Togekiss spread his wings, and his figure instantly materialized into countless clones across the arena. The entire field was filled with dense Togekiss.
The electric light that was Pikachu passed through where the original Togekiss had been, and that Togekiss, pierced by Pikachu, slowly dissolved into a shadow and disappeared.
At this moment, Togekiss had already used Double Team to flash to an unknown location.
"A very good idea. Using paralysis to slow down a high-speed enemy. But Thunder Wave is too slow; hitting an enemy with that speed is basically impossible. So Ash, you chose to use Volt Tackle's speed boost to get close to Togekiss, and then use Nuzzle at point-blank range for paralysis, is that right?"
Ash: ... Cynthia's words made Ash clench his teeth, remaining silent.
All his tactics were seen through by the opponent, including why he used such moves to counter. Was this the world's top Trainer?
Originally, Ash thought that after receiving guidance from many of his parallel world selves, including many tactical experts, his current Trainer command level, if not top-tier, should at least reach the level of an ordinary Champion.
But when he met a true Champion, Ash realized what a Champion's mind was like. It was not on the same level as an ordinary Trainer at all. He even suspected that when Lorelei battled him, she might not have been serious with her commands, aside from her Pokémon.
This feeling of being completely outmatched in terms of command was a first for Ash since he started his journey.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt to clear all the Togekiss!"
"Pika!!!" Pikachu responded with a shout, immediately erupting in extremely dazzling electric light. The light illuminated the entire arena, sweeping away the surrounding Togekiss one by one.
"There's an opening, Ash. Togekiss, Air Slash." Cynthia waved her small hand, commanding with full momentum.
The remaining Togekiss flapped their wings, and white energy blades rained down from the sky like a shower. Each blade made a whistling sound, as if it would cut through space itself.
Just by looking with the naked eye, it was impossible to tell which energy blade was real and which was fake.
"Pikachu, use Volt Tackle to dodge!" For others, it might be impossible to discern, but for Ash, distinguishing real from fake was incredibly easy.
In the Aura scan, the real Air Slashes were laid bare. Pikachu, with electric sparks flashing, calmly dodged Togekiss's Air Slash and locked onto the real Togekiss in the air!
"Now! Nuzzle!"
"Safeguard." Seeing Pikachu so easily distinguish the real Air Slashes, a hint of surprise flashed in Cynthia's beautiful eyes, but her command was still incisive.
Since Ash was desperately trying to inflict a negative status on Togekiss, she would simply completely block all negative status effects.
Safeguard, once used, prevents the user from being affected by any abnormal status conditions for a period of time.
Whether it's paralysis, poison, sleep, or confusion, none can affect the skill user.
"Kiss~" Togekiss spread his wings, and a transparent white barrier appeared around him.
All the Togekiss made the same movement, but Pikachu had already locked onto the real Togekiss.
Pikachu, under Volt Tackle, violently crashed into Togekiss in the air. The electricity from his cheeks flowed into Togekiss's body, but in less than a second, it bounced off Togekiss's surface.
Pikachu himself was affected by a mysterious recoil force, plummeting from the air and falling heavily to the ground.
"Ugh..." Ash clutched his shoulder, grunting, his face showing unwillingness.
The move Safeguard completely blocked the possibility of inflicting abnormal status conditions, and even bounced back the attacking Pikachu.
So far, Pikachu had hit the opponent twice with moves, both being electric-type Volt Tackle. But even with the Light Ball boost, Volt Tackle's weak power combined with the level difference between Pikachu and Togekiss simply couldn't deal a powerful blow to Togekiss.
At most, it could only cause minor injuries.
To defeat Togekiss, a decisive move, a finishing move, must land.
Like Sparking Thunder.
Sparking Thunder is not only a powerful finishing move, but it also has a tracking property similar to Aura Sphere, meaning it's almost guaranteed to hit.
The only troublesome part is that it requires a brief charge-up time. This isn't a long charge like Solar Beam, but rather a few seconds to generate and condense electricity, attacking with the natural power of heaven and earth.
But Togekiss's speed was simply too fast. As things stood, Pikachu using Sparking Thunder would be courting death; the enemy wouldn't give him that chance.
"Still thinking of a countermeasure, Ash? If you don't attack, I will. Togekiss, Brave Bird." Ash stood still, deep in thought, but Cynthia wouldn't indulge him.
He immediately launched a powerful Flying-type finishing move, Brave Bird!
Speaking of the most powerful Flying-type moves, aside from legendary Pokémon's exclusive moves, it would naturally be Sky Attack. However, Sky Attack is a charge-up move, usually not used unless it's for a decisive blow.
Brave Bird is a tier-down move, but its power isn't much weaker, and it doesn't require charging. The only drawback is recoil damage.
Togekiss's body was covered in a layer of blue light, which transformed into a lifelike divine bird, spreading its wings and soaring towards Pikachu on the ground!
"Pikachu, Volt Tackle and dodge!" There was no time to think of a countermeasure now; he could only dodge the opponent's attack first.
The level difference between the two was too great. Without using Volt Tackle, Pikachu wouldn't even be able to dodge this straightforward move from the opponent. The level difference after reaching Champion-level was truly no joke.
Just as Ash was contemplating his next move, Cynthia's voice rang out again: "Togekiss, Follow Me."
Follow Me? Oh no!
"Pika? Pikachu Pikachu!!!" Pikachu, who had already reached the edge of the arena with Volt Tackle, suddenly found himself uncontrollably turning around and rushing back, and his direction of impact was precisely at Togekiss, who had initiated Brave Bird!
Follow Me — a move that forcibly draws all attacks to oneself.
Whether it's an attacking move or a status-inflicting move, as long as it's directed at someone else, it will be attracted by Follow Me.
Even if Pikachu wanted to use Volt Tackle to attack the air, under the influence of Follow Me, he would be directly drawn to it, turning into an attack towards Togekiss.
This move is theoretically useless in a single battle, as what good is a move that actively attracts enemy attacks? Who in a battle doesn't try to dodge the opponent's moves? There's no reason to attract the opponent's moves.
However, if one can use other attacking moves while using Follow Me, and their own attack power far exceeds the enemy's, then this seemingly useless move instantly becomes a divine move!
"Damn it... No choice, I'll risk it, use Wild Charge!!"