All Champions and Elites shook their heads.
Even with their reach and information networks,
They had never once encountered the name "Tobias."
(Fan commentary:)
"Tobias is literally a plot device.
Sinnoh was Ash's best chance to win—
They just dropped Tobias out of nowhere."
"They hint Tobias has SIX Legendaries,
Yet Cynthia is still Champion.
So he lost to her.
Honestly? L."
"Cynthia is ranked #2 in the Masters Eight—
She can fight gods.
Tobias losing to her is only natural."
Lance sighed.
"Such a shame.
At the Sinnoh Conference, Ash already had near–Elite Four strength.
If he used Charizard and Pikachu,
The elite tier was guaranteed."
"But Darkrai appeared out of nowhere—
And Ash stopped at the Top 4."
Alder frowned.
"Even then…
Why didn't Ash win in later leagues?
Unova's Vertress Conference—
He only placed Top 8…"
(A joke from the Chinese fandom:)
(Kotetsu: "My newly evolved Lucario is basically a Legendary, okay??")
"Guess we'll have to see if the Tally shows the later leagues too," Lance said.
"After all, it did say it would show battles beyond divine-tier fights."
He seemed excited—
But everyone else shot him deadpan looks.
"Lance… you just jinxed it again."
Lance: "????"
"That's NOT jinxing!
I'm rooting for Ash this time!"
"You rooted for Darkrai earlier."
"That—! That was before!
NOW I support Ash!"
"Sure you do.
Still jinxing."
"…"
Lance silently vowed:
Next time, he would only say Ash will win.
Then let's see who dares call it a curse.
The Heavenly Tally Announces:
[Betting results calculated.
All points bet on Darkrai have been deducted.]
[Winnings for those who bet on Ash have been distributed.]
[Ash's reward has been delivered.
The next Tally begins in ten minutes.]
Cries echoed across the world.
Again.
AGAIN.
How many times had Ash been portrayed as "certain to lose,"
Only for the impossible to happen?
People vowed:
Next time we bet on Ash. Definitely.
(Of course, when faced with absurd matchups later,
most would forget this vow…)
A beam of light descended into Steven's temporary residence,
shining onto Ash.
When the light faded—
Ash held…
a twig?
Bruno blinked.
"That's the reward? A stick?"
Was the Heavenly Tally being stingy now?
After such a brutal battle,
the reward was… a branch?
Ash shook his head.
"No—this is a reward!
During the battle just now, Sceptile had a twig in its mouth, right?
I think this is a held item for Sceptile!"
Bruno squinted.
"A held item…?
This thing??"
Even with his simple personality,
Bruno recognized almost every item in the world.
But a twig?
Never seen that in the games, buddy.
Cynthia leaned in.
"Ash, the Tally should've told you the item's name and effect.
What is it?"
Ash nodded.
"It's called… the World Tree Branch!
A held item only Sceptile can use!"
"Its effects are:
Grass-type moves deal 20% more damage
Leaf Blade's power increases by 50%
Solar Beam and Synthesis become instant-cast
Leaf Storm no longer lowers Special Attack
…That's what I learned.
Though I don't get what 'Special Attack' is…
I know Leaf Blade at least!"
Ash still had minimal knowledge of battle theory.
He didn't understand physical vs. special stats,
nor many move mechanics.
The Champions, however—
We were absolutely stunned.
After Rainbow Wing, now this—
Another broken, divine-tier item.
A twig.
A simple twig.
Yet:
Instant Solar Beam.
Instant Synthesis.
No-penalty Leaf Storm.
Leaf Blade damage is multiplied.
It wasn't inferior to Rainbow Wing at all.
Lance swallowed.
"…Does anyone… know what the World Tree is?"
Everyone shook their heads.
Even Cynthia, with vast historical knowledge,
and Steven, who practically lived in ruins and excavation sites—
had no clue.
Agatha sighed.
"I don't know.
But that old man might."
Bruno blinked.
"Old man? Who?"
Lorelei hesitated.
"Agatha… you mean Professor Oak?"
Agatha snorted.
"Hmph. Who else?"
Even mighty Dragon Master Lance didn't dare speak here.
He silently gestured to Lorelei to call him.
Everyone knew the story—
Agatha and Oak had history in their youth…
Lorelei called.
"Hello? Professor Oak?
It's Lorelei."
"Yes, we'd like to ask about something…
Do you know of the 'World Tree'?"
"Why? Well—Ash received a reward called the 'World Tree Branch,'
and it has incredible powers.
We want to know what the World Tree is."
"Speakerphone? Okay."
Lorelei tapped the button.
Professor Oak's energetic voice rang out:
"Ash, my boy!
You actually received a World Tree Branch?!
And the Rainbow Wing earlier—
You now hold two divine relics! Amazing!"
Ash blushed.
Oak continued, serious now:
"I don't know everything—
But the World Tree
is classified among the highest-tier mythic structures of the world."
"And according to history—
Mew lives within it."
Gasps erupted.
Mew—
The ancestor of all Pokémon.
A Mythical on the very highest rung.
Rumors said Mew could use every move in existence.
But it hadn't been seen in ages.
Lance recalled rumors of a Mew sighting in Guyana and Kanto's Rota,
but never verified them—
He wasn't a hunter, after all.
Oak continued:
"The World Tree and Mew share one fate—
Their rise and fall are linked.
No one knows where it is located."
"It contains infinite life energy—
enough to nourish an entire planet.
It is said:
The World Tree is the root of the world."
Silence.
Even Cynthia and Steven were shaken.
Such a thing existed…?
"And Ash," Oak added sheepishly,
"If you're not using the Branch yet—
Could I… perhaps borrow it to study? Just a little?
You don't even have a Treecko yet, right?"
His tone turned strangely flattering.
Ash sighed.
"Professor Oak… please don't talk like that."
But he smiled warmly.
"If you need it, I'll bring it to you tonight!
You've helped me so much with my Pokémon already!"
His gratitude was genuine.
Leaving multiple Pokémon in Oak's care
was no small financial burden for the professor.
So Ash didn't hesitate at all.
He would lend it.
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