"Spit it out! Spit it out!" Lt. Surge leaned forward, eyes gleaming like electricity, voice urgent enough to swallow the microphone whole. "We're all ears! Any clue is better than staying stuck in place!
I'm completely stunned by Pikachu's godlike strike—how the hell did it do that? Can it be replicated? If it can, then damn it, I already know my next training goal!"
Clemont let out a soft sigh, his red lips parting slightly. "Professor Sycamore, please speak plainly. Don't hold back. Right now, we're like lost in a thick fog—any shred of light is a lifeline."
Professor Sycamore's voice carried both excitement and caution. "My recent research has focused on the mysterious and profound 'bond' between humans and Pokémon.
I theorize that when this emotional link reaches a certain threshold, the trainer can, like detonating a nuclear bomb, trigger extraordinary latent power within their Pokémon."
He paused for a moment, his tone growing more certain. "Therefore, I boldly suspect that Ash and Pikachu are precisely the bearers of such a supreme bond, and they have already refined it to the point that it can ignite unparalleled battle power."
Professor Oak waved his hand violently, his beard trembling with excitement. "'Bond'? That is insanely fascinating!
So what you're saying is that the connection between Ash and Pikachu is so strong that it can instantly multiply this little electric rodent's combat power by… a billion times?"
A billion times? Shock! That's not just a reward—it's a God-Slaying Aura!
Combat power doubled a billion times? That's exactly what allowed Pikachu to obliterate the legendary ice giant—Regice! This isn't just a billion times—it's cosmic-level domination!
Yet, for ordinary people, the "billion times" bond that Ash possesses is a vast chasm they could never hope to cross in a lifetime.
Brandon let out a bitter smile, his voice heavy with defeat. "So I said from the start—I lost honestly, without grievance.
Pikachu's final Thunderbolt, amplified by that 'billion times' bond, reached a terrifying level equivalent to a 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt!"
Arceus laughed uproariously, mocking him without mercy. "Old man, stop making excuses! Admit you lost to Ash already! Don't make us elders look down on you any further!"
Brandon: "…"
Damn it! Shut your mouth! Would it kill you to leave some dignity for losers like me?!
While everyone continued debating the mysterious power of this "bond," the cold, metallic mechanical voice of the system suddenly blared again, cutting through all conversation:
"Result of Pikachu vs. Regice: Pikachu Wins!"
The massive red letters in the chat exploded simultaneously, displaying the distribution of points: the losers who bet on Regice lost, the winners who bet on Pikachu gained.
The progress bar at the top of the chat transformed like a tidal wave.
The silver-white line representing Regice instantly shattered, collapsing into a dazzling torrent of light, which surged inexorably into Pikachu's golden-yellow progress bar!
The audience: "!!!" Holy—what the heck?!
They had completely forgotten—they had a bet! Points at stake!
Countless faces turned pale, as if plunged into an ice cellar.
Damn it! The battle had been too thrilling! Pikachu and Regice's exchanges constantly reversed and counter-reversed, and just when you thought the outcome was certain, a more shocking twist erupted!
At first, everyone was fretting over their chips.
But once Pikachu completed the epic God-slaying, all bets were forgotten!
If not for the system's cold reminder, they wouldn't have even remembered they had wagered!
What a disaster! Total loss!
Many reckless gamblers had bet all their reserve 200 points on Regice—and now they were the biggest laughingstocks of this century-long wager!
Hands were beating chests, cries of regret and lamentation echoed through the chat:
"I'm the real gambling dog! I'm the ultimate loser!"
"Regice! Damn you! Why did you lose! My points! My treasures in the shop! Waaaah!"
Seeing these bankrupt gamblers wailing, those who had only bet 100 points—or less—suddenly felt vindicated.
Yes.
Even if I lost 100 points, I didn't go bankrupt!
I still have a chance to rebound!
While most watched their points vanish with heartbreak, a small handful were experiencing a sudden epic windfall.
The most spectacular of them? Team Rocket's two humans and one cat.
Unfortunately, Meowth couldn't place bets.
But Jessie and James? They literally struck gold—each earning 100,000 points!
What does that mean?
10,000 points could buy precise intel about a top-tier Legendary.
100,000 points? You could literally smash a random legendary stone that could change destiny!
Overnight, they became VIPs of the item shop.
Meowth, watching Jessie and James' faces as they revelled in their newfound fortune, teared up.
Waaah! I also believed Pikachu would win! Why did the heavens deny me the right to share in the loot?!
I'm hurt! I'm so hurt!
At that moment, Jessie patted Meowth's head with newfound braggadocio: "What's mine is yours! We're one!"
James nodded seriously: "Exactly! Meowth is inseparable from us! My share can be yours too!"
Meowth instantly burst into tears, like a dam breaking. "Jessie! James! Nyaa! You're too good to me!"
Lance: "Ah! Brandon, you're hopeless! My pristine 100 points just went down the drain!"
Clemont: "Brandon, you've been utterly disappointing today!"
Leon: "What a shame… there were so many rare items in the shop I had my eye on. If I'd bet on Ash, I could've swept them all!"
Volkner: "Ha… who could have predicted this outcome? But now I'm more curious—who actually bet on Ash? One-to-five-hundred odds! Betting everything would basically mean controlling the world!"
Ash's voice, bubbling with uncontrollable glee, blurted out: "Hahaha! I-I-I bet on myself! I earned 100,000 points! And my two partners too!"
Leon: "…I'm so jealous I could go insane."
Cynthia: "I'm jealous too… I can't afford the items I wanted for Garchomp…"
Clemont: "I had my eyes on a rare item to boost performance… now I can only drool. Hopefully, the system will offer another chance for sudden riches!"
Pikachu? No—from now on, call him 'Pika-God'!
No kidding!
The item shop carried everything imaginable—from Pokémon-enhancing gear to human-use items. If you could think of it, it was there.
And points remained the ultimate currency.
The price range was astronomical—from roadside trinkets to legendary-grade artifacts.
Clemont was particularly struck: Evolution stones for Electric, Fire, or Water Pokémon—items that could change a Pokémon's fate—only cost 10 betting points!
But rare items like "Keystones" or "designated Mega Stones" were absurdly expensive!
Was there a catch?
Before Clemont could ponder, the icy system voice rang out once more, like a death knell.
Massive subtitles appeared in the chat:
"First-round tally complete. Winning Trainer Ash receives additional exclusive rewards, sent to Ash's bag. Please check."
Everyone: "???" Wait—what?
The winner gets extra rewards? The system never disclosed that!
Amid their shock, curiosity clawed at them like a hundred cats—what overpowered reward would Ash receive? Would it surpass legendary levels?
As if to satisfy the audience's voyeuristic desire, the light screen immediately switched, focusing on Ash and his team!
The viewers first gasped, then their gaze, like lasers, locked on the innocent-looking boy at the center—Ash!
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