Chapter 118

"Brave Bird."

Upon receiving Ash's command, Pidgeot remained expressionless, letting Venusaur's Vine Whip strike its body. It slowly folded its wings, assuming an attacking stance.

Take a deep breath, merging body and wind into one.

Whoosh!

Too fast. Before the audience could even react, Pidgeot's assault was already over.

Venusaur is unable to battle. Pidgeot wins.

Eusine: "I'm envious. I want a Pidgeot like that too. Professor Oak, can you help me raise my Pidgeot to look like Black Ash's Pidgeot?"

Oak: "Sure. As long as you help me find a giant Dragonite, I'll help you modify your Pidgeot."

Eusine: "Then forget it. I don't have that capability."

Carla: "Aaron, looking at such a graceful Pidgeot, are you drooling?"

Aaron: "Hmph. I have zero interest in Pidgeot."

Gary: "Why do I feel Black Ash and Yūji's match was more exciting than Ash's?"

Wallace: "Yūji didn't hold back a drop of water, so of course it became exciting."

Volkner: "Yūji's fifth Pokémon is Electabuzz, right? I wonder if Pidgeot can win."

Lt. Surge: "Doubtful. Yūji's Electabuzz is well-raised. Black Ash's Pidgeot is formidable, but facing Electabuzz, the chances of victory are still slim."

Candice: "Believe in science, believe in type advantages. Electabuzz wins!"

Golden fur, with black lightning symbols engraved all over its body. Electabuzz's appearance resembles a bipedal tiger.

Upon entering, Electabuzz roared to declare its sovereignty over the battlefield.

Compared to the arrogant Electabuzz, Ash's Pidgeot remained exceptionally calm, silently watching Electabuzz's performance from the sky without uttering a word.

A one-man show without cooperation is hard to perform. Seeing Pidgeot refuse to play along, Electabuzz could only helplessly end its entrance act.

The battle officially begins.

Electabuzz moved first. It pounded its chest hard with both fists, then sparks of golden light crackled all over its body.

"Pidgeot, Quick Attack."

Ash smiled. They didn't even treat him and Pidgeot as people, openly buffing themselves right on the battlefield.

How could he let that happen? Ash immediately issued an attack command to Pidgeot.

Pidgeot in the sky turned into a streak of white light. When it reappeared, it was already in front of Electabuzz. Pidgeot, more than twice the size of Electabuzz, collided with Electabuzz and sent it flying ten meters away in an instant.

Yūji: "Are you okay, Electabuzz?"

Electabuzz staggered to its feet, shaking its head hard to snap out of it as quickly as possible.

Seeing Electabuzz safe, Yūji breathed a sigh of relief. Now it was their turn to attack. Although Electabuzz took a direct hit from Pidgeot's Quick Attack, it wasn't without gain; Charge was complete.

"Time for our performance. Electabuzz, Thunder!!!"

Yūji didn't choose Thunderbolt; he chose the more powerful but less stable Thunder.

"Thunder? Planning to knock out Pidgeot in one hit?" Ash looked up at the clouded sky, where currents of electricity raced through the clouds everywhere.

"Too naive. My Pidgeot isn't that easy to defeat."

After comprehending the Ace Aura, Pidgeot's strength was absolutely in the top tier of Ash's team, a contender for third place while sitting at fifth. How could it be defeated so easily?

"Pidgeot."

With Ash's loud shout, Pidgeot instantly understood Ash's intent.

"Pidgeot!!!"

(badd) After the cry, Pidgeot's Ace Aura fully unleashed, with faint currents of air swirling around its four sides.

Thunderbolts crashed down from the sky from time to time, but they were useless. Pidgeot's speed had reached its limit, perfectly embodying what it means to dance on the edge of blades.

Lightning struck continuously from the clouds, yet it couldn't touch Pidgeot's fur. In this moment, Pidgeot demonstrated speed to its fullest extent.

Eusine: "So fast, too fast!!!"

Janine: "Thunder after Charge covers almost the entire field, leaving almost no blind spots. It can still dodge that?"

Janine could hardly believe her eyes.

Volkner: "Yūji wanted a one-hit knockout too much. He should have been more steady and used Thunderbolt."

Candice: "Can't blame Yūji for being too aggressive. Who could have expected Ash's Pidgeot to pull off such an outrageous move? It actually danced in the lightning, faster than lightning itself. Incredible."

Lt. Surge: "GG."

Ash: "So strong!!!"

Ash was stunned.

Yūji's Electabuzz's Thunder was already terrifying, but what he didn't expect was something even more terrifying: Black Ash's Pidgeot dodged all the lightning relying solely on speed.

"Aerial Ace."

The final Aerial Ace ended this perfect performance.

Electabuzz is unable to battle. Pidgeot wins.

"Truly a terrifying opponent. Truly worthy of being the Indigo Conference Champion."

Yūji felt pressure, not ordinary pressure, but pressure squeezing in from all directions. Though unwilling to admit it internally, reason told him his undefeated legend would end today.

There was reluctance, but more importantly, excitement. Defeat was not the end, but the beginning. He could start again.

"I must thank you for letting me feel the joy of battling again." Yūji looked at Ash and said sincerely.

"This is the last one. Let's leave no regrets. Go, Dragonite!!!"

After barely taking down Pidgeot, Dragonite finally fell in a clash with Pikachu.

Although he lost the match, Yūji had no regrets.

"Amazing, amazing, truly amazing!!!"

Misty and Serena hugged each other excitedly; at that moment, neither had any messy thoughts in their heads, only the excitement of Ash winning the championship.

Under the setting sun, Serena and Ash walked along the streets of Citrus Island.

Misty and Brock had already returned to the Pokémon Center ahead of time.

Misty was still very loyal; although she knew Serena was her most direct competitor, upon learning that Serena was leaving by boat today, she still yielded Ash, allowing Serena to spend these final few hours alone with him.

Daisy: "You're being foolish, Misty. Love and friendship cannot both be had; how could you do such a foolish thing?"

Violet: "Sigh, loyalty harms people. Our little Misty is still too innocent."

Lily: "Right, right. She's simply being played by Serena."

Misty: "Don't talk nonsense. I think Serena is a very nice person."

Daisy: "It's over. Even our Misty here has been brainwashed."

"Buzz."

"Buzz."

"Buzz."

The roar of the ship's horn echoed through the port; passengers preparing to board were already lining up to get on the ship.

"I'm leaving, Ash. Is there anything you want to say to me?" Serena asked with a playful smile.

"Mm, when I have time, I'll come to the Kalos region to see you," Ash said after thinking for a moment.

"Hmph, Ash will never have time."

Serena knew Ash too well. Ash had his mind entirely on Pokémon; it was almost impossible for him to spare time to go to the Kalos region for a vacation.

Before Ash even became a Trainer, he had no time; now, let alone.

Seeing Ash's awkward expression, Serena couldn't help but burst out laughing.

It would be better for her to come find Ash when she had time.

"Well then, I'm off."

The passengers had already started boarding; she had to set off quickly as well.

"Mm, Serena, have a safe journey."

Watching Serena's figure slowly fade into the distance, Ash felt a bit reluctant to part, but there was nothing he could do; such is life—where there are meetings, there are also partings.

Just as Ash thought Serena would leave straight ahead, Serena suddenly turned her head and rushed quickly toward him.

Before Ash could understand what was happening, Serena's lips pressed against his.

Warm and very sweet, completely different from the taste of May.

Having successfully launched a surprise attack, Serena's face turned completely red.

To prevent Ash from seeing this, after the kiss, Serena turned and ran away immediately.

See you next time, Ash.