Chapter 18

Meowth: Yes, right there, push hard! Master is truly amazing!

[Champion Leon: This must be a coincidence. I think this trio is just a comedic act.]

[Cynthia: Still, it's quite interesting. Just don't let me see you in Sinnoh, or I'll personally lock you up in the League prison.]

Team Rocket's trio trembled in fear.

Yet even so.

Their shouts from their mouths did not cease.

"Take a look! Private photos of the future strongest Champion, Ash!"

"The untold story between Ash and Pikachu! Is anyone interested?"

The Team Rocket trio, seeing their scheme succeed, were overjoyed.

It seemed this time they could not only capture this batch of Bulbasaur.

Perhaps they could even catch Ash's Pikachu along with them.

Both Ash and Pikachu were already severely injured.

At this moment, Ash regretted why he had not brought some companions with him.

The rest of the Pokémon were left in Professor Oak's backyard.

He had only one Pikachu in his hands!

"This victory belongs to us, Team Rocket!"

After declaring their final victory, the Team Rocket trio ordered Gyarados and Tyranitar to attack Ash and Pikachu.

Through years of struggle against Ash, the Team Rocket trio had deeply learned one truth.

That was: always finish the job!

Only now were they truly putting into practice the belief they had always held!

Effort would be rewarded.

The Bulbasaur that Ash had risked everything to save were now responding to him with their own strength.

The Ivysaur looked at one another; Ash was truly protecting them!

Naturally, they could not let Ash down.

At this moment.

The Ivysaur shielded the injured Ash and Pikachu in their midst, while simultaneously absorbing sunlight through the organs on their backs.

In that instant, all the Ivysaur unleashed Solar Beam at once, blocking Gyarados and Tyranitar's attacks!

"Brat, you have no chance this time! Pikachu and the Bulbasaur are now ours, Team Rocket!"

"Gyarados, Tyranitar, use Hyper Beam!"

The Team Rocket trio gloated; given the condition of Ash and Pikachu.

They didn't even know how they could lose!

A golden aura gathered in the mouths of the two Pokémon; the Ivysaur's involvement only stirred their ferocity!

After all, neither Gyarados nor Tyranitar were Pokémon with gentle tempers!

Power accumulated in their jaws, and seeing this, Chloe was immediately overwhelmed by fear!

Just like when she, powerless as she was back then, faced that enraged Nidoking.

Would someone come to save her this time?

Or would Ash, like Goh, run away?

Panic and unease spread through the air.

These Ivysaur were no match for Gyarados and Tyranitar, and Ash and Pikachu were already injured.

Chloe clenched her fists, but her legs felt as if filled with lead; she could not move at all.

"Ash, run!"

"I will not run."

Ash turned around and flashed a brilliant smile at Chloe.

Immediately, Ash's expression hardened; he turned the brim of his cap to the back.

"You will not succeed; I will absolutely not let you harm them!"

Ash's momentum surged; in this moment, he was the champion shining brilliantly under the sun!

"Thunderbolt!"

Ash pointed his finger toward the Team Rocket trio ahead.

The bond between Pikachu and Ash needed no explanation.

Gyarados and Tyranitar were hardly enough to drive them into a desperate situation.

Truly... it has been so long since I fought like this.

"Pika"

"Chu!"

The scene that followed left Chloe unable to believe her eyes!

Pikachu clearly looked like he was at the end of his rope!

Why, after Ash's encouragement, has he returned to full strength?

Pikachu... were you just acting a moment ago?

[Misty: Why does this feel so familiar? When we first arrived in Johto, Pikachu seemed to be in this exact state.]

[Jessie: Brat, you did this on purpose! You just wanted to see us humiliated!]

[James: Jessie is right! Truly full of cunning tricks!]

[Clemont: Such talent! Pikachu, are you interested in pursuing a career in show business? You would absolutely become a world-class superstar like me!]

[Ash: Impossible. Pikachu was moved by our bond; he would absolutely never be acting.]

"Pika~"

In Silver Town, Pikachu affectionately nuzzled Ash's cheek.

Damn it, after all these years, my acting skills haven't improved at all.

And I blurted it out in front of so many people!

How am I supposed to slack off in the future now?

……

In the scene—

Pikachu unleashed its full power, electricity crackling all over its body.

A Thunderbolt is a Thunderbolt!

Not a single volt would be missing!

Golden lightning surged from Pikachu's body, instantly transforming into a sharp blade!

It pierced straight toward the direction where Team Rocket stood.

Ash stood firm beside Pikachu.

Together with Pikachu, he firmly protected Bulbasaur, Venusaur, and Haru behind them.

At that moment, tears wetted Haru's eyes.

Ash acted with his own body; he kept his promise.

He would never leave Haru behind.

Haru's shattered childhood heart was mended by Ash's actions at that very moment.

He was human too, yet he was willing to use his own body to protect his companions, to protect her!

Though nearly the same age as her, Ash stood like a giant, shielding everything with his own chest.

Ash possesses the greatest character!

Someone like Goh does not deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Ash!

That is an insult to Ash!

"Ash, I'm starting to like you a little," Haru murmured to herself.

She was not afraid of Pokémon; she was afraid of scum like Goh!

Scum who would endanger their companions just to satisfy their own selfish desires!

Golden lightning blocked the Hyper Beams fired by Gyarados and Tyranitar.

"Go all out!"

"Pika—!"

Ash's final roar seemed to add a buff to Pikachu.

The crisis for the lightning intensified once more!

The Hyper Beam was directly scattered by the Thunderbolt's current, and Team Rocket's trio, along with their Pokémon, were sent flying into the sky by the Thunderbolt.

"That kid is still so powerful."

"Yes, meow~"

"We're flying again~ What a terrible feeling~"

The viewers in the live broadcast room were stunned by this scene.

What exactly is Team Rocket made of?

Why do they feel tougher than Ash?

That was a Thunderbolt; even Ash would turn black if hit by it.

This Team Rocket was completely unharmed except for being knocked away!

This isn't Pokémon!

[Lt. Surge: Are people in the Kanto League all maxed out on electric resistance? No wonder Professor Oak gave Ash a Pikachu as a starter Pokémon; now I see why!]

[Lt. Surge: Hehe, you just don't understand Pikachu's charm in the Kanto region. Who wouldn't like Pikachu?]

[Sabrina: Hah, you have the nerve to say that. You actually evolved such a cute Pikachu into a Raichu.]

[Steven: No wonder Team Rocket is the world's number one organization; it's because they are from Kanto. With everyone having resistance at this level, how could any other organization possibly defeat them in a brawl?]

[Lance: I think we should propose to the League that Team Rocket's danger level be raised.]

Boss Giovanni slammed his fist heavily onto the desk in front of him.

Matori, who had just entered to report the situation, stood like a lackey.

The boss is very angry this time!

After several rounds of setbacks, Team Rocket's development was already difficult.

In fact, many local Team Rocket branches had even switched careers to logistics.

There was no choice; who could stop the League from taking action?

Originally, Giovanni only thought the League didn't want Team Rocket to continue expanding.

But he never expected it to be the doing of those three dimwits and the grump.

"Hah," Boss Giovanni let out a long sigh.

I cannot be angry.

One is the orphan of an old subordinate, and the other is the son of Team Rocket's most important major donor.

Neither of them can be fired.

So.

"Matori, from today on, Meowth's food budget is reduced by 70%."

"Yes!"

I added some years to Ash's age.

It is too ridiculous for him to be only ten years old after traveling through six Leagues.

Around fifteen years old during the Journeys period; five years across six Leagues seems quite reasonable!