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The battle between Ash's Noctowl and Kai's Jolteon raged on across the Rock Field.
Jolteon skidded to a halt behind a massive boulder, sparks crackling along its fur. In a flash, it spun around and unleashed a glowing Thunder Wave, the electric net racing through the air toward Noctowl.
But Ash's shiny Noctowl was unusually sharp. The moment Jolteon pivoted, it already sensed what was coming.
With a quick tilt of its wings, it veered aside, letting the electric current miss by inches before it fizzled out in the open sky.
Kai watched from his trainer's box, and for once, he couldn't help but nod in admiration.
Ash's Noctowl might have been smaller than most of its kind, but it was brilliantly able not only to battle well but also to read situations and even guide Ash's other Pokémon during matches. Back when Ash caught it, he had struggled immensely.
But that same stubborn independence was now its greatest strength: Noctowl thought for itself and never hesitated to seize the perfect moment.
Just like now.
The instant it cleared Jolteon's Thunder Wave, Noctowl didn't wait for Ash's command. It flared its wings and launched two razor-sharp Air Slashes.
"Jolteon, dodge it!" Kai barked.
Jolteon leapt aside, narrowly evading one but the second blade of air caught its flank, knocking it back with a sharp cry.
Kai raised an eyebrow. Even after all his prep, he had to admit it this Noctowl was dangerously clever. A Pokémon that could fight and think on its own, and on top of that, it was shiny… Kai felt a pang of envy.
But he quickly snapped back into focus. "Alright, Jolteon no more playing around. Agility, now!"
Jolteon's body shimmered with light as its speed surged. In an instant, it bounded off a boulder, launching itself high into the air toward Noctowl.
"Thunder Fang!"
Its jaws crackled with electricity as it snapped down at Ash's owl. Even though Noctowl had begun dodging the moment Jolteon leapt, the boosted speed was too much. Jolteon's fangs clamped onto Noctowl's wing, sending sparks crackling across its body.
"Chuurrrr!" Noctowl screeched in pain, twisting desperately until it shook Jolteon off.
But as it steadied itself midair, its wing suddenly stiffened. The electricity had triggered paralysis. Noctowl's body trembled, its flight unsteady it could barely keep aloft.
Ash's expression hardened. "Noctowl… return." He recalled it gently, whispering to the Poké Ball, "Rest up. Once that paralysis fades, I'll need you again."
Without wasting time, Ash unclipped another ball and hurled it high.
"Charizard, I choose you!"
With a burst of light, Ash's towering Charizard appeared, wings stretching wide as it let out a feral roar.
The announcer's voice boomed with excitement. "And here it is, folks! Ash's Charizard the same powerhouse that led him to victory against Gary in the Top 16! Can it pull off another upset today against Kai, one of the Silver Conference favorites?!"
Kai's smirk faded slightly. So, he's sending it out this early, huh? He had assumed Ash would hold Charizard back as his final ace. The fact that it appeared now only meant one thing: Ash wasn't taking chances.
Kai quickly withdrew Jolteon and threw down his own next choice.
"Let's go—Dragonite!"
The stadium erupted as Dragonite took to the skies, squaring off against Charizard.
Charizard might not have been Dragon-type, but its appearance alone screamed "dragon" to the crowd. The prospect of a "Dragon vs. Dragon" duel sent the fans into a frenzy.
In the air, the two massive Pokémon locked eyes, the fire of battle burning in both. Without waiting for orders, they lunged at one another.
Charizard struck first, swinging its glowing tail in a Dragon Tail attack. Dragonite countered instantly with its own, the two blows colliding with a whip-like crack that sent shockwaves across the arena.
"They're evenly matched same move, same power!" the announcer shouted. "Is it coincidence, or some uncanny connection between these two dragon-like titans?!"
But soon, the trainers' strategies kicked in.
"Charizard, Flamethrower!" Ash ordered.
"Dragonite, Dragon Rage!" Kai countered.
A torrent of fire and a beam of dragon energy clashed midair, exploding in a dazzling blast that hurled both Pokémon back. The fight grew fiercer by the second, carrying from the skies down to the rocky terrain, shattering boulders, then back into the air again as claws and tails collided.
The audience roared with every exchange. But as the dust cleared, the difference began to show.
Both were battered, both gasping for breath—but while Charizard's eyes still blazed with determination, Dragonite's chest heaved heavily, its stamina fading fast.
Everyone watching Misty, Brock, Delia, and even Professor Oak held their breath.
Finally, Ash's voice rang out: "Charizard—Flamethrower, one more time!"
Charizard unleashed a scorching inferno, engulfing Dragonite before it could recover. With a final cry, Dragonite plummeted, crashing onto the battlefield with a thunderous impact.
"Dragonite is unable to battle! Charizard wins!"
The stadium erupted in deafening cheers.
"He did it! Ash's Charizard has defeated Kai's Dragonite!" the announcer roared. "With this victory, Kai's legendary undefeated streak—spanning from the Indigo Conference all the way through the Silver Conference—has finally been broken!"
Ash clenched a fist, his face glowing with pride. In the stands, Delia hugged her camera to her chest, tears in her eyes, while Professor Oak's proud smile said everything:
Ash was no longer the boy chasing after others. He was standing among the best.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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