Aura lies within my heart!
Riolu, who was looking eager across from him, suddenly felt a powerful force pouring into his body. He instinctively turned to look at Ash behind him, who smiled and nodded at Riolu.
After confirming his answer, Riolu turned back around with an excited smile on his face.
This was the first time he felt the power of his Trainer, and also the first time he felt as one with his Trainer. This kind of boost... he could only say it was just as expected from the Trainer he chose!
"Ash must be initiating Aura Fusion, right?" Brock whispered after seeing Ash's state.
"I think so. Riolu has just barely recovered, and hasn't trained for long either. The opponent's Hitmonchan doesn't seem like an average contestant. Without using this move, even with Riolu's exceptional talent, there's no way he could win," Misty analyzed.
Although outside of battle, she couldn't discern the level of Hitmonchan, Misty could guess just from seeing it. Since the opponent was participating in that martial arts tournament, naturally he wouldn't be someone ordinary; his level should be at least Advanced Level.
But Riolu's level was merely at Newbie Peak, and under normal circumstances, it was basically impossible to defeat the opponent.
But with Ash's power added, things might be different.
On the battlefield, Ash and Riolu performed Aura Fusion, and at that moment, Ash felt a sensation completely different from other Pokemon.
Other Pokemon could also perform Aura Fusion when the bond was sufficient, but the power they could use was actually quite limited.
According to the experts in the group, his Aura Power could even rival Divine Domain-level Pokemon, but when used on his own Pokemon, the greatest boost was during that one battle with Charmeleon, forcibly pushing Charmeleon up a whole class.
Yet compared to his power, it was barely a fraction.
His Pokemon's utilization of his power was just too low, but with Riolu, the case was different.
Riolu's current level was Newbie Peak, and though his body had some training, it was still at a newbie level of strength. How strong could it get?
According to Ash's expectations, when he and Riolu performed Aura Fusion, even with their special bond, they could at most bring Riolu up to mid Ordinary Level, as the transmission of power was linked to Riolu's physical quality.
Yet this time's fusion propelled Riolu directly to Advanced Junior Level in one breath!
This kind of level increase was simply unbelievable and marked Riolu as the Pokemon that had the greatest increase after performing Aura Fusion with Ash!
Originally, if it was at the ordinary level, Ash might have had to be more cautious, but at the advanced level, even if it's just the advanced initial phase, Ash could fight openly and freely!
"Hitmonchan, don't get careless just because the opponent is small, use Mach Punch!"
"Ai!"
Anthony initiated the attack by having Hitmonchan approach, rapidly closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye, the large fist flashing like lightning!
"Detect."
Ash calmly issued the command, and as Hitmonchan approached Riolu,
a gleam flickered in Riolu's deep crimson eyes, and then his body started moving with foresight,
easily dodging all of the flurry of punches that came as quickly as lightning!
"Low Sweep."
All of the opponent's attacks were evaded; their strength had waned while their new strength had yet to rise. Ash seized this opportunity to have Riolu use Low Sweep.
Hitmonchan, as a Pokemon, has fast but heavy fists compared to standard fighting Pokemon. However, when one door opens, another closes.
His fists may be strong, but his lower body is naturally weak!
The equivalent Pokemon to Hitmonchan is Hitmonlee, known for a stable lower body but relatively weaker fists.
Riolu ducked low, once again causing Hitmonchan's fists to miss, then swept its leg, causing Hitmonchan to lose balance and fall!
"Darn, Hitmonchan, quickly get up!" Anthony was surprised that Riolu managed to dodge all of those rapid punches. Did Detect's effect last that long?
But now wasn't the time to think about such things. Hitmonchan was knocked down, and he needed to get back up quickly—otherwise, it would be Riolu's turn to unleash a downpour of attacks.
However, how could Ash not seize this chance? "Riolu, Bullet Punch!"
"Rio!" Riolu leaped onto Hitmonchan, his fists flying like bullets, landing punch after punch fiercely on Hitmonchan's body!
Hitmonchan could only shield its head with its arms, enduring Riolu's onslaught.
After throwing numerous punches, Riolu's strength began to wane, but before Hitmonchan could retaliate, Ash had already signaled Riolu to retreat swiftly.
Riolu leaped into the air from Hitmonchan, and Ash immediately commanded, "Use Vacuum Wave!!"
"Rio!" In the air, Riolu gathered power in his fists at his waist, then launched a transparent energy ball with full force.
The transparent energy ball flew fast, nearly as quick as the Bullet Punch earlier, and within a blink reached Hitmonchan. Though Hitmonchan hurriedly rolled, he was still hit by the Vacuum Wave.
But at last, Hitmonchan got up, as Anthony quickly commanded, "Hitmonchan, use Bullet Punch!"
"Detect." Riolu landed and received Ash's command, a gleam flashing once again in his eyes.
Hitmonchan dashed forward, his fists whistling through the air, yet failed to land a single blow on Riolu.
"Riolu, Vacuum Wave!" Ash took advantage of Hitmonchan's opening, allowing Riolu to use Vacuum Wave again.
Riolu sidestepped, forming a transparent energy ball with his hands at his waist, then fiercely launched it!
Caught off guard, Hitmonchan was blasted away, while Anthony shouted in worry for Hitmonchan, and Ash already had his hands on his waist, quietly calling, "Riolu, Aura Sphere!!"
A brilliant blue energy ball rapidly formed at Riolu's waist, a move he shouldn't be able to use at this stage, but seeing as Ash had already taught Pikachu to use Aura Sphere, Riolu, adept with Aura, was no exception.
As the Aura Sphere formed, a bright blue light shot from Riolu's hand, streaking towards the fallen Hitmonchan like an arrow through the sky.
Under Anthony's anxious cries, Hitmonchan regained control of his body, jumping back with a handspring, attempting to dodge the Aura Sphere.
But that blue energy ball seemed to have a mind of its own; even when Hitmonchan altered his position, it continued to track him closely.
For Hitmonchan, who had just regained his footing, the handspring was already his limit. Facing the redirected Aura Sphere, he had no way to respond.
"Boom!!"
The Aura Sphere struck with a loud explosion, thick smoke rising on the battlefield as Anthony gripped his fists, teeth clenched, eyes fixed on the smoke, believing Hitmonchan wouldn't go down so easily!
"Riolu, Aura Sphere!" Ash's voice rang out again, causing Anthony's face to grimace. Was Ash using a move even with things like this?
Even disregarding whether Hitmonchan was down already, given the thick smoke, how could Riolu's move possibly hit Hitmonchan in the smoke?
But under Ash's command, Riolu unhesitatingly formed an Aura Sphere and launched it into the smoke.
Another loud crash echoed down the path, the smoke where Hitmonchan was becoming denser as Riolu began showing signs of fatigue.
"Hitmonchan, now's your chance, charge out of that smoke and give them a decisive strike!" Anthony shouted loudly, believing that if Hitmonchan was only hit by that first energy ball, he wouldn't be defeated!
It was the perfect time to take down the opponent while they were weakened!
This was the consequence of attacking blindly!
However, even as Anthony's voice echoed around, there was no movement from Hitmonchan in the smoke.
"Hitmonchan? Hitmonchan!!"
As Anthony continued to shout, the smoke slowly dissipated, finally revealing the brown figure on the ground inside.
Hitmonchan could no longer stand.
One Aura Sphere indeed wasn't enough to finish Hitmonchan, but two made it impossible for him to withstand.