Just like now.
Actually, Pikachu lasting this long already far exceeded Mewtwo's expectations. For others, this would be an absolutely perfect confrontation, considering who else could fight at Gym Peak and Champion Advanced Level to this extent?
But he is Ash. Mewtwo realized she didn't like seeing Ash lose, and it was the first time she saw Ash defeated, which made her recognize this emotion in her heart.
Meanwhile, on Ash's side, after Mewtwo unlocked the barrier, he supported himself to stand up, then jogged over to Pikachu and gently picked him up.
"Pika Pika..." Pikachu opened his eyes weakly and murmured something as Ash lifted him.
"It's okay... just a single defeat, we'll win back next time. Let me heal you first," Ash comforted Pikachu, channeling the Power of Viridian into Pikachu's body to recover his injuries.
"Come back, Togekiss, you've worked hard," Cynthia withdrew Togekiss and elegantly walked toward Ash.
The weakened Pikachu glanced at Cynthia, who crouched down, placed her delicate hand on Pikachu's fluffy head and gently stroked: "Little one, you've done really well, surpassing my expectations in every aspect. With your help, your Trainer will surely stand at the world's summit someday; it's just that you are a bit immature now."
Having the opponent come over to comfort them after losing was a feeling Ash and Pikachu experienced for the first time, since they had never lost a battle as partners since they debuted.
This was their first defeat, and it was a particularly crushing one.
Though Ash had experienced failures along the way, he had never lost while using Pikachu—this was the first time.
In terms of strength, tactics, and all aspects, Cynthia had completely overwhelmed them.
He was just a Trainer who debuted six months ago, and achieving this level was actually very commendable, but both Ash and Pikachu felt dissatisfied.
This wasn't the kind of narrow defeat like Charizard vs. Glaceon, but a decisive defeat where they were completely suppressed in every way.
Since debuting, Ash was experiencing this pure sense of trainer-level suppression for the first time; all his moves were seen through by the opponent, yet he couldn't see through theirs.
He had often seized the advantage entirely because of the convenience of Aura Power, directly predicting the opponent's movements. However, even when he predicted the opponent's actions, he couldn't dodge their attacks — the gap in strength was too large.
Cynthia's comfort made both Ash and Pikachu feel a bit better, but their strong dissatisfaction persisted, with Pikachu especially wanting to become stronger as he felt he was a burden to Ash.
If not for his lack of strength, with Ash's capability, they wouldn't have been injured like this.
But those are matters for the future. For now, a loss is a loss; without using Mewtwo or Gengar, Ash had no chance of defeating Cynthia—this was something predestined. Ash wanted to use bonds to bridge the gap in levels.
But the facts proved that bonds aren't everything; a vast level gap remains vast, and it's not just a gap in levels but also in trainer ability, which Cynthia fully exploited.
He's still too young.
"Do you want to visit the Pokemon Center?" Cynthia asked softly, looking at Pikachu's weak condition.
"No need, he'll recover very soon," Ash shook his head, rejecting Cynthia's kindness. Under his Power of Viridian's healing, Pikachu would be bouncing around in just a few minutes.
Upon hearing this, Cynthia was slightly taken aback. Ash isn't someone who lets Pokemon bear their injuries, so why not take the severely injured Pikachu for treatment? Does he have his own method?
"Don't worry, Miss Cynthia. Ash has the Power of Viridian and can heal Pokemon, and his power has grown very strong. Even Gym Peak level Pokemon don't need long to recover fully," Brock directly laid out all of Ash's information.
Having the Power of Viridian isn't something that can be casually shared with others, but if the person is Cynthia, that's different. After all, she is a Champion, and would naturally harbor no ill intentions toward Ash.
"Power of Viridian... I've heard of it. It's supposedly a gift from the Viridian Forest to certain humans, a power possessed only by the very few humans living in the forest, and it's merely a legend. In fact, no one with the Power of Viridian has appeared yet," Cynthia spoke while observing Ash, her beautiful eyes full of astonishment.
Apart from Aura Power, Ash actually possesses the Power of Viridian as well. How many secrets does this boy have?!
He's like a black hole, containing endless mysteries, impossible to fully explore.
Several minutes later, Pikachu's external injuries vanished completely. Pikachu then leaped out from Ash's arms, shook his arms, and cheered spiritedly toward Ash, indicating he was fully recovered.
"That fast? This recovery speed is faster than at the Pokemon Center." Calm and collected during the battle, Cynthia now appeared quite surprised, as Ash's recovery speed was too fast. Injuries like Pikachu's in the Pokemon Center would probably take about an hour to heal.
But now Ash took only a few minutes. This level of recovery ability... maybe it might be useful for that little one too.
"It's okay. Because Pikachu's level isn't very high, the higher the level, the longer it takes for Pokemon to recover. Miss Cynthia, if you don't mind, you can release Togekiss. Although she didn't lose battle capability, she probably sustained considerable injuries," Ash stated, rising from his half-kneeling position and dusting off his knees, turning to Cynthia.
"Sure, thank you," Cynthia didn't refuse, courteously releasing Togekiss.
Originally, she intended to go with Ash to the Pokemon Center, but then Ash treated Pikachu directly. Had Ash not extended this offer, she would have asked him for assistance herself.
After all, she wanted to see just how effective Ash's Power of Viridian was in healing Pokemon. If even Champion level Pokemon could recover easily, then it should benefit that Pokemon too.
The Power of Viridian was applied to Togekiss, and although its effect wasn't as potent as it was on Pikachu, Togekiss's injuries weren't as severe. Within a few minutes, Togekiss returned to perfect condition.
Cynthia briefly showed a peculiar expression, then retrieved Togekiss: "I have something I'd like to discuss with you, Ash."
"Ah?"
"Let's talk inside."
...
In the living room, Ash and his two companions sat upright on a sofa, while Cynthia sat on a separate one. Her expression was slightly solemn, which explained the serious look on Ash and his companions' faces.
Since Cynthia asked them to come in, they sensed she had something important to say. If it made Cynthia show such an expression, it was definitely significant.
"Let me get straight to the point, Ash, I want to ask you to protect a Pokemon."
"Protect a Pokemon? Which Pokemon?"
"Sea God, Lugia."
Ash and his companions: ???
A myriad of question marks appeared above the trio's heads, as their expressions instantly became extremely peculiar, mainly because Cynthia's words were too unexpected. Protect Sea God Lugia? What does that mean?
The Sea God needing their protection?!