From such a towering cliff, plunging into the roaring river below,
One would expect the boy to lose consciousness immediately.
But Ash did not.
Instead, he swam—
pushing through the icy currents, dodging crashing driftwood,
and evading the looming shadow of a raging Gyarados,
all while Spearow screeched overhead and unseen threats lurked beneath him.
Any ordinary person would've died eight hundred times by now.
But Ash clawed his way through every danger, dragging himself onto shore.
A young girl had reeled him in with her fishing rod.
Just as the world breathed a sigh of relief—
The Spearow returned, as relentless as hunting cats smelling fresh prey.
Viewers everywhere were stunned.
Especially those outside Kanto.
Were Spearow really this spiteful?
They chased him through a cliff dive, a river, the rapids… and they still aren't done?!
Even more unbelievable was the ten-year-old boy enduring all this
as if it were nothing more than a rough morning.
What kind of human was this?
The world slowly forgot the Heavenly Tally's title—
utterly absorbed in the unfolding story.
Even the Champions and Elite Four watched with fascination.
On-screen—
Seeing the Spearow flock approaching again, Ash paled.
After a quick shout to the girl, he grabbed her bicycle,
placed Pikachu into its basket, and pedaled with everything he had.
But even a "super rookie" couldn't outrun an enraged flock.
The rain began to fall—light at first, then heavier.
The ground became slick with mud.
Ash's wheels slipped.
He crashed, skidding painfully across the ground.
Pikachu was thrown from the bike.
And the Spearow descended.
Ash staggered upright, forcing his battered body to stand between Pikachu and the death swooping toward them.
He held out Pikachu's Poké Ball—expanded in his palm—
and set it gently before the exhausted little Pokémon.
"Pikachu… I know you don't like going inside the Poké Ball."
"But right now, it's the only way you'll be safe!"
"The rest… I'll handle somehow!"
Then Ash spun around.
He reversed his cap, planted his feet, and spread his arms wide—
shielding Pikachu with his entire body.
Facing down hundreds—no, thousands—of Spearow,
His eyes showed no fear.
Only resolve.
And then, he shouted the words the world would remember forever:
"Listen up!!!"
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town!
The future World's Greatest Pokémon Master!"
"Come at me if you dare!"
"I'm not losing to you—not here, not ever!!!"
The Spearow weren't intimidated.
With a unified screech, the entire flock dove forward—
intent on tearing the human apart.
At that moment—
Pikachu moved.
Time seemed to freeze.
It sprinted up Ash's shoulder—
and leapt into the stormy sky.
The thunderclouds, swirling overhead,
dumped their full rage into Pikachu's small frame—
a surge of lightning far beyond anything it should've been able to bear.
Then—
A thunderclap that shook the heavens.
Lightning erupted like a divine hammer.
The roiling storm clouds were ripped apart, revealing the setting sun.
Every Spearow was struck down in an instant.
The final image showed Ash and Pikachu lying on the ground, exhausted but alive—
sharing a soft, relieved smile.
And the world erupted.
"Holy—was that really Pikachu?!"
"No way!! It wiped out an entire flock?!"
"Ash's speech… I'm pumped just hearing it!"
"Seriously! Facing total despair, he rises to shout something that bold?! That was badass!"
"I'm a fan now. Anyone else?"
Even people who couldn't send messages
were screaming at their screens.
The message stream was exploding—
[Bruno: Tough! Unbreakable! Strongest! This is a rookie from Pallet Town?!]
[Bruno: WHERE IS HE? I'M TAKING HIM AS A DISCIPLE RIGHT NOW!]
Bruno was truly moved—
not only by Ash's heroism and love for Pokémon,
but by the boy's absurd physical endurance.
Finding a disciple who was both strong of heart and strong of body
was nearly impossible.
[Leon: What a powerful kid. Future World's Greatest Pokémon Master, huh? I'll be waiting for you at that seat!]
[Lance: Hey, hey, why are YOU sitting in that seat? Couldn't it be me?]
[Cynthia: I can't just ignore a comment like that.]
[Steven Stone: Interesting… even someone like me, who doesn't love battling, is fired up now.]
Ash's iconic moment moved Champions and Elite Four across the world.
They saw his traits—
courage, loyalty, and an unwavering spirit—
and knew this boy was destined for greatness.
Yes, Ash was still immature.
Yes, he knew almost nothing about training basics.
But those things could be learned.
What couldn't be taught
was the kind of heart Ash showed today—
risking everything, even his life, to protect a Pokémon.
That kind of bond had power in this world.
Real power.
Ash's future would not be small.
As for Pikachu…
Some viewers found the attack unbelievable.
But Champions saw the truth immediately:
It had channeled the storm's natural electricity—
a miraculous, one-time surge of borrowed power.
That Pikachu might never reproduce such an attack again.
But even once was enough to become a legend.