An Unexpected Face in the Audience!
Ash and Pikachu's burning fighting spirit had ignited the entire world again.
"Damn… if they'd shown this scene before betting opened, I'd definitely have bet on Ash!"
"Same! Win or lose, I'd support him just for that fire!"
"I mean… I bet on Tobias, but I really hope Ash wins."
"Don't panic—listen, I'm a famously cursed gambler. Whichever side I bet on always loses. This time I bet on Tobias."
"…Brother… next time, tell me what you bet on so I can choose the opposite."
[Alder: Well done, Ash-boy! No matter the crisis, no matter how great the adversity, your refusal to give up is your greatest weapon!]
[Leon: Whether Ash wins or loses this time… his future self will stand on the same stage as me.]
Leon's comment stunned everyone watching.
The same stage as Leon?
Leon—the undefeated Champion of Galar.
The #1 seed in the Masters Eight tournament.
The man who had never lost a match since debuting.
And he said a ten-year-old boy from Kanto would one day stand where he stands?
Even with Pikachu's godlike potential, that sounded insane!
[Lance: Huh! Never expected Leon to give that kind of praise!]
[Cynthia: I agree. Ash will definitely grow into a powerful trainer—Champion-level strong.]
[Ash: Hehe, I'm not as amazing as everyone says!]
[Gary: I can't watch this anymore. A bunch of Champions are talking about your future, idiot! Why are you showing off right now? You're a guy who can barely scrape into the Indigo League qualifiers!]
"GARY YOU JERK!! Don't stop me!! I'm fighting him right now!!"
Misty and Brock both grabbed Ash before he could smash the comment button.
"Calm down, Ash! Treat it as a joke! Don't take the bait!"
"Exactly! It's Gary. You of all people should know better!"
"The match is starting again!"
Right. More important than arguing—
His battle was being broadcast for the whole world.
He could yell at Gary later.
Back to the broadcast—
"Ash! Pikachu! Let's go!"
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
"Pika!"
Light gathered around Pikachu as he kicked off the ground, shooting forward like a bolt of lightning.
"Dodge."
"Ooooh!"
Latios avoided the strike with nothing more than a slight tilt of its body—
a movement so clean it looked effortless.
"Don't stop there! Pikachu—Volt Tackle!"
Ash didn't hesitate. His second command was already Pikachu's trump card.
"The move that one-shotted Regice!"
"But against Latios… will it even work?!"
In the first tally, Pikachu's Volt Tackle had descended like a thunder god's judgment—
instantly deleting Brandon's Regice.
Viewers had practically enshrined Volt Tackle as a divine skill.
If Pikachu used it, something had to explode.
Pikachu spun, planted a foot, and burst forward again—
golden lightning erupting around his body.
He streaked toward Latios like a meteor of light.
"Giga Impact!"
Tobias's voice was cold and decisive.
Latios twisted midair—
Purple energy spiraling around it like a cyclone.
Gold lightning and violet shockwaves collided—
and to everyone's disbelief…
Pikachu was blown away instantly.
He flipped twice midair, landing hard and skidding across the battlefield.
Even with Volt Tackle's recoil resistance, he was badly shaken.
"W–what?! Is Latios that strong?! A Volt Tackle that can one-shot a Legendary wasn't even close?!"
"Does that mean Brandon's Regice… was weak?"
"…Maybe. Latios just feels way stronger than the golems."
"Speed, power… everything's off the charts! How can a Legendary be this cool?!"
If Brandon heard this, he'd drop both his other Regis on their heads.
His golems were not weak, thank you very much.
[Lance: Looks like the power gap is wider than we thought.]
[Cynthia: Pikachu has no chance. Latios's advantages are overwhelming.]
[Caitlin: Flying advantage, typing advantage, raw psychic force… Pikachu cannot keep up.]
[Leon: Oh? I don't feel Ash intends to give up at all.]
Leon was right.
Even after such a crushing exchange,
Ash's eyes burned brighter than ever.
But then—the broadcast feed suddenly cut to the audience seats.
Two humans and one Meowth appeared on screen.
The abrupt cut made viewers blink in confusion.
…Why a sudden audience shot?
In Kanto—
Team Rocket was watching from a small hideout near the Indigo Plateau.
The moment they appeared on screen—
"HEY!! That's us!! We're in the broadcast!!!"
"Well, of course, meow! Wherever Pikachu goes, we follow him!!"
"But… why do we look like we're… selling something?"
Meanwhile—
Back in the Team Rocket Headquarters, Giovanni had also returned and resumed watching the tally.
When his three subordinates appeared on-screen, Giovanni froze.
"…Why are those three idiots there?"
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