078: Strong Maliciousness, Ash Decides!!
"Serena, go for it!!" Though she initially tried to talk Ser Lena out of accepting the challenge, Shauna now cheered from the sidelines, hoping Lena could power through and win the match.
"Mhm! Don't worry I'm not going down that easily." Serena turned back with a steady nod, flashing a confident look to her childhood friend.
Her gaze briefly met Ash's. He gave a small, calm nod, his eyes full of encouragement, and Lena's expression softened, reassured.
According to Xiaolan and Shauna, the boy now challenging her named Fei (nicknamed "Xiao Fei") was using a Pidgey, the common bird Pokémon native to the Kanto region.
Though small, Pidgey's Flying-type advantage and mobility had helped Xiao Fei secure four wins, putting him at 8 points—tied with Ser Lena on the leaderboard.
Serena had hesitated at first, but Ash's quiet confidence gave her strength. She still didn't fully believe in herself… but she trusted Ash completely.
Just then, a familiar voice echoed in her mind.
"Serena, can you hear me?" Ash's voice resonated clearly within her.
Hearing his telepathic message, Serena didn't flinch or show any visible surprise. She just replied in her mind with a steady, "Mhm."
"Good. I'll use aura-assisted telepathy to guide you this match. I'll offer you strategic cues follow them as best you can when you command Clefairy."
"But remember, timing is everything. Battle isn't just about instructions it's about feeling the rhythm of your Pokémon."
Ash stood silently on the edge of the battlefield with Gary, eyes closed, focusing his aura link. His subtle nod to Lena had been more than symbolic it had activated their mental connection.
Serena, having understood, now stood straighter. The relaxed look in her eyes sharpened into focus.
"Understood, Ash," she replied firmly in her heart.
Just then, Xiaochun returned with Xiaohao, who had been sulking after an earlier draw. Noticing the match about to begin, Xiaochun blinked in surprise.
"Wait, is Serena about to battle again?" she asked, looking to Xiaolan and Shauna.
"It's kind of unbelievable," Xiaochun continued, eyes widening. "At first, we thought she might be too shy to even go on stage. But now she's battling like a pro. And she's good."
Shauna beamed with pride. "Honestly, we owe a lot to Ash. Before Lena's first match, he gave her private coaching. That made all the difference."
Xiaochun blinked, then glanced over at Ash, a quiet realization settling on her face.
With the scoreboard updating in real time, multiple students had reached 10 points by now, technically putting them at the top. But there was a difference—most had faced weaker opponents and rested between matches.
Ash, on the other hand, had five straight wins under his belt all against elite campers known for their skill. That distinction made him the clear top contender in everyone's minds.
The name Ash carried more weight than just numbers.
"By the way," Xiaochun asked curiously, "who is Ser Lena up against this time? Is this guy strong?"
"This boy is Xiao Fei," Shauna explained. "He's tied for third like Lena. His Pokémon is a "
"A Flying-type Pidgey?" Xiaochun interrupted, her expression turning serious.
"Flying-types can be tricky," she muttered. "They're fast and can dodge ground-based attacks easily. Ser Lena's Clefairy might struggle with that mobility."
"I know," Xiaolan added with a sigh. "We tried to talk her out of it, but Lena insisted. I hope she can pull this off."
"She can—and she will," Xiaochun said with sudden intensity, clenching her fists. "If she had the courage to step up, then we have to believe in her, too."
"Yeah, Ser Lena will win," Shauna and Xiaolan nodded together.
But standing beside Xiaochun, Xiaohao narrowed his eyes at Lena on the field, and in his heart, a storm of resentment brewed.
"Her opponent has a Pidgey? Heh… she's definitely going to lose."
"Why is Ash helping someone like her? Just because she's soft and shy? I'm smarter, stronger and I have a Magikarp!"
"He didn't even bother to coach me after my battle ended in a draw. He just watched me struggle!"
"Ugh! I hope she loses this match loses so badly she bursts into tears." Xiaohao's thoughts turned dark, bubbling with bitterness and jealousy.
Just then, Ash's eyes narrowed. His aura flared subtly as he detected something foul an emotional spike nearby.
Malice.
He turned sharply, eyes scanning the nearby students. His gaze locked on Xiaohao, whose heart was gripped with envy and spite.
Caught mid-thought, Xiaohao flinched. Ash's cold stare pierced through him.
"A-Ash...?" he stammered, fear flickering in his eyes. He'd been caught.
Ash didn't say a word. He turned his gaze away, calmly refocusing on the field.
So much darkness, Ash thought silently. And at a time like this...
Xiaohao's heart is filled with resentment. Is it jealousy over Lena? Over not being chosen? Over me?
But still… harboring this level of hatred for both of us?
I can't ignore this.
His eyes hardened. His instincts as an Aura Guardian stirred.
This kind of malice can't be left unchecked. If it builds... he could become dangerous.
I need to act soon. Quietly. Precisely.
If I wait for the right moment one where no one suspects maybe I can... end this before it grows.
An accident. One no one will question.
And with that chilling thought, Ash turned back to the match, his expression unreadable.
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