"The Tree World… is eternal!"
Ash's voice was calm but unyielding as his Venusaur's vines surged outward like living serpents. The massive roots coiled around the Blaziken trapped at the center, tightening mercilessly until a sharp, sickening crack echoed through the stadium.
A spray of crimson seeped through the splintered roots — and then, silence.
Blaziken's body hung limply, lifeless, before collapsing into the dirt. It hadn't even managed a final cry.
Referee: "Blaziken is unable to battle! Venusaur wins!
Trainer Ito, please send out your next Pokémon!"
Commentator: "What an incredible turn of events! Ito's Blaziken is down — and in less than five minutes, Ash has completely flipped the match on its head! How will Ito respond to this overwhelming power?"
Even the referee and commentator hesitated for a moment. A Pokémon dying in the middle of an official match — it was something none of them had ever witnessed firsthand. Though such life-and-death duels existed at the elite level, seeing one unfold in a formal championship was a first in their careers.
Audience:
"Yeah! That's how you do it, Master Ash! Show them the strength of Kanto!"
"Crush them, Ash! Make Shenao remember our name!"
"That's right! The pride of the Draconis family!"
As the referee's voice faded, a wave of wild cheers erupted through the stadium. The audience — mostly hot-blooded young trainers from Kanto — roared with excitement, thrilled by the ferocity of the scene rather than repelled by it.
Ito Makoto's expression darkened as he stared at Blaziken's broken body.
"Damn it… to lose even my Blaziken…" he muttered, fists clenching.
He could already imagine his father's fury — but he couldn't afford to back down now. Losing the match was one thing; losing face before the entire League was another.
In the VIP Room
Skye Draconis: "Hahaha! Excellent! Truly my grandson's doing — that Venusaur of his didn't even lose a single leaf!"
Samuel Oak: "As expected of Ash. His strength runs deep… even my old friend couldn't see through it."
Nathan Redwood: "Serves them right for their arrogance. Now the Ito family can taste what it's like to be humiliated."
The patriarchs of Kanto's great houses were in high spirits. Ash's first battle had not only upheld the prestige of the Draconis family but also delivered a resounding slap to the Ito family's pride.
Meanwhile, Masao Yoto and Elder Sada Verenza exchanged glances but said nothing.
Though both hailed from the Sinnoh region, even they found satisfaction in seeing the overconfident Ito clan brought low. This defeat, they knew, would severely tarnish Ito's standing — while their own families would emerge unscathed, perhaps even more respected by comparison.
Back on the field, Ito Sawakoshi's face twisted in rage. Less than five minutes, and his champion Pokémon was already dead. He wanted to call off the battle, but doing so would only make the scandal worse.
Referee: "Trainer Ito, please send out your next Pokémon."
Grinding his teeth, Ito barked out, "Go! Aggron!"
He hurled his Poké Ball forward, the flash of light revealing a towering steel fortress of a Pokémon. He'd hoped to stall for time by pretending to strategize, but the referee's interruption forced his hand.
The crowd quieted slightly — everyone knew this battle was far from over.
"Rooaaar!!!"
A flash of white light burst across the battlefield as a massive Aggron emerged, its steel-plated armor gleaming under the harsh stadium lights. The ground trembled beneath its weight as it let out a thunderous roar.
Commentator: "Ito's next Pokémon is Aggron — a dual-type Steel and Rock Pokémon! On the Rock side, it's naturally weak to Ash's Venusaur's Grass-type attacks!"
Ito Makoto clenched his fist. "First, we need to knock that Venusaur off its tree! Otherwise, we won't be able to land a single hit. Aggron, use Mega Punch — destroy that tree!"
"Rooar!" Aggron's left fist glowed with fierce white energy as it slammed forward like a battering ram, aiming straight for the trunk of the massive tree supporting Venusaur.
Ash's expression remained calm.
"So you're targeting the base of the Tree World? Good idea — but you're too naive. Venusaur, use Vine Whip!"
"Veeenaa!"
Venusaur's massive flower pulsed, and from behind it erupted eight thick, green vines crackling with power. They lashed through the air with a sharp crack!
"Whip him down!" Ash commanded.
"Rooaaar!"
Before Aggron could reach the tree, the vines struck with blinding speed, slamming into the gaps between its armor. The impact echoed like thunder as the steel titan staggered backward, roaring in pain.
The audience gasped. The strike had landed cleanly on Aggron's exposed sections, bypassing its metallic defense. Grass-type energy coursed through its body, burning like acid against its Rock-type core.
"The pain from that whip must be brutal," the commentator exclaimed. "And with Aggron's Rock typing being weak to Grass, the damage is immense — even its Steel armor can't protect it completely!"
Ito's face turned crimson. His jaw clenched as the murmurs of the crowd reached his ears. He could feel their mocking eyes, their judgment.
"Don't get cocky, Ash!" Ito snarled. "Aggron, Iron Defense! Harden your armor — now!"
Aggron roared again, its body glowing with a silvery sheen as its steel plating thickened, edges sharpening like blades. The impact of Venusaur's vines would no longer bite as deeply — or so Ito hoped.
But even as his Pokémon braced itself, a flicker of doubt crossed Ito's mind.
He'd underestimated Ash from the very start. He'd assumed the boy's power ended at a mere champion's level — that victory would come easily with his father's prized Pokémon.
Now, for the first time, Ito realized the truth:
Ash Ketchum's strength ran far deeper than he'd ever imagined.
...
TN:
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