Chapter 122: Finals, VS Ash
Over the next few days, Ryan and Ash advanced through their matches. Erika's Moltres was particularly noteworthy, having been well-trained. However, she was defeated by Ash's Moltres. Ash, possessing the three Legendary Birds, also advanced triumphantly, reaching the finals where he faced Ryan.
"Ryan, aren't you planning on using all Legendary Pokémon?" Lillie asked, looking at the list of Pokémon Ryan had submitted.
"I still have Zeraora and Mewtwo, don't I?" Ryan replied.
"I thought you were going to field all Legendary Pokémon," Lillie remarked.
"Looking at the lineup, Ryan probably wants to defeat the three Legendary Birds with his non-Legendary ace Pokémon," Ruby said, approaching.
"That's right, they're just three Legendary Birds. Using all Legendary Pokémon to fight them seems a bit excessive," Ryan said. "My Aerodactyl is very powerful, on par with those three Legendary Birds. And with Mewtwo backing me up, it would be strange if I lost."
"Haha, Ash is so unlucky! If it weren't for you, Ryan, he would probably have won the championship," Rosa laughed.
Ryan remained silent. He knew that even if he didn't participate, Ash wouldn't necessarily have won. Or perhaps, because of Ryan's presence and the Legendary Pokémon in his possession, Ho-Oh had given Ash the three Legendary Birds as a response.
Ryan smiled carefreely: "That's what makes it fun!" He also decided that tomorrow, Aerodactyl would face Articuno, Charizard against Moltres, and Zeraora against Zapdos.
Early the next morning, the tournament stadium was packed with spectators who had come to watch the competition.
Ryan took a deep breath and walked out of the player's tunnel. He then stood at the edge of the field, looked at Ash and said with a smile, "Sorry, Ash, but I'm taking the championship!"
"Hehe, I won't let you have it!" Ash said confidently.
As the announcer's passionate commentary continued, the audience understood that Ryan and Ash were both Trainers with Legendary Pokémon. This match was destined to be a battle of Legendary Pokémon!
There was no field selection for the finals; it was the standard battle field. The first attack order was then confirmed, and Ryan would go first.
Ryan smiled and said, "Greninja, I choose you!"
Greninja appeared on the field, and then Ryan's bond power enveloped it, and Greninja transformed into its Greninja Bond form.
"Greninja?" Ash said seriously. "Pikachu, I choose you! Quick Attack!"
Pikachu nodded, instantly transforming into a flash of yellow light and charging at Bond -Greninja. Bond -Greninja instantly created Double Team clones, and dozens of copies appeared on the field, while Pikachu only collided with a single afterimage.
"Pikachu, use Discharge across the entire field!" Ash immediately sought a countermeasure.
But Ryan wouldn't give Ash a chance. He summoned Water Shurikens, and dozens of Ash-Greninja copies rushed toward Pikachu. The real Ash-Greninja flew through the afterimages, striking Pikachu with rapid consecutive hits using the Water Shuriken.
"Hang in there, Pikachu!" Ash shouted. "Discharge!"
Ryan watched closely as Pikachu's health dropped to a razor-thin level, yet it refused to fall. Ryan was helpless: This is protagonist power at work!
Pikachu, enduring Greninja's blows, erupted with lightning. A powerful electrical current swept through the entire arena, destroying all of Greninja's Double Team copies and striking Greninja as well, though since Greninja was part Dark-type, it dealt minimal damage.
"Great job, Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Ash exclaimed.
Seeing Pikachu's health somehow restored to half, Ryan was too exhausted to complain. Greninja launched a massive Hydro Pump at Pikachu. The Thunderbolt collided with it, sending the current through the water and hitting Greninja with super-effective damage. Meanwhile, Greninja's Hydro Pump, empowered by the Splash Plate, wasn't so easily stopped.
The massive water blast sent Pikachu flying, instantly rendering it unable to battle.
"Pikachu!" Ash cried out heartbrokenly, running over to pick up Pikachu and handing it to Brock and Misty in the stands.
He then returned to the arena, pondered for a moment, and sent out Meganium. Ryan released his bond form, recalled Greninja, and then sent out Wobbuffet.
Ryan laughed and said, "Ash, this is the Wobbuffet I obtained back at the Battle Frontier. Come give it a try!"
"Then let me see how powerful your Wobbuffet is!" Ash shouted. "Meganium, Solar Beam!"
"Mirror Coat," Ryan said.
Wobbuffet raised an energy barrier. Meganium absorbed the sunlight and fired directly at Wobbuffet. However, it struck the barrier, which shattered. Simultaneously, the Solar Beam, nearly three times stronger, reflected and headed straight for Meganium.
Meganium was directly hit by the Solar Beam and sent flying. Fortunately, Solar Beam was a Grass-type move, so it didn't cause too much damage to Meganium, but it still knocked off nearly 30% of her health.
"Meganium, use Counter! Charge forward!" Ash commanded.
Wobbuffet raised another barrier and charged at Meganium, but the speed was painfully slow. Meganium dodged easily, then sprayed Poison Powder at Wobbuffet.
"Safeguard," Ryan said.
Wobbuffet was shrouded in a mystical veil, blocking the Poison Powder's intrusion. Ash, feeling overwhelmed, called out, "Meganium, another Solar Beam!"
"Mirror Coat," Ryan said.
Ash had no choice but to stop Meganium's movements, then pulled out a Poké Ball and said, "Return, Meganium!"
But Meganium's shadow was trapped beneath Wobbuffet's feet due to Shadow Tag, making it impossible to recall.
Ryan smiled. Wobbuffet was incredibly powerful now. Its reflection abilities had two types: the barrier type, which blocked damage and reflected attacks at three times the power; and the coating type, which covered its entire body and would take damage, but could reflect five times the damage.
This was all the result of being a training dummy for Mewtwo. Even being able to reflect Origin-powered attacks, it was incredibly easy for Wobbuffet to face Pokémon that hadn't yet mastered Origin Power.
Thinking of this, Ryan couldn't help but shed tears of sympathy for Wobbuffet. After all, being a target for a group of Legendary Pokémon, it lost consciousness countless times in a single day. It basically fainted the moment it woke up, then continued being a target the moment it regained consciousness. This was how it honed its strength.
"No choice! Meganium, Body Slam!" Ash was helpless.
Meganium leaped high and slammed down. Ryan calmly switched from Mirror Coat to Counter and sent Meganium flying again.
Looking at the shattered Counter barrier, Ash's eyes lit up and he said, "Meganium, now's your chance! Magical Leaf!"
Meganium immediately launched many leaves from around its body to attack Wobbuffet, who had no barrier to defend with. However, a thin film rose from Wobbuffet's surface, reflecting the Magical Leaf directly back and hitting Meganium, who had no time to react, knocking her out instantly.
Ash recalled Meganium with a pained expression, then released Charizard. Ryan smiled, recalled Wobbuffet, and then sent out Mewtwo.
Ash breathed a sigh of relief. He felt that even if he had to face Mewtwo, he didn't want to face Wobbuffet again. This feeling of being unable to attack effectively and unable to run away was too frustrating!
(End of Chapter)
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