He really had forgotten about the type interaction—but it didn't matter.
"X-Scissor!"
Sludge Bomb had just been a feint. At Ash's call, Naganadel switched instantly, diving with blinding speed. Its tail spikes glowed green, stabbing down toward Lucario.
"Use Extreme Speed to dodge."
Professor Kukui gave the command calmly.
Earlier, Torracat had been the one holding the speed advantage.
Now that advantage belonged to Lucario.
Wrapped in pale green light, Lucario moved like a phantom, slipping past Naganadel's tail.
And in that opening—bam!
Lucario drove a heavy punch right into Naganadel's abdomen.
"Now! Naganadel—Double Dragon Pulse!"
"Lucario: What?!"
Even Professor Kukui was startled.
Double Dragon Pulse? That move didn't exist!
[Diantha: Double Dragon Pulse? What even is that?]
[Cynthia: I've never heard of it either… maybe he means doubling the strength of a Dragon Pulse?]
[Aaron: That doesn't add up. Naganadel always fires moves from its tail spike… but right now that spike is still locked in X-Scissor. How's it supposed to launch another move?]
[Professor Professor Kukui: …Yeah, I'm baffled too. Where else is this thing gonna fire from—its hands?!]
Viewers scratched their heads. What exactly did Ash mean by "Double Dragon Pulse"?
Was it really just Cynthia's guess—that it'd be twice the power?
Or was it something else entirely?
Given Ash's track record tonight…
There was no way this was going to be normal.
On the battlefield—
Lucario was locked against Naganadel.
Though it looked like Lucario had countered neatly, its body was still pinned by the sheer, brutal strength of the Ultra Beast.
Wild, primal power radiated from Naganadel, pressing Lucario down.
Lucario tried to use Extreme Speed again, forcing Naganadel away.
But the more Lucario resisted—
the more excited Naganadel became.
Its glowing eyes burned brighter.
The harder you fight me, the more thrilled I get!
Ash's voice rose to match.
"Let's show them our trump card!"
Through their bond of Aura, Ash's thoughts poured directly into Naganadel's mind.
A combo of three moves at once—it was risky, but exhilarating!
"Lucario, break free!" Professor Kukui barked, sensing danger.
But Naganadel's pressure only grew stronger.
Then—
The two unused tail spikes lit up with rainbow light.
The crowd gasped.
Everyone knew this glow.
Dragon Pulse.
Not one. Two.
While one tail spike still held Lucario locked with X-Scissor, the other two tail spikes simultaneously charged Dragon Pulses.
Silence.
Every trainer watching, every spectator in the arena, froze in disbelief.
So that's what Ash had meant.
Double Dragon Pulse wasn't a fancy name—
it was literally firing two Dragon Pulses at once, while attacking with another move.
The sheer absurdity was breathtaking.
[Denji: That's an Ultra Beast for you… terrifying! Using three moves at once—that's basically breaking the system!]
[Zoey: Totally busted…]
[Paul: Tch. I hate to admit it, but that's… beautiful strength.]
[Ash (comment replay): Alola really is an amazing place!]
It was unanimous: Naganadel's power was off the charts.
Speed. Strength. And now this—
an overwhelming ability to multi-task attacks.
Even a well-trained Pokémon on Lucario's level couldn't prepare for such unnatural firepower.
On the field—
BOOM!
Two Dragon Pulses blasted Lucario point-blank.
There was no escape.
Pinned by Naganadel, Lucario had to take them head-on.
The explosions swallowed the battlefield, shaking the stadium to its foundations.
When the dust cleared—
Lucario staggered a few steps, then collapsed with a heavy thud.
It was over.
Lucario—defeated.
The audience erupted, chanting Naganadel's name.
Professor Kukui blinked, stunned by how fast it had happened.
Lucario was one of his strongest partners—just below Incineroar itself.
And it had been demolished in seconds.
He exhaled a half-smile, shaking his head.
"Still you, Ash. I didn't even see that one coming."
Ash scratched his cheek sheepishly.
"Eheh… I kinda got the idea from watching Incineroar fight."
Professor Kukui couldn't help but laugh.
He'd essentially taught Ash how to beat him.
The scoreboard updated: 4–3 in Ash's favor.
On the sidelines—
Pikachu had been waiting too long.
Its fur bristled, sparks dancing as it hopped impatiently onto Ash's shoulder.
Then—zap!
A tiny spark shocked Ash's cheek.
"Ow—Pikachu!"
Pikachu winked, chirping proudly.
"Pika-pi!"
Ash chuckled. He knew exactly what it meant.
"You're up next, buddy."
He recalled Naganadel, its victory cry still echoing through the arena.
Pikachu leapt down, landing on the field in a burst of sparks.
"Pikachu!"
This was its stage now.
Professor Kukui smiled, taking out his next Poké Ball.
A flash of red—
and Venusaur's massive body shook the ground as it appeared.
A near-perfect counter to Pikachu in every way.
Ash's eyes lit up.
This was it.
The situation he lived for—
a battle where type disadvantage didn't matter.
The moment where Ash's "Reversal Master" ability awakened.
After all, this was the trainer who once made Pikachu's Thunderbolt knock out a Rock-type Onix.
The crowd roared as the next round began—
Pikachu versus Venusaur!
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