Natsuhiko didn't accept the interview.
Because no matter how you looked at him, he didn't seem in good shape; instead, his pale complexion made it look like he could collapse at any moment.
However, Lance calmly accepted the post-match interview, even chatting and laughing, showing no sign of being the losing party.
Winning or losing gracefully, that's Lance.
Besides, losing to Natsuhiko,
your good brother, isn't that just like winning?
When the host interviewed him, asking about the near-win situation and if Dragonite had a bit more luck and stood a little longer, it might have won, because Alakazam didn't seem like it could hold on either.
Lance replied.
"Natsuhiko is very strong, extremely strong. I admit defeat willingly. Both of us could feel that the other had given their all. This has nothing to do with luck. You need the strength to reach the end, to fight with will, to fight with luck, to see who can stand till the last.
Clearly, Alakazam's will is stronger."
Lance's calm acceptance of defeat not only didn't cost him supporters but made him appear magnanimous, open-minded, and someone worth supporting persistently.
And Natsuhiko at this moment?
Sitting listlessly in the player's lounge, surrounded by Da Ye, Aliu, and the others.
"Did I win? Didn't I win?"
Natsuhiko wasn't even sure if he had won or not.
Judging by the final result, he won.
But he actually knew that Alakazam had already completely lost consciousness by then, and it was only the phantom behind it that kept it standing with psychic power.
If you really calculate it,
Dragonite, which got up again and then fell, should have been the winner, and Lance should have advanced to the finals.
But such things can't be explained to others.
Besides, that might just be part of Alakazam's abilities, not considered an external force.
That's why Natsuhiko was doubtful about whether he won or lost.
But it doesn't matter, just like Lance said, what's the difference if he wins or if Lance wins?
The point is they've already had a battle.
The result was somewhat unexpected for Natsuhiko.
He didn't expect it to reach such a level with Lance.
But it also proved that the effort and risks he and his Pokémon undertook during this time were not in vain.
Of course, the biggest variable, which Natsuhiko couldn't predict, was the phantom behind Alakazam.
'When Alakazam evolved last time, there were two streams of pink psychic power, one from the slate fragments, the other from the Dream Gene within it?'
Natsuhiko hadn't been sure what research Rocket Team did on Alakazam's parents specifically before.
After all, with an organization as big as Rocket Team, how could they only do a little Pokémon and genetic research? So although Natsuhiko had a little guess, he couldn't confirm it.
Now it's confirmed, the Dream Gene 'self-appeared'.
So...
If Rocket Team really brings Mewtwo up again in the future, Alakazam could point and say: My foolish Oddish.
Shaking his head.
The scene is too beautiful to imagine.
But undoubtedly, such genetic inheritance definitely made Alakazam inherit some of Dream's talents to some extent, which is why it has shown extraordinary psychic talents since young.
Another doubt emerged for Natsuhiko.
Other Pokémon couldn't fully absorb the slate fragments, like the Jynx before, but Alakazam could completely convert the slate's power into its own. Is this also related to the Dream Gene?
This matter is unexaminable, but the possibility is quite high.
Coming back to senses.
He glanced at the people surrounding him.
Outward Natsuhiko: Calm, sitting properly, routine operations, no deviation from basic tactics.
Inward Natsuhiko: Damn, I'm lucky.
Da Ye: "Are you a superpower user?"
Wusong: "Why does your Alakazam's psychic power change color?"
Aliu: "Natsuhiko, does your Beedrill have immunity to Fire-type Techniques, as you always let it face Fire-type Pokémon?"
Natsuhiko sat up straight with effort, "Isn't that supposed to be your focus?"
"Natsuhiko, in the next match against Hilona, what strategy will you employ?" Da Ye seemed more excited than Natsuhiko.
Upon hearing this, Natsuhiko looked at Hilona sitting beside him, her brows furrowed.
For once, she didn't say a word.
Her expression was quite complicated.
Natsuhiko pursed his lips, hesitated a bit, and finally said, "Maybe... I can't fight in the next match."
"Can't fight?!"
Ignoring others' excitement, Natsuhiko only looked at Hilona to see what expression she would have.
But Hilona didn't show much surprise, seemingly having some guesses already.
They were all highly skilled trainers, so they were pretty good at judging a Pokémon's injuries and condition.
Still asked, "Because of Alakazam?"
Natsuhiko nodded.
He carefully examined Alakazam's condition when they left the field earlier; perhaps due to the prolonged battle and enduring too many attacks from Dragonite, its psychic power was excessively exhausted.
It might also be that the excessive psychic power drain stimulated further fusion of its Dream Gene, causing it to fall into a slumber.
How long this slumber would last, Natsuhiko didn't know either.
But certainly not short.
So now, it's not about whether Natsuhiko wants to fight, it's about whether he can fight.
Without Alakazam, only Togekiss, Beedrill, and Doublade are left, unless Doublade evolves right now, even just from the Pokémon's strength, can't match against Hilona.