In a Black World —
The battle between Ash and Lorelei has officially begun!
Lorelei is also taking Ash a little seriously. Facing the Electric-type Pikachu, she deliberately didn't send out a type-disadvantaged Water-type. Instead, she chose the more tricky Psychic/Ice-type Jynx!!
One reason was Ash's status as the Indigo Plateau Conference Champion. Another was the weight of the meteorite weights Pikachu had just removed. It was impossible not to recognize the heft of star iron. Just the small amount in Ash's hand was estimated to weigh over two hundred pounds! With that kind of load-bearing capacity, Pikachu's true strength was self-evident.
Of course, Ash having just kept the weight-bearing Pikachu on his shoulder also made Lorelei side-eye him. This kid... has that much strength?
"Master Lorelei, can I go all out?"
Lorelei: ?
What did he mean by that? Was he thinking of going easy on her? The Indigo Conference Champion was, after all, just a Conference Champion. He didn't think a Conference Champion was greater than an Elite Four member, did he? It seemed Ash might have some misconceptions about Elite Four strength... In that case, let the icy cold wind sober him up. Lorelei hadn't intended to go completely serious, but after Ash's words, she had to be serious!
"Alright, use your full strength then. Let me see what level the Indigo Conference Champion is at!"
"Okay!"
Hmm—
Saying that, Ash closed his eyes, and the next moment, his body erupted with blue energy! The Pikachu in front of Ash also closed its eyes. Along with the blue aura erupting from Ash's body, Pikachu's form was also covered in a layer of blue light.
Lorelei: !!
What in the world?
This is what he meant by full strength??
...
[Lorelei]: Mussels! That's not what I expected at all! Black Ash saying 'all out'... means using a cheat!
[Lance]: Hehe. Without using the 'Thunder Kirin,' Pikachu should have no chance of defeating a Champion-level Pokémon at all. But with Aura Fusion, it's different...
[Cynthia]: Sister Lorelei... that Jynx shouldn't be your ace, right? What level of strength is it among Champion-tier Pokémon?
[Lorelei]: Moderately low... My ace is Lapras, which is close to a Champion's ace level.
[Bruno]: Then this battle is still interesting! When Ash was at the Viridian Gym, fused with Pikachu, he could reach peak Gym-level. Now that a few months have passed, he should be able to reach the next level, right?
[Steven]: You mean Elite Four-level? I don't think that's realistic. Black Ash is really strong, but crossing to Elite Four-level in a few months is impossible.
[Cynthia]: That's not certain. After all, Black Ash's rate of improvement is obvious to everyone. Leaving aside Pikachu, Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur... which one hasn't reached Gym-level in half a year?
[Cynthia]: After fusing with Black Ash's Aura, they can even briefly match Elite Four-level... Can anyone here claim to have reached that level at his age?
Cynthia's explanation silenced the audience. It wasn't that they didn't know; it was shocking. Black Ash had actually raised several Gym-level Pokémon in less than half a year! Don't think Gym-level is commonplace. Leaving aside the Elite Four and Champions, it's the peak most ordinary trainers can reach! A Gym Leader's true strength can basically suppress over ninety percent of the trainers in the world! That's the so-called Gym-level! After obtaining eight badges, how many challengers actually force the Gym Leader to go all out?
[Steven]: Hehe, who's stronger and who's weaker, won't we know after watching this battle? I really hope to see White Ash grow up and battle me!
Steven watched Black Ash and couldn't help but feel the itch to battle. But he and Black Ash were from two different worlds. No matter! White Ash also had Black Ash's potential. He looked forward to the day White Ash would challenge him!
...
In a Black World —
Looking at Ash, who was shining with blue light, Lorelei was utterly baffled. Why was Ash's idea of "full strength" a little different from what she had imagined?
"As you can see, Master Lorelei, this is the full power of me and Pikachu! In this state, we are of one mind. So... you need to be careful!"
Lorelei nodded calmly, but her expression grew serious. Today's battle was probably not going to be easy!
Ash leaned forward slightly, mirroring Pikachu's movements. They hadn't used Aura Fusion in a long time, but their默契默契默契默契默契默契默契默契 (tacit understanding) had only increased during their journey! Now it could even be said to be flawless! And the depth of their Aura Fusion... seemed to be reaching the next level!
A flash of inspiration!
Ash's mind moved, and Pikachu instantly vanished from its spot!
Sabrina in the audience lit up her red eyes, trying to use her psychic power to track Pikachu's movements, but it was completely invisible! In the blink of an eye, Pikachu slammed into Jynx's body! However, to Ash's surprise, Jynx was only knocked back a distance of a few meters. Something wasn't right... Jynx wasn't known for its physical defense. And Pikachu's body had been tempered countless times, plus the boost from the Light Ball! Theoretically, it shouldn't have just knocked the opponent back that far!
Lorelei narrowed her burgundy eyes. She already had a rough estimate of Pikachu's strength. After the initial clash on the field, Ash finally saw the reason for Jynx's resilience.
"That's amazing. When did Master Lorelei use Light Screen?"
That's right! It was the Psychic-type skill, Light Screen, also known as the damage-reducing barrier! This move could greatly reduce the power of physical attacks! It was also why Pikachu's Quick Attack failed to hit hard.
"I used it the moment you and Pikachu took on that form. Otherwise, I really would have been caught off guard by your speed!" Lorelei said with some emotion. Luckily, she had been prescient. The moment she saw Ash power up, she immediately had Jynx use Light Screen. Otherwise, that Quick Attack just now could have caused Jynx a lot of trouble. After all, Jynx was fragile! More importantly...
"Your Pikachu... is at Elite Four-level?"
"Oh... I don't know. Anyway, in this state, it's still a little weaker than your Jynx, judging by Aura perception."
"Aura... I remember now. Professor Oak told me before that there was a child in Pallet Town who awakened the ability to control Aura power when he was eight, right?" Lorelei thought for a moment, recalling what Professor Oak had mentioned during a chat two years ago. Pallet Town had a strange kid who could wrestle with Tauros and had even awakened the legendary power of Aura! Professor Oak saw him as a ray of hope for Pallet. Now it seemed... she had met that ray of hope!
"Huh? Master Lorelei knows Professor Oak?"
"Hehe, of course. He's a world-renowned researcher, and I often consult him... We'll talk about that later. Today, let me witness the power of the legendary Aura Guardian!"
Saying that, Lorelei's expression slowly grew solemn. This battle was no longer a simple exhibition match but a real... battle at the Champion-level!!
"Jynx, Reflect!"
"Jyu ru ru!"
With a wave of its purple hands, an invisible wall appeared before it. Reflect, a skill that greatly reduces physical attacks! So...
Psychic-types were really troublesome... He couldn't use the "Thunder Kirin" here, or the entire audience would suffer. This time, Pikachu would have to fight hard!
"Pika!"
Good, first confuse the opponent with Agility!
"Pika!"
Pikachu, receiving the command, instantly vanished, beginning to run all over the field! In no time, numerous afterimages of Pikachu appeared before the audience! Agility was being used by Pikachu to create an effect like Double Team!
"A battle without verbal commands... It's really a bit troublesome. But don't underestimate the Elite Four!"
Saying that, Lorelei waved her hand gracefully.
"Jynx, use Hail."
Double screens and weather control? You play Pokémon battles like this?!
Instantly, snow-white clouds gushed forth in the originally clear weather. The next second, bits of snow began to fall from the sky, soon turning into stronger, percussive hailstones! Pikachu's afterimages, meant to confuse, were directly broken by the hail! And Pikachu, in its Agility state, also suffered some damage!
Really dirty... But it's fine. The speed boost is enough. Maintain this state, use Iron Tail, and smash her screen!
"Pikapikapikapika—"
However, Pikachu did not follow Ash's order to use Iron Tail. It wasn't disobedience; it couldn't control itself! It felt as if endless power was surging from its body! In its high-speed state, it became covered in a layer of golden light! A furious and terrifying electric current ran wildly over its form!
Ash, sensing Pikachu's condition, was slightly stunned.
This is... Pikachu's theoretical exclusive move, Volt Tackle!
Why theoretical? Because so far, no Pikachu had ever been recorded using this move. A Pikachu capable of using Volt Tackle only existed in legends! Pikachu suddenly learning Volt Tackle was something Ash hadn't expected. Well... then ride this momentum and break through in one go! Go on! Break through directly!
"Pikapika Pika-Pikapi— CHUPII!!"
Covered in golden light, Pikachu, like a golden lightning bolt, shot through the void at a speed difficult to capture, slamming hard into Jynx's Reflect screen! The onlookers only saw a sudden burst of brilliant golden light on the field, followed by a distant roar resonating in the air! Pikachu, wrapped in golden electricity, had crashed into the transparent wall before Jynx! Lorelei looked startled. For a moment, she didn't even react to what move Pikachu had used. Seeing the cracks gradually forming on the Reflect screen, she understood now wasn't the time to figure that out!
"Teleport to dodge, then use Blizzard!"
"Jyu!"
The moment Lorelei shouted the command, the Reflect screen shattered! Blue light flashed around Jynx, and it teleported away from Pikachu's Volt Tackle at the last millisecond! Just as it reappeared at the other end of the field, ready to use Blizzard—a golden light flashed! Pikachu appeared before it again! This time, both Lorelei's and Jynx's expressions changed instantly!
"BOOM!!"
A massive explosion sounded on the field, black smoke filling the entire arena. A terrifying, electrically charged wind spread wantonly; the surrounding audience felt a cool, tingling breeze rush towards them! Ash faced the fierce wind, pressing down his hat with one hand, a smug smile on his face.
Trying to use Teleport to dodge Aura detection? It could only be said Lorelei still didn't understand Aura!
Sabrina in the audience watched the scene on the field, recalling the fear of being dominated by Aura power. The greatest strength of Psychic-types lay in their variety of special abilities: control, teleportation, Trick Room, screens, etc. The main point was being weird and unpredictable. But against Aura power, this unpredictability seemed somewhat useless. Aura specialized in detection. To hide from Ash's Aura, one would need psychic power stronger than Ash's Aura! That was a guess... something at the level of a Legendary Pokémon's psychic power? In short, using Teleport against Pikachu in an Aura Fusion state was no different from having one's trajectory predicted. Therefore, the Volt Tackle could hit Jynx directly the moment it reappeared!
As the smoke slowly cleared, Pikachu and Jynx reappeared in the public eye. By now, Jynx bore many scorch marks. Pikachu hadn't received a single injury from the opponent, though it had some ice residue and recoil damage from Volt Tackle on its body. Ash also felt some pain in his body, but this injury was harmless to him. The opponent's Jynx, however, was seriously injured!
...
[Lance]: Turtle turtle, is Lorelei being suppressed?
[Lorelei]: I'm not suppressed! I can only say I was beaten due to an intel disadvantage. When Black Ash used mental communication and Aura Fusion boosted Pikachu's power, I could still predict the other's actions. That's already very powerful, okay?!
Lorelei argued it wasn't that her battle strength was lacking; it was just that the intel gap between the two sides was a bit big! Who would have thought Teleport, tested a hundred times, would be predicted by the other? In the video, she had clearly only heard of Aura power and didn't know its specific uses. Otherwise, after teleporting, she wouldn't have immediately used a move like Blizzard which required some preparation time. Instead, she should have directly used Ice Shard to interrupt the opponent's action.
[Steven]: That makes sense, but... poor intel is also a form of strength. Just like when Ash fought Blaine before, wasn't he also at a disadvantage due to poor intel?
[Lorelei]: ...I'm not going to lose anyway!
She, Elite Four Lorelei, would never admit defeat! Please, she was a bona fide Elite Four member, a top trainer whose actual strength was at the Champion-level! Losing to a kid who'd been on his journey for half a year, even if it was just a one-on-one loss, was too humiliating!
[Bruno]: Phew~ Good thing I didn't fight Black Ash first, otherwise, it would be me embarrassed...
[Lorelei]: I! AM! STILL! NOT! DEFEATED!!
...
In a Black World —
Jynx was severely injured by Volt Tackle, and Pikachu also suffered some recoil damage. Currently, Ash still held an absolute advantage. But... the Elite Four were the Elite Four. Through the battle just now, she had roughly analyzed some of Ash's abilities.
"That move like lightning possession... that should be the legendary Pikachu's exclusive move, Volt Tackle, right? Besides being powerful, its speed is also extremely fast."
"But the drawback seems to be needing a run-up, and... Ash, your Aura power seems able to predict Teleport's landing point! That's an amazing ability."
Ash's smug smile slowly faded...
...
PS: Let me explain the Pokémon power levels in this fic.
There is no division below Gym-level.
Above Gym-level, it's divided into: Gym, Elite Four, Champion, Champion's Ace.
Champion and Champion's Ace correspond to sub-Legendary-tier and sub-Legendary-tier with "divine portfolio" respectively.
Sub-Legendaries represent Pokémon like the Legendary Birds, Legendary Beasts, Darkrai, etc. No need to say more about the "divine portfolio" aspect.
Additionally, Champion Leon's Charizard (not Gigantamax) can resist weakened first-tier Legendaries, i.e., in an infinitely weakened state. Whether in the anime or games, this seems to be the setting—it can suppress weak, infinitely surviving Legendaries!
Also, regarding character designs: Lorelei's eyes are blue in the anime, as are Sabrina's. But in games and fan art, they're often red, and red looks a bit better, as shown in pictures. So making small modifications here.
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