In a Black World —
The Charizard of Charizard Valley all turned their gazes toward Ash and his Charizard after his provocation.
Under the scrutiny of so many Charizard, Ash didn't feel fear.
On the contrary—his heart, long held in check, began to boil.
How long had it been since he last felt this way?
No calculation.No restraint.No cautious planning.
Just a straightforward, head-on challenge.
He couldn't remember anymore.
Facing the countless Charizard before him, the restraints Ash had forced upon himself shattered.
Today—
He didn't want to be calm.
Today—
He wanted to be arrogant.
Today—
He had come to kick the door open.
Ji Ke finally snapped out of her shock and disbelief and hurriedly spoke up.
"Ash, it's still not too late to take back what you just said."
"Do you understand what kind of challenge you're facing? Even though your Charizard has developed well, it hasn't even been evolved for a full year yet."
"The Charizard here fight every day in the wild, relying purely on instinct. Many of them have lived in this valley for five, ten—even twenty years."
"Age doesn't always equal strength, but…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
Anyone with half a brain understood what she meant.
Charizard weren't true Dragon-types, but they carried dragon bloodlines—and that meant long lifespans.
Some Pokémon peaked after just a few short years.
Charizard were different.
Decades.Even centuries.
That was the advantage of dragon blood.
Dragonite living for a hundred years was nothing unusual.
Which meant most of the Charizard in this valley were already in their prime.
Their strength hadn't faded—they were simply stuck at a bottleneck.
Ji Ke's message was clear.
Ash couldn't win.
Against these monsters, Ash's newly evolved Charizard was little more than a fledgling.
Let alone dominating the valley—he wouldn't even beat a stronger one.
Ash smiled.
"How would I know if I don't try?"
He lifted his chin slightly.
"So—which one of you goes first?"
"My Charizard is getting impatient."
Charizard snorted, sparks flaring from its nostrils, wearing an unmistakable look of disdain.
The Charizard of the valley were ferocious by nature.
How could they tolerate this?
A towering Charizard flew forward and landed heavily in front of Ash's Charizard.
Despite the provocation, none of them rushed recklessly.
Dragons had pride.
They wouldn't disgrace themselves with mindless attacks.
"First one's yours?"
Ash grinned.
"Good. Charizard—Dragon Claw!"
"ROAR!"
No flames.
Just raw, brutal combat.
Emerald-green energy wrapped around Charizard's claws as they extended, slamming into the ground and launching it forward.
The opposing Charizard scoffed.
Plenty of arrogant challengers had come before.
Every single one had been beaten into submission.
As Ash's Charizard closed in, the valley Charizard opened its jaws wide—
Flamethrower!
A roaring pillar of fire engulfed Ash's Charizard.
Ji Ke frowned slightly.
Had she overestimated them?
Was it really over in a single move?
Then—
Green light tore through the flames.
The fire split violently apart.
Ash's Charizard burst through without hesitation.
Dragon Claw!
The strike smashed into the opponent's head.
The second claw followed, slamming into its torso.
The Charizard was sent flying backward, crashing hard into the ground.
It wasn't knocked out—but it could barely lift its head.
Disbelief filled its eyes.
It had lost a physical clash.
To a trainer-raised Charizard.
Ji Ke covered her mouth, stunned.
"...So strong?"
She had known Ash's Charizard was well-trained—but strength like this couldn't be judged by appearances alone.
That Charizard was no weakling.
And yet—it had been crushed.
The valley erupted in roars.
The Charizard weren't angry.
They were acknowledging strength.
But acknowledgment wasn't surrender.
One by one, more Charizard stepped forward.
And one by one, they fell.
Ash didn't issue detailed commands.
He didn't even use Aura.
Flame met flame.Claw met claw.Body against body.
A pure, savage showdown.
This wasn't because the valley Charizard were weak.
They simply hadn't sent out their true elites yet.
Even Lance's Charizard had failed to dominate this place.
Ash knew—there had to be Elite Four–level Charizard here.
Then—
A far more powerful presence emerged.
Ji Ke's pupils shrank.
"Even him is stepping in?!"
"Who is that?" Misty asked.
Ji Ke swallowed.
"He's the dividing line of the upper tiers."
She explained carefully.
"Charizard Valley is roughly split into lower, middle, high, and top tiers."
"It's not discrimination—it prevents weaker Charizard from being seriously injured."
"Even so, they don't always obey."
She paused, staring at the battlefield.
"High-tier Charizard here are comparable to Elite Four–level Pokémon."
"Lance's Charizard could only beat them when he first came."
"And the top tier…"
She hesitated.
"Even Lance couldn't fully defeat them."
Sabrina's expression turned solemn.
Elite Four–level.
Then the top tier…
Champion-level?
Could wild Charizard really grow that strong?
On the battlefield, Ash's Charizard clashed with its new opponent.
Dragon Claw collided—
Blocked.
A counterstrike slammed into Charizard's abdomen.
Ash's Charizard staggered, then surged forward again.
Hand-to-hand combat favored neither side.
Ji Ke exhaled.
"About even… Ash's Charizard is around this level."
"Top of the mid-tier. That alone is terrifying for a Charizard evolved less than a year."
Nazi smiled faintly.
"That one's about to lose."
Ji Ke stared at her.
"…What?"
A thunderous crash cut her off.
The opposing Charizard was embedded in the rock wall.
Ash's Charizard stood frozen mid-strike, Dragon Claw fading.
Ash mirrored the stance—blue Aura light rippling faintly across his body.
Ji Ke froze.
"What… just happened?"
Misty laughed.
Brock looked away, unable to console her.
Ash exhaled slowly, withdrawing his strength.
He'd activated Aura Resonance.
Too much power—too fast.
The backlash had sent the opponent flying before it could react.
But this was their final trump card.
With so many Charizard left…
Dominating the valley was impossible.
Ash didn't care.
He wanted to fight.
To push forward.
To keep going.
"Next!"
Another Charizard stepped out—scarred, vicious.
Ji Ke cried out.
"Arthur?! Ash, this one's dangerous!"
Nazi's cold voice followed.
"That's what you said last time."
Ji Ke flushed.
"I—this time is different!"
Ten minutes later—
Arthur lay defeated.
Ji Ke went silent.
Nazi stared.
Misty shrugged.
Ash's Charizard stood panting, scales battered, eyes burning.
The valley had fallen quiet.
The Charizard had been conquered—not by dominance, but by will.
And Ji Ke finally realized something terrifying.
Charizard wasn't evolving.
It was awakening.
PS :
Ji Ke — Caretaker of Charizard Valley
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