In a Black World —
At Ash's command, the Abandoned Monkey swung out two dark purple fist-shadows. Gengar had no way to dodge at all and could only watch as the two phantom fists struck it.
BOOM!
A dense gray mist exploded in the air. In less than a second, a dark purple figure tumbled out of the fog and fell to the ground, unable to get up again.
One punch—direct defeat!!
This was the Abandoned Monkey! This was Rage Fist!
...
[Bruno]: Whoa… damn, I really want one!
[Cynthia]: Just as Professor Oak analyzed, the new evolution of Infernape should be Ghost/Fighting-type.
[Lance]: We should call it the Abandoned Monkey now, right? That name is seriously cool!
[Lian Wu]: That name was given by the Abandoned Monkey itself! Ash, this monkey has so much personality—it's awesome it chose its own name!
[Korrina]: But the evolution conditions for this Abandoned Monkey are way too harsh, right? Even Black Ash probably can't recreate a second one.
[Diantha]: Of course. After all, only an Infernape that has mastered the Ultimate Freedom Style can evolve. And other than that, it's basically impossible to learn the move Black Ash created…
This move was also something Black Ash stumbled upon by accident. For a Pokémon to learn it, they either have to teach themselves or achieve Aura Fusion. These two conditions… only Ash can fulfill! We have two Ashs here, black and white… Of course, whether White Ash can do it is questionable.
And even with Black Ash's personal guidance, not just any Pokémon can learn this. Otherwise, Black Ash wouldn't have only one Infernape that mastered the Ultimate Freedom Style. In other words… just encountering an Infernape capable of learning it is a huge stroke of luck! It's uncertain, but Black Ash's Abandoned Monkey might be the first and only evolved form of Infernape in that world!
[Chuck]: Speaking of which, have any of you heard of the move 'Rage Fist'?
[Morty]: Never heard of it. But I'm sure it's definitely not a Fighting-type move.
To take out Gengar in one hit… it can't be Fighting-type! Gengar isn't under the effect of Noctowl's Foresight anymore! So a Fighting move shouldn't be able to touch it.
[Kikuko]: It's hard to tell from across the screen, but I'd judge… it should be a Ghost-type move. At least visually, Ghost is super effective against Ghost, so a one-hit KO on Gengar isn't strange.
[Wusong]: More like it'd be strange if it wasn't a one-hit KO. Gengar is a high-attack, high-speed glass cannon. Even if it weren't a Ghost move, with the level of Black Ash's Abandoned Monkey, any decent move would take it out instantly!
[Genji]: Wait, weren't we just discussing the move Rage Fist? Nobody's heard of it? That means… is it an exclusive move of the Abandoned Monkey?
Exclusive moves—moves that belong solely to a specific Pokémon. Though others might learn them through special means, innately, only that Pokémon can learn it naturally! For example, Ho-Oh's Sacred Fire (though Entei can use it too—get out of the group, Ho-Oh), Lugia's Aeroblast, Groudon's Precipice Blades, etc. Ordinary Pokémon also have exclusive moves, like Pikachu's Volt Tackle. Without exception, these exclusive moves are incredibly powerful!
Therefore, after deducing that Rage Fist was the Abandoned Monkey's exclusive move, everyone was intensely curious. What exactly did this move do? And how powerful was it? The answer… depended on whether Black Ash would reveal it.
In a Black World —
With Gengar's defeat, the Gym battle officially ended. Ash successfully earned his fourth badge, the Fog Badge, and enabled his Infernape to reach a higher stage of evolution, becoming the world's first and only evolved Infernape! Abandoned Monkey—this was the new name for the evolved Infernape!
After the battle, Morty questioned Ash about the Abandoned Monkey. After all, this was a completely new, unprecedented Pokémon species. Of course, his curiosity got the better of him, and he wanted to know how it had evolved. So, even though he'd just suffered a near three-KO sweep, there wasn't much lingering grief—curiosity crushed his sorrow.
However, Ash's response was—
"How did it evolve? I dunno. It just went bang! One moment it was there, then boom—evolution."
Morty: ???
Are you kidding me?! Can you be even more perfunctory?!
Seeing the mischievous smile on Ash's face, Morty knew he was being toyed with. He took a deep breath and bowed to Ash in apology.
"I apologize for doubting that you met Ho-Oh earlier. I'm sorry."
"From our battle, Ash, you are a remarkably powerful Trainer. Your performance tells me you're not the type to speak idly, so… the fact that you met Ho-Oh must be true. I hereby apologize to you!"
Watching Morty's sincere bow, Ash was momentarily flustered, then quickly asked him to rise. Ash was only a little annoyed, and that slight irritation vanished with the apology.
"To be honest, I don't know the evolution method for Infernape. Evolving into an Abandoned Monkey was an accident too."
As he spoke, Ash curiously patted the Abandoned Monkey's head. It looked like fur, but it felt somewhat ethereal, almost ghost-like—the touch was like grasping at air. Was this a Pokémon that combined Ghost and Fighting attributes? Speaking of which… wasn't this the world's first Ghost/Fighting-type Pokémon? (Ash, currently unaware of Marshadow, didn't know~) Combining these two types felt unexpectedly bizarre!
"That… then how did you know the Ab… Abandoned Monkey's moves the moment it evolved? That Rage Fist is an incredible Ghost-type move, right? I'm positive I've never seen a Ghost move like that!" Morty was still getting used to the name 'Abandoned Monkey.' After all, this was the first of its kind in the world. If not for its unique name, Morty might not even remember it.
"Because Ash and his Pokémon can connect their hearts." A firm male voice chimed in.
Morty looked over and saw Ash's three companions had approached.
"Ash and Pokémon he shares a strong bond with have a heart-to-heheart connection. Even if they've just evolved and learned new moves, he can understand it directly from them," Misty explained.
"Aren't you wondering how Ash got the name 'Abandoned Monkey' from the Abandoned Monkey?" Sabrina's cool voice added.
It sounded a bit cryptic, but Morty grasped her meaning. Come to think of it… initially, Ash had suggested names like 'Ghost Monkey' or something… The name 'Abandoned Monkey' was chosen by the Abandoned Monkey itself. I see… so they're connected?
"Just like they said…" Ash now spoke slowly.
"He's my old partner. I caught him not long after I started my journey. Now, after evolving, his combat power is probably in the top three among all my Pokémon!" That's excluding Mewtwo, of course… Adding Mewtwo to your own Pokémon power ranking is just cheating!
"That Rage Fist just now is a move the Abandoned Monkey learned on its own after evolving. It channels the power of fury into its fists and unleashes it. The more hits it takes, the stronger Rage Fist becomes! As for its maximum power… I'm not sure, but it should be at least comparable to Hyper Beam, if not stronger."
Stronger than Hyper Beam?! Isn't that beyond the maximum power of normal moves?! Just how powerful is this Rage Fist move?! Sure, there's a prerequisite—you need to take damage first—but who goes through a battle completely unscathed?! As long as you're not one-shotted, Rage Fist is an immensely powerful Ghost-type technique!
"This Pokémon… is incredible!"
...
[Professor Oak]: Stronger than Hyper Beam, but you need to take damage first?
[Cynthia]: If used conventionally, I have plenty of ways to boost Rage Fist's power. But with Black Ash's battle style… I feel this move isn't very suitable for him.
[Bruno]: Exactly! His main strategy is to counter after dodging. Once he enters that state, his stamina consumption is huge. Getting hit multiple times like that makes it easy to lose the ability to fight!
[Korrina]: Right, I've never seen an Infernape get hit while in the Ultimate Freedom Style… Except for just now, which must have been Black Ash's intention, right?
The 'just now' referred to when Infernape deliberately took the two Shadow Balls from Gastly and Gengar after entering the Ultimate Freedom Style. It was a sacrifice for evolution. It wasn't that it couldn't dodge. Strictly speaking… they'd never seen an Infernape get hit in that state.
And many Elite Four members and Champions had a hunch: the evolved Abandoned Monkey… had likely reached Elite Four–level! After so many harsh evolution conditions, and being around peak Gym Leader–level already, reaching Elite Four–level post-evolution wasn't unbelievable.
[Lillie]: Black Ash said the Abandoned Monkey is top three among his Pokémon, so that shouldn't include Mewtwo, right? That means the Abandoned Monkey has Elite Four–level strength!
[Professor Kukui]: That's possible. Three Elite Four–level Pokémon… in less than a year… I'm starting to feel like 'Elite Four–level' is being devalued!
[Lance]: Hey now, when I trained my first Elite Four–level Pokémon, it took two to three years… and I was considered gifted compared to ordinary folks!
[Steven]: So, in the end, we're all just trash compared to Black Ash, huh?
[Lance]: Hey, don't drag me into this! Looking around, whose talent here can match Ash's?
He wasn't just talking about Black Ash, but both Black and White Ash. Even if White Ash didn't train as intensely, the images showed his Pokémon's strength steadily improving—just not as outrageously as Black Ash's. So… their innate talent was indeed the same; it's just that one neglected it while the other pushed it to the extreme.
[Lorelei]: Hehe, hearing that makes me want a full-power battle with Ash.
[Leon]: Yeah, Ash, don't keep us waiting too long!
[Ash]: Don't worry! I'll catch up soon!
[Gary]: Yeah, right!
[Ash]: It's you again, Gary! Can't you say something nice for once?!
In Silver Town, Gary, sipping his coffee, saw Ash's words. A complicated emotion flashed in his eyes. He took another sip and gazed at the midday sun, his mind racing.
Ash… This is my last push for you before I become a researcher. You have to stand at the world's peak and show me!
In a Black World —
The conflict between Ash and Morty could be considered resolved. In the end, Ash didn't reveal his identity as the Rainbow Hero to Morty. However, the next day, Morty was mercilessly trounced by a furious Sabrina and her Alakazam! This time, Sabrina fused her psychic powers with Alakazam. Though not as exaggerated as Aura Fusion, it was enough to crush an average Elite Four–level Trainer!
The reason she was so brutal to Morty was naturally because her protective fury was ignited. I endured Morty's attitude all day yesterday! Sure, Ash made up with him, but I have no intention of doing the same! Questioning Ash? He deserves a thorough thrashing!!
Finally, with Morty in a dazed state, she obtained the Fog Badge. The group officially bid farewell to Morty. Morty smiled on the outside but was screaming internally: Don't come back!! Neither of you are any good! He'd originally wanted to ask Ash what it felt like to see Ho-Oh, but Ash dismissed him with an offhand comment about a 'shiny Fearow.'
Then, the group continued their journey toward Asapon City.
...
[Ho-Oh]: A shiny… Fearow????
Even Ho-Oh's composure was shaken! What's this 'glitter sparrow' nonsense! What resemblance do I bear to a Fearow?!
[Ash]: Uh… that… I didn't say that!
[Professor Oak]: Criticism! He must be severely criticized! What was Black Ash thinking! What similarity is there between the legendary Ho-Oh and a Fearow?!
[Lance]: Exactly! Are his eyes even working?!
Everyone voiced their 'outrage,' but nearly all secretly compared images of Ho-Oh and Fearow, and then… the entire world erupted in silent laughter. Even Professor Oak chuckled wryly. You had to admit… Black Ash's analogy was way too vivid! Of course, they could laugh privately, but certainly not in the live broadcast chat. Otherwise, Ho-Oh might truly sever ties with this world! For some reason, Ho-Oh, residing atop the Azure Mountains, suddenly felt a wave of inexplicable malice from the world below…
In a Black World —
After leaving Ecruteak City, Ash and the others headed for their next destination. During this time, because Ash transferred the Abandoned Monkey back, a magnitude-12 earthquake shook Professor Oak's heart! The evolution of Infernape into a Ghost/Fighting-type Pokémon was a monumental discovery that would shock the academic world!! Professor Oak couldn't help but inquire about the evolution conditions and process of Ash's Infernape. Brock provided an evolution video, and Ash stated the evolution couldn't be replicated—it was up to the Professor to study and deduce the principles. Professor Oak then hastily ended the call to begin his intensive research.
But this was just a minor episode…
Later, on the way to Asapon City, the group needed to cross a rather tall cliff called Clear Cliff. They happened to miss the last bus crossing Clear Cliff, so they had to spend a night in a cabin nearby. The cabin owner was named Luna, and her sister, Lujia, was the bus driver. The kind Luna let the four stay the night. Soon after, a broker named Rina and a young woman named Dominor arrived, also seeking shelter from the storm. Luna naturally let them in as well.
However… not long after, Luna received terrible news! The bus that had departed Clear Cliff had crashed off the cliff!!
This was an event that never occurred in the White World! Because Mewtwo wasn't residing at Clear Cliff like in the White World, the wheels of fate were quietly turning…
Learning of the crash, Ash and the others couldn't just stand by. They braved the fierce wind and rain and began to climb Clear Cliff!
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