"Return, Pikachu!"
Ash recalled Pikachu after its clean win. Type advantage played a role—Pikachu dominated Hoothoot from start to finish. Levels and matchup sealed it. No surprise.
"Ash pulled Pikachu back?" Misty frowned. Why not press?
Old Ash might've tried sweeping all three with Pikachu alone. Not anymore.
"No idea," Brock said. "He's outgrown us Gym Leaders already."
Asu paused, then nodded. "Next—Dodrio!"
The three-headed ostrich burst out.
Dodrio? Can't fly.
Asu answered the unasked question. "Dodrio's the root of bird Pokémon for me. That burning drive to one day take to the skies—matches mine perfectly."
Ash bit back a smirk. That's a stretch. Dodrio evolved past flight for powerhouse legs and speed. No need to rewrite nature.
"Snorlax, you're up!"
Snorlax landed with a boom. The rooftop shook; cracks spiderwebbed under its feet.
Asu gritted his teeth. Physical moves barely scratched that bulk.
"Dodrio, Agility!"
It blurred forward—Asu trained speed well. Dodrio owned it.
But Ash's Snorlax bent like a dancer in a giant's frame.
"Spin in place!"
The timing landed perfect. Snorlax whirled as Dodrio closed. Momentum slung the bird wide, body slamming into unyielding mass.
"Weight class mismatch," Brock murmured. Victory wrote itself the moment Snorlax dropped.
"Dodrio, Drill Peck!"
Three heads drilled in unison—a signature killshot.
"Too stiff. Snorlax—grab it!"
Snorlax scooped the incoming Dodrio like a fallen Oran Berry. Heads thrashed.
"Bad!"
Dodrio's cries cracked sharp. Snorlax's grip alone crushed resistance—bones creaked under the squeeze.
"I forfeit! Let it go!"
Ash signaled. Snorlax released.
"Return, Dodrio!"
Snorlax turned, grinning wide at Ash.
"Food after. Back in."
System feed had drained his points dry. Worth every one—bond climbed to 150 / 255 with each meal.
Brock and Misty got it now. Ash trusted his team for a straight 1v1 gauntlet. Pure, honest battling.
"Charizard next," they whispered.
Final round. Poké Balls flew in sync.
"You're tough, Ash—but this one won't fall easy! Fly, Pidgeot!"
"I'll get even stronger! Charizard!"
Pidgeot soared, wings slicing air—Pokédex clocked it at Mach 2 top speed. No slouch.
Charizard matched altitude, flames trailing, eyes locked.
"Show it your training gains!"
Charizard smirked. Speed surged post-Bracer.
Evolution once bred doubt in its old trainer. Orange Islands thawed that ice—raw heart won loyalty. Now? Full submission. Ash unlocked true power.
Wings cracked like thunder. Charizard rocketed forward.
"Matching Pidgeot's speed head-on?!" Asu paled. "Don't lose!"
Pidgeot vanished in a gust, dive unmet.
Aura tracked it clean.
"Flamethrower—behind you!"
Tail flame roared backward. Fire swallowed Pidgeot mid-reposition.
"How?!"
Mach 2 meant nothing against prediction. Pidgeot slowed, scorched.
"Dragon Claw!"
Green claws mastered now—Charizard ghosted in, slashing Pidgeot earthward in one brutal swipe.
"Pidgeot's unable to battle! Charizard wins—the victor is challenger Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!"
Snorlax: 155 / 255
Charizard: 200 / 255