Pokemon: This Ash Is Too Versatile

Its face was covered with a layer of yellow armor, and beneath that armor, its eyes glowed coldly with a faint light.

Jagged black markings ran from its head all the way to its tail, accentuating the striking whiteness of its body.

The entire physique exuded a sense of heavy majesty, a presence that only comes from surviving countless trials – the demeanor of a Steel Dragon.

Steel Type, Dragon Type, the Steel Dragon of the Galar Region—Duraludon!

From the audience, Misty gazed at the majestic figure, her eyes filled with genuine admiration.

"What an impressive Pokemon..."

"Those white steel scales, sharp and well-defined, look like a piece of art."

"And the aura it emits, calm yet domineering, feels completely different from the other Pokemon before."

Beside her, Serena blinked with a puzzled look on her face.

"What kind of Pokemon is this? How come I’ve never seen it?"

"Today, so many of the Pokemon that Gym Leader Raihan brought out are unfamiliar to me."

Serena had barely managed to recognize all the Pokemon from Johto and Kanto. She hadn’t even yet fully learned those in her own Kalos Region, not to mention the Pokemon from the Galar Region.

Lance spoke softly, providing the answer.

"This is Duraludon, Raihan’s ace Pokemon."

"It’s also his greatest backing to dare to challenge Leon."

"A dual attribute of Steel Type and Dragon Type, with outstanding defensive power and equally impressive attack power."

"As for its Level... It’s at the Champion Peak."

The instant the words ’Champion Peak’ were uttered, Brock, who had been leisurely watching the battle, immediately turned serious.

"Champion Peak..."

He murmured again, his brows furrowing tightly.

"This Level is already the pinnacle that human Trainers can aspire to."

"One more step beyond that is the Divine Domain Level."

At present, no one has ever been able to train a Pokemon to that level; other than a Legendary Beast itself, no Pokemon can reach that realm.

Rumor has it that the one closest to that level is Leon’s Charizard.

Yet the Champion Peak is undoubtedly the most formidable Pokemon Level among humans.

Brock’s voice carried a trace of concern.

"In Ash’s previous Trainer battles, I don’t think he’s ever faced such a Level head-on, right?"

Upon hearing this, Misty also earnestly thought back.

After careful consideration, it really was so.

Throughout Ash’s journey, he had battled countless human Trainers, but when it came to the highest Level he’d faced, at most it had been Champion Advanced Level.

As for the Champion Peak Level...

"In the past, unless Ash used Mewtwo or Giratina, relying solely on the Pokemon he cultivated step by step, he certainly couldn’t challenge the Champion Peak."

Misty said slowly, but her eyes showed no concern, instead gleaming with a hint of anticipation.

"But now it’s different."

"Now Ash, even against a Champion Peak, already has the strength to fight."

She knew Ash too well.

After all this growth, the partners Ash had raised step by step were no longer what they used to be.

Especially one in particular...

Misty’s gaze instinctively fell upon the small yellow figure at Ash’s feet.

The little guy was raring to go!

In the center of the field, Ash slowly put away the Pokeball of Giratina.

He looked down at the Pikachu by his side, and the fighting spirit burned bright in his eyes.

"It’s decided, Pikachu."

"Pika!!"

The Pikachu, which had been quietly staying at his side, suddenly lifted its head, and the little yellow figure dashed out with a swift leap, landing steadily in the center of the field.

Pikachu flicked its lightning-shaped tail, and the electric sacs on its cheeks continuously released fine bolts of electricity.

On the other side of the field, Raihan’s eyes showed a hint of surprise.

However, within that surprise, there was more of an "as expected" understanding.

From the start, he had an intuition that Ash would send out this Pikachu in the end.

After all, this Pikachu had stayed by Ash’s side from start to finish and had never been stored in a Pokeball.

A Pokemon that a Trainer is willing to keep by their side at all times and not store in a Pokeball is definitely not a simple character.

But even if he had a hunch, when Ash actually sent out Pikachu, Raihan still couldn’t help showing an expression of astonishment.

Pikachu is a Pokemon that he’d heard of even in faraway Galar.

It’s practically everywhere; you could casually run into a bunch in the wild.

For a Pokemon like this to grow to Elite Level is almost an impossible feat.

Yet Ash used such a Pikachu to compete in a Champion Level match and even placed it in the final position.

This means Ash’s Pikachu is at least Champion Level.

"Heh, the rumors are indeed not unfounded."

Raihan looked at the little Pikachu in the arena with an excited curve at the corner of his mouth.

"I’ve long heard that Ash’s signature Pokemon is a very special Pikachu."

"Today, I’ll get a good look at what makes this Pikachu special."

Ash raised his chin, his face showing a confident smile.

"Don’t worry, Gym Leader Raihan, Pikachu and I won’t disappoint you."

As he spoke, he lifted the cap from his head and lightly tossed it toward Pikachu in the arena.

The cap traced an arc through the air.

Pikachu quickly pushed off with its feet, leaping into the air, and the cap landed smoothly onto its head.

In the next moment, Pikachu suddenly released a blazing ring of golden-yellow electricity.

Under the intense electric glow, Pikachu’s power surged, rising to a whole new height in a blink of an eye!

This was Ash and Pikachu’s exclusive form—Partner Form.

In this form, Pikachu’s Level would climb another level, and its six-dimensional abilities would advance comprehensively to a new stage.

It was a comprehensive enhancement.

Raihan looked at the cap-wearing Pikachu, his mouth twitching.

"Does Pikachu have to dress up before going on stage?"

"What sort of ceremony is this?"

Ash grinned broadly.

"It’s not just dressing up; it’s the way Pikachu and I boost our combat strength."

In the audience, Dawn looked at the hat-wearing Pikachu, curiously asking Cynthia.

"Master, is Ash’s cap something special?"

"Why does Pikachu get stronger when it puts it on?"

Cynthia chuckled lightly and said, "That cap is just a limited edition cap issued by the League, and apart from being limited, it doesn’t have any special properties. What truly makes it special is Ash and Pikachu."

"Their deep bond forms a connection through the cap, so Pikachu becomes stronger when wearing it."

Dawn nodded in half-understanding.

Throughout the day’s battles, the word "bond" had been repeatedly echoing in her ears.

From Greninja at the Blackthorn Gym to Pikachu here, it seemed that every time there was a strength boost, it was inseparable from those two words.

She gradually realized that "bond" seemed to hold an extremely important weight in Pokemon battles.

In the center of the field, the electric glow around Pikachu slowly subsided.

The cap rested firmly on its head as if it melded with it!

"Duraludon, let him witness the power of Champion Peak!" Raihan made the first move, "Use Dragon Claw!"

Duraludon received the command, and the forelimbs covered in dark-gray armor suddenly shone with the emerald-green claws of the Dragon Type.

Its massive body charged toward Pikachu, and the pair of sharp claws, carrying winds that tore through the air, swiped down fiercely.

Faced with this Champion Peak-level strike, Ash had no intention for Pikachu to dodge.

"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!!"

He chose to face it head-on.