Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

Those things flowed naturally through its body, as if it had been there since birth.

It has grasped something deeper and more essential, and its ability to imitate has reached a new level!

"call out--!"

One punch!

Pikachu's pupils contracted slightly, and it instinctively crossed its arms to block, but it was still forced back several steps by the force.

Its paws plowed two shallow tracks into the ground, and its ears perked up alertly.

The Ditto's movements were no longer stiff imitations, but rather seemed to come alive.

The wind howled as a series of punches poured out in a smooth, flowing manner.

A feint with the left fist, followed by a real right punch, a knee strike followed by an elbow strike, and a sudden forward lunge in the instant of retreating.

The rhythm is sometimes fast and sometimes slow, and the angles are tricky and strange, completely breaking the stiffness of the previous rigid approach.

Pikachu had to retreat continuously, and was even forced to create distance.

Exclamations of surprise rose and fell from the audience.

"Ditto's gotten even stronger?!"

"That combo was like playing with a completely different Pokémon!"

"It's learning...?!"

"Go Ditto! Even though you have a crazy trainer, keep going!!"

Imetti stood on the sidelines with her mouth agape, looking completely bewildered.

It's great to have the upper hand... but how will this develop?

How did you suddenly become able to do it? There seems to be something wrong with the plot, doesn't there?

There was no time to respond to Imettie's question; Ditto was engrossed in the explosion of his enlightenment.

With each punch it throws, it can feel itself becoming more complete, more like Ash Ketchum.

The wind howled as the fist struck, and lightning flashed everywhere.

It gathered its strength once more, bringing its right fist to its waist, its entire body resembling a taut bow.

Its breath caught in its throat for a moment, all its attention focused on its fist—

"boom--!!!"

He threw a punch.

Pikachu also met a Thunder Punch head-on, and the two fists collided fiercely in mid-air.

The shockwave exploded outwards from the point of impact, and a visible blast of air spread outwards.

But unexpectedly, this time it was Pikachu that was knocked off the ground by the punch and flew backward!

Even Ditto himself was stunned by this punch.

It looked down at its fist.

It looked like Ash's fist, but it was more than just Ash's fist.

Ash stood on the opposite side, watching Ditto's changing aura, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

This is it!

This is the kind of battle he's been waiting for!

"Pikachu! Let's not lose face!"

"Let's use that move we've been practicing lately!!"

"Pickup!"

Pikachu twitched its ears and took a step back to create distance.

Pikachu sneered as it watched Ditto grow stronger with each battle.

Yes, it admitted that it was indeed startled by Ditto's transformation for a moment.

This soft, sticky thing actually blossomed during the battle.

Normally, it would probably applaud and cheer, and even want to have a good fight with the other party.

but......

Pikachu slowly raised its left paw, clenched it into a fist, and gestured with its thumb toward Ditto, its posture carrying an almost arrogant composure!

...Do you really think you're the protagonist of some mindless, action-packed fantasy novel?!

Whenever they're in dire straits, they unleash a flashback, a series of dramatic moments, and a friendly punch...

Then what about a punch that's just for the sake of creating a lively atmosphere and is completely illogical?

Although it sounds wonderful.

But this is a weakling's mentality for Pikachu!

All of these techniques are categorized as "last-minute cramming"!

And last-minute cramming techniques... won't work on it!

It never denies the power of belief and will, but the essence of battle is never something that can be turned around in one breath!

It refines itself every day and every night.

While Ditto was still struggling with whether its imitation was accurate enough, the mouse had already trained to the point where it could etch electrical currents and muscle memory into its bones.

It doesn't need to gain any enlightenment in battle, because it has already melted everything it could understand into its daily sweat!

That's its true source of confidence!

"Buzz—"

Once ready, a deep hum emanated from Pikachu's body.

The magnetic field generated by the electric current spreads, stirring up a small vortex of dust in the air, which then acts on Pikachu's figure again.

Its body suddenly became blurry.

"Now!"

With a loud roar from Ash, Pikachu gave a light kick.

There was no wind, no explosive sound of electricity crackling, and not even any ground vibration.

It was an absolute, almost terrifying silence.

Then--

"boom--!!!!"

A muffled thud came from Ditto's chest.

It didn't even see anything.

In the next instant, its body flew backward uncontrollably.

The pain in my chest is delayed.

Consciousness was first blurred, and then I felt the explosive force spreading from my sternum throughout my body. At that moment, lightning exploded, enveloping every inch of my skin.

It felt as if its ribs had been broken by a train, all the air in its lungs had been squeezed out, and it couldn't even make a sound.

My vision blurred and the world seemed to spin.

The outline of the audience seats flashed past my eyes, and those blurry faces, waving arms, and wide-open mouths all turned into streaks of colorful light.

Then my back hit something.

In an instant, Ditto was knocked out of the arena, his body crackling with electricity as he revealed his true form, his body limply sliding to the ground!

Pikachu's figure re-coalesced in the spot where it had originally stood.

It slowly exhaled, its eyes not showing much pride, but rather a hint of serious appreciation.

Force on the left, electricity on the right! Lenz's Law!

This technique is the culmination of daily training, constant use of potent drugs, and uninterrupted study every night!

Such a solid foundation...

Their sole purpose is to beat up all the fancy stuff!

What will you use to receive this?

266. The most illusory thing in this world!

"How did Ditto get instantly defeated?! Wasn't it just dominating Pikachu?!"

"And what was that move just now?! Pikachu just vanished?!"

"No, it wasn't that it disappeared... it was just too fast! Even with my fourth-stage Inscription Power, I didn't even see a trace of it!"

After a half-second silence, the entire venue erupted in chaos.

In the stands, both trainers and ordinary spectators stood up.

Some people craned their necks to peer into the ring, while others rubbed their eyes in disbelief at what they had just witnessed.

"If that's the case, that's too outrageous... Seriously, is this really the speed Pikachu can unleash?"

Meanwhile, the expressions of the Rockets' trio on the commentary booth high above the arena were absolutely priceless.

Musashi was slumped over the edge of the commentary platform, his chin almost falling onto the table.

"You're kidding me—that, that speed?!"

"Meow?! This can't be right?! Pikachu couldn't possibly be this fast, meow! Even Arcanine isn't this fast, meow?!"

Kojiro, sitting between the two, was unusually silent.

He frowned, his eyes fixed on the arena below, as if trying to recall something.

After several seconds, he slowly spoke.