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As the resounding blast of the horn echoed through the air, every Charizard—from those standing at the entrance to those dwelling deep within the valley, including even the mightiest of them all—simultaneously lifted their heads.
It was just last year that this very horn sounded—a battle that caused a sensation throughout the Charizard Valley, and one that remains fresh in the memories of the many Charizard present today.
Who would have thought that, after a mere year's interval, yet another Charizard has chosen to undertake that challenge?
Just which Charizard possesses such audacity?
Heeding the call of the horn, a multitude of Charizard flocked to the valley's entrance. Situated there was a spacious clearing—the very site where the trial would take place.
As more and more Charizard arrived, the area around the valley entrance grew increasingly crowded; however, Ash and...
No other Charizard dared to approach the spot where his Charizard stood.
Centered around Ash, a vast clearing had opened up in the entrance zone; to any discerning eye, it was immediately obvious that the human standing there was the very instigator of this trial.
The multitude of Charizard turned their gazes toward Ash's Charizard.
This was the dragon—the one challenging the entire valley—they had come to see. He certainly looked lean and formidable... yet, he did not exude that overwhelming, all-conquering aura.
The Charizard who had come to challenge them last year remained fresh in their memories.
For one thing, that Charizard had actually trained within the Charizard Valley itself; although his stay was brief, his sheer power had left a deep and lasting impression on the many Charizard there.
For another, during his challenge against the entire valley, that Charizard had radiated an aura of dominance so intense that the other dragons found it difficult to even meet his gaze. Before the battles had even begun, he had already left an indelible mark on every Charizard in the valley.
The Charizard challenging them this time, however, lacked that distinct aura radiated by his predecessor. He was strong, certainly—but the assembled Charizard did not believe he could replicate the monumental feat achieved by the previous challenger.
Moreover, even that previous Charizard had ultimately fallen at the hands of the valley's strongest Charizard.
Regardless of mitigating factors—such as accumulated fatigue—a loss is a loss; such is the cruel reality of this trial.
This new challenger, they surmised, would likely fare even worse than the last one.
"Alright, Ash. All the Charizard in the valley have gathered. Which one do you plan to start with?" Liza swept her gaze across their surroundings, instantly taking full stock of the situation.
The Charizard in the valley were countless in number, and their appearances were remarkably similar.
For an ordinary person, the mere sight of such a dense, teeming mass of Charizard would be enough to induce dizziness—let alone attempting to verify whether every single Charizard in the valley had actually arrived.
However, with just a glance, Liza could instantly discern the exact number of Charizard present. When it came to knowledge of Charizard—if she claimed the second spot—it is doubtful anyone would dare to claim the first.
The Charizard gathered here represented the entire population of the valley; moreover, their numbers exceeded even Ash and his companions' expectations, surpassing the two-hundred mark!
Two hundred and eighty-seven—that was the precise count of Charizard present.
Even if it took only one minute to defeat a single Charizard, the entire endeavor would still require two hundred and eighty-seven minutes—which works out to five hours.
If, however, defeating a single Charizard took five minutes, then the task would demand a staggering twenty-five hours!
Back in the day, Lance spent roughly six hours to defeat all the Charizard in the valley.
At that time, the population was even smaller than it is now—approximately two hundred and twenty. In the year since then, the Charizard Valley has gained over sixty new inhabitants.
In other words, the difficulty of the challenge has escalated significantly compared to when Lance first attempted it!
Although the strength levels of these sixty-plus newcomers vary, their sheer numbers are undeniable!
Even if each were merely of "Elite" rank, they would still be enough to give any challenger a run for their money—to say nothing of the "Professional" and "Gym Leader" rank Charizard lurking among them.
During the original trial, Lance required six hours to complete the task.
Now, Ash's Charizard is comparatively weaker than Lance's was, yet faces an even larger opposing force. Even if a successful run were theoretically possible, it would likely consume at least ten hours—if not more.
Even assuming a one-in-ten-thousand chance of success, the physical toll exacted over those ten hours would leave Ash's Charizard's stamina completely depleted. Attempting to challenge the valley's strongest Charizard immediately afterward would be, quite simply, an impossibility.
Ultimately, the trial within the Charizard Valley becomes progressively more difficult over time.
This is because the valley's Charizard population grows every year—and with each passing year, the rate of growth only accelerates.
After all, to trainers in the outside world who possess Charizard, the Charizard Valley represents a sacred sanctuary—an ideal environment for training and enhancing their Pokémon's capabilities.
Consequently, countless Charizard trainers aspire to send their own companions to train within its hallowed grounds. Even though the population of Charizard Valley diminishes slightly each year—due to factors such as aging or battle-related injuries—the number of new additions far exceeds these losses.
Consequently, the challenge of undertaking the trials within Charizard Valley inevitably becomes more arduous with each passing year.
As for Ash's Charizard, let alone clearing the second stage of the trials, it is doubtful whether it could even manage to pass the first stage.
For now, Liza simply wanted to observe how many Charizard Ash and his partner could hold out against. If they could manage to defeat even two hundred of them, Ash's Charizard would already rival Lance's in terms of overall combat record.
"Which Charizard should we start with... How about that one?"
Ash casually pointed to a specific Charizard—one that was physically larger than his own and ranked among the elite in terms of overall capability within Charizard Valley.
Starting with such a formidable opponent would undoubtedly inflict a significant toll on Ash's Charizard's stamina; indeed, it remained an open question whether Ash's partner could even defeat it.
Liza hadn't expected Ash to select such a powerful adversary right off the bat. Was he planning to dive straight into the main event without even a warm-up? Not even Lance would be so audacious!
It seemed that the adulation from the outside world had caused Ash to lose his sense of perspective somewhat. She hoped this trial would serve as a humbling experience, allowing him to settle down and regain his focus.
Sighing inwardly, Liza mentally prepared herself to offer Ash some words of comfort.
It was only natural for a talented youth to display a bit of arrogance; she certainly didn't want to see a rising star among Charizard Trainers have his brilliance snuffed out so prematurely.
"ROAR!!"
The chosen Charizard flapped its wings, soaring in from the distance before finally landing directly in front of Ash and his partner.
The massive, muscular Charizard's eyes blazed with an intense fighting spirit; as the designated vanguard for Charizard Valley in this opening bout, he was determined to put on a spectacular performance.
Ideally, he would defeat his opponent outright; but even if victory proved elusive, he intended to drain his adversary's stamina as much as humanly—or rather, Pokémon-ly—possible.
"Let's go all out right from the start, Charizard! An evolution that transcends all limits—Mega Evolution!!"
Ash didn't hesitate for a second; he raised the bracelet on his wrist high, and a multicolored radiance enveloped Charizard.
Instantly, Charizard's form began to shift—transforming from its original orange-yellow hue into a jet-black dragon!
Blue flames blazed at the corners of Charizard's maw; its terrifying appearance completely stunned the Charizard facing it.
It wasn't just the Charizard directly confronting Ash's—even the Charizards watching from the sidelines wore expressions of utter astonishment upon witnessing the sight of Ash's Charizard undergoing Mega Evolution.
Clearly, this was their first time witnessing a Mega Evolution.
After all, throughout the entire Charizard Valley, the only place equipped with a television was the area where Liza resided.
Unless one had happened to watch the battle between Charizard and Lorelei, it would be impossible to know that Mega Charizard even existed.
For across the entire world, Ash's Charizard was the only one capable of undergoing Mega Evolution!
As for Liza, while she was certainly surprised, her reaction stemmed merely from the sheer visual impact of witnessing a Charizard Mega Evolve right before her eyes.
As a devoted advocate for Charizards, she had naturally watched the battle between Ash's Charizard and Lorelei.
Back then, just like everyone else, she had been awestruck by the revelation that Charizard possessed yet another, even higher stage of evolution.
And truth be told, that jet-black dragon form—the result of that evolution—was far more magnificent than the original Charizard!
With its Mega Evolution complete, Charizard's power surged to an entirely new level. After a period of rigorous training, Charizard—though not yet having broken through to the upper echelons of Elite Four-level strength—was now standing right at that critical threshold. Its current capabilities were a significant step up from when it had battled Norman's Blissey.
Nevertheless, fighting its way through the entirety of Charizard Valley would still prove to be quite a challenge.
"ROAR!!"
Several seconds passed before the chosen Charizard finally managed to snap itself out of the stupor induced by witnessing Ash's Charizard's Mega Evolution.
It then unleashed a roar directed squarely at Ash's Charizard—a furious bellow that served simultaneously as a declaration of war and an attempt to dispel the lingering pressure and fear welling up within its own heart.
"Alright then, let's get started! Charizard, use Dragon Claw!" Ash waved his arm grandly, issuing his first command to his Charizard.
Charizard spread his arms wide; emerald-green energy coalesced into razor-sharp claws, sheathing his hands. The opposing Charizard took a deep breath, then immediately exhaled a stream of orange-red flames—Flamethrower!
From a biological standpoint, Charizard is actually better suited for ranged combat; it is quite rare to find one—like Ash's Charizard—that prefers close-quarters fighting.
The Flamethrower surged directly toward Ash's Charizard. With a flap of his jagged, saw-like wings, the jet-black figure vanished from his spot in the blink of an eye!
The opposing Charizard's fiery attack completely missed its mark. Before he could even react, Ash's Charizard reappeared directly above him, bringing his razor-sharp Dragon Claws crashing down with brutal force!
Slaaash!
Just as the onlookers heard a piercing, grating sound, the majestic Charizard collapsed to the ground with a resounding thud!
Ash's Charizard landed heavily from mid-air, the impact sending a rumble through the ground; a few trickles of blood could still be seen dripping from his sharp Dragon Claws.
A one-hit knockout!
That Charizard—which had appeared to be quite formidable—had actually been instantly defeated by Ash's Charizard in a single move.
Even Misty and the others—who held an almost blind faith in Ash's Charizard—were momentarily left in disbelief.
True, Ash's Charizard was undeniably strong, but surely, he should have at least needed to trade a few blows with his opponent before securing a victory?
A battle ending in a single move like this just seemed—no matter how you looked at it—far too anticlimactic!
Anyone watching without context might have assumed the opponent had gone easy on him just to let Ash's Charizard win.
While Misty and the others were merely surprised, Liza's reaction was on a whole other level; "surprise" didn't even begin to cover it—she was utterly shocked!
The Charizard Ash had chosen to face was considered an above-average fighter within the entire Charizard Valley.
Had Lance's Charizard defeated it in a single move, she wouldn't have been overly surprised—after all, Lance's Charizard was already at Champion-level back then.
But Ash's Charizard was merely at the Elite Four level!
Even with the existence of Mega Evolution, it still seemed somewhat absurd—bordering on the ridiculous—that an Elite Four-level Charizard could instantly one-shot a Charizard at the peak Gym Leader level.
"Next!"
Ash's voice rang out, signaling that the first battle had concluded. Charizard flew back to Ash's side, its gaze as sharp as a blade as it swept across the Charizards gathered around the valley; it had already established its dominance and set the tone with that very first match.
No matter what level of Charizard stepped up next, they would inevitably fall short in terms of sheer presence and aura.
"Roar!!"
After a silence lasting several dozen seconds, another Charizard took flight, roaring furiously as it charged aggressively toward Ash.
"Bring them on—one after another, Charizard!!"
"Awooo!!"
...
Within Charizard Valley, the sounds of battle were ceaseless: the roar of burning flames, the explosive crashes of clashing attacks, and the pained cries of the defeated.
Four hours had passed, and the Charizards within the valley... had been all but completely swept through!
Liza's beautiful emerald eyes widened in astonishment; the expression on her face had frozen in sheer disbelief. She had never imagined that Ash and his Charizard could possibly make it this far!
Every Charizard in the valley below the Elite Four tier had been defeated by Ash and his partner.
Furthermore, over eighty percent of the Elite Four-level Charizards had also fallen. The remaining Charizards represented the absolute pinnacle of power within Charizard Valley—yet their numbers had dwindled to a bare minimum.
From an initial count of two hundred and eighty-seven Charizards, the total had dropped to a mere seven: three at the High Elite Four level, three at the Peak Elite Four level, and one at the Champion level.
Although these remaining Charizards were indeed the absolute elite of Charizard Valley...