From the moment the Pikachu Cup was conceived, through its promotion, and all the way to today's finals, more than a month had passed.
During that time, in this first-ever Pokémon battle tournament featuring nearly twenty thousand rookie trainers, many had rejoiced, become discouraged, doubted themselves, and felt lost...
Battle and growth had always been the central themes of the Pikachu Cup.
As the tournament's organizer, Chen Mo couldn't guarantee that every rookie trainer had grown through the competition.
But one thing was undeniable:
Compared to before the Pikachu Cup began, the overall level of rookie trainers had improved tremendously.
Talents such as Ah Hui, Qiao Cheng, and You You had, through this tournament, finally found the path they wished to walk in the future.
No more confusion.
No more hesitation.
It was an excellent beginning.
As someone who had watched the entire event unfold, Chen Mo felt a sense of pride simply witnessing their growth and seeing the footprints they had left behind.
At the same time, however...
An invisible pressure had gradually begun to settle upon him as well.
Chen Mo believed that one day, he would inevitably be surpassed by these rookie trainers who possessed limitless potential.
But if possible...
He hoped that day would arrive a little later.
After all, he too was a Pokémon Trainer.
Inspired by everyone around him, Chen Mo had gradually reduced his commentary duties.
From providing nearly full-day commentary during the qualifiers, to appearing less and less frequently afterward, and finally, after the Zapdos incident, outright disappearing from the commentary booth for quite some time.
During those periods hidden from public view, Chen Mo had also been quietly strengthening himself.
However...
At this stage, without guidance from veteran trainers and aside from the recently born Gible, the strength of Chen Mo's Pokémon had largely entered a period of steady growth.
They were still improving.
But the progress was no longer as rapid or obvious as when training had first begun.
Because of that, Chen Mo was extremely grateful to Marshadow.
Had it not been for Marshadow's reminder—
Had it not been for that timely opportunity—
Chen Mo would never have learned how to properly utilize Zekrom's Source Power so quickly.
Nor would he have saved the gravely injured Zapdos and formed a bond with it.
All of this was thanks to you.
Marshadow.
Brilliant azure lightning erupted from Chen Mo's body.
It surged toward Pikachu standing on the battlefield, linking trainer and Pokémon together.
"Pika pika——!"
As Pikachu silently endured the influx of azure electricity, golden and blue arcs began intertwining across its body.
The next instant—
A terrifying wave of energy exploded outward.
Golden and azure lightning intertwined into a raging electrical storm that instantly swept across the battlefield.
"Look at Pikachu!"
Someone shouted from the stands.
Countless spectators immediately focused on the battlefield.
They all noticed the same thing.
The two brown stripes on Pikachu's back suddenly began glowing azure.
At the same time, markings resembling glowing runes appeared beside Pikachu's eyes, across its forehead, and over its chest.
The mark on its chest was especially eye-catching.
Within a circle formed by blue lines, a bright lightning-bolt emblem shone brilliantly.
"W-What... is that?"
Inside the hospital room, Chen Haoran stared blankly at the screen.
Had Pikachu evolved?
Impossible!
Every trainer knew that Pikachu's final evolution was Raichu.
Aside from the strange markings, this Pikachu looked no different from an ordinary one.
So what exactly was happening?
At that moment, countless viewers recalled another unforgettable scene.
The Butterfree that had ignited in flames amidst a blizzard.
"Since Brother Mo is the Hero of Ideals, then it's obvious now."
"He's borrowing Zekrom's power."
"Or more accurately, he's using Zekrom's blessing."
"Though compared to what happened with Butterfree and me, Brother Mo and Pikachu's display is... a little more dramatic."
Lying in his hospital bed, Ah Hui quickly understood the reason despite his shock.
His expression became extremely serious.
He widened his eyes, afraid of missing even a single detail.
Yet at the same time, watching Chen Mo on the screen filled him with concern.
Having personally experienced a Legendary Pokémon's blessing, Ah Hui knew exactly how heavy the burden could be on the body.
Just looking at the electricity surrounding Chen Mo was enough to make his heart race.
"Brother Mo..."
Fortunately, Ah Hui was worrying unnecessarily.
When Chen Mo had experimented with Zekrom's Source Power, Marshadow had already explained the situation.
Under normal circumstances, someone using a Legendary Pokémon's source power so recklessly would indeed place tremendous strain upon their body.
However, perhaps because Zekrom had worried that the elderly and frail Arthur wouldn't be able to wield the power properly, it had used a special method to eliminate most of the burden on the host.
As a result, even Chen Mo could now wield Zekrom's Source Power relatively comfortably.
At least for ten minutes, his body would suffer no major issues.
So then—
With Overclock Drive activated—
Fight with everything you've got, Pikachu!
The azure arcs surrounding Chen Mo rapidly dissipated.
Meanwhile, the terrifying crackle of electricity around Pikachu reached its peak.
Banette also pushed its aura to the limit.
Black energy overflowed from its body, much like it had during the Lavender Town incident.
The difference was that now, with Meloetta's assistance, Banette retained full control of its consciousness and wasn't disturbed by the excess energy within it.
The referee had already left the field due to Qiao Cheng's collapse.
But at this point, neither side needed a referee anymore.
Their eyes met.
Sharp gazes collided in midair.
No words were needed.
The battle had already begun.
Even without a trainer's command, Banette still followed the habits it had developed while training with You You.
Facing Pikachu's abnormal state, it didn't immediately rush into close combat.
Instead, it rapidly gathered energy between its hands.
A Shadow Ball far stronger than any it had used against Electabuzz formed almost instantly.
"Shuta!"
Without hesitation, Banette hurled it forward.
The spinning sphere tore through the battlefield, leaving a trail of darkness behind it.
The energy it emitted alone was enough to rip apart the ground beneath its path as it surged toward Pikachu.
Watching this, Chen Mo showed no sign of panic.
Only after Banette had fully committed to its attack did he finally issue his command.
"Pikachu, Electro Ball!"
"Pika——!"
Golden and azure electricity rapidly fused together at the tip of Pikachu's lightning-bolt-shaped tail.
The dazzling glow forced many spectators to squint.
"So fast!"
Inside the contestant lounge, Gao Tianming and the other trainers widened their eyes.
Despite moving second, Pikachu's dual-colored Electro Ball reached the center of the battlefield before Banette's Shadow Ball.
BOOM!!!
The instant the two attacks collided—
The spheres compressed and twisted under the pressure.
Then they shattered simultaneously.
Three different energies erupted at once.
The resulting explosion became the most terrifying blast witnessed throughout the entire Pikachu Cup.
Like a raging flood, the released energy swept across the battlefield and obliterated everything nearby.
"This is bad!"
At the commentary booth, Zhou Yichuan's expression changed dramatically.
Under the electrical storm ravaging the arena, the eight specialized energy-absorption devices positioned around the battlefield reached their limits.
Four of them instantly burst into thick black smoke.
Destroyed.
The remaining four looked equally close to collapse.
Zhou Yichuan panicked.
Earlier, he'd wondered why Chen Mo had chosen Electro Ball rather than the far more familiar Thunderbolt.
Now he understood.
It wasn't because Chen Mo couldn't use Thunderbolt.
It was because he was worried the safety equipment couldn't withstand it.
And now—
It clearly couldn't.
"This is too dangerous!"
"The match has to stop!"
Zhou Yichuan stood up and grabbed the microphone.
Then—
The golden tree behind Meloetta suddenly moved.
Its branches rapidly expanded outward.
Within moments, a translucent golden barrier surrounded the battlefield.
The raging electrical storm struck the barrier and was completely contained.
"..."
Chen Mo glanced toward Meloetta.
Meloetta simply nodded.
He understood immediately.
There was no need to hold back anymore.
He would end this battle as quickly as possible.
"Pikachu!"
"Quick Attack!"
The command had barely left his mouth when a figure wrapped in golden and azure electricity burst through the lingering smoke.
Its speed was unbelievable.
Each movement resembled a teleport.
A single blink carried it seven or eight meters forward.
"Iron Tail!"
Banette was stunned.
One moment of distraction—
That was all it took.
Pikachu had already closed the distance, leaping high into the air and spinning its metallic tail toward Banette.
There was no time to dodge.
Turning aside would only create an opening for further attacks.
Banette made its decision instantly.
"Shuta!"
The dark energy inside it exploded outward once more.
The move that had secured countless victories—
The move that had defeated Electabuzz—
Shadow Claw!
BANG!!!
The moment the two attacks collided, the ground beneath Banette collapsed.
Yet even as it gritted its teeth and held firm, Banette felt something strange.
Earlier, its Shadow Ball had clearly been overwhelmed by Pikachu's Electro Ball.
The difference in power had been enormous.
So enormous that Banette had already prepared itself to be crushed in this direct clash.
Yet now...
Although it was losing ground, it wasn't being completely overwhelmed.
There was still hope.
I don't know why.
But I can't give up here.
You You is still behind me.
I have to win another battle for her!
"SHUTA!!!"
With a roar, Banette unleashed every ounce of power inside its body.
Its arms swung upward.
Pikachu was launched high into the air.
At that moment, Banette looked upward.
Pikachu rose higher and higher until its silhouette overlapped with the blazing sun.
Something felt off.
Squinting against the light, Banette could barely make out Pikachu's figure.
Its arms were spread wide.
Its posture was perfect.
And on its face—
There seemed to be a faint smile.
As if...
It had been waiting for this exact moment all along.
"Now!"
"Pikachu!"
"Thunderbolt!!!"
Chen Mo's voice echoed across the battlefield.
High above, Pikachu immediately began gathering electricity again.
It showed no sign of being affected by the previous clash.
Banette remembered.
During the finals, it had repeatedly exploited its own incredible attack-transition speed to pressure Electabuzz.
Now—
The position of Electabuzz had become its own.
But Banette couldn't understand.
Its extraordinary speed came from relentless training and being at peak condition.
Yet Pikachu had just engaged in an intense clash moments ago.
Why was it completely unaffected?
No one had time to answer.
Above the battlefield, Pikachu's brilliant light eclipsed even the sun.
Golden and azure electricity erupted simultaneously.
The heavens and earth seemed to contain nothing but a single colossal bolt of lightning.
A strike powerful enough to annihilate everything before it.
BOOOOOOM!!!!!
The terrifying electrical energy swallowed Banette whole.
At the same time, nearly half the battlefield shattered apart.
The earth cracked.
The ground trembled violently.
Even the golden tree protecting the arena swayed under the impact.
Across the country, viewers stared at the scene in complete shock.
In the contestant lounge, Gao Tianming swallowed hard.
The monster he'd always dreamed of challenging...
Was this what he'd been aiming for?
And more importantly—
Was Banette still okay...?
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