Ash's sheer presence took Shingo by surprise.
The boy had intended to act aloof and refuse the challenge, but the words died in his throat. He could only manage a stubborn retort. "If you want to humiliate yourself, I have no reason to refuse."
When the "young master" agreed to the match, the disciples were even more excited than Muramasa. They immediately cleared a space for the battlefield.
Ash stood with Heracross and looked toward the disciples. "Once I'm finished here, I hope to battle the rest of you as well!"
He spoke as if the victory were already in his pocket, completely ignoring Shingo, who sat across from him clutching his laptop.
Shingo was furious. "Curse you! I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
With a shout, he threw his Poké Ball. Another Scizor appeared on the field.
"Blade is my strongest Pokémon! His speed, power, and stamina all exceed my father's Masamune. He is the most perfect Scizor in the world!"
Ash was speechless as he looked at the Scizor named Blade. "Shingo, just how small is your world?"
To claim this was the most perfect Scizor in the world... did this kid have any idea how it compared to the Scizor of the Steel-type Elite Four member in Kalos?
Shingo blinked, not quite catching the insult at first.
"Young master, he's calling you a frog in a well!" one of the disciples shouted from behind.
Realization dawned on Shingo, and his anger flared uncontrollably.
Muramasa, watching from the side, nodded to himself. Before the battle had even begun, Ash had already manipulated Shingo's emotions. This would undoubtedly cloud his judgment during the match.
Muramasa looked at Ash. The boy maintained a mocking smile, yet his eyes remained incredibly clear. How did I find a boy with such a deep mind?
"Enough talk! Blade, use Quick Attack!" Shingo lost his cool. He couldn't wait any longer and ordered the first strike.
It had to be said that this Scizor was well-trained. Its speed and explosive power were top-tier. Ash and Heracross seemed unable to react in time and were knocked back by Blade's impact.
"Hmph! You can't even react to Blade's attack, yet you talk about winning?" Shingo sneered, his eyes filled with contempt.
"Is that all?" Ash chuckled. "Heracross, use Aerial Ace!"
Heracross, though sliding backward, suddenly snapped its eyes open. It spread its hidden wings, spun around, and slammed into Blade with incredible force!
The impact sent Blade tumbling backward.
"Blade!"
Shingo cried out in shock. He looked down at his computer. The screen showed that Heracross's reaction time was 0.18 seconds! That far exceeded the standard value for its species.
"Your Scizor is fast, I'll give you that. But can it maintain that speed forever?" Ash wore the smile of a victor.
"Do you really have time to be looking at a computer?" Ash's smile vanished instantly. "Brick Break!"
Before Shingo could respond, Heracross caught up to Blade and slammed its palm down onto the Scizor's head!
A warning flashed on Shingo's laptop a new record. Heracross's command response speed had increased even further.
"How can it be so fast?!" Shingo was reeling. He was trying to update the data, but Blade was already taking another hit.
"Blade, pull yourself together! Use Flash Cannon!"
Recovering from the blow, Blade stood firm and took a stance. Its large pincers began to glow with a brilliant metallic luster.
"Focus Blast!" Ash countered.
The metallic energy beam collided with the orb of fighting spirit, creating a terrifying explosion. Both Blade and Heracross were blown back by the shockwave.
"Blade, get up!"
"Heracross, use Arm Thrust!"
The smoke hadn't even cleared from the explosion when Ash's command rang out. Heracross's eyes flashed with determination. It charged through the residual blast, fearless.
Relying on its thick chitinous armor, Heracross burst through the shockwave and slammed a palm into Blade's side!
"Blade, dodge it! Use Agility!"
At Shingo's command, Blade vanished into a blur. Shingo had finally realized he needed to lean into Blade's speed advantage.
Blade was indeed fast. Under the effects of Agility, it moved like a ghost, leaving afterimages that surrounded Heracross.
"Hera!"
Heracross cried out as it took several hits from the blurring red figure.
"Heracross, use Megahorn on the ground!"
Despite the disadvantage, Ash didn't panic. Instead, he gave a very strange order.
While everyone else was still trying to make sense of the command, Heracross slammed its massive horn into the floor!
Rumble!
Heracross possessed immense strength, and using its most powerful Bug-type move triggered a massive shockwave that vibrated through the entire dojo!
The spectators stumbled, nearly losing their footing. Scizor, caught in the middle of its Agility-boosted dash, lurched, tripped, and went crashing to the ground!
"No way! He used Megahorn to simulate an Earthquake!"
"That's insane! Who is this guy?"
"Terrifying... he's absolutely terrifying!"
At that moment, only four words echoed in Shingo's mind: Does not compute!
Does not compute!
Does not compute!
While Shingo was paralyzed by shock, Ash delivered the final blow. "Heracross, Brick Break!"
Heracross took to the air, its wings buzzing, and slammed its palm into Blade's head.
"Blade is unable to battle! The winner is Ash!"
Muramasa announced Ash's victory. He looked at his son, who seemed to have lost his very soul. Shingo's computer was filled with nothing but strings of question marks.
Muramasa shook his head. I hope this blow wasn't too much for him.
He had wanted someone Shingo's age to show him that battles aren't decided by data alone, but he hadn't expected Ash to be this overwhelming.
Of course, Muramasa didn't blame Ash. If anyone was at fault, it was his son for being so fragile.
He had some disciples help Shingo back to his room. He would go to him once the boy had calmed down and have a heart-to-heart talk. He believed that after this defeat, Shingo would rise from the ashes, stronger than before, and gain a true understanding of what it meant to be a trainer.
As for Ash... well, since he wanted to challenge the entire dojo, Muramasa would let the disciples keep him entertained for a while.
Heracross: 115/251
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