Ash Ascendant: Chapter 33

Hi all,

Here’s the second chapter. 

Chapter 33

Chaos erupted in the darkness.

Shouts rang out from every corner of the auction hall. The private boxes suddenly blazed with spiritual pressure—raw, furious power that pressed down on everyone like the weight of mountains.

Ash lurched to his feet. James and Jessie flanked him, their cultivation energy crackling defensively. The box trembled under the assault of competing auras from the other private rooms.

"Whoever they are, they're bloody furious," James hissed.

Light blazed back to life. The transition was instant, blinding, and completely disorienting. Ash blinked hard as his vision cleared.

The stage came into focus. The auctioneer lay sprawled unconscious beside her podium. Blood trickled from her nose. The Wishing Stone had vanished.

"Find the thief!"

The voice thundered from one of the private boxes, amplified by cultivation energy. Every window rattled. Several people in the main hall clapped their hands over their ears.

"Who would dare steal something under the noses of all these cultivation giants?" Ash asked.

"I don't know." James moved toward the door. "We should leave before things get complicated."

The voice boomed again. "No one moves from this hall until I can determine if they are culpable in stealing the stone!"

Ash frowned. "Who does he think he is?" 

The words had barely left his mouth when something swept over him. Every hair on his neck stood rigid. His blood turned to ice. The sensation crawled through his mind like fingers stripping away layers of consciousness, peeling back thoughts, memories, secrets.

Then it was gone.

"No one in the private rooms is responsible," the voice announced. "You may leave."

"What the hell was that?" Ash's hands shook as he gripped the chair.

"Trouble." James grabbed his arm. "Let's leave whilst we still can."

Even Jessie looked unnerved. Her usual smirk had vanished. She moved toward the exit without a single snarky comment.

They descended the stairs in silence. Other private box occupants were doing the same—wealthy cultivators with grim expressions and tense shoulders. No one spoke. No one made eye contact.

Ash collected his items and pokedollars from the auction house clerk. The woman's hands trembled as she processed the transaction. Her cultivation was weak, probably the first stage of the Tempering Realm. Whatever had happened upstairs had left everyone rattled.

Outside, the night air felt like freedom.

"That darkness wasn't natural," Ash said as they walked. "I couldn't see a thing, even with my sharp senses."

"None of us could,” Jessie replied. "Which meant it was a technique used by a powerful cultivator. They suppressed everyone's sight, even that old codger who was bullying us."

"Whatever, it's got nothing to do with me." Ash shrugged. "I've got enough on my plate at the moment. I'll see you later."

He started walking home, the strange incident replaying in his mind. Whoever had stolen the Wishing Stone possessed either tremendous courage or cultivation so powerful that they didn't care about consequences.

Legendary Pokemon. He couldn't believe he was only learning about them now. All the books he'd read mentioned nothing. Although if it were some big secret, then no surprise there. But something had changed tonight. Something was stirring.

Still wasn't his problem.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

A sharp knock jolted Ash from his meditation. He stood to open the door.

Erika waited outside, exhaustion written across her face. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. 

"Here." She thrust a vial into his hands. "The improved version of the cultivation potion I gave you last time."

Ash inspected the potion. The liquid inside was deeper crimson than before, almost black. 

"Is this going to help me reach the peak of the ninth stage? I'm running out of time before my gym battle."

"That's your fault. Why did you have to schedule the gym battle so soon?"

"I didn't think it would take this long." He gave her his most charming smile. "It's fortunate that I have you around, my beautiful alchemist."

"None of that crap." She glared at him. "I'm exhausted and it's all your fault."

"I appreciate your hard work. How can I make it up to you?"

"You can return to the first floor and get those plants I asked for."

Ash winced. "I totally forgot. I had a bit of a situation."

"Which you likely caused." She rubbed her temples. "Well, whenever you have time. I'm going back to sleep."

"As soon as I finish cultivating, I'll return to the first floor,” Ash promised.

Ash shut the door and sat back down. He examined the vial again, then uncorked it and swallowed the contents in one gulp. To his surprise, it didn't taste that bad. It had a slight metallic flavour, with a hint of mint lingering afterwards.

He closed his eyes, turning his focus inward.

Reaching the peak of the Tempering Realm wasn't just about accumulating more energy. It was diagnostic, examining his core and body for imperfections. An extraordinary amount of energy was needed to smooth over those flaws, reinforce weak points, and perfect the foundation.

It had to be flawless. Or it would bite him in the arse during his tribulation.

The potion's energy flooded his meridians. It was different from before—more refined, more potent. It felt like liquid fire spreading through his channels. He directed the energy carefully, using it to reinforce his core's structure. The process was painstaking; each imperfection required individual attention.

Hours passed.

His internal energy reserves climbed steadily. But more importantly, the quality improved. The raw power became denser, purer, and more stable. 

Finally, Ash's eyes snapped open. The wooden floor beneath him creaked as his aura pulsed outward—raw energy announcing his arrival at the peak of the Tempering Realm.

He sat motionless for several heartbeats, letting the sensation settle. Three weeks of cultivation had culminated in this moment. His body thrummed with refined energy, every cell charged with potential. The chaos orb in his palm had shrunk to half its original size, but it had done its job. 

Peak of the Tempering Realm. Finally.

Ash flexed his fingers. Liquid metal flowed across his skin without conscious thought, coating him from head to toe in less than a second. He shaped spikes along his knuckles, then smoothed them back into seamless armour. The control was effortless now—his Steel affinity responding like an extension of his will.

He was one step away from his tribulation. One breakthrough attempt from either ascending to the Essence Realm or dying in the attempt. The thought should have terrified him. Instead, anticipation burned in his chest.

Only a few days until the gym battle. Plenty of time to prepare, to strategise, to ensure nothing could go wrong. 

The gym leader was inexperienced, according to James's intelligence. Fresh to the position, probably chosen more for political connections than raw ability. Still dangerous—anyone who reached the second floor possessed skill, but not insurmountable.

After the gym battle, he'd have breathing room. Time to plan his tribulation properly, gather resources, maybe even explore more of the underground facility’s technology. 

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ash pressed the button on the elevator panel. The mechanism hummed as it began its ascent, carrying him toward the summit room.

He'd planned to wait until after the gym battle before returning here. But the potential rewards were worth the trip. If there was something available that could give him an edge tomorrow, he'd be an idiot not to take advantage of it. Better to overprepare than stumble into a fight half-ready.

The elevator stopped with a soft chime, and Ash stepped out into the room. The counter stood opposite him, its glass display case still obscured.

He approached the counter and placed his hand on the dragon crystal he'd won at the auction. The moment his skin touched the rough surface, his tattoo blazed with heat. Energy flowed from the crystal into the serpentine mark on his arm, the stone's power draining away until nothing remained but an empty rock.

The crystal crumbled to dust between his fingers.

Ash opened the ledger and felt the tattoo's energy vanish. 

He scanned the available options. Only items he could afford appeared on the pages—everything else remained blank. Several sections were dedicated to cultivation resources, both general and specifically tailored to his Steel affinity. Each item displayed its cost in units. At the top of the page, his current total showed he had 320 units.

Judging by the prices listed, he'd earned a decent amount from that single crystal.

He flipped through the pages until he reached the hold items section. These caught his attention immediately. Unlike the cultivation resources, these were unique pieces of equipment designed specifically for each of his Pokemon. 

After calculating the costs, he realised he had enough for two items. Perfect—exactly what he needed for Blitz and Blade, who would be participating in tomorrow's battle. He wished he had enough for Bastion as well. 

First, he selected the Endurance Core for Blitz. The hold item would create a symbiotic relationship with his Sturdy ability. When Blitz's natural resilience triggered to prevent a knockout blow, the hold item would automatically restore him to half health within seconds of the near-fatal strike.

He chose the Sandstorm Generator for Blade. This hold item would create a localised sandstorm around the Excadrill, whipping up debris and reducing visibility for opponents while enhancing Blade's natural Ground-type abilities. Though using the technique would drain Blade's energy reserves, the tactical advantage of controlling the battlefield's conditions suited his fighting style perfectly.

Each item cost him 150 units, leaving him with 20 remaining. Not enough for anything else worthwhile.

Ash closed the ledger and pocketed the three hold items.  Hopefully, he'd find more locations containing dragon energy on the third floor. He'd explored much of the second floor over the past few weeks but discovered nothing.

Time to head back. One final training session to let his Pokemon adjust to their new equipment, then tomorrow he'd face the gym leader.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ash entered the Tower with his mother and the girls trailing behind him—his personal cheering squad, as Zinnia had mockingly called them. 

They headed for the arena level. The second floor's gym was similar to the first's, but larger, with more varied terrain options available. Mechanical systems could reshape the battlefield in less than a minute.

Ash left the others to find seats and approached the arena entrance. His opponent was already waiting on the stage—a young woman with striking blonde hair styled in dramatic spikes. She wore a fitted black and yellow outfit that somehow managed to look both practical and fashionable. Her pose was confident, one hand on her hip as she examined her nails.

"My name is Elesa," she announced. "I'm an Electric-type gym leader. I'm also a model in my spare time."

Ash blinked. "Was that last part really necessary?"

"Of course." Elesa flashed him a brilliant smile. "I'm the most beautiful girl in the Tower. There's no need to be humble about it."

"Let's hope your battling skills match your appearance."

"Nothing can," Elesa replied without missing a beat, "but my skills are top notch."

The referee approached from the sidelines, clearly waiting for them to finish their banter. 

"You have a dependent," Elesa continued, "so it's your lucky day. I'm going to flip the script. The stage will remain neutral, but the conditions of the fight have changed."

Ash frowned. "What do you mean?"

"This is still a three-on-three battle, but there's no teaming up. The first two battles will be between our Pokemon only. If there's still no winner after two rounds, then we'll battle it out directly."

The change caught Ash off guard, but he adapted quickly. Even if he lost one of the Pokemon battles, he was confident in his ability to defeat Elesa in direct combat. She was at the peak of the Tempering Realm like him, with an Electric affinity that focused on speed and paralysing status techniques.

"You have to choose your Pokemon first," Elesa said.

Ash chose his lead Pokemon without hesitation. "Blade, you're up."

The logic was simple—Ground-type immunity to Electric attacks gave him a massive advantage. He reached into his mind palace and summoned the Excadrill.

Blade materialised on the stage. He waved his claws at Ash before facing his opponent. There was no need to talk about strategy because he had already prepared Blade thoroughly.

Elesa released a Zebstrika onto the opposite side of the arena. The Electric-type Pokemon was magnificent. It's black and white stripes crackled with barely contained lightning. 

From the stands, Ash heard familiar voices cheering his name. His mother's enthusiasm was infectious. Even Zinnia and Erika contributed a few encouraging shouts. He raised his hand in acknowledgement.

"Trainers ready?" the referee called out.

Both nodded.

"Begin!"

Zebstrika exploded into motion, its legs blurring as it charged across the arena. Flame Charge wreathed its body in fire, the unexpected attack making Ash's eyes widen. 

Ash channelled energy into the Sandstorm Generator within his mind palace. The effect was immediate—wind began swirling around Blade's position, picking up debris from the arena floor and expanding outward in a widening spiral.

The localised sandstorm erupted just as Zebstrika reached striking distance. The Electric-type plunged into the swirling wall of grit and dust, its Flame Charge flickering as visibility dropped to mere metres. Blade vanished completely within the storm's centre, his steel-grey form blending perfectly with the whirling debris.

“That’s cheating,” Elesa shouted. “You can’t use status techniques!”

“Did you see me use one?” Ash asked. “It’s a hold item. Perfectly legal.”

“The challenger did not use any techniques,” the referee said. 

Elesa groaned in frustration.

Zebstrika emerged from the other side, shaking sand from its mane with obvious irritation. 

Through their bond, Ash felt Blade's readiness. The Excadrill burst from the swirling dust like a metallic missile, his drill head glowing with Steel-type energy. Smart Strike's targeting system locked onto Zebstrika—the attack was perfectly aimed, impossible to dodge.

The impact was devastating. Blade's drill caught Zebstrika in the shoulder, sending the Electric-type staggering backwards. Zebstrika's pained whinny echoed across the arena.

But Elesa's Pokemon was far from finished. The Electric-type pivoted on its front hooves, rear legs lashing out in rapid succession. Double Kick caught Blade as he tried to retreat into the sandstorm, both strikes lifting the Excadrill off his feet and sending him tumbling across the arena floor.

Blade rolled with the impact, coming up in a crouch just outside the sandstorm's edge. His Steel-typing had protected him from the worst of the damage, but the fight was far from over.

Zebstrika's body ignited again, fire wrapping around its form as it prepared another Flame Charge. This time, it stayed outside the sandstorm, circling the perimeter at incredible speed. The combination of fire and electricity created an impressive light show as the Pokemon built momentum.

Ash gritted his teeth. The Flame Charge was boosting Zebstrika's speed with each use, making it harder to track. They needed to end this quickly before the Electric-type became too fast to hit.

Blade planted his feet and raised his claws skyward. Rocky energy gathered above the arena, manifesting as dozens of stone projectiles. Rock Slide activated at full power, the Excadrill bringing his arms down in a devastating arc and sending the barrage cascading toward Zebstrika's position.

The Electric-type tried to weave between the falling stones, but there were too many. Several connected, breaking its charge and sending it stumbling. One particularly large chunk caught Zebstrika's flank, drawing a cry of pain.

But the attack had pulled Blade partially out of his sandstorm, leaving him exposed. Zebstrika seized the opportunity, flames wreathing its hooves as it prepared another Flame Charge assault.

Blade's claws elongated, Steel-type energy coating them as he slashed upward with Metal Claw. The two attacks met in a shower of sparks. For a moment, neither Pokemon gave ground, their techniques locked in perfect opposition.

Then Zebstrika's superior level began to tell. The Electric-type pushed forward, its flaming charge overwhelming Blade's defence and striking him squarely in the chest. The Excadrill flew backwards.

Through their shared connection, Ash felt Blade's determination spike. The Excadrill tucked into a ball, his body becoming a spinning projectile as Rapid Spin launched him at Zebstrika. The Electric-type tried to dodge, but the trajectory was impossible to predict. The spinning attack caught Zebstrika's legs, sweeping them from under it and sending the Pokemon crashing to the arena floor.

Both Pokemon struggled to their feet, breathing heavily. Zebstrika's legs trembled from Blade's last attack, whilst the Excadrill's body was damaged in several places. The battle had reached its climax.

Ash felt Blade's resolve through their bond—one final gambit. The Excadrill's drill spun at maximum velocity, Steel-type energy creating a visible aura around his entire body as Smart Strike activated again.

Zebstrika's fire blazed brighter than ever, its final Flame Charge carrying every ounce of remaining strength as it charged forward to meet Blade's assault.

They collided in the centre of the arena. The impact shook the stage, sending up smoke and dust that clouded the battlefield for several heartbeats.

When the debris cleared, both Pokemon stood motionless for a moment. Then Zebstrika's legs gave out, and it collapsed to the arena floor, unconscious.

Blade swayed dangerously but remained upright, his drill-head still spinning slowly as he claimed victory.

The referee raised his flag. "Zebstrika is unable to battle! Excadrill wins!"

Ash grinned as applause erupted from the stands. One down, two to go.

Elesa recalled her fallen Pokemon, her expression shifting from confident to impressed. "That's some broken hold item. Where did you get it?"

"Found it in some ruins." Ash shrugged. "It's not completely broken, as it drains some of Blade's energy as well. If the fight had gone on for much longer, he would have lost."

"You won't have it so easy in the next battle." Elesa's smile returned, sharper than before. "Choose your next Pokemon."

Ash hesitated. He had to decide between Blitz and Bastion. The former was the obvious choice—Blitz had an Electric typing, making his opponents attacks half as effective. Bastion remained neutral to Electric attacks, making him the riskier option. But the last fight had proved things weren't always so clear-cut. Elesa's Zebstrika had relied heavily on Flame Charge, showing she wasn't afraid to use coverage moves.

Still, the logical choice remained Blitz.

"Blitz, you're up."

The Magneton materialised on the stage. Elesa didn’t react to his appearance and immediately released her second Pokemon.

A Galvantula scuttled onto the battlefield. It sized up its opponent, compound eyes reflecting the overhead lighting like faceted gems.

"Bloody hell," Ash muttered. "That's a big spider."

The referee raised his flag. "Trainers ready?"

Both nodded. Ash was quietly confident about ending the match in the second round as his opponent wasn’t the worst matchup. Blitz's Steel typing would resist most Electric attacks, but Galvantula was notorious for its speed and unpredictable techniques. 

"Begin!"

Blitz shot forward immediately, his units spinning as he built momentum for a Gyro Ball attack. The Magneton wasn't waiting for his opponent—he'd take the initiative.

Galvantula moved to intercept, its eight legs carrying it in a rapid sprint across the arena floor. Sticky Web shot from its spinnerets, but Blitz's spinning form cut through the silk strands like they were cobwebs, his metallic body shredding the trap before it could take hold.

The Gyro Ball connected with devastating force, catching Galvantula in the torso and sending the spider tumbling across the arena. But the Bug-type recovered quickly, using its legs to right itself mid-slide.

Galvantula retaliated with Thunder Shock, the massive electrical discharge erupting from its position. The lightning struck Blitz's central core, but the Steel-type's resistance held. The attack still hurt—his typing only halved the damage rather than negating it entirely—but it was manageable.

Blitz pressed his advantage, launching another Gyro Ball before Galvantula could fully recover. The spider tried to dodge, scuttling sideways, but the Magneton adjusted his trajectory mid-flight. The spinning attack clipped Galvantula's rear legs, drawing a pained screech.

Galvantula launched itself into the air using its powerful legs, then fired Electro Ball after Electro Ball down at Blitz's position. The Electric-type attacks struck the Magneton repeatedly, each one dealing reduced but still significant damage.

Blitz weathered the assault. When Galvantula landed, the Magneton was ready with another Gyro Ball, this one aimed at the spider's legs to limit its mobility.

But Galvantula adapted quickly. The spider shot out web lines to the arena walls, using them like ropes to swing out of Blitz's attack path. From its elevated position, it prepared Bug Bite, mandibles glowing with energy.

Galvantula dropped down, its mandibles clamping onto one of Blitz's outer units. The spider's bite found purchase. Blitz spun frantically, trying to dislodge his opponent, but Galvantula held on tenaciously.

The Magneton built momentum until his rotation finally broke Galvantula's grip. The spider was flung across the arena, but it shot out another web line to cushion its landing.

Both Pokemon circled each other warily. Galvantula's compound eyes tracked every movement, its legs positioned for another lightning-fast assault.

Galvantula struck first this time, firing Signal Beam directly at Blitz. The Bug-type energy beam struck true, causing significant damage and leaving the Magneton disoriented. As Blitz struggled to regain his bearings, Galvantula pressed its advantage.

The spider charged forward, mandibles glowing as it prepared another Bug Bite. This time, there was no escape—the attack connected squarely, the damage tearing through Blitz's defences. Although the Bug-type moves were not effective against Steel-type, for some reason, they were dealing a lot of damage. 

“I think she has a hold item of her own,” Ash muttered. 

Blitz's Sturdy ability triggered just as Galvantula's mandibles were about to deliver the finishing blow. The Endurance Core triggered in response to Sturdy's activation. The hold item's stored power flooded through Blitz's systems, restoring him to half health within seconds.

Galvantula paused, clearly surprised by the sudden recovery.

Blitz seized the moment. His units locked together and began spinning faster than ever before, Gyro Ball building tremendous momentum as he launched himself at the spider with everything he had left.

But Galvantula was ready this time. The spider had learned from their previous exchanges, shooting multiple web lines to create a three-dimensional net. Blitz's spinning form struck the web barrier and became entangled, his rotation slowing as the silk strands wrapped around his units.

Trapped and vulnerable, Blitz couldn't defend against Galvantula's finishing move. The spider approached carefully, positioning itself for maximum effectiveness.

Sound waves erupted from Galvantula's vibrating body, the Bug-type technique creating a resonance that overwhelmed Blitz's weakened defences. He collapsed on the stage.

This time, there was no recovery. The Endurance Core had given him one last chance, but Galvantula's tactical superiority had proven decisive.

The referee raised his flag. "Magneton is unable to battle! Galvantula wins!"

Ash recalled his fallen Pokemon, frustration gnawing at him. Despite Blitz's aggressive start and the hold item's life-saving intervention, Galvantula's battlefield control had been too much to overcome.

"One each," Elesa called out, her confidence fully restored. 

“Did you use a hold item as well?” Ash asked.

“Yep. It changes the Bug-type techniques so they are considered Fire-type. But the techniques cost twice as much to use.”

Ash shook his head. He couldn't complain—she'd done exactly what he'd done to her. The hold item was too powerful, and he'd failed to spot the threat until too late.

The first two rounds had been disappointing. Their hold items had stolen the spotlight, not their Pokemon's skills or training. Still, this suited him fine. The final round would pit them against each other directly. No tricks, just raw power.

The referee stepped between them. "The final round will be direct combat between trainers. Standard cultivation rules apply—fight until submission or unconsciousness."

Ash stepped onto the stage and began stretching to loosen his body.

"Ready to see what real speed looks like?" Elese pulled a coiled whip from her belt.

"Ready to lose?" Ash replied, liquid metal flowing across his skin.

The referee raised his hand. "Begin!"

Elesa vanished.

Ash spun left, following his instincts. The electrified whip cracked through the space where his head had been. He lashed out with a metal-coated fist, but struck empty air.

She reappeared behind him, whip already in motion. The weapon wrapped around his armoured forearm, electricity surging through the contact point. 

Pain lanced up his arm. Ash gritted his teeth and grabbed the whip's length, yanking hard. Elesa stumbled forward, caught off guard by his grip strength.

His left hook caught her in the ribs. She gasped and tried to pull back, but he held the whip tight, reeling her closer like a fish on a line.

"Not so fast now," Ash growled.

Elesa's free hand pressed against his chest. Electric energy pulsed from her palm—Thunder Wave flooding his nervous system with paralysing current. His muscles seized instantly. She lashed out with her foot, sending his paralysed body flying backwards. He hit the arena wall hard.

She didn't waste the opening and activated Agility, her movement speed doubling in an instant. The whip lashed out repeatedly—crack, crack, crack—each strike aimed at a different target.

Ash rolled desperately, his Iron Echo Shell technique redirecting what blows he couldn't dodge entirely. The whip struck his shoulder, his thigh, his back, each impact delivering a fresh jolt of paralysing electricity.

His left leg went numb. Then his right arm.

Elese released another Thunder Wave, and his muscles seized. For a critical second, he couldn't move at all. The whip descended toward his skull.

Steelium exploded from his core, the liquid metal surging outward in all directions. Spikes erupted from his back, his shoulders, his knuckles. The whip struck one of the protruding blades and was deflected harmlessly away.

"Clever," Elesa admitted, circling him like a predator. "But you're still paralysed."

She was right. His muscles twitched uncontrollably, his coordination shot. But the paralysis wouldn't last forever.

Elesa struck again, the whip cutting through the air with deadly precision. This time, Ash was ready. He shaped his Steelium into a thick shield, absorbing the electrical discharge and channelling it harmlessly into the arena floor.

The paralysis faded. Ash pushed off from the wall and closed the distance rapidly.

Elesa backpedalled, her whip creating a defensive perimeter. But Ash had learned her rhythm. He ducked under one strike, sidestepped another, then caught the weapon's tip with his bare hand.

Metal flowed up the whip's length. When it reached Elesa's grip, the steel solidified, trapping her weapon in an immobile shell.

"My turn," Ash said.

He yanked the useless whip from her grasp and discarded it. Now they were on equal footing.

Elesa's hands blazed with electricity as she prepared another Thunder Wave. Ash didn't give her the chance. He surged forward, metal spikes extending from his knuckles.

She twisted away from his punch, the spikes missing her face by inches. Her elbow struck his temple, stunning him briefly. Lightning crackled around her fist as she aimed for his solar plexus.

Ash activated Iron Echo Shell at the last second. The technique absorbed the kinetic energy from her punch and redirected it back through his own strike. His metal-coated fist slammed into her stomach with twice the intended force.

Elesa doubled over, gasping. Ash pressed his advantage, raining down blows with ruthless efficiency. 

But Elesa wasn't finished. She grabbed his wrist and channelled electricity directly through skin contact. The current bypassed his armour entirely, attacking his nervous system from within.

Ash's vision blurred. His coordination faltered. Elesa slipped from his grasp and backed away, buying herself breathing room.

She activated Agility, and her speed increased again. This time,e Ash was ready for her enhanced movement. He tracked her blurred form as she darted around the arena's perimeter, looking for another opening.

Elesa feinted left, then spun right, her electrified fist swinging toward his head. Ash ducked under the strike and countered with an uppercut, metal spikes extending from his knuckles.

She twisted away, but not fast enough. One spike caught her shoulder, tearing through fabric and drawing blood. She hissed in pain and staggered backwards.

"Getting slower," Ash observed, pressing his advantage.

Elesa's hand shot out, but Ash was already moving, his Iron Echo Shell redirecting the paralysing energy harmlessly to one side.

He closed the distance in two quick strides. His metal-coated fist connected with her ribs, the impact lifting her off her feet. She hit the arena floor hard and rolled to absorb the momentum.

When she tried to rise, Ash was already there. He pinned her shoulders to the ground, his superior weight and strength making escape impossible.

"It's over," he said.

Elesa glared up at him. For a moment, he thought she might continue fighting. Then her shoulders sagged in defeat. "I yield.”

The referee's voice boomed across the arena. "The challenger wins! Ash Ketchum is granted access to the third floor!"

Cheers erupted from the stands. Ash looked up to see his mother on her feet, clapping enthusiastically. Erika was shouting something, and even Zinnia managed a smile.

He stood and offered Elesa his hand. She accepted it, allowing him to pull her upright.

"Good fight," she said, brushing dust from her clothes. "That reflecting technique of yours is nasty."

"Your speed gave me trouble," Ash admitted. "If you'd kept the whip longer, you might have won."

"Next time," Elesa replied with a rueful smile.

The referee approached with an ornate badge—proof of his victory and key to the third floor. Ash accepted it with a smile.

Third floor. Another step closer to his ultimate goal.

So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Ash faces his tribulation.

Thanks for reading.