Chapter 0606: Mega Blastoise, Mega Launcher(Two-in-One)

The concept of Trainer levels was always a bit mysterious.

Generally speaking, Trainers and Pokémon complemented each other—neither could be neglected in battle.

But if a Pokémon's strength far surpassed its Trainer's skill, it might start ignoring commands and acting on its own.

This had been shown in both games and anime.

While bonds could help bridge the gap in strength, they couldn’t fully compensate for a Trainer’s shortcomings.

Natsume studied Lucario’s crimson eyes, his gaze briefly flickering to Ash behind it.

At his current level, Ash was nowhere near capable of fully commanding this Lucario from Cameran Palace.

Even Charizard, who had been training in the Charicific Valley, had strength beyond Ash’s current Trainer rank.

Yet, through their bond, Ash could still make Charizard and Lucario obey his commands.

This was the ability of a "Bonded One"—a talent unique to Pokédex Holders.

"Can’t win? Just activate the bond."

Natsume’s expression turned complicated. "Ash’s cheat is just unfair!"

Of course, these abilities were both gifts and limitations.

To forge new bonds, Ash often set aside or even released his older teammates.

As a "Strategist," Natsume excelled at command—though his tactics could be a little... questionable at times.

Around the battlefield, the audience’s attention was locked onto Lucario.

Based on its movie feats, this Lucario had held its own against legendary titans of rock and steel. Even if it wasn’t quite Champion-level, it was at the peak of Elite Four strength.

In other words, Lucario’s power was on par with Blastoise’s base form.

Having lived for thousands of years and honed its Aura of Ripple, its strength was nothing to scoff at!

"Need to take a break?" Natsume telepathically asked Blastoise.

"Blastoise..." Blastoise shook its head slightly, its expression razor-sharp with vigilance.

This opponent was dangerously strong!

It had to deal as much damage as possible—to give the rest of the team a fighting chance!

Natsume: "..."

Touching, but this is just paranoia at this point.

Explaining would be too complicated. This was just Blastoise’s usual battle style.

Natsume sighed.

Might as well mentally prepare for the Potion bills now.

"Battle... BEGIN!"

As the referee’s flag swung down, Lucario’s crimson eyes flashed.

[Lord Natsume, forgive my rudeness.]

With a boom, Lucario kicked off the ground, charging at Blastoise with blinding speed. Its fist arced forward, trailing a comet-like streak of white light!

"Meteor Mash!" the commentator shouted. "Right from the start, Lucario launches a fierce assault!"

"Ash didn’t give a command—Lucario moved on its own?" Aaron frowned in confusion.

Flint grinned. "Seems like this Lucario doesn’t need commands. That’s the battle instinct of a true veteran!"

This isn’t fighting a rookie (scratch that)... this is like battling a wild Pokémon!

Meanwhile, Blastoise stood firm under the effects of Torrent, its eyes calm yet deep. A thin veil of water coiled around its fists.

Facing the charging Lucario, Natsume extended his arm and commanded: "Liquidation, counter it!"

"Blastoise!"

Blastoise threw a straight punch, colliding directly with Lucario's Meteor Mash.

BANG!!

Fist met fist as silver and blue energies intertwined, creating shockwaves that sent debris flying. The ground beneath them cracked and shattered under the impact!

The chat exploded with "OHHHH" spam.

"This right here? This is Pokémon Fist Fighting at its finest!"

"Hey Lucario, you eaten yet? If not, have a taste of Blastoise's knuckles!"

"Lucario!" Lucario's expression remained cold, its sharp crimson eyes locked onto Blastoise.

"Blastoise..." Blastoise's gaze was calm, but internally, its sense of danger spiked.

When the first punch failed to connect, Lucario leapt back, gathering energy between its palms before launching a vibrant green sphere—the Aura Sphere!

This was the same technique that had once repelled the legendary titan Regirock—a devastating move that transformed aura's tracking properties into pure destructive force.

BOOM!!

Riley's heart nearly stopped. As a descendant of Sir Aaron's partner, even he couldn't comprehend the sheer mastery of aura behind this attack.

Pure, typeless aura, fused with overwhelming fighting spirit, had been unleashed alongside the Aura Sphere!

"Blastoise, Dragon Pulse!" Natsume commanded.

"Blastoise!" Blastoise raised its cannons, aiming straight at the incoming sphere and Lucario. The twin barrels resembled anti-air artillery as they fired.

BANG! BANG!

Two deep violet Dragon-type pulses shot forth, twisting together into a roaring emerald dragon that clashed against the brilliant Aura Sphere!

KABOOM!!

The arena was engulfed in black smoke, leaving the audience stunned.

"T-This... is way beyond normal tournament level, right?"

"This... this is a Youth Tournament! (I'm certain!)"

"First Tobias with his Legendary Pokémon, now Ash pulling out all the stops—this Lily of the Valley Conference is stacked with monsters!"

From within the smoke, Ash shouted anxiously, "You okay, Lucario?!"

His answer came in the form of a white arc slicing through the darkness.

"LUCA—RIO!!"

Lucario burst from the smoke like a comet, trailing a white afterimage as it closed the distance with terrifying speed, its fist aimed straight at Blastoise!

Under the audience's stunned gazes...

Meteor Mash struck Blastoise square in the chest, leaving a faint dent!

Natsume's heart skipped a beat.

It broke through! It actually broke through!

"Meteor Mash... doesn't seem very effective?!" the commentator croaked.

"Natsume-sensei, why does your Blastoise have Steel-type resistance?!"

"Did it train Iron Defense so much it just naturally resists Steel moves now?!"

Lucario's eyes flickered with disbelief. "Lucario...?"

Before it could react, Blastoise's right fist surged with water energy, smashing into Lucario's face with a CRACK and sending it skidding back several meters!

THUD!

Lucario barely caught itself, dropping to one knee as it steadied its breathing.

Then—in an instant—it looked up and charged again, its fists becoming blurs.

"LUCA-LUCA-LUCARIO!!"

Lucario's crimson eyes burned as it roared.

"Lucario's Close Combat!!" the commentator announced. "And Blastoise chooses to tank it with its arms crossed!!"

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Lucario's fists rained down like a storm, each strike sending shockwaves rippling through the air as Blastoise stood firm, weathering the assault.

Natsume winced.

Ouch ouch OUCH!!

Blastoise remained unmoved, ignoring the damage as it patiently waited for an opening.

"Blastoise..." Its eyes gleamed with focus.

Noticing Blastoise's shift in expression...

Despite having the advantage, Lucario suddenly recoiled, leaping back just as Blastoise's fist smashed into the ground where it had been standing. The Liquidation sent debris flying toward Lucario!

BOOM!!

Lucario crossed its arms to block, exhaling sharply.

Like the Time Flower in the movie, aura granted brief precognition—that was how Lucario had dodged!

The chat flooded with disbelief.

"How did Lucario react to that?!"

"This isn't looking good for Blastoise..."

"Natsume-sensei excels at everything except landing Water-type moves!"

Natsume's Aura of Ripple had also sensed Lucario's evasion.

Because Ash's aura perfectly matched Sir Aaron's, even without commands, his aura could still enhance Lucario.

But the same was true for him and Blastoise—their bond and aura were just as strong!

(If we don't Mega Evolve soon, the medical bills are gonna double!!)

Natsume raised his hand, the cameras zooming in on his black fingerless glove. The audience watched in shock or confusion.

Embedded in the glove was a crystal-clear Key Stone, now shimmering with rainbow light.

"Is it happening?!"

"Wait... Natsume-sensei can Mega Evolve too?!"

"BLASTOISE—"

Natsume snapped his fingers.

"MEGA EVOLUTION!!"

"Blastoise..." Blastoise took a deep breath as an intense aura erupted from its body. The Mega Evolution symbol glowed brightly on its forehead!

A radiant beam of light connected Natsume and Blastoise, engulfing the battlefield in brilliant evolutionary energy as Blastoise began its transformation!

A shockwave of aura rippled outward, forcing the audience to shield their eyes in awe.

"He waited until the finals to use Mega Evolution?!"

"Natsume-sensei was holding back this whole time?!"

As the light faded, Mega Blastoise stood revealed—its massive cannons glowing ominously like ultimate weapons, extending past its head.

"Blastoise..."

Mega Blastoise crouched low, the twin launchers on its arms resembling submachine guns. Its brow ridges protruded sharply, and its eyes burned crimson.

The sheer intimidation of its colossal cannon silenced the audience.

"Mega Blastoise's ability, Mega Launcher, boosts pulse-based moves," Blue Oak explained, arms crossed. "For Natsume-sensei's Blastoise... that's a massive power-up."

On the other side of the arena, Paul stared blankly, overwhelmed by the sheer gap in strength.

Riley adjusted his gentleman's hat, his gaze profound.

Both Lucario and Blastoise...

They embodied the courage, resilience, and power of true aura wielders.

"Lucario..."

Lucario's crimson eyes sharpened as it studied Mega Blastoise's pulsing energy. A fierce grin tugged at its lips.

This comrade it had once fought alongside—this junior it had placed such hopes in—had now grown into a formidable aura wielder.

And in response... it would answer with its most indomitable fighting spirit!

『Ash.』 Lucario spoke telepathically, its back still turned. 『You will become a great Aura Warrior, just like Sir Aaron and Natsume.』

『But for now—』

Lucario's expression hardened, its black mane swaying in the wind.

『We fight together.』

"Let's go, Lucario!"

Ash roared, his aura—identical to Sir Aaron's—flaring as it surged into Lucario.

"Use Aura Sphere!!"

『Aura... guide me!』

Lucario's cry echoed the battles it had once fought alongside Sir Aaron.

But now, it had found new bonds—and reignited its passion for battle and victory!

Blue energy swirled between Lucario's palms, forming a radiant Aura Sphere—just like when it had saved the Tree of Beginning.

Mega Blastoise watched intently, its eyes flickering. "Blastoise..."

"Blastoise, use Aura Sphere!!" Natsume commanded.

Mega Blastoise lowered its stance, its eyes flashing crimson as its massive cannons gathered a devastating, pure-white energy—not the sinister Dark Pulse, but a concentrated blast of raw destructive force.

Two shockwaves—one blue, one white—erupted from opposite sides of the battlefield.

Then—

The Aura Spheres fired as twin beams, colliding in a cataclysmic explosion!

BOOOOOOM!!!

The blinding light illuminated the audience's stunned faces. This was undoubtedly the most intense battle of the Lily of the Valley Conference!

The white and blue beams clashed violently—

Mega Blastoise's Mega Launcher turning it into an unstoppable war machine!

KABOOM!!

The explosion rocked the entire arena. The white beam overpowered the blue, surging forward—

Lucario's eyes widened—

BLAST!!

The attack struck dead-on, engulfing Lucario in blinding light!

As the smoke cleared, Lucario stood motionless, head bowed, smoke rising from its body.

The arena fell silent.

"Who... won?"

"This is insane..."

"It overpowered it completely?!"

In its fading consciousness, Lucario turned to Ash—his silhouette overlapping with Sir Aaron's as a familiar voice echoed in its mind.

"LUCARIO!!"

Its fighting spirit ebbed away, leaving only exhaustion... and pride.

Lucario smiled.

This time... I fought by your side until the very end.

THUD.

"Lucario is unable to battle!" The referee raised his flag.

From the dissipating smoke, Mega Blastoise emerged—its metal cannons scratched and battered by the aftermath.

"Blastoise!"

Oh no oh no oh no!!

The arena erupted. The livestream chat exploded.

"THIS is what a Lily of the Valley Conference Champion looks like?!"

"Three KOs in a row! THREE!"

"That Lucario was insane... basically a ringer, right?"

"Nah, Blastoise was the real carry!"

Ash recalled Lucario into its temporary Poké Ball with a soft smile.

"Thank you, Lucario."

Even at the risk of losing... I'll keep fighting.

Because my dream is to become the strongest Pokémon Master!

"Go, Charizard!!"

Ash hurled the Poké Ball, his eyes blazing.

Charizard... let's win this!

"Charizard!!"

Charizard emerged in a flash of light, wings spread wide as it blasted a fireball into the sky, circling the arena with arrogant grace.

"Oh! Ash's Charizard is well-trained!" Red commented in the chat.

"I helped with that," Blue Oak said flatly.

"Ehh, it's the twerp's Charizard~" The trio of troublemakers muttered from the sidelines.

"Bad memories coming back, meow!"

"Hate this feeling~~o(╥﹏╥)o"

The audience buzzed at Charizard's appearance.

Cynthia, watching from the Champion's seat, studied Natsume.

Will he hold back... or go all out?

There was only one answer.

The pride of a Champion who never accepts defeat!

"The Kalos Champion loses all the time, though..." Natsume muttered, eyeing the unruly Charizard.

"Contestant Ash has sent out his final Pokémon—Charizard!" the commentator announced.

THUD.

Charizard landed heavily, locking eyes with Mega Blastoise. "GRRROAH!"

Mega Blastoise studied it, lips pressed thin. "Blastoise."

Oh? You think you're tough?

"The final showdown—Charizard vs. Blastoise!" Professor Oak grinned. "A battle of destined rivals!"

"Ash still has room to grow as a Trainer, but..." Blue Oak sighed. "That bond of his... it's troublesome."

Natsume observed Charizard—its eyes clear, free of its former arrogance.

A year ago, he had battled Ash.

Both Ash and Charizard had grown stronger since then—

(Though they'll probably reset next region...)

Still, seeing Charizard at its full potential filled Natsume with pride.

"Battle... BEGIN!" The referee's whistle blew.

Natsume shook his head and gave the order:

"Blastoise, use Water Gun!"