At Tobias's command, Regigigas charged forward, using the move Crush Claw.

But when he saw what Charizard had become—his entire appearance changed—Tobias visibly flinched!

What… what is that thing!?

Every single one of Ash's Pokémon in this battle, except for Pikachu, had transformed somehow!

And even Pikachu was insanely strong!

But if Tobias lost now, his mission would fail!

He couldn't lose.

He must not lose!

Regigigas was a Tier-3 Legendary Rank—surely it could win!

The audience held their breath.

The host forgot to shout.

Even the Champions at the judges' table sat frozen in shock.

Tier-3 Deity…

Was this… seriously still the Lily of the Valley Conference!?

This is still the Sinnoh League!?

Are we sure this isn't a battle between Champions from all regions!?

Because even our Champion tournaments have never reached this level of insanity!

Even Lance and Wallace were beginning to doubt if Ash could win now.

Cynthia pursed her lips, saying nothing.

But her hand instinctively rested on the Poké Ball of her Garchomp.

If things spiraled out of control, she believed her Garchomp could at least stall a Tier-3 deity for a moment…

Elsewhere in the spectators' corridor, the four Sinnoh Elite Four stood completely stunned.

Steven Stone was equally floored.

Ash's Sceptile.

Ash's Gardevoir.

Ash's Charizard.

Mega Evolution. All three!

But now…

Tobias was using a Tier-3 Legendary!

And no one… no one knew that Pikachu had already reached Tier-3 levels long ago.

Even Ash's Sceptile, in Mega form, had the strength of a Tier-3 deity!

"Ash, be careful!!"

Delia, watching from the stands, clutched her chest in panic.

She didn't understand the exact power levels—but just looking at that towering figure charging toward her son filled her with dread.

That pressure… it was overwhelming!

That was her child out there! Her son!

She was about to bolt down toward the battlefield—

"Mrs. Ketchum! Please believe in Ash—he'll be okay!"

Misty, May, Anabel, and Dawn panicked the moment they saw Delia about to rush forward.

They knew just how strong Ash really was.

Mewtwo was guarding him. So was Latias.

No matter how strong Tobias might seem, Ash wouldn't be harmed.

...

On the battlefield, the clash was imminent!

Regigigas charged—the ground trembling beneath its heavy steps!

Some people in the crowd even stood up in alarm!

Mega Charizard X's claws shimmered with radiant Dragon Claw energy.

Sharp. Deadly. Unstoppable.

CLAAAANG!!!

The sound of steel clashing exploded like thunder!

Mega Charizard X used one claw to swipe away Regigigas's arms like they were twigs!

One was Level 85.

The other—already Level 91.

They weren't even in the same league.

With his other claw—Mega Charizard X slashed directly across Regigigas's shoulder!

SCREEEEECH!!!

The sound of claws cutting metal rang out—like blades grinding against glass.

Three deep claw marks scorched across Regigigas's body, dragging firelight behind them.

Everyone saw it.

And in that moment—Ash knew.

His suspicion was right.

This wasn't a real Regigigas.

A clone.

Only a cloned Regigigas would have a body that lacked the mythical, unbreakable steel of the real one—formed over millions of years.

Tobias… was he connected to Team Rocket?

Or worse… was he part of Team Rocket?

But before Ash could think any deeper, the stadium erupted—

Deafening cheers exploded like fireworks!

Regigigas had been smashed to the ground by one strike of Mega Charizard X's Dragon Claw—

Knocked out cold.

And those three claw marks—were permanent.

"Ding! [Congratulations, host! Mega Charizard X has successfully defeated—]"

The system spoke in Ash's mind.

But he barely noticed.

Because all he heard was—

"Regigigas… is unable to battle! Charizard wins! Which means—the winner of this battle, and the Champion of the Sinnoh League Lily of the Valley Conference—is Ash Ketchum!!!"

YESSSSS!!!

For Ash, winning the Sinnoh League had always been a painful thorn in his heart.

His Pokémon were strong enough already—why did he need to challenge every Gym?

He needed to defeat Tobias.

He needed to win.

Only by obliterating Tobias with overwhelming force—only by taking this Championship—could he finally breathe easy in this new life!

And now—

He had done it.

The audience was silent for a brief second.

And then—

The loudest applause in Sinnoh League history erupted!

Tens of thousands clapped as if they had no hands to spare!

And they weren't just clapping—

They were chanting.

"Ash! Champion!"

"Ash! Champion!"

"Ash! Champion!"

Over and over!

In that moment, Ash stood there—

The brightest light in the whole world shining down on him.

He was the guy. The one. The absolute king of the stage.

Tobias?

Defeated and broken.

His expression blank and lifeless.

"How…?"

"How could this be? Even after using that, I still lost…"

His failure to complete the mission crushed him.

But Tobias forced himself to hide his emotions.

He'd already drawn too much attention today—

No one casually pulls out Six Legendaries and walks away unnoticed.

Luckily, Ash's insane Pokémon transformations helped deflect some attention.

He had to escape—fast.

But not yet. He still had to accept his second-place trophy before he could leave.

None of the other Champions moved.

Only Cynthia stepped onto the stage.

She handed the third and second-place trophies to the appropriate trainers—Tobias and the third-place finalist.

Then she turned to Ash.

Her eyes locked with his.

And she handed him the Champion's Trophy.

"Ash… congratulations. You are the strongest Champion in the history of the Sinnoh League Lily of the Valley Conference."

At that moment—

Misty, May, and Delia all burst into tears.

Only they knew what this trophy truly meant.

Only they knew the blood, sweat, and tears Ash—and his Pokémon—had shed to reach this place.

Misty cried, remembering the journey through the Indigo League, the Orange Islands, and Johto.

May sobbed, thinking of their travels through Hoenn and the Battle Frontier.

Delia covered her face with her hands.

Her tears wouldn't stop.

Ash…

Mom always knew.

You could do it.

You would do it.

You were always the best in Mom's eyes!

Ash stood tall—in that blinding spotlight.

But he didn't take the trophy alone.

Instead, he released all of his Pokémon to stand beside him (except the Legendaries).

"This trophy… it means everything to me. But it doesn't belong to just me. It belongs to all of us—me, my Pokémon, my mom, and my friends!"

And then—

They appeared:

Pidgeot. Rapidash. Ivysaur. Charizard. Wartortle. Kingler. Muk. Tauros. Primeape. Snorlax. Lapras.

Heracross. Bayleef. Quilava. Feraligatr. Noctowl. Donphan. Gengar.

Swellow. Crawdaunt. Sceptile. Torkoal. Glalie.

Torterra. Floatzel. Electivire. Gliscor. Gabite. Metagross. Lucario. Infernape.

Pikachu!!!

Before all his Pokémon, Ash accepted the trophy and took a deep breath.

"I, Ash Ketchum—Champion of the Sinnoh League Lily of the Valley Conference!!"

__

Author's Note:

This arc is officially complete!

Next up: Tobias's backstory, the League's reaction to Ash's public Mega Evolution use, the secret behind the Mega Stones, and how Tobias got all those Legendaries.

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T/N:

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