Pokémon: This trainer is too wild!

Chapter 586 Ash: Fighting Mammon? I might not necessarily lose!
Mammon raised an eyebrow as he looked at the matching results on the big screen.

Mammon vs. Ash!

And now on the other side.

“Very spicy!”

Xiaoxia slapped herself on the forehead with a "smack".

When she saw the matching result, her heart skipped a beat.

It was so hard... so hard to get to this point!
How could it become like this?

"Sigh, bad luck."

Xiao Gang also sighed. Anyone would know that Mei Yue and the other three had already been matched.

Mammon is the most terrifying one among the remaining contestants.

"Phew~" Ash stared intently at Mammon's image on the big screen, letting out a long sigh of relief, his eyes growing increasingly intense.

"Mr. Mammon!"

Xiao Zhi's tone revealed no regret or sigh; instead, it was full of excitement.

His fighting spirit was gradually rising!

"that is really good!"

"What's so great about it, Ash? You can't possibly beat Mammon."

Xiaoxia couldn't help but complain.

"If you don't get matched with Mammon, you have a chance to reach Master 8."

Xiaoxia felt that she couldn't understand Ash's thought process once again. With Ash's current strength, he could even fight Lance and Leon.

Therefore, she genuinely believed that Xiaozhi had a chance to join the Eight Masters.

But now, there is no doubt that there is no chance.

"That kind of thing really doesn't matter, Xia."

Xiao Zhi shook his head, which surprised Xiao Xia and Xiao Gang.

"Even if you become one of the 'Masters of Luck' through the matching system, that kind of title... isn't really anything to be happy about."

Xiao Zhi's expression became firm, and his words changed from hesitant to resolute.

"But Ash, isn't your dream to become a 'Pokémon Master'?"

Xiao Gang hesitated for a moment. As Xiao Zhi's partner who had accompanied him on his journey for two years, both he and Xiao Xia sincerely hoped that Xiao Zhi could fulfill his dream.

Ash's lifelong dream has been to become a 'Pokémon Master', and now is the closest he's ever come to that title.

If Ash can become one of the "Eight Masters", he will be rightfully known as a "Pokémon Master" from now on!
Even if it was by luck, Ash still defeated his opponent to advance, didn't he?
"I want to rely on my own abilities and work hard with Pikachu and the others to become a Pokémon Master with dignity. Otherwise, I will feel regretful."

Ash slowly stood up, gazing intently at his own and Mammon's images on the big screen.

“There will be many opportunities in the World Championships, Xiao Gang, Xiao Xia. I am only seventeen years old now, but the opportunity to compete against Mr. Mammon on such a stage may never come again.”

Yes, Xiao Zhi is very open-minded now; this is not the only opportunity he will ever have.

According to the league's announcement, the World Championships will be held every two years.

Ash doesn't have the chance to compete for that championship now, but he might in the future.

But after Mammon, he may never participate in the World Championships again.

So for Ash, he really wanted to battle Mammon on such a grand stage, as rivals.

Xiaoxia and Xiaogang were taken aback by what they heard, their astonished looks as if they were seeing Xiaozhi for the first time.

"Besides, we haven't even fought yet, so it doesn't mean I'm bound to lose! Right, Pikachu?"

The youthful vigor and high spirits were fully displayed in Xiaozhi at this moment.

"Pika~chu!"

Electric Mouse perched on Ash's shoulder, its eyes crinkling with laughter, responding with equal fighting spirit.

"gone!"

Ash waved to Brock and Ash, then jogged towards the contestant tunnel.

Watching Ash's retreating figure, Brock remained lost in thought for a long time before suddenly smiling knowingly.

"This guy, honestly, he's putting on an act."

Xiaoxia smiled and subconsciously made a sarcastic remark.

"Yeah~"

Xiao Gang stared at the boy's running figure, his expression slightly dazed.

"Go for it, Ash!"

……

"Alright! The two contestants are ready. Now, let's give them a warm round of applause as they enter the arena!"

The sunglass-wearing host's booming voice began to ring out.

"Mammon!"

"Ash!"

"Wo~!"

Amidst enthusiastic cheers and applause from the audience, two young figures slowly emerged from the players' tunnel.

Inside the enormous arena, all eyes were focused on the two, while aerial cameras filmed the scene below from various angles.

But the audience watching this match was far more than just those in the arena.

This is a global stage, and countless people around the world are watching this live broadcast.

Mammon stopped and looked at the black-haired boy in the hat opposite him. After a long while, he couldn't help but smile. He could clearly feel Ash's burning gaze at that moment.

"The second stage of the World Championship is now beginning. The two teams facing off are Mammon and Ash from Kanto."

"The battle rules are 6 vs 6. When all six Pokémon on one side are unable to battle, the other side wins."

"Winners advance, losers are eliminated, the battle begins!"

The referee announced the rules of the fight and then slowly left the arena.

On the big screen, a pointer representing the order of play, located in the center of Mammon and Ash's portraits, began to rotate.

Finally, the pointer gradually stopped on Mammon's side.

"Ash, how are you feeling now?"

Mammon wasn't in a hurry. After taking out the Poké Ball, he looked at Ash.

"Fantastic!!"

Xiao Zhi grinned widely; he felt fantastic!
Especially when he saw Mammon standing opposite him, he could feel his blood boiling and his heart pounding powerfully!
"Mammon! Come on, I want to fight you! I've been waiting for this day for so long!"

"Me too, Ash."

Mammon responded to this enthusiasm with a bright and genuine smile.

"I've always wanted to have a full-fledged battle with you, Ash, especially on a stage like this."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhi's expression became even more excited.

"So, bring out all your skills, and don't let me defeat you so easily."

Mammon enlarged the Poké Ball in his hand and threw it with a backhand motion.

"Let me see the limits of you and your Pokémon, Ash!"

"This was my first Pokémon!"

"Marshado! Prepare for battle!"

The Poké Ball opened in mid-air, and a white light landed.

A dark shadow spread out, and a gray-black Shadow Pokémon slowly rose from the shadow, its empty orange eyes staring at Ash.

"Masado back then?"

Ash instantly recognized the Pokémon as Marshadow, the Mythical Pokémon that appeared from his shadow back in Mt. Azusa and was eventually captured by Mammon.

Ash took out his Pokédex and pointed it at Marshadow.

'Drip~ Marshadow, Fighting/Ghost type, Shadow Pokémon'

It can infiltrate the shadow of its opponent, mimicking their movements and strength, and in the process, becoming stronger than the original.

"Fighting + Ghost attributes..."

Ash thought for a moment, then decisively took out a Poké Ball and threw it.

"Lucario! I choose you!"

A flash of white light, and the aloof Lucario slowly straightened up, his calm and sharp eyes fixed on Marshadow.

"Lucario? Why is Ash using this to fight Marshadow?"

In the audience, Xiao Mao was filled with doubt.

Lucario's type is Fighting/Steel, but Fighting is ineffective against Ghost-type Marshadow, and Lucario itself is weak to Fighting.

This is a deliberate choice to engage in a battle where the attributes are disadvantageous.

"Ash has his own ideas, right?" Green shrugged. How could he possibly know what Ash was thinking?
"Hahaha~ After all, it's Ash Ketchum, let's keep watching." Yukinari Oak said with a loud laugh.

Yes, he also came to watch the game live.

Although Blue has been eliminated, Red and Ash have both advanced, which is good for Oak Yukinari.

The significance of Red and Ash, who were raised under his watchful eye and both received their starter Pokémon from him, is naturally different.

However... I was still a bit unlucky.

Looking at the two in the arena, Yukinari Oki was still quite frustrated. Ash's luck was just too bad.

As for Misty and Brock, they weren't surprised at all when Ash chose to battle against the opposite type. Well, they're used to it.

Red looked at Ash on the field, remaining silent.

Inside the venue.

"Is Lucario not going to Mega Evolve? Is the Mega Evolution slot being reserved for Charizard?"

Seeing that Ash had stopped making any further moves, Mammon smiled and asked Ash a question.

Ash has two Mega Evolution slots, Lucario and Charizard, and he has used Mega Evolution in previous battles.

As for the Mega Evolution Stone, it was obtained from Team Rocket.

Well, Ash's merit points aren't enough to exchange for a legendary Pokémon, but they're more than enough to exchange for other Pokémon and items.

As we all know, if you want to Mega Evolve, you should use it as soon as possible.

Are we going to wait until the Pokémon is halfway through the battle and its condition is already bad before Mega Evolving?

"Ha~ Mammon, you found out."

Ash scratched his head. He was indeed planning to Mega Charizard this time, since his Charizard was stronger than Lucario.

"Come on, Ash, let me see how you're going to deal with my Marshadow."

Mammon chuckled softly, his eyes becoming much more eager.

He had high expectations for Ash.

(End of this chapter)