"Ladies and gentlemen—this is it! The final showdown of the Sinnoh League Lily of the Valley Conference begins today!"

The crimson sun rose in blazing glory, casting its light across the vast blue sky.

The battlefield of the Lily of the Valley Conference roared with thunderous cheers.

The crowd had clearly split into two camps.

On one side, the Tobias supporters.

They were drawn to overwhelming power. Tobias had dominated the tournament with a single Darkrai. To them, he was the unstoppable dark horse.

A super dark horse.

The other side?

They were here for Ash.

They were here for battles that made your blood boil. For stories of triumph earned, not handed.

In the judge's box sat the titans of the Pokémon world: Lance, Wallace, Cynthia, Alder, and Diantha—all watching with high anticipation.

Lance and Wallace were eager to see whether Ash could defeat Tobias's infamous Darkrai.

Alder, on the other hand, wanted to know just how long Ash's Pokémon could last under the pressure of Darkrai's relentless assault.

They weren't blind. They could tell—Tobias's Darkrai was of Champion level.

But Champion level didn't mean Champion strength.

The latter was a title earned through official certification by the Pokémon League. Tobias had the raw power—but not the credentials.

"Ash and Tobias are entering the battlefield now!"

Countless eyes zeroed in on the two trainers.

The air was more intense than ever.

If your heart wasn't strong, the sheer pressure of those gazes would leave you speechless—let alone able to give battle commands.

This wasn't some beauty pageant.

This was the big leagues.

"The final match of the Sinnoh League Lily of the Valley Conference—Ash vs. Tobias! Both trainers may use six Pokémon. The match will end when one side's entire team can no longer battle. Both trainers may substitute freely. I hereby declare… BATTLE START!"

Even the referee was trembling with excitement.

He'd officiated tournaments for years—never once had anyone brought a mythical Pokémon to a public league match.

Tobias held up Darkrai's Poké Ball and smiled amicably. "Ash! I'm truly honored to battle you in the finals. I admit, you're a formidable trainer—"

What he didn't say out loud was this:

But I'm stronger. Hahaha.

"You really think you'll be happy about that?"

Ash cut in suddenly, voice calm but layered with hidden meaning.

Tobias blinked, momentarily stunned.

What was that supposed to mean?

He was about to crush Ash's team and take home the championship. Of course he'd be happy.

Ash held up a Poké Ball of his own.

He glanced toward the panel of champions… then swept his gaze across the crowd.

Pikachu stood tall on his shoulder—undaunted by the pressure.

Ash's voice suddenly rang out—bold and booming across the stadium!

"Today… marks a historic day!"

"A moment that will signal the beginning of a new era!"

"And all of you—every single one—will be the witnesses to this miracle!"

In that moment, Ash did something he hadn't done all tournament:

He turned his iconic cap backward.

Just like that very first day,

When he'd become a Pokémon trainer…

And caught his first partner.

"Let's go, Sceptile!"

"Chaa-moh!"

The forest warrior of Hoenn—Sceptile enters the battlefield!

Around its neck hung a round, gleaming object—almost like jewelry.

A Mega Stone.

At the same time, a similar gem appeared in Ash's hand—

A shimmering Key Stone embedded in a sleek wristband.

Tobias blinked, confused.

He thought Ash was building up to something huge.

And… it was just a Sceptile?

What was he expecting to do with some flashy rock?

Please.

He'd show Ash the sheer terror of Darkrai soon enough.

"Darkrai—Dark Void!"

"Daaaark!"

Darkrai's hands surged with energy as it hurled a massive sphere of darkness toward Sceptile.

That move—Dark Void—had torn through the entire conference bracket.

What would Ash do now?

The whole stadium held its breath.

Ash clenched the Key Stone tightly.

"Answer my call, Sceptile—transcend evolution—Mega Evolve!!"

"Chaa-MOOOOH!!"

BZZZZZZT!!

Sceptile's Mega Stone and Ash's Key Stone lit up like suns.

The energy between them exploded—forming a dazzling arc of raw power!

It was visible to the naked eye—pure, radiant energy linking trainer and Pokémon.

"What the… he… he actually dared to do this!?"

Up in the judge's box, every Champion was dumbstruck.

Alder leapt to his feet in disbelief.

The Pokémon League had always been the ultimate authority.

Any discoveries, any revelations—only they could announce them.

It was their research, their science, their legacy.

Champion status came with a heavy load—but the rewards and control were immense.

Even Lance and Wallace, while disapproving of Ash's public reveal, couldn't help but give him a mental thumbs-up for sheer audacity.

Cynthia?

She was already thinking of ways to protect Ash from the League backlash.

The Unova region had already voiced heavy resistance to Ash receiving a private sales share from the eventual Mega Evolution merchandise.

And now this?

But…

"Chaaa-MOOOH!!!"

It was done.

Sceptile's body surged with light.

First, its height increased.

Then—its tail.

The thorny ends grew longer, sharper—becoming a deadly blade.

Its entire form radiated a wild, untamed power.

Mega Sceptile had arrived.

A devastating aura burst forth from it like a tsunami—shaking the air itself.

Darkrai's Dark Void came within range… and was instantly shattered by the energy linking Ash's Mega Stone and Sceptile's!

Tobias could only stare—stunned.

Ash didn't waste a second.

He raised his hand high—like a sword pointed to the sky.

His voice rang out like a war cry:

"Let the world witness the power of Mega Evolution—Mega Sceptile—Leaf Blade Combo Slash!!"

"CHAAA-MOH!!!"

Mega Sceptile's cry echoed across the arena—but its body was already gone!

It had moved like lightning—teleporting skyward!

In an instant, it appeared behind Darkrai!

Ash hadn't even finished speaking before Mega Sceptile's glowing arm-blade was raised—

SLASH!!

Darkrai was struck clean in the back—its body hurled downward like a missile!

BOOM!!

It slammed into the battlefield—blasting stone into dust!

Massive slabs of rock vaporized from the impact.

The entire stadium shook.

Ash stared defiantly at the stunned panel of Champions.

Today, they would learn.

This… was Mega Evolution.

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T/N:

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