"Pika~chu!"
As Su Hao stroked it, the mighty Pikachu nearly lost its footing and fell off Ash's shoulder.
It looked at Su Hao in lingering alarm. Its illustrious reputation had nearly been ruined—this man's technique seemed even more refined than it had been at that evening's banquet.
Su Hao smiled at Pikachu, then turned to Ash and asked curiously, "Is Lucario still with you?"
Ash froze for a moment before nodding slightly. "It is."
With practiced ease, Ash held four Poké Balls between his fingers and released the Pokémon inside.
Lucario, Gengar, Dragonite, and Galarian Farfetch'd.
Among them, Galarian Farfetch'd was the weakest, roughly at the peak of Elite Level. Dragonite and Gengar were both at Late Gym Level, likely not far from reaching Elite Four Level.
For Pokémon Ash had only recently caught, they were already quite impressive.
As for the Lucario Su Hao was watching closely... when he saw that it was at Late Elite Four Level, Su Hao smiled as though he had expected it.
After Mega Evolution and resonance with Ash's current Wave Power—probably around Advanced level—it could more than hold its own at Champion Level.
Not to mention Ash's leveling speed, which was even faster than Su Hao's cheat-like experience boost.
Perhaps by the time of the Masters Eight Elimination Tournament, the strength of Ash's Pokémon would undergo a complete transformation.
The moment it left its Poké Ball, the composed Lucario noticed Su Hao.
When it recognized Su Hao's Aura, excitement flashed through Lucario's eyes. It immediately knelt on one knee before him and performed a standard knight's salute.
"It has been a long time, my lord!"
The voice Lucario conveyed through Aura was filled with excitement.
It was deeply grateful to Su Hao. Not only had Su Hao given it another chance to choose