At this moment, inside Spikemuth Arena, many people were still immersed in the sorrow of Pikachu's defeat.
There was no greater hardship in the world than breaking through one's limits, only to fall a few steps short of success.
Ash also stepped onto the Battle Arena, picked up Pikachu, and handed him to the accompanying Miss Joy for treatment. He clenched his last Poké Ball tightly, his eyes filled with the resolve to stake everything on one final gamble.
Su Hao recalled Diancie as well and slowly used Tokiwa Power to heal her wounds.
The power of Friendship Thunderbolt had truly exceeded all expectations.
It was hard to imagine that Pikachu had unleashed such a powerful attack without relying on any battle system, solely through the bond between himself, Ash, and their companions.
Su Hao greatly admired them for that, though he also felt somewhat ashamed.
If it had been him, he could only contend with it through hard work, persistence, a small bit of luck, and the combined effect of many factors.
Even though Pikachu had failed to defeat Diancie, Su Hao had decided to send out Reshiram and show Ash his sixth Pokémon.
Inside the lounge.
The champions all wore complicated expressions, but inwardly, they applauded Su Hao and Ash, Diancie and Pikachu.
In their eyes, that battle had already been the pinnacle. No matter how exciting what came next was, it could no longer surpass that threshold.
Yet just as everyone's emotions were gradually cooling down, a majestic lion's roar that rang through the sky made them all look up.
Among Ash's friends and family.
Burnet, Professor Kukui's wife, shrank back in shock. "An Ultra Wormhole!?"
How could an Ultra Wormhole appear in the Galar region?
But immediately afterward, that dazzling figure descended onto the devastated Battle