"Ash, the Lumiose Conference is over. Congratulations on winning the championship."
"Before we part ways, how about letting me see what Greninja can do?"
Eager to give it a try, Bai Shi took the initiative and challenged Ash to a battle.
He had long wanted to test himself against Ash's Greninja.
Unfortunately, the Lumiose Conference had been in full swing at the time. To avoid Greninja getting injured, he had been forced to put the idea aside.
Now that the tournament had drawn to a successful close, Bai Shi's interest flared up again.
"Sure, no problem. I accept your challenge!"
Fresh from his championship victory, Ash was riding high. There was no way he would refuse, and he readily agreed.
Bai Shi's absence from the Lumiose Conference had already left him deeply disappointed.
Now that he had another chance to battle Bai Shi, he was more than happy to take it.
After a brief discussion, the two decided on a one-on-one match.
They chose the Lumiose Gym as the venue.
Thanks to Bai Shi's intervention, Citroïde had not been destroyed, so there had been no need to repair or reset him.
He also stood at the edge of the battlefield, serving as the referee for this match.
Serena, Clemont, and his younger sister watched from the sidelines, cheering Ash on.
"Greninja, I choose you!"
As Bai Shi had hoped, Ash sent out Greninja.
Through his experiences in Lumiose City, Ash had undergone a transformation.
He firmly believed that no matter which Pokémon Bai Shi sent out, Greninja could win.
"Go, Manectric!"
After a moment's consideration, Bai Shi chose Manectric for the battle.
His opponent had certainly grown, but he had not been standing still either.
While he had been collecting Z-Crystals in the Alola Region, most of the Pokémon he