The Lumiose Conference.
This semifinal match caught many people by surprise.
Many spectators had expected a one-sided match, just like the previous battle between Alain and Louis.
But Sawyer had demonstrated tremendous strength.
After Noivern and Salamence knocked each other out,
the score stood at 3-4, with Ash holding a slight lead, though Pikachu had less than a quarter of its stamina left.
Many people had never expected Xiang Kai to show such ability in his very first Pokémon League tournament.
Akin said, "Sawyer really is pretty strong."
Steven said, "Like Ash, he has a heart that loves Pokémon battles."
Sawyer might not have been as wildly unpredictable as Ash, but he was just as passionate when it came to battling.
Brock could not help remarking, "Sawyer really put his heart into studying Ash."
"Slurpuff, I choose you!"
Sawyer had guessed that Ash's next Pokémon would definitely not be Greninja, but Goodra.
Fairy against Dragon...
It was a perfect counter.
But this was Ash, the Type-Disadvantage Master.
Shinji, who was traveling through the Unova Region, was also watching the highly anticipated match at a Pokémon Center.
"He really hasn't changed at all."
"Wait, aren't you..." One of the spectators watching alongside him recognized Shinji as someone who had battled Ash.
"You must be the guy who faced Ash in Sinnoh! I remember... your name's Shinji, right?"
Shinji merely nodded in silence.
Ash's battle against Shinji had more views on the Eevee Network than Ash versus Li Wei.
And that was despite Li Wei being more famous than Ash and Shinji combined.
"What Pokémon is that?"
Serena took out her Pokédex.
"Slurpuff, Fairy type..."
It was not a common powerhouse in competitive battles, but its Fairy typing, which countered Dragon types, added another layer of uncertainty to the match.
However, Goodra