The Lumiose Conference, Lumiose Stadium.
Amid the cheers of the audience, the finals had begun.
The two sides sent out Pikachu and Tyranitar respectively.
Tyranitar's Ability, Sand Stream, engulfed the entire rocky battlefield in a sandstorm.
Diantha wasn't optimistic about Ash's choice.
"Choosing Pikachu puts him at quite a disadvantage."
Although Tyranitar wasn't a Ground-type, he knew plenty of Ground-type moves, which were extremely effective against Pikachu.
Lance, however, disagreed.
"That just shows you still don't understand Ash well enough."
"Because this Pikachu...
isn't your average Pikachu."
Recalling how Ash's Pikachu had performed against Legendary Pokémon, Lance couldn't help giving a thumbs-up...
And proclaiming him-Pikazeus!
Besides, Ash was practically cheating whenever he fought at a type disadvantage!
Diantha had been about to argue.
Pikachu were indeed rare in the Kalos Region, but weren't they as common as stray dogs in the Kanto Region...?
Then she remembered Red's Pikachu...
Sorry, I must have been blind!
Diantha couldn't help smiling.
Inviting Lance onto the stage as a guest had definitely been the right call.
Despite Lance's great confidence in Ash, Ash himself found Tyranitar and his swirling sandstorm rather troublesome.
Watching Ash's expression, Blue nodded in satisfaction.
Knowing you could fight was different from blindly charging in.
Looking at the referee standing in the sandstorm,
Li Wei wanted to say,
Referee, are you really okay? Referee!
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
As everyone knew, Tyranitar wasn't a Ground-type, but a Rock- and Dark-type, so Electric-type moves dealt neutral damage.
Violent electricity surged out of Pikachu,
Piercing the raging curtains of yellow sand and striking Tyranitar dead-on!
"It hit!"
"But thanks to Tyranitar's Sand Stream, his Special Defense is higher in the sandstorm!"
Despite taking a direct hit from Pikachu's Thunderbolt, Tyranitar showed no sign of pain.
Alain clenched his right hand into a fist.
"Tyranitar,