svetikya Chapter 543 Pre-Match Showdown: Ash vs. Darkrai
Chapter 543 Pre-Match Showdown: Ash vs. Darkrai
The next morning, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds and fell on every corner of Lily of the Valley, filling the air with an indescribable restlessness.
The Lily of the Valley Arena was already bustling with excitement, like a giant, ignited furnace. Spectators poured in from all directions, forming a colorful ocean, their faces beaming with excitement and fervor, all eagerly anticipating the upcoming showdown.
......
But outside that hustle and bustle, the players' lounge was a completely different kind of tranquility.
Unlike the day the tournament started, now only Ash and Darkrai are in the huge players' lounge.
Ash sat with his back against the pillar behind him, still thinking about the order in which his Pokémon would appear in the battle later.
At the same time, he could clearly feel the steady breathing coming from the other side of the pillar.
It's Dacto.
Neither of them spoke, but quietly shared this last moment of tranquility before the match, with invisible pressure subtly permeating and colliding in the air.
“We’ve finally waited for this moment.” Darko’s voice broke the silence first, calm and without the slightest ripple, but his overall emotion was still more intense than Shinji’s.
"As expected, my opponent in the finals is still you. Just like I had a feeling when I saw you on TV that day, your demeanor is completely different from others."
Ash opened his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips, his voice equally calm: "Although I'm also very happy to meet you on the final stage."
Ash emphasized the words "final stage" when he spoke, but Darkroc didn't care and just thought it was Ash's excitement at making it to the finals for the first time.
“However, there is one point I still want to refute.” Ash glanced sideways. “I am the same as everyone else. I started as an ordinary trainer and gradually went through the process of maturing from immaturity to maturity, from failure to victory. There are many people who are more talented than me. Many people won the League Championship in their debut year. Some people can even become the Elite Four or even the champion after experiencing one or two regions. Compared with them, I am just an ordinary person.”
"Really?" Darko didn't seem to care, taking it as Ash's humble remark. "Then let me put it another way: you're stronger than all the other trainers on this stage. That shouldn't be a problem, right?"
After a brief conversation, Dakdo's tone suddenly changed, carrying a hint of regret, or even a condescending judgment.
“It’s just a bit of a shame,” he continued, his voice still steady. “You revealed those powerful trump cards too early. Pikachu, Charizard, and that special Infernape... You could have won against those trainers even without them, right? I don’t quite understand your childish behavior, but thanks to your childishness, I was able to make ample preparations before the match.”
He seemed to have already foreseen the ending.
"You have no chance of winning this match. Your final result will be the same as that trainer named Kopin. You might be able to defeat my Darkrai by luck, but that will be your limit."
Ash's smile didn't disappear; he simply turned his head and met the gaze of Pikachu, who was perched on his shoulder with an equally nonchalant expression.
"Whether it's the limit or not, we'll find out soon enough," he said casually, with his usual optimism and resilience. "Let the results of the competition speak for themselves."
"Pickup!"
Just then, the door to the lounge was gently pushed open, and a staff member poked his head in: "Two contestants, it's almost time, you can prepare to enter."
Ash and Darkrai stood up almost simultaneously.
Even though the two people separated by the pillar had stood up, they did not look at each other.
The two simply walked towards two different exits without looking back, the lights in the lounge slowly lengthening their shadows until they disappeared into the depths of the passage.
......
"Dear viewers! We've kept you waiting!"
Inside the arena, the commentator's passionate voice resounded throughout the stadium through the loudspeaker, instantly igniting everyone's enthusiasm.
"After countless thrilling battles, we have finally arrived at the climax of this year's Lily of the Valley Tournament! The final showdown! Who will lift the championship trophy on this glorious field and become a new legend?!"
"Now! Let's give a warm round of applause and cheers to the two finalists as they enter the arena!"
"First up is Darkor, a contestant imbued with mythology and aided by a legendary Pokémon!"
Amidst thunderous cheers, Dakdo slowly walked out of the tunnel, still dressed in simple attire, with a faint smile on his face. He calmly walked to the center of the field, showing no emotional fluctuations due to the final.
"The other one is Ash Ketchum, who fought his way into the finals with more than 20 different Pokémon in this year's Lily of the Valley Conference!"
When Xiao Zhi's name was called out, the atmosphere at the scene reached its peak.
The fans in the stands stood up and applauded, while Professor Oak beckoned to a reluctant Gary to unfurl a banner that had been prepared beforehand, which read "Ash will win!"
Ash, with Pikachu by his side, strode confidently into the arena amidst the deafening roar.
The sunlight shone on him, as if bathing him in a blessing.
He looked up at the stands and exchanged glances with his family and friends sitting with him.
He then looked at the three people sitting together on the other side, Ashin, Kohei, and Shinji, who were cheering him on.
They even noticed the nervous looks from the three members of Team Rocket who had stopped selling their merchandise, despite their disguises.
And those who found him at the registry office yesterday.
With all his hopes and blessings, Ash resolutely turned his gaze back and stared at Darkrai on the other side of the field.
The referee walked to the center of the field, raised his flag high, and solemnly announced: "The Lily of the Valley Conference Finals are about to begin! This match will be a six-on-six all-out battle! During the battle, both sides may freely switch Pokémon! The match ends when all six Pokémon of one side are unable to battle!"
He looked at the two of them: "Do either of you have any objections?"
"No problem!" Ash replied loudly.
“No.” Dakdo nodded in agreement.
"Well then..." The referee took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across the entire field, sensing the almost frozen tension, and suddenly swung the flag in his hand down forcefully.
"The match begins!!!"
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P.S.: I'll be writing this in two chapters today. One chapter will be the setup, and the final battle will begin.