Chapter 287: Shocking the World
She understood that while simply defeating Lizzy was already remarkable, it was the way he won that had sent shockwaves through the stadium and beyond.
Pidgeot's final move—unleashing three Hurricanes simultaneously—was unprecedented. No one had ever seen anything like it!
Normally, moves that hit multiple times have a sequence, yet Pidgeot's Hurricanes were all released at once! TV replays confirmed it, even showing the moment in slow motion to dispel any doubt.
"Sure." Ash gave a slight nod and smiled as Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, playfully waved at the camera.
Viewers across the world were glued to their screens, smiling at the sight.
"Thank you..." The reporter took a relieved breath, then congratulated him warmly.
"First of all, congratulations on reaching the Indigo Plateau Conference's Top 16!"
"Thanks."
"Now, for the first question: You've accomplished a feat of one-versus-six that's unheard of at the Indigo Plateau Conference. How do you feel?" she asked.
"Not bad…" Ash replied honestly. He'd felt a thrill at first, but now he simply viewed it as progress.
The reporter forced a smile, suppressing her shock at such a casual answer to such a historic feat.
Viewers at home were speechless too, but no one lingered on it for long.
Impatient fans urged her to get to the main question they all wanted answered:
How had Pidgeot performed three simultaneous Hurricanes?
The attention was far from limited to ordinary viewers.
At League headquarters, Lance had just heard the news and tuned in to watch the live interview.
His Elite Four colleagues and champions from other regions were watching too, amazed by a feat they had thought impossible.
Giovanni was also glued to the screen, with Petrel by his side.
Ever since witnessing Ash's mysterious moves back at Silph Co., Petrel had been studying them without much success.
When he learned Ash had displayed an even more advanced move at the Indigo Plateau Conference, he reported to Giovanni immediately.
"Now, the second question…" The reporter took a brief pause before asking what everyone was dying to know.
"Ash, in that final battle, did you really command Pidgeot to use three Hurricanes simultaneously?"
"That's right," Ash confirmed without hesitation. He knew that this technique would resurface often; he couldn't hide it forever.
Besides, he was curious to see if other Trainers could deduce any part of the method.
The reporter looked taken aback, her eyes widening.
"Three Hurricanes at once… that's unheard of!" she exclaimed. "Is this some special technique?"
"It is." Ash didn't wait for her to ask. "It's a technique I developed, called the Secret Technique: Aerial Ace."
"Secret Technique… Aerial Ace?" The reporter's expression showed her astonishment.
"Does it have anything to do with the regular Aerial Ace?"
"Not really," Ash said with a slight smile. "It's only similar in name. I based it on a legend I'd heard."
"A legend?" The reporter leaned in, intrigued, and so were all the viewers at home.
"According to legend, there was once a human swordsman who dedicated himself to mastering his sword skills.
He eventually developed a move that surpassed speed and deception, allowing him to defeat a champion-level Swellow.
He called this move 'Secret Technique: Aerial Ace,' to distinguish it from the regular Aerial Ace."
Ash spun a tale loosely inspired by the legends of his past world.
"Is that true?!" The reporter's jaw dropped, her expression one of disbelief.
"It's just a legend," Ash replied with a shrug.
"But it inspired me to conduct research. After much trial and error, I was lucky enough to develop my own version of the technique."
"This skill allows a Pokémon to reach the level of that legendary swordsman, launching multiple attacks at once," he continued, keeping a straight face.
The reporter could only shake her head in awe.
"This is extraordinary. If Ash could develop such a technique, maybe that swordsman really existed, wielding a skill called 'Secret Technique: Aerial Ace'!" She seemed lost in admiration.
Across the world, viewers began searching online for this supposed legend, but all they found were quotes from Ash's interview.
Knowing when to stop, the reporter didn't push for the details of Ash's technique.
The audience may have felt a little unsatisfied, but they understood that Ash wasn't about to reveal his secrets.
Ash exhaled in relief. To be honest, he wasn't a fan of lying, but sometimes it was necessary.
With this foundation set, he could reveal more techniques over time using the same narrative.
His other move, the Triple Thrust, could follow this format as well.
As he left Indigo Stadium with Misty and Brock, Ash couldn't help but feel the weight of fame.
Trainers and tourists on the streets kept approaching him, asking for autographs or tips on his techniques, which quickly wore on his patience.
There were certainly perks to fame, but Ash was only feeling the downsides at the moment.
"So… the Secret Technique: Aerial Ace?" At Kanto League headquarters, Lance mused, considering the possibilities after watching the interview.
Part of him wanted to immediately test the technique with his own Pokémon, but he paused, recognizing that it wasn't likely to be simple to replicate.
Still, Lance thought it might be worth asking Ash directly, if the opportunity arose.
"Also, Ash's ranking might need an update. He's clearly operating beyond the standard Trainer level,"
Lance noted thoughtfully, adding, "If he reaches the semifinals, perhaps we should…"
______________________
Join my Patreon for more advance chapters