Chapter 310: Winner

The golden flames clashed with Psychic, but the psychic energy, which rippled like transparent waves, dissolved as if snow meeting a blazing furnace. 

Against Charizard's overwhelming firepower, Exeggutor's Psychic stood no chance.

Charizard's Flamethrower, fueled by the intensity of Sunny Day, blasted through the weakened psychic barrier, slamming directly into Exeggutor. 

The searing flames scattered across the battlefield, engulfing the Grass/Psychic-type Pokémon.

Within moments, Charizard wisely halted its attack, withdrawing its flames as it roared confidently. 

The fiery dragon knew its power far exceeded its opponents, and a single calculated strike was enough to secure victory.

As the flames dissipated, the arena revealed the aftermath. Exeggutor lay motionless, its once-vibrant body charred black, blending into the scorched battlefield. 

Its faint silhouette was nearly indistinguishable from the cracked, burned ground.

"Exeggutor is unable to battle! Charizard wins!" the referee declared, his voice slightly shaky as he raised his green flag. 

The sheer power of Charizard had clearly left even him astonished. Not only was Exeggutor defeated in a single move, but the collateral damage from the attack was substantial.

"An unbelievable finish! Charizard has defeated Exeggutor with a single Flamethrower! What an incredible display of power!" the commentator exclaimed, his tone filled with awe. 

"Of course, we must consider the advantage of the weather and type matchup, but even so, this level of dominance is nothing short of extraordinary."

Gary retrieved Exeggutor's Poké Ball with a clenched fist, his frustration clear. "Come back, Exeggutor…" His voice was low, tinged with reluctant acceptance. 

He realized this defeat wasn't merely due to type disadvantage or the Sunny Day boost—it was because Charizard's true combat power far surpassed Exeggutor's.

While Charizard appeared to be at the Silver level, its actual strength seemed to rival Gym-level Pokémon—or perhaps even higher. Gary suspected it might have reached the elusive League level.

For the first time, Gary felt an overwhelming sense of futility. Even if he had sent out all his Pokémon at once, Charizard alone might have been enough to defeat them all. 

Ash had held back earlier in the match, but Gary understood that if Charizard had been used from the start, none of the earlier battles would have mattered.

"It's over…" Gary muttered under his breath. In the audience, Professor Oak watched the scene unfold with a knowing expression. 

He had already anticipated the outcome the moment Charizard entered the field. Among all of Gary's Pokémon, none were capable of standing against Ash's Charizard.

Despite his hopeless position, Gary refused to surrender. "Machamp, I'm counting on you!" he shouted, sending out his final Pokémon. 

The Fighting-type Machamp emerged onto the battlefield, flexing its four powerful arms as it prepared to face the fiery dragon.

Machamp

Type: Fighting

Category: Superpower Pokémon

Ability: Guts/No Guard

Hidden Ability: Steadfast

Strength: Silver Level

Gary pinned his hopes on Machamp, but it was clear to everyone that the match had already been decided.

 As history repeated itself, Charizard unleashed another Flamethrower. The golden flames enveloped Machamp with terrifying speed and precision, overwhelming it completely.

When the flames subsided, Machamp was sprawled on the ground, unconscious.

"Machamp is unable to battle! Charizard wins!" the referee announced. His voice grew louder as he raised his green flag high, signaling the end of the match. 

"Since Gary has lost all six Pokémon, the winner of this semi-final is Ash!"

The Indigo Stadium erupted into cheers. The audience's thunderous applause and chants echoed across the arena as Ash stood victorious.

"Let's give it up for Ash, who has defeated a formidable rival to secure his place in the finals!" the commentator shouted.

On the field, Gary stared blankly at the sky, the bright sun a stark contrast to his mood. 

He had lost—not just the match but also the chance to claim victory at the Indigo Plateau Conference.

Meanwhile, Ash stood proudly with Charizard and Pikachu, basking in the glory of his triumph. 

He raised his hand to wave at the crowd, acknowledging their support with a grateful smile.

As the applause continued, Gary let out a deep sigh and collected himself. Though he lost to Ash, his journey wasn't over. He still had to compete for third place that afternoon.

Without a word, Gary returned Machamp to its Poké Ball and walked toward the exit. Glancing at Ash from the corner of his eye, he clenched his fists tightly.

"Next time…" Gary muttered, determination glinting in his eyes as he strode down the corridor. "Next time, I'll defeat you, Ash!"

After the battle, the stadium transitioned to post-match analysis. Replays highlighted Charizard's dominance. 

While the Sunny Day boost and type advantage explained some of its performance, experienced trainers noted that Charizard's strength was far beyond that of a Silver-level Pokémon.

The second semi-final began shortly after. It was a close battle lasting nearly 40 minutes, with the winner ultimately advancing to face Ash in the finals. 

However, the audience speculated that the finals might be a one-sided affair. Facing Ash's formidable lineup—especially Charizard—seemed like an impossible task.

By 2:30 PM, Gary competed in the third-place match. Despite his team being worn out, his skill allowed him to secure a victory and claim third place. 

Still, the achievement felt hollow compared to what he had hoped for.

When the finals commenced at 4:00 PM, Ash unveiled his secret weapon: Pikachu. 

Until now, the Electric-type had been viewed merely as a mascot, but in the finals, it unleashed its true power.

"Thunderbolt!" Ash called out.

Electric energy crackled as Pikachu's attack landed with devastating force, instantly defeating its opponent's first Pokémon.

The audience was stunned. The commentator, wide-eyed, exclaimed, "Is this really Pikachu?! Its strength is unbelievable!"

Ash's opponent was left speechless, regretting the draw that pitted him against Ash instead of Gary. 

At least against Gary, he might have stood a chance. Against Pikachu, there was no hope.

The finals were shaping up to be one of the most lopsided matches in Indigo Plateau Conference history. 

But for Ash, it was simply another step toward his ultimate goal: becoming the Champion.

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