As time passed, more people viewed Ash's game and interview footage, and the reaction was explosive.
The sight of Pidgeot launching three simultaneous Hurricanes left viewers in absolute awe, struggling to describe their shock.
Silver-level Pokémon can unleash multiple attacks in rapid succession, with weaker Pokémon managing two or three strikes in a second, while stronger Pokémon might unleash more than six!
Kanto's previous championship battle between Lance and Agatha showcased this power when Agatha's Gengar launched six consecutive Shadow Balls in a second, ultimately securing her victory over Lance.
However, these attacks were sequential, unlike Ash's display.
In the footage, when played back in slow motion, it was clear that Pidgeot's three Hurricanes formed at precisely the same moment, all in different directions.
This feat represented a new level of battle strategy, a simultaneous multi-directional strike that had never been seen before.
The technique Ash called "Secret Technique: Aerial Ace" was a revelation.
The online discussion was intense, and many believed Ash's legend about a human swordsman defeating a champion Swellow, the inspiration behind the move.
Around three-quarters of online fans accepted Ash's story at face value, trusting he had no reason to lie.
However, the remaining quarter split in opinion. Half believed that while the swordsman might be a myth, the move itself was Ash's original creation, showing his unmatched genius.
The other half thought Ash was hiding something and didn't fully believe his explanation.
Regardless of the opinions, Ash had become the most talked-about Trainer in the world, eclipsing everyone else.
"Wow, Ash. Look at this—everyone online is talking about you…" In the dorm room, Misty kept refreshing her screen, reading post after post.
Ash, who had been hiding in his room to avoid the crowds outside, sighed.
"I just wish it would settle down already…" He was beginning to understand why Elite Four members like Lance rarely appeared in public—they couldn't get a moment's peace!
"Ash, is that story you told really true?" Brock asked, intrigued.
He knew Pidgeot had learned two powerful moves but had never asked Ash for details, respecting his privacy.
But with Ash sharing the tale, he couldn't help but wonder.
"Yes, mostly," Ash admitted. The legend had some truth, although it wasn't from this world.
"Defeating a champion-level Pokémon as a human...that's incredible," Brock murmured.
As someone with deep knowledge of Pokémon, he felt the impact of the story even more than the average viewer, fully aware of the power a champion-level Pokémon holds.
Ash, however, had carefully considered the details.
When inventing the story, he debated making the opponent weaker, but felt that a lower-level Pokémon wouldn't justify the immense skill required for Aerial Ace.
Yet if he chose a Pokémon too strong, it wouldn't be believable.
In the end, the championship level felt like the right balance, illustrating both the power and mastery required.
"But could that swordsman really perform three simultaneous attacks?" Brock asked curiously.
"Based on my research," Ash began, "the secret behind Aerial Ace lies in launching attacks while ignoring conventional boundaries of time and space, aligning two or more strikes at the same instant, allowing attacks to converge from multiple directions."
"Bypassing time and space…" Misty and Brock were visibly stunned.
Time and space were concepts far beyond ordinary Trainer skills, associated only with legendary moves and powers.
Some Pokémon do have moves that hint at manipulating time and space, like Future Sight, tied to time, and Trick Room, tied to space.
But these techniques are rare, and few Pokémon truly embody these powers, each one a legend.
There's Dialga, the "God of Time," Palkia, the "God of Space," and Celebi, who can travel freely through time.
Then there are the Lake Guardians, who supposedly create dimensional rifts, although that's unconfirmed.
"It's unreal…" Misty whispered, returning to her senses.
The idea of a human mastering a technique that overlapped time and space was almost too incredible to believe.
Meanwhile, at Team Rocket's headquarters, Giovanni watched the scene of Pidgeot's triple Hurricane attack on repeat.
"Study this move thoroughly," he commanded Petrel, his eyes gleaming with ambition.
Giovanni had always seen potential in Ash, but now he was certain that bringing him into Team Rocket would be a game-changer.
If they could secure his allegiance, the team's power would reach unparalleled heights.
Ash had the potential to be far more than an ordinary Trainer.
With Aerial Ace alone, Giovanni knew Ash could surpass the Master Ball level, possibly achieving something even greater.
"Yes, sir…" Petrel answered, feeling the pressure. He had spent considerable time researching Ash's techniques with little progress.
But perhaps with all of Team Rocket's resources and brightest minds, they might finally crack it.
"Also, reach out to Ash," Giovanni added, turning to look out the window.
Once the Team Rocket's reach spanned the globe, but after a series of setbacks, their headquarters now lay hidden in a remote wilderness.
Giovanni, however, was unfazed by this isolation.
He believed that, one day, Team Rocket would rise to the top of the world, more powerful than ever.
Still, an unsettling feeling nagged at him, as though he was forgetting something crucial, a missed opportunity.
He dismissed the thought with a shake of his head, brushing it off as mere illusion.
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