This time, Ash didn't manage another one-on-six sweep as he had before. His current Rival was far stronger than Lizzy.
Without relying on Pikachu or Charizard, achieving a one-on-six victory would be a challenge.
Of Ash's Pokémon, only Aerodactyl might have pulled it off—but Aerodactyl was a hidden trump card, never used in public battles, not even in gym matches. Holding back Aerodactyl would give him an edge in the semi-finals, where he could catch his opponents off guard.
Ash also avoided using Pikachu and Charizard whenever possible. Although others knew he had these Pokémon, they were unaware of the true extent of their strength—far beyond even that of his Pidgeot.
The match itself was straightforward. Though his Rival was strong, solidly within the middle-to-upper ranks of the top sixteen, Ash was clearly out of reach. Instead of achieving a one-on-six sweep, Ash won with only two Pokémon: Venusaur and Tauros.
He wanted each of his Pokémon to gain experience in this rare training opportunity, so he aimed to let those who hadn't competed before get a chance on the field.
While he didn't reveal Pidgeot or any new techniques in this match, Ash's victory using only two Pokémon still sparked plenty of excitement.
With Ash's match concluded in the morning, the afternoon saw Gary's match. As Gary's Rivals grew stronger, his matches became slightly tougher, though only marginally so.
Gary defeated his opponent's six Pokémon with three of his own, proving his consistency. In contrast, Ritchie, who competed later in the afternoon, needed four Pokémon to claim victory over his Rival.
"Guess I still have a long way to go..." Ritchie admitted. He and Ash had formed a solid friendship, and now, after their matches, the two of them, along with Misty and Brock, returned to the Pokémon Center to check the next day's battle list.
"If you think you're lacking, imagine how the others must feel," Ash replied, shaking his head in mild disbelief.
"No... If I want to measure myself, it's against you and Gary," Ritchie insisted, glancing forward with determination.
"Ritchie's got the right idea," Brock agreed. "Looking forward is how you progress, and that's what I aim to do too. Compared to most, I'm solid, but against the best breeders, I still have a ways to go."
"I wonder how the next matchups will shape up…" Ritchie mused, glancing over at the two Pikachu playing with Togepi.
One Pikachu was, of course, Ash's, and the other was Ritchie's, which he called "Ren." Ren looked slightly different from the average Pikachu—he was less cute, more sleek and striking, with a distinct tuft of raised hair.
His shiny, well-kept coat showed how carefully he was raised.
As their strength had grown, Ash's Pikachu and Charizard had learned to rein in the intimidating energy that came from their encounters with the three Legendary Pokémon.
As a result, even though Ren often played with Pikachu, he sensed nothing unusual. This was partly because Ren was only at the Bronze level; developing a Pikachu's strength to such heights was difficult without evolving it into a Raichu.
During their chat, Ash learned that Ritchie was also from the Kanto Region, specifically a city called Flemish City near Viridian Forest, where he had first caught Ren.
As they talked, the battle list for the quarterfinals was revealed on the TV screen. The review segment paused, and after a moment, the hosts introduced the upcoming battles.
The screen showed the bracket, and one host couldn't contain his excitement upon reading the names.
"Tomorrow's quarterfinals… First up is Ash!" The host announced enthusiastically. But then, seeing his Rival's name, he hesitated and then grew even more animated.
"Ash's Rival is Ritchie! Who would have thought these two top Trainers would face each other in the quarterfinals?" Another host added with some regret, thinking Ritchie might have had a shot at reaching the semi-finals if he hadn't drawn Ash.
In the Pokémon Center, Ash and Ritchie both stopped, turning to face each other almost simultaneously.
"So, we're up against each other already!" Though initially surprised, Ritchie quickly regained his composure, his gaze filled with fighting spirit.
He knew there was a gap in skill between him and Ash, but he'd rather face Ash and lose to him than to someone else. This was his chance to test his own abilities against the best.
"I'm looking forward to facing you tomorrow," Ash said with a grin, matching Ritchie's intensity with a confident smile.
Misty and Brock looked on, finding it bittersweet that these two friends would now be competing as opponents.
"Well, since I know my Rival is you, I'd better get serious!" Ritchie stood, calling Ren over. With determination, he looked at Ash, "I hope I can push you to use your full strength tomorrow!"
"You won't be disappointed," Ash replied, rising to meet his challenge. Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder as the two stood face-to-face, each refusing to back down.
Sensing Ash's resolve, Ritchie took a deep breath, said his goodbyes, and headed out to prepare, already running possible strategies through his mind.
Ash didn't relax either. He double-checked the battle list, noted Gary's scheduled match, and returned to his dormitory.
"Ash, are you going to use Pikachu or Charizard tomorrow?" Brock asked, following him into the room.
Ash, deep into researching Ritchie's team on his computer, paused at Brock's question. After a moment, he nodded.
"Yes. I don't want to disappoint him. Since he wants to see my strength, Charizard or Pikachu—one of them will definitely appear."
"That'll be intense…" Misty murmured, sympathizing with Ritchie. Pikachu and Charizard had both surpassed ordinary expectations for their species; it would be a tough match.
"No, Ritchie will appreciate the challenge," Ash said with certainty. He knew Ritchie wouldn't let defeat shake him. He had a fire that would only grow brighter.
"Tomorrow…" Ash's voice trailed off as he looked toward the door. "Tomorrow, I'll make sure Ritchie sees Charizard's true strength!"
___________________
Join my Patreon for more advance chapter