Chapter 21: A Destined Failure? No! It's Not Over Yet!
On the screen—
“Don't even think about it!”
Satoshi also noticed what Mr. Jim was trying to do.
He didn’t give up!
“Pikachu, use Iron Tail on the ice pillar!”
Satoshi said loudly!
Pikachu stared at the ice pillar with a serious expression.
“Pi-ka-chu!”
A dazzling silver light flashed on its tail—it swung and struck!
The ice pillar was directly broken open, creating a crack!
Pikachu rushed towards Regice at lightning speed!
Satoshi shouted.
“Now’s our chance!”
Regice hadn’t recovered yet!
This was a great opportunity!
Everyone watching the movie sat up straight when they saw this scene.
Regice on the field was completely defenseless.
If Pikachu struck it now…
Maybe Pikachu would really be able to achieve god-slaying!
On the one hand, there were the betting points they had invested.
On the other hand, they were witnessing with their own eyes a scene of Pikachu, a regular Pokémon, slaying a god…
Many trainers were caught in a dilemma.
It was complex.
Their emotions were complex.
However, on the screen.
Just as Pikachu was about to reach Regice, the final moment before the attack.
Regice regained consciousness!
“Ice Beam!”
“Pika!”
Pikachu, which was rushing towards Regice at full speed, had no time to dodge.
It was hit directly by the Ice Beam!
Pikachu let out a terrible cry!
“Pikachu!”
Satoshi looked anxiously at Pikachu.
Pikachu’s entire body was sealed within the solidified, giant ice pillar.
It looked like a lifelike statue.
Standing in the center of the field!
…
The result… was already out?
The audience watched with blank stares, seemingly unable to detach themselves from the intense battle just now.
Just a little bit!
It was truly only a little bit away!
Just a little bit more, and Pikachu might have had a chance to win!
Thinking about this.
Everyone felt genuine regret for Pikachu.
“Even though I bet on Regice, if Pikachu had actually won… Ah! It was so close!”
“Alright, alright, let's not talk about it, that little bit is an insurmountable gulf between a god and a regular Pokémon!”
“I knew this result from the start, but seeing it with my own eyes still… Pikachu performed exceptionally well!”
“The only flaw was choosing the wrong opponent!”
“This battle was more exciting than I could have imagined! Pikachu truly showed me what it means to be victorious even in defeat!”
Pikachu, good job!
A group of people expressed their regret for Pikachu’s situation.
But they admired this Pikachu.
Being able to reach this point.
Pikachu had already tried its best!
Let’s not talk about it!
Now we can think about how to spend those one hundred betting points we’re about to get!
Unexpectedly—
Satoshi on the screen had completely different thoughts than theirs.
…
On the screen—
“Cheer up, Pikachu!”
“You won’t lose because of something so small!”
“Your never-give-up attitude has saved me many times!”
“When I was so discouraged that I was about to give up, you always used this move to encourage me!”
“Please!”
“Hear what I’m saying!”
“Pikachu—use Thunderbolt!!!”
Satoshi’s heartfelt words were moving.
But the Pikachu in the ice pillar remained motionless, without any change.
The referee on the sidelines said.
“Pikachu is unable to battle, so the winner…”
…
【Dande: Ah! The words of young Satoshi remind me of the time I trained with Gyarados… That’s probably what youth is all about!】
【Korrina: Even though I guessed the result, seeing it happen still makes me a little sad. Pikachu put in so much effort, but it still couldn’t win.】
【Cynthia: Satoshi did his best, and Pikachu did its best, that’s enough. Sometimes, winning isn’t that important.】
Everyone shook their heads.
They could already see the result.
Satoshi’s “mouth magic” was moving.
It even made them reminisce about the adventures they shared with their first Pokémon.
But no matter how good the “mouth magic” was.
It couldn’t make a Pokémon that had lost its ability to battle, move again.
Victory is victory.
Defeat is defeat.
These two things are unchangeable.
Whether it was strength or potential, Pikachu was far inferior to Regice.
And the tiny advantage Pikachu had gained through its arduous efforts.
Was easily erased by Mr. Jim.
It didn’t have an advantage to begin with.
And Pikachu, which had exhausted its energy.
What could it use to bridge the gap between itself and Regice?
It couldn’t win!
This was truly unwinnable!
Looking at Satoshi on the screen, his eyes filled with tears as he called out to Pikachu, everyone only felt regret for Satoshi and Pikachu.
Only Satoshi was certain.
“No!”
“This can’t be the end!”
Satoshi looked firmly at the screen, clenched his fists, and said loudly with conviction.
“Pikachu and I will fight until the very end!”
“This isn’t over yet!”