POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

"Challenge? No, no, no..." Sundae couldn't help but laugh at Misty's words and shook her head repeatedly. "You must not have heard me clearly. I said a battle invitation, not a challenge."

"As the top student at the Pokémon Research Academy, I will conduct a Coaching Battle against you," Sundae declared, crossing her arms proudly and staring at Ash's group with a smug expression.

In her mind, she had every right to feel superior. Though she hadn't graduated yet, her Trainer skills had already surpassed the Rookie level, officially qualifying her as a professional Trainer. If it weren't for her lack of experience in the Pokémon League, she was confident she could have reached the level of a Pokémon Ball Trainer.

"A Coaching Battle..." Misty and Brock exchanged amused glances, struggling to hold back their laughter. They doubted Sundae would find it so funny after the match.

Although neither knew the extent of Sundae's skills, both Misty and Brock were well aware of Ash's strength. In fact, they hadn't even seen the full extent of it yet.

Ash was capable of defeating elite-level Pokémon with his regular team. This wasn't just a testament to the power of his Pokémon—it spoke volumes about Ash's exceptional talent as a Trainer.

From their perspective, there was no way a student from the Pokémon Research Academy, even one ranked number one, could pose a serious challenge to Ash. For Sundae to have a chance, her abilities would need to far surpass Ash's. And if she were that skilled, she likely wouldn't still be attending the academy.

"Coaching Battle, huh?"

Ash didn't seem fazed by Sundae's condescending tone. Instead, he grinned confidently. Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, gave her a disdainful look. "If you're so confident, then let's see what you've got. I'm eager to learn from the top Trainer of the Pokémon Research Academy, Kanto branch."

Ash's words carried a subtle jab, mocking Sundae's arrogance. Sundae picked up on the sarcasm, her expression souring. However, the students behind her misinterpreted his tone as fear, snickering and taunting him in response.

"I hope you can still talk like that after the battle!" Sundae shot back, clearly irritated. She turned on her heel and led her classmates toward the academy's Battle Hall. Ash, Misty, and Brock followed close behind, postponing their rest until after the match.

---

At the entrance of the cafeteria, an elderly man and a stern-looking young woman observed the scene. The young woman glanced at the principal, concerned.

"Principal, shouldn't you stop this?"

The old man chuckled, shaking his head. "No need."

His reasoning had little to do with worrying about his students losing. Instead, he saw this as a valuable opportunity for them to face reality. Over time, the academy's environment had grown complacent, and he hoped a harsh loss might inspire change.

Trainers who passed through this area were rarely exceptional. Most avoided the academy entirely, opting for routes that led directly to city gyms. Even when capable Trainers showed up, none had managed to defeat Sundae. While the principal took pride in Sundae's skills—she was his granddaughter, after all—he also knew this alone wasn't enough to improve the school's atmosphere.

"Let's go watch," he said with a sigh. "I hope this Trainer can shake things up and blow some life into this place."

The young woman nodded, understanding his intentions. She glanced at Ash as he walked away, a flicker of hope stirring within her.

---

When Ash and the group entered the Battle Hall, they were taken aback.

"This is the Pokémon Research Academy's Battle Hall?!" Misty exclaimed, her voice echoing through the enormous space.

The structure was a sprawling, single-story building, far larger than any Pokémon Center they had visited. Inside, there were no less than ten separate battlefields. Each one matched the size of an official competition field, but that wasn't all.

Scattered throughout the hall were specialty arenas: a water-based field with a large pool and floating rocks, a grassy field with half-meter-high grass, and even a mountainous terrain with towering rock formations and a cascading waterfall.

"This is over-the-top," Misty said, sharing a surprised look with Brock.

"Extravagant," Brock agreed.

One of the students smirked at their reactions. "Haven't seen anything like this before, have you?"

Ash smiled but didn't deny it. "You're right. I haven't."

His honesty made the student puff up with pride, strutting like a victorious rooster.

"So, which battlefield do you want to use?" Sundae asked, gesturing toward the various arenas. "You're free to pick any of them."

Ash scanned the options carefully before pointing to the standard battlefield in the center. While the specialty fields were tempting, he preferred to stick with something neutral for this battle. His focus wasn't just on winning; it was about ensuring he could fully demonstrate his strength.

"A regular battlefield?" Sundae shrugged. "Fine by me." She walked over to her side of the field, her classmates spreading out around the arena to cheer her on.

"Good luck, Ash!" Misty called out, her voice full of encouragement.

"Don't worry," Ash said, giving a thumbs-up without looking back. "I've got this."

---

The principal and the young woman, Zhang, arrived just as the battle was about to begin. They quietly observed from a corner of the room, their expressions thoughtful.

The field was set, and the crowd fell silent. Sundae reached for her Poké Ball with a smirk. "Let's make this quick."

Ash stepped forward, Pikachu hopping off his shoulder and onto the field. "You sure about that?"

"Pikachu, huh?" Sundae scoffed. "Let's see how long it lasts." She tossed her Poké Ball into the air, releasing a sleek Persian.

"Persian, huh?" Brock murmured from the sidelines. "This could get interesting."

Misty nodded. "Yeah, but it's nothing Ash and Pikachu can't handle."

The referee stepped forward, signaling the start of the match. "This will be a one-on-one battle. Trainers, take your positions!"

Sundae wasted no time. "Persian, use Thunderbolt!"

Ash's eyes narrowed. "Pikachu, counter with Quick Attack!"

Pikachu dashed forward in a blur, skillfully dodging the electric attack before landing a hit on Persian. Sundae's confident smirk faltered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Don't let it get away, Persian! Use Slash!"

The battle intensified as both sides traded moves. Pikachu's speed proved to be a major advantage, allowing it to evade most of Persian's attacks while landing precise blows of its own.

Sundae gritted her teeth, realizing the gap in their skills. "Persian, use Fury Swipes! Don't hold back!"

"Block it with Iron Tail!" Ash commanded.

Pikachu's tail glowed silver as it intercepted Persian's claws, sending it skidding backward. The crowd of students, once boisterous, had fallen silent.

"This isn't looking good for Sundae," Zhang observed.

The principal nodded. "Exactly what this school needs."

Back on the battlefield, Sundae was running out of options. Her confidence wavered as Ash called out his final command.

"Pikachu, finish it with Thunderbolt!"

Electricity surged across the field, striking Persian directly. The feline Pokémon let out a pained cry before collapsing, fainted.

The referee raised a hand. "Persian is unable to battle. Pikachu wins!"

The room erupted in murmurs as Ash approached Pikachu, giving it a proud pat. Sundae stood frozen, struggling to process her defeat.

Misty and Brock cheered from the sidelines, their faith in Ash reaffirmed.

Zhang turned to the principal. "It seems your wish came true."

The principal smiled faintly. "Indeed. Let's hope this is the spark they needed."

As Ash and his friends prepared to leave, Sundae finally spoke, her voice quieter. "You're stronger than I thought. I'll train harder from now on."

Ash smiled, extending a hand. "Good luck. Maybe we'll battle again someday."

With that, the group exited the Battle Hall, leaving behind a school forever changed.

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