This sudden change caused all the star card masters on the square to tremble with uncertainty and fear.
A kind of indescribable panic spread like wildfire in the hearts of the star card masters.
In the next instant, the void seemed to shatter and countless pillars of light spread in all directions.
As people looked up, in the next instant, their eyes all constricted.
In the void, an endless number of flying star beasts surged down.
The terrifying quantity was enough to make any star card master with a fear of crowded spaces collapse on the spot.
Articuno, Moltres, Articuno, Moltres, Abomasnow, Shikijika...
Countless and endless, they turned into a sheet of redness, covering the sky.
The source of terror surged and spread.
This terrifying momentum clearly indicated that these thousands of star beasts were not illusions or phantoms, but real existences.
"This..." Xiao Xuan's gaze faltered, "Can this be her ultimate hidden star card?"
An uneasiness arose in him, a feeling that not even Jiang Linger at her peak had ever given him.
This is simply a beast tide!
This is the real ace!
Su Ming's face darkened as he wondered if the giant tripod that had been silent from the beginning was finally going to blaze up.
Liuli couldn't help but stare at the sky full of star beasts and murmured, "This star card, if put in your Ignis Hall, would probably rank in the top three, right?"
It is conceivable how much the creation of so many different forms of star beasts on a star source paper tested a star card master's card-making ability.
Jiang Qingyan clapped his hands lightly and chuckled, "Trifling skills, simply showing off."
Yan Wangqing, who had always been calm, also showed ripples in her eyes at this moment.
This star card is the most top-notch star card of the Ignis Hall, how could Xiao Xuan compete with it?
Is it really going to end like this?
Boom boom boom...
The beast tide, composed of flying star beasts, flapped their wings, casting a hideous shadow over the sky, their amazing momentum roaring down.
In just a dozen breaths of time, they were looming over Xiao Xuan.
In the icy beast eyes, a red light flashed, revealing a fierce killing intent.
Although they were not genuine star beasts, the hostility they showed was even more brutal and ruthless than real star beasts.
The sky was filled with the beast tide, surging and overwhelming, the red clouds descended, covering the sky and earth.
Xiao Xuan's face slightly tensed, not to mention that these were all star cards, I'm afraid that even a pig couldn't handle them.
The scale of this is simply more heart-rending than his Ten-Faced Assemblage of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
Under the beast tide, Jiang Linger's smile became even more mocking.
She looked at Xiao Xuan with a slightly sardonic look and said, "I should thank you. If you hadn't displayed the Ten-Faced Assemblage of Ten Thousand Buddhas last time, I wouldn't have been inspired to create the Hundred Bird Saluting the Phoenix."
"Pikachu..." Pikachu immediately became unhappy, puffing up its electric sac as if to discharge electricity.
But Xiao Xuan stopped it.
Such a terrifying number, even with ten million volts, would be of no use.
"Poke!"
Jaggu's ninja frog flapped its wings, holding a short blade and charging into the beast tide.
Boom!
Several terrifying energy pillars burst down and fiercely struck its body.
Earlier undefeated, Jaggu's ninja frog, under such a dense attack, was defeated and fell to the ground.
"You're still struggling fearlessly," Jiang Linger chuckled, "Even if you use the Tathagata, I won't be the least bit afraid."
She supported her chin with her jade hand, looking at Xiao Xuan with a slightly mocking look, and said, "Sometimes I really don't understand why you were given the chance but didn't cherish it, and had to stand against me."
"Do you really think you're a chosen child, able to change anything by your own strength?"
"A person should have self-awareness. In the end, you're just someone Yan Shuai pitied for a while and took in as a refugee."
As her voice fell, Jiang Linger became somewhat disinterested, tidying up her slightly messy hair and flashing a snake-like gaze in her beautiful eyes.
"You can be proud that you've forced me to use this star card."
"However, that's all."
A thought.
Boom boom boom...
In the void, the celestial beasts suddenly surged, a dreadful onslaught brewing in the surge of energy.
The scene was both vast and awe-inspiring.
Boom!
In the next moment, countless terrifying attacks, carrying a fearsome aura of destruction, descended like a deluge of meteors on all of Xiao Xuan's star cards.
A deafening explosion suddenly resounded like a natural disaster had struck, shocking everyone.
Bulbasaur, Pikachu, Jaggu's ninja frog, and Gyarados frantically fled in the face of the relentless assault, trying to find a safe haven. But in the vast square, where could they find refuge?
They had all become targets!
The entire square was destroyed by the relentless assault. The ground was torn apart, and many boulders were blasted to pieces.
Outside the square, many spectators froze, and faint, desperate cries of Pikachu could be heard. Some with softer hearts even had a hint of redness in their eyes.
They felt a complex rush of emotions. Who could have imagined that Xiao Xuan, whom they had thought could create miracles, would have all of his star cards trapped and bombarded in this square?
They all hoped Xiao Xuan would win.
Because the vast majority of star card masters had no background and needed to rely on their own efforts to achieve what they wanted.
And Xiao Xuan, as a descendant of refugees, represented them.
If he could win, it would give them endless encouragement and prove to everyone that nobility was not innate.
But now, the young man who had emerged out of nowhere and amazed countless people seemed to be coming to an end.
Boom boom boom!
Endless assaults followed one after another, and Jiang Linger giggled, thoroughly enjoying the scene.
"You used the Ten-Faced Assemblage of Ten Thousand Buddhas to defeat Fusang last time, and now being defeated in the same way, what does it feel like? Pfft!"
After about a dozen minutes, the terrifying attacks finally ended.
Soon, the smoke cleared.
Everyone's hearts suddenly raced as they looked over, only to see that the vast square now only contained Ash and Pikachu.
And a motionless Gyarados.
The figures of Jaggu's ninja frog and Bulbasaur had disappeared, dissipating into the sky as a wisp of smoke.
In the center of the square, both a person and a creature lay prone on the ground, covered in wounds with their fates unknown.
Pikachu lay on this end, and Ash on the other.
After a short while, Ash slowly opened his eyes, and Pikachu did the same, their gazes meeting.
"Pikachu..."
Ash gritted his teeth, using all his remaining strength to crawl unsteadily towards Pikachu.
"Pikachu..."
Pikachu also saw Ash, shakily crawling towards him. But with its short legs and numerous injuries, it couldn't go far even if it tried its best...
Ash barely lifted his head, gazing at the myriad of star beasts in the sky. He gritted his teeth and pulled out a Poké Ball from his body, throwing it towards Pikachu.
The Poké Ball rolled towards Pikachu.
"Pikachu, hurry and get into the Poké Ball," he weakly said while crawling forward. "I know you don't like getting inside, but right now, it's the only way to be saved."
Pikachu stared blankly at the Poké Ball.
Enduring the pain, Ash, with all his remaining strength, shakily stood up.
He shielded Pikachu behind him, his hands open, facing the dense star beasts in front of him. There was no hint of fear in his eyes as he shouted hoarsely, "Who do you think I am?"
"I am Ash from Pallet Town, the one who is going to become the world's greatest Pokémon Master!"
"How could I lose to you?!"
Jiang Ling'er chuckled, "Haven't expected that he's still such a tough nut."
"If that's the case, then I'll make you shut up!"
Boom!
The sky was filled with star beasts, and at this moment, a terrifying wave of attacks descended once again.
Ash's eyes showed no fear.
At this moment, Pikachu, who had been staring blankly at the Poké Ball behind him, suddenly gritted its teeth and, with all its strength, leaped onto Ash's shoulder, and then, once again, jumped out with all its might.
It attempted to shield Ash from this attack with its tiny body.
Ash's face changed suddenly, and he quickly lunged forward, tightly embracing Pikachu in his arms.
Bang!
The fierce attack struck his back, and Ash coughed up blood, his body falling heavily to the ground, rolling several times before barely stabilizing himself.
"Pika..."
Pikachu looked at him, calling out softly, its small face filled with joy.
Even though trapped, as long as it had him by its side, everything was fine.
Ash looked at Pikachu in his arms, filled with affection and reluctance.
It was his joy of youth.
He stared blankly, as if he had forgotten about the myriad of star beasts, because his memory had floated back to the starting point.
At that time, he was still a young boy from Pallet Town, eagerly looking forward to turning ten, finally qualifying to become a Pokémon Trainer.
He should have gone to the Pokémon Lab to receive his partner Pokémon, but he overslept.
When he arrived, there was only one Pokémon left, a Pikachu that didn't like humans.
"Do you hate me? But, I really like you!"
Despite their conflicts, they gradually built up a friendship.
They had seen Ho-Oh flying in the sky and made a vow with Rainbow Wing.
"Someday, we'll go see it together!"
In the days that followed, they believed in each other, supported each other, and protected each other with the purest hearts.
Pokémon came and went, but Pikachu had always been by his side.
But did such days have to come to an end?
He looked at Pikachu in his arms and gently admonished, "Pikachu, why don't you want to get into the Poké Ball?"
With bloodied dimples, Pikachu smiled sweetly and looked at Ash, its breath weak yet earnestly saying, "Because I want to be with you, always..."
"Pikachu, you..." Ash listened blankly, his tense face suddenly unable to hold back, and his eyes turned red.
His eyes, couldn't see anything anymore.
Because they were blurred by tears.
Trembling, he reached out his hand, wanting to embrace Pikachu again, but in the void, another terrible attack descended.
So, the hand that was supposed to reach out to Pikachu suddenly changed direction, picking up a Poké Ball from the side.
He looked at Pikachu with infinite affection.
"This is the first time I've captured you in a Poké Ball, and it's the last," the voice said.
As the voice fell, the Poké Ball activated, and a huge suction surged out, turning Pikachu into a stream of light that poured into the Poké Ball.
Boom!
At the same time, a terrifying offensive covered the sky and earth, engulfing Ash's figure...
Soon, the smoke cleared.
As everyone's gaze shifted, the vast square no longer had Ash, only his hat, drifting through the air like a kite with a broken string.
The sun set in the west, casting a blood-red glow.
Before long, the hat slowly descended, landing perfectly on the Poké Ball...