Machamp's movement speed was nowhere near Greninja's.
Even if Greninja did nothing but run while Machamp chased, there was no way the Fighting-type Pokémon could ever catch up.
If Ash truly wanted to, he could have defeated Machamp effortlessly without allowing it to land a single hit.
However, this was ultimately a friendly battle with a fan.
Victory itself wasn't the most important thing.
What mattered was that both sides gained something from the battle.
What mattered was that everyone enjoyed themselves.
Not a one-sided defeat where one party was completely humiliated.
So after kiting Machamp around the battlefield for a while and allowing it to corner Greninja near the edge of the arena, Ash decided not to continue dodging.
"Greninja, stop."
Ash's voice rang out calmly.
The moment he saw Greninja stop retreating, Yashaku's eyes lit up.
He immediately seized the opportunity.
"Machamp!"
"Rush in and use Thunder Punch!"
"ROOOAAAR!"
Machamp roared furiously.
Golden lightning erupted around all four of its fists as it lunged toward Greninja like a charging beast.
Seeing the attack coming, Ash calmly issued his next command.
"Greninja."
"Use Mud Sport."
"Then block it head-on."
Greninja lightly tapped the ground with its foot.
The hard battlefield surface instantly softened.
A clump of mud was kicked up and hurled toward Machamp.
Neither Ash nor Greninja cared whether the mud actually hit.
The important part was that after using Mud Sport, Greninja's Protean activated.
Its Water/Dark typing immediately transformed into Ground-type.
At that moment, Machamp had already arrived.
Four lightning-covered fists came crashing down like sledgehammers.
Yet Greninja showed no fear.
It stepped forward to meet them.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Ground-type immunity completely nullified the electrical aspect of Thunder Punch.
The remaining physical force was less than two-thirds of its original power.
Although Greninja wasn't nearly as physically imposing as Machamp, the difference in levels more than compensated.
Without using any offensive move at all, Greninja caught all four iron fists bare-handed.
The collision sent shockwaves through the battlefield.
Yashaku stared in disbelief.
He had expected Thunder Punch to heavily injure Greninja.
Instead, his trump card had been blocked with shocking ease.
Ash paid no attention to his opponent's reaction.
The instant Greninja stopped Machamp's assault, another command followed.
"Greninja."
"Use Extrasensory and blow it away."
"Gren!"
On the battlefield, Greninja's Psychic-type move activated.
A powerful repulsive force erupted from its body.
The Machamp that had been pressing against Greninja's arms suddenly found itself struck by an invisible shockwave.
BOOM!
The massive Fighting-type was sent flying backward.
It crashed heavily onto the ground, its entire body feeling as though it were falling apart.
"Machamp's greatest strengths are its physical attacks and close-range combat."
Ash spoke while watching the fallen Pokémon struggle to stand.
"If we continued fighting the way we were before, it probably wouldn't even touch you before being defeated."
"But that kind of battle isn't very satisfying."
A smile appeared on Ash's face.
"So let's try some close combat."
"Your melee abilities aren't weak either."
"Gren!"
Greninja nodded.
Protean was the core of its development path.
Because of that, Greninja had always followed a dual-specialization training philosophy.
Powerful ranged special attacks.
Powerful close-range physical attacks.
Both were developed simultaneously.
Its long-range offense was excellent.
But its close-quarters combat was equally formidable.
By the time Machamp climbed back to its feet, Greninja was already preparing to attack.
Across the field, Yashaku had heard every word.
The moment he realized Ash was voluntarily abandoning his ranged advantage and allowing a close-combat battle, his confidence instantly surged.
The rain had stopped.
The sky was clear.
Maybe he actually had a chance.
"Machamp!"
"Show Greninja our true strength!"
"Charge in and use Dual Chop!"
"Greninja."
"Charge forward and use consecutive Aerial Ace attacks."
The moment both trainers issued their commands, the battlefield exploded into motion.
Greninja was naturally an agile and athletic Pokémon.
Its body wasn't covered in mountain-like muscles like Machamp's.
But it was lean, compact, and explosively powerful.
Especially its long, powerful legs.
Its running and jumping abilities were extraordinary.
The moment it launched forward, Greninja's speed reached an astonishing level.
Footprints exploded across the battlefield.
Dust shot into the air.
Its body blurred through a series of giant bounding strides.
In the blink of an eye—
Greninja was already in front of Machamp.
Machamp clearly hadn't expected such speed.
Instinctively, it raised its hands and formed blade-like chops.
It swung downward viciously.
But Greninja was faster.
Much faster.
A brilliant glow enveloped its foot.
The Flying-type move Aerial Ace struck first.
BOOM!
The kick slammed directly into Machamp's jaw.
Despite weighing well over two hundred pounds, Machamp's feet left the ground instantly.
Its entire body was launched backward.
But Greninja's assault was only beginning.
It vanished.
Reappeared.
Intercepted.
Attacked.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Every time Machamp began falling, Greninja was already waiting at the next position.
Its legs transformed into a relentless storm of kicks.
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
The attacks were so fast they became invisible.
So smooth they resembled flowing water.
Yashaku stared with his mouth hanging open.
The club members around the battlefield were equally stunned.
No one had expected a Water-type Pokémon to completely suppress a Fighting-type in close combat.
For the spectators, it was shocking.
For Machamp, it was pure agony.
It had already suffered heavy damage during the earlier ranged assault.
Now it was enduring a relentless barrage of Flying-type attacks.
Flying-type moves were super effective against Fighting-types.
Every kick dealt double damage.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Several more strikes landed.
Machamp never even touched the ground.
Its eyes rolled backward.
It lost consciousness in midair.
Finally—
BOOM!
Its enormous body crashed onto the battlefield.
Dust exploded outward.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host.]
[Defeated LV.36 Machamp.]
[Experience +50]
[Greninja has met the level-up requirements.]
[Greninja leveled up.]
[Current Level: LV.44]
As Machamp collapsed, Greninja's nearly full experience bar finally crossed the threshold.
A beam of light flashed around its body.
It had leveled up successfully.
Now Greninja had officially caught up to Pikachu's level.
The battle was over.
After Greninja's level-up notification appeared, Ash immediately walked onto the battlefield and approached the unconscious Machamp.
Placing a hand on its body, he activated Healing Grace.
Warm green light flowed into Machamp's battered body.
The injuries caused during the match rapidly began to heal.
"Thank you, Mr. Ash."
Yashaku hurriedly expressed his gratitude.
"We lost."
"And we lost convincingly."
His expression was filled with admiration.
"Your Greninja is simply incredible."
"I already knew its ranged attacks were powerful."
"But I never imagined its close-combat abilities would be this terrifying too."
Looking at the calm, composed Greninja standing beside Ash, Yashaku couldn't help but sigh.
The gap between them was even greater than he had imagined.