"Rampage."

Respect the Machoke.

 

From an author PM:

I'm ready.

 

It's updated

After reading, I feel like it's building up for Ash to get his arse handed to him fairly badly in the not too distant future.

 

I didn't get that feeling at all. At least not so soon. I'd expect him to go through a few more battles at least minimum 1 battle to win in front of Oak and his mom and then a tossup between a beat down or barely winning. No matter what I'd say if he doesn't use his Magmortar then he has more battles to go. Since you know, "super secret weapon on par with my dragon type".

In fact, I'd say the battle he uses Nidoking, Torrent, and Infernus as a team would be the one he loses. If you want to get the point across that he's completely outclassed.

 

True, the Magmortor will be the tipping point. But I do think within the next four chapters that beat-down will be coming.

 

Hydreigon cracking the shit out of everything.

That is all.

 

It was mentioned that battles from here on out will be 6v6.

 

Was it? My mistake then and I'm definitely excited for the next round of battles.

 

I chuckled more than I should have at the line about Ash's mum staying with Professor Oak in his assigned house.

 

I wouldn't be against seeing Ash go all the way, but if I had to guess, I think he's got one more win left in him, will make it one round further than Gary but won't fight him, and then will lose a close battle in the semifinals. Afterwards, he'll have an informal battle with Gary and win so the arc can end on a victory.

 

I'm always a huge fan of stories that take rather marginal pokemon, like Persian, or indeed, Hypno, and make them awesome. It was also one of the few parts of the anime I tolerated (see that bitchin' Bellsprout in the first season, or, fuck, Pikachu). This story is good at that.

And yeah, I'm sort of expecting the finals to be Ash v the dude with Hydreigon.

 

The Hydreigon is strong but I feel like Torrent would put it down.

I want to see Oz evolve and a showdown between her and Infernus.

I like this a lot but I have to say the starmie was such a letdown after reading GoC's update with Aion.

 

Updated.

Very suitable Ash vs Gary fight - I wasn't expecting it this soon in the tournament.

Spoiler

Now that Ash won, I wonder if he's being set up for a fall. Given how everything is going, I can see him taking this tournament down.

 

After the talk with Agatha, I think he has good chances to win, yeah.

 

Does the story just end if Ash wins

 

He also has plans for Johto, iirc.

And as always fights are amazing. Tbh though, this wasn't such an epic battle. It's almost setting up Ash for Championship win which I didn't except to happen. I don't know if I would really like that. I mean this is the advanced stage and he still isn't past the toying through battles routine.

Also, cool that Agatha was introduced. I always liked her character. Don't think the author pulled it off quite efficiently though. There was distinct gap in her ghostly, mysterious persona to the way she was talking to Ash. Or maybe it's the different perception I had in my mind. I didn't like the past bit too. It would have been so awesome if he could have emphasized on Oak's history in a more monumental way. Right now it just looks a bare, afterthought addition. No real effort in it.

I just hope Ash gets an even competition in the last 8.

 

Next series will be in Hoenn.

 

Updated. It's a filler chapter for the most part, and there's no battles. It adds some more lore about The First, and Ash is presented with two possible future endeavors.