01x28 - Battling as Hard as Stone![8] (Satoshi Heads Into Battle! VS Daigo!!)

[bunniefuu]

[narrator] This is where
the strongest Trainer is determined.

The Pokémon World Coronation Series
Masters Eight Tournament.

Where eight people,
striving to reach the top,

have already begun to battle.

The third three-on-three match
of round one was Sinnoh Champion Cynthia

versus Unova Champion Iris.

It was during this fierce battle

that Cynthia unexpectedly Mega Evolved
her Garchomp.

Although the battle was very close,
Iris ended up losing.

And now, during the fourth match,
Ash will finally make his appearance.

["With You" playing]

♪ I'll go anywhere if I'm with you ♪

♪ Lightning strikes or any shade of blue ♪

♪ The journey's the best part ♪

♪ Even when the road gets hard ♪

♪ I'll go anywhere if I'm with you ♪

♪ With you ♪

[theme music]

-[Ash] "Battling..."
-[Goh] "As Hard As Stone!"

[announcer] The fourth match
of the first round

will pit Steven Stone,
the Hoenn region Champion,

against the very first
Alola region Champion, Ash Ketchum!

Now it's Twerp time! Rock and roll!

Battling someone with panache and power!

I'm not so sure the Twerp
even has half a chance.

Wobbuffet!

Hop, would you mind
moving down a bit, please?

You got it!

-The Unova Champion?
-Hello there, Hop.

I hear you're Leon's brother.
It's nice to meet you.

-[Hop] Nice to meet you, too.
-So cute!

-And fluffy, too!
-Wooloo!

But why are you sitting here
in the stands?

She wants to feel the energy
of the stadium firsthand.

-That's just like Ash!
-[giggling]

[Dan] For this round,
each contestant gets three Pokémon!

No limits on time or switching!

The one who leaves all three
of their opponent's Pokémon

unable to battle wins!

[Dan] Also, a contestant
can only use Dynamax, a Z-Move,

or Mega Evolution once per match.

Check it out! Ash has got all three!

Uh-huh. The results of lots of adventures.

'Kay, Steven, I'm the one advancing
to the semifinals!

Pikachu.

You don't say, huh?
Then I expect great things.

I look forward to seeing
what kind of battle you'll bring.

Now, both of you, please send
your first Pokémon out to the field!

And three, two, one, and go!

-Go, Metagross!
-Dracovish, I choose you!

[zapping]

[shouts]
Dracovish!

[grumbles]
Meta!

[announcer] Each of the first Pokémon
has been revealed!

The first matchup will be a collision
between Dracovish and Metagross!

Show me what you've got, rookie.

Battle begin!

-Water g*n!
-Use Agility!

[roars]

[grunting]

-Use Fishious Rend!
-Draco!

-Use Psychic, let's go!
-[grumbling]

-Oh, yeah!
-[scoffs]

[both grunting]

[announcer] And Fishious Rend holds off
the Psychic attack!

Draco!

He predicted that.

Ash sure has some moves!

Yeah, Fishious Rend is even
more powerful if it lands first.

Dracovish's Strong Jaw Ability is amazing!

It's giving it even more power!

[Ash] Paul, my battle with you
is already paying off.

Closing in with Agility,
then using Psychic!

I had a feeling you knew
how Steven would battle,

and then you helped me train for it.

[Steven] Metagross, return!

Aggron, let's go!

[growls]

[announcer] Steven quickly switches
to a new Pokémon!

[Rotom Phone] Aggron.

The Iron Armor Pokémon.
A Steel and Rock type.

Aggron has a sharp horn
that can pierce through thick iron.

It rams opponents with its horn
to stop them in their tracks.

[tense music]

Let me tell you. The thing is...

I am considered the most powerful
Trainer in the Hoenn region.

But that's not nearly enough for me.

The Pokémon World Coronation Series!

It is only when I dominate this event

that I can say I am truly
the strongest and the best!

I've never seen Steven
this fired up before.

Mm-hm.

-And the same for us!
-Pika!

For all the people
who've cheered me on up until now.

For all of my Pokémon...

I'll win this. For sure!

Pika!

Dragon Rush, go!

[grunting]

-Use Heavy Slam!
-[grumbles]

-[yells]
-[crashes]

-[gasps]
-Pika?

[groaning]

[grumbles]

[whimpering]

-Dracovish, can you go on?
-Pikachu!

[whines]

-Vish...
-Whoa!

[Dan] Dracovish is unable to battle!

[announcer] The matchup of power
versus power goes to Aggron!

[yelling]

Poor Dracovish. It sure fought hard.

I'll tell you, Steven is really strong.

[chomping]

Told you,
the Twerp's completely outclassed.

-Have you lost it?
-Are you mad?

I'm totally not mad!

[Wobbuffet mumbling]

-Dracovish, return!
-[zapping]

Thanks for your hard work!

-Pika?
-Gengar, now, I choose you!

Gengar!
[snickers]

-[laughing]
-Let's go!

-Will-O-Wisp!
-[grunting]

[Aggron shouting]

A fire move.

[announcer] Now that Aggron is burned,
it can't recover its strength!

[Pokémon cheering]

Use Smart Strike!

[roars]

-Gengar!
-Pika!

[groans]

[announcer]
The burn is stealing Aggron's strength!

-Gengar, here it comes.
-Gengar!

Quick, Rock Tomb, let's go!

[yelling]

-Use Dazzling Gleam!
-Gengar!

-[blasting]
-[shouts]

[snarling]

Ugh. Ah, it still hasn't fallen?

[shouting]

Huh.

[Aggron groaning]

[Steven] Aggron... Huh?

[Dan] Aggron is unable to battle!

-Yeah! You did it, Gengar!
-[Pokémon cheering]

[announcer] Even its steel armor
couldn't protect it against a nasty burn!

[Pokémon cheering]

That's my kind of training!

[both snarl]

Great going, Ash! Gengar!

Although it does seem
they just squeezed through for the win.

Now, Aggron, return!

Many thanks.

I should have known. Cradily, let's go!

Cradily!

[announcer]
Steven's third Pokémon is Cradily!

[Rotom Phone] Cradily.

The Barnacle Pokémon.
A Rock and Grass type.

After grabbing food with its tentacles,

it gains nutrients
by digesting the food whole.

Gengar, Gengar!

Now, Power Whip!

-[shrieking]
-Gengar.

[gasps]

[announcer] Cradily is making full use
of its tentacles with Power Whip!

Gengar has no place to go!

-No!
-Pika!

-Mm.
-[all] Entrapment!

[gasps]

So that's the reason he went with Cradily.

It's so scary.

Use Ingrain!

[Cradily grunting]

[warbles]

[grunts]

It can't switch out while using Ingrain.

That means Steven plans
to stop Gengar right here and now.

Use Sludge b*mb and get out of there!

-[Gengar yells]
-[Cradily shrieks]

[Cradily whines]

[yells]

Now, it's stronger!

No matter how many attacks Gengar lands,

it's just wasting its own energy.

Now what, Ash? What'll you do?

-[grunts]
-[Pikachu] Pika, pika!

-[Gengar grunting]
-Meteor Beam!

-[shrieking]
-[grunting]

-[whimpers]
-[Ash grunting]

That's it. Fight light with light!

[Ash] Gengar, use Dazzling Gleam!

[grunting]

[intense music]

[Pokémon shouting]

[grunts]

[grunts]

[blasts]

-[grunts]
-Crad!

Gengar.

[announcer] Ash used the collision
of the two attack moves

to free Gengar from those tentacles!

-Good move, Ash.
-Gengar, use Shadow Ball!

[grumbles]

Quick, Power Whip!

[yelling]

[Pokémon grunting]

-Oh!
-[Pikachu] Pika!

-Gengar.
-Gengar!

[Dan] Gengar is unable to battle!

[announcer] Ash has lost
his second Pokémon!

[crowd cheering]

All right, Gengar, return!

You worked hard. That won't go to waste!

'Kay, Pikachu, show 'em how!

Pika, pika!

-Pika!
-[announcer] And there it is!

That expl*sive bolt of lightning, Pikachu!

So your number one partner is up now.

Pikachu, give it your all!

Electric type attacks
won't work very well.

Not only that,
Metagross can still be used.

Ash is in a very difficult spot.

-It's Pikachu time!
-I smell turnaround!

Pikachu! Don't even think about losing.

Do you hear me?

Wobbu, wobbu!

-Rock Blast, now!
-[shrieking]

Quick Attack, let's go!

[grunting]

-Pika!
-[squeals]

[grunting]

Jump on the rocks to get there!

Pika!

[grunting]

What a jump!

But what's it gonna do up there?

Cradily keeps healing.

This battle needs a quick decision.

[shrieks]

Now! Power Whip!

-[shrills]
-Electroweb!

[grumbling]

-Pika!
-What now?

All right! It's caught it!

-Was that what it was aiming at?
-Yeah!

That's what Ash is all about!

I think this is kind of fun!

[grunting]

Use Iron Tail!

Pika!

[yelling]

Pikachu!

-[yells]
-Crad!

[groaning]

[Dan] Cradily is unable to battle!

-All right!
-Pikachu!

[announcer] With the loss
of Steven's second Pokémon,

each contestant has one Pokémon left!

That was just terrific.

Each one of your moves
leaves me totally surprised, Ash.

It's all because Gengar
set it up for Pikachu.

Pika.

Talk about tough!

Yep. That's our Pikachu!

Twerp tenacity!

Wobbuffet!

Do you have any idea
what this could possibly lead to?

Wobbuffet!

[Steven] Cradily, return.

You did very well.

Win or lose, this is the final showdown.

Metagross, let's go!

Meta!

-It's Metagross.
-[crowd cheering]

Pika.

[announcer] And so, in the fourth match
of the first round,

the question remains,

which contestant
will make it to the semifinals?

Sparkling stone, give our bond form!

[epic music]

Metagross, now, Mega Evolve!

[growling]

Meta...

-[grunts]
-Pika, pika.

[announcer] Steven and Mega Metagross
are ready to wrap up this match.

All right, Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!

Pikachu!

It's not gonna work.

-[electricity crackles]
-Pika?

[Ash] Pikachu, keep attacking
with Thunderbolt!

Pikachu!

[announcer]
None of Pikachu's attacks are landing!

Metagross is reading
where each and every attack is heading,

-and dodging every single one!
-[grunts]

[Pikachu] Chu! Chu!

Because this is Mega Metagross.

[Steven] It can anticipate
all of Pikachu's moves.

-Meta.
-All right, Meteor Mash!

Meta!

-Meta!
-[shrieks]

Pikachu, no!

-[groaning]
-Uh...

[all gasp]

[all gasp]

They say Mega Metagross
has not only enhanced battling awareness,

but has excellent analytical skills
as well.

[Diantha] It's reading Pikachu's
movements, breathing, everything,

and instantly analyzing them
to dodge the attacks.

This has turned into quite
a tough battle for Ash.

[gasps]

[tense music]

[grunts]
Pikachu!

Use Iron Tail!

Pikachu... pika!

-[Pikachu] Pika?
-Metagross, use Psychic!

Meta!

-Pi... Pika?
-[Ash] Pikachu!

[whimpers]

[thuds]

[groaning]

[grunting]

Pika!

[announcer] Mega Metagross's attacks
are really putting on the pressure.

Pikachu is doing nothing,
but taking damage.

But that's Steven for you.

His calm decisions
are putting Ash right into a corner!

[grunts]
Hmm.

-[Ash] Pikachu!
-[Pikachu] Pika!

-Pika.
-All right, Pikachu, here we go!

-Isn't that...
-A Z-Move?

-And not a moment too soon!
-[Grookey chitters]

-Wow, a Z-Move.
-[amused gasp]

A Z-Move.

[grunting]

Pikachu!

[Pikachu grunting]

[Ash grunts]

Much bigger than a Thunderbolt!



-Pika!
-Yeah, this is much, much bigger!

[Ash] And super full power!

Pika, pika!

Pikachu, use 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt!

Pika!

[grumbling]

[screaming]

Metagross, dodge it!

Use Flash Cannon!

-Meta!
-What?

Yes!

[grunting]

[thuds]

-Controlling electricity at will?
-We're done!

-Use Iron Tail!
-Pika!

-[grunting]
-Meta!

-Pika!
-Meta...

[Metagross mumbles]

[Dan] Metagross is unable to battle!

Pikachu is the winner!

And the victory goes to Ash Ketchum!

[crowd cheering]

-All right!
-Pika!

[announcer] And it's a win for Ash!

The Alola region Champion
will now move on to the semifinals!

And his next opponent will be Cynthia!

Ready, Ash? Our match is near.

-[both] Ash won! Ash won! Ash won!
-[Grookey cheers]

That 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt
gave me chills!

And Ash being able to work
with Pikachu like that

was really incredible!

Time for a party
featuring Galar curry! Yay!

[all cheer]

That's our Pikachu for you.

That's the Twerp for you!

Talk about totally upsetting
the game board!

Say, do you think they could,
actually, you know...

[jabbering]

-Pika!
-[Ash laughs]

Hey, Steven!

You know, Ash, the feelings
that you have for your Pokémon,

and the way they respond to you,

they gave their all in battle for that.

They came together as one,
and as a result,

created an even greater power.

And that's the reason you were able
to grasp your victory today.

[Steven] And a spectacular win it was.

Pika, pi.

[announcer] And with this,
the four Masters Eight Tournament

semifinal round contestants
have been decided!

We'll be bringing you Leon,
Diantha, Cynthia, and Ash.

And mark my words,

the most exciting battles
of the Masters Eight Tournament

are still yet to come!

[epic music]

[Steven] Your next opponent is Cynthia.

Still, with Pikachu
and your other Pokémon, you can win.

-I believe in you, Ash.
-I'm certain you can do it.

Can't wait
to hear you tell me all about it!

-And that's just what I'm gonna do!
-Pika!

-Now, don't let your guard down.
-Grookey!

You can count on me.

I've gotta be the one to battle Leon.

-Right, buddy?
-Pikachu.

[chuckles]
Best wishes! Give it your all!

[narrator] The tough battles
of the Masters Eight Tournament

first round are complete!

The next battles
will be Leon versus Diantha,

and Cynthia versus Ash.

We'll find out who makes it to the finals,
as the journey continues!

[closing theme music]