25x19 - Aim for the Eight!

[bunniefuu]

[gentle music]

[narrator] With the Masters Eight Tournament

soon to get underway,

Ash has an entrance battle scheduled with Raihan,

who is currently ranked eighth.

And that battle is slated for today!

[Ash laughs]

Aren't you psyched, Pikachu, Lucario?

-Pi-ka. -[grunts]

I was wondering who that was…

And it happens to be today's challenger.

Huh. Hi, Raihan!

Why are you here so early?

You see, I was too excited to stay away any longer!

How about you?

The truth is I'm already on my own home turf.

Of course I'd be here early!

I never figured you'd really make it this far.

But this is where your journey ends! Because I'll win.

Well, I'm not gonna lose!

[Leon groans]

-Morning, Ash, Raihan. -It's Leon!

Just what are you doing sleeping there?

Well, you know, I didn't want to be late for the battle between you two.

Guess I got excited.

[Raihan's soft laugh] You, too.

Great! I'm gonna win today's battle, and then I'm gonna battle you!

Got it! I'm looking forward to it.

-Did you hear what he just said, Pikachu? -Pikachu!

I want you to show me the best battle I've ever seen!

[theme music]

♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ I'll go anywhere if I'm with you ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ Lightning strikes or any shade of blue ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ The journey's the best part ♪

♪ Even when the road gets hard ♪

♪ I'll go anywhere if I'm with you ♪

♪ With you ♪

[gentle music]

-[Goh] "Aim…" -[Ash] "For The Eight!"

[audience cheer, applause]

Let's really cheer Ash on!

Cinderace.

Grookey… key.

Grookey.

Welcome, everyone…

[announcer] The Pokémon World Coronation Series,

presenting you with the greatest Pokémon battles on the globe

is presently determining the pinnacle of Trainers,

the Masters Eight.

We're bringing you this season's entrance battle,

with a spot in the Masters Eight on the line!

First, ranked at number nine,

a Trainer with a battling style that's impossible to predict.

Ever since he entered the World Coronation Series,

his rise has been nothing but meteoric!

Coming from the Kanto region, Ash Ketchum!

-[laughs] -[audience cheer, applause]

-Cinderace. -Get 'em, Ash!

[announcer] Facing him, and ranked at number eight

our very own Hammerlocke Gym Leader!

Combining a calm and cool demeanor with a passionate battling style.

He's called the Dragon Storm! Raihan!

[audience cheer, applause]

You know what?

I think Raihan's really popular.

Cinderace.

Yeah, you're right.

We can't let the crowd outcheer us!

-Do it, Ash! -Cinderace.

Show 'em what for!

[announcer] This is the last battle to determine

who will be in the Masters Eight Tournament!

Just what kind of battle is in store?

So, Champion. Any thoughts?

Their fighting spirit is spreading throughout the arena!

This should be one of the most entertaining battles yet!

All right!

We will use the same rules as the Masters Eight Tournament.

Three Pokémon per side!

Trainers may switch out their Pokémon as often as they would like!

The contestant who leaves

all his opponent's Pokémon unable to battle

will be the winner!

And each side may use only one of the following during the battle,

Dynamax, Z Moves, or Mega Evolution!

I wonder if Ash will decide to Mega Evolve Lucario.

And now, I ask both contestants to call their first Pokémon!

Three, two and one…

Now!

-Let's go! -I choose you!

Drago…

Fly!

Dragon type on Dragon type!

[announcer] First up, Ash has chosen Dragonite,

while Raihan has chosen Flygon!

All right, battle begin!

Use Dragon Claw!

Use Dragon Dance!

[both grunt]

[both scream]

Use Steel Wing!

Fly!

Dodge it.

[announcer] Flygon can attack with breathtaking speed

but Dragon Dance has raised Dragonite's speed and attack skills.

Flygon can't keep up!

That's some Dragonite. You've certainly trained it well.

Coming from you, I consider that seriously high praise!

Right, Dragonite?

Drago…

I'm an expert on Dragon type Pokémon.

You can't win.

Now, let the winds blow, and stream forward, Sandstorm!

[screams]

[grunts]

Cinde…

They're using Sandstorm.

-That's no good. -Grookey.

As long as Dragonite's inside of it, the damage won't stop.

-[grunts] -Pikachu.

-[Dragonite grunts] -[Ash] Dragonite, calm down!

[Raihan] Use Dragon Claw!

-[yells] -[groans]

Dragonite!

[groans]

Use Steel Wing!

[announcer] Dragonite is being tossed relentlessly

by Flygon's elusive movements!

What is Ash going to do about it?

[grunts] Can you still battle?

[growls]

[groans]

If we can't see it, we'll just hit it anyway!

Dragonite, Draco Meteor!

[growling]

-[Flygon's soft grunt] -Huh.

Over there! Use Hurricane!

[snarls]

[shrieks]

There it is! Use Dragon Claw!

[growls]

[yells]

[announcer] Oh! And Dragonite connects!

Flygon, no!

Fly…

[announcer] But Flygon soon takes flight once again

and vanishes back into the sandstorm!

Again?

Cinder…

[growls]

Dragonite, Draco Meteor, one more time!

[growling]

Not falling for that twice.

All right, use Steel Wing!

[shrieks]

Dragonite is unable to battle!

[audience cheer, applause]

[announcer] What a strong showing by Raihan.

Proving how tough it is to get into the Masters Eight!

No one thirsts for victory more than Raihan does.

Because of that, battles with him are always so exciting!

Dragonite, you take a nice, long rest.

Gengar?

You're up!

Geng… Gengar.

[announcer] And Ash's second Pokémon is Gengar!

No matter who we battle,

they can't escape from the effects of our sandstorm.

Steel Wing, let's go!

Fly…

[Ash] Gengar, dodge it!

Now, use Ice Punch!

Gengar. Gen… gar!

[Raihan] Use Dragon Claw!

-[shrieks] -[grunts]

[announcer] Now Gengar's being tossed around by Flygon!

[grunting]

[groans]

I've gotta get rid of that Sandstorm!

Ash seems so powerless…

Cinderace.

Let's wrap this up…

Now, use Crunch!

[screams]

[Gengar grunting]

Gengar!

Cinder…

[announcer] That Crunch move was super effective!

[grunts]

Pi-ka…

Gengar went down, and it's staying down!

If Gengar is eliminated, then Ash will only have one Pokémon left

while Raihan's still got three!

Talk about a terrible disadvantage.

Can you battle, Gengar?

Geng… ar.

Gengar!

[announcer] And somehow Gengar manages to stand up!

So this is why he's a Trainer that Leon saw promise in.

You said you wanted to battle Leon, didn't you?

The Champion you respect?

Well, look!

That alone isn't nearly enough!

To battle Leon, you need to have just one goal!

And that's to win!

Respect won't beat me! I'll beat you!

Then, after that…

I'll beat Leon!

And in the end, I'll be Champion!

It's true, you're right, that I've always wanted to battle Leon

because I respect him a lot.

But that isn't all it is!

I truly want to beat Leon!

Huh.

So I won't allow myself to lose to you!

Gengar… [grunting]

Sorry, Lucario.

Mega Evolution has to wait.

Let's go, Gengar!

Ge… Gengar.

Wait! He's using Gengar?

Time for you to go big!

[grunts]

Gigantamax!

[grunts]

Gengar!

[announcer] Wow. Ash just caused his Gengar to Gigantamax!

Gengar, suck in the sandstorm!

[growls]

Huh?

[growling]

Use G Max Terror!

[growling]

-[Flygon grunting] -Huh!

Crunch, let's go!

[shrieks]

Max Starfall!

[growls]

[yells]

[grunts]

[groans]

[announcer] Flygon is unable to battle!

Ash's quick thinking helped Gengar survive a difficult situation!

[all cheer]

You did it, Gengar!

-[growls] -Pi-ka!

Flygon, you battled well. Thanks.

And who's up next?

Goodra!

Goodra.

[announcer] Raihan's second Pokémon is Goodra!

Now I'm going to show you why everybody calls me the Dragon Storm.

Goodra, use Rain Dance!

Goo… Goodra!

This time it's rain?

[narrator] The strategy is to control the weather

in order to give his Pokémon the advantage!

That's how Raihan shows his training skills!

Cold rain's very soothing when one is really worked up.

All right, Goodra, Thunder!

Goo…

[groaning]

Gengar, no!

Now use Surf!

Goo… dra.

Hydro Pump!

Goodra!

Gigantamax Gengar can't seem to fight back!

-[grunts] -[growls]

Gengar?

[growls]

Okay, you've got it.

Hey, Ash, weren't you going to switch?

All right, I'll finish it.

Surf is up!

[screams]

[growls]

[announcer] Look at that! Gengar just beat back the Surf!

-Way to go, Gengar! -[all cheer]

[growls]

Gengar!

Yeah. We're gonna win this!

Let's do it! Use Max Starfall!

-[soft growls] -Use Hydro Pump!

Goo…

[screams]

[grunting]

[growls] Geng… ar.

Geng… ar.

Gengar.

[both groan]

Goodra and Gengar are both unable to battle!

[announcer] Both Pokémon are down,

and the Rain Dance effect has disappeared, too!

You did great Gengar.

Take a good rest, Goodra.

Thank you.

[sighs]

This is the very last Pokémon for both Ash and Raihan!

Cinder…

-It's up to you, Lucario! Go! -You're up, Duraludon!

[announcer] Ash's third Pokémon is Lucario!

And Raihan has his sure-to-win partner, Duraludon!

Don't forget he's also got Dynamax, his secret weapon, held in reserve!

We're gonna battle until the very end!

And that's why we're gonna win!

[grunts]

There's some determination.

Now I see how serious you are.

Get ready! We'll crush you with all we've got!

Let's go…

Duraludon!

-Really? That was quick! -Cinderace.

Bring the storm!

My partner will send…

everyone in the stadium flying!

Gigantamax!

[growls]

[announcer] It's Gigantamax Duraludon!

-[groans] -[Ash] All right, Lucario.

Use Double Team!

[grunts]

[pants]

[growls]

Aura Sphere, go!

[groans]

[both grunt]

Aura Sphere again!

[yells]

Max Steelspike!

[growls]

-Dodge it! -[grunting]

Lucario!

[grunts]

[pants]

You've battled well up to this point.

But now, this is where it ends.

It's now time!

Last move.

G Max Depletion!

[grunting]

-Lucario! -Cinderace.

Grookey… key.

[grunts]

[Ash] This isn't over just yet.

No way. Isn't that right, Lucario?

[suspenseful music]

What in the world…

They learned that from their special training…

with Greninja!

But this time it's even bigger!

Huh?

[beeps]

Greninja.

I feel it.

Our Aura, it's what's connecting us to everything.

Huh.

Now Lucario, Giant Aura Sphere!

[Lucario grunts]

Duraludon, Max Rockfall!

[growls]

Let's go!

[Lucario growls]

[groans]

[all scream]

Duraludon is unable to battle!

Which means that the winner is Ash Ketchum!

-[audience cheer, applause] -All right, yeah!

Lucario, you did it!

-[grunts] -Pi-ka. Pi-ka.

[announcer] And Lucario's massive Aura Sphere

defeats Gigantamax Duraludon for the win!

Wow. He won.

[all scream]

-Wow, we really won! -[all cheer]

Both Ash and Raihan.

I thank them for showing me a great battle!

You did your best, Duraludon.

[upbeat music]

This was mine to lose.

Thanks, Raihan, for an awesome battle!

-Wait. Got a sec? -Huh?

-Oh. -How about a smile?

-[laughs] -[camera shutter clicks]

I'm gonna defeat both you and Leon someday.

In the meantime…

Don't you dare lose before that happens!

I won't!

Nice.

[announcer] And so, the entrance battles for this season are complete.

The contestants for the Masters Eight Tournament

have now been decided!

First, the winner of this match.

Ranking number eight, it's Ash!

Ranking number seven, the Unova Champion, Iris!

Ranking number six,

the winner of the Kalos Lumiose Conference, Alain!

Ranking fifth, the Champion of the Kalos region, Diantha!

Ranking fourth, the Champion of both Kanto and Johto, Lance!

Ranking number three, the Hoenn Champion, Steven Stone!

Ranked second, the Sinnoh region Champion, Cynthia!

And ranked number one, amassing an unbroken series of victories,

the undefeated Galar Champion, Leon!

These eight will be competing

in the all-star battles of The Masters Eight Tournament,

which is scheduled to get underway very, very soon!

[narrator] After winning a challenging battle against Raihan,

Ash now moves on to the Masters Eight Tournament.

So stay tuned for more passionate battling with even tougher opponents,

as the journey continues!

[closing theme music]