Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

"It looks like some kind of dark tree sap mixed with mineral powder..."

The Pokémon around them, who had been indignant and determined to follow their leader to the death, all fell silent.

Every pair of eyes widened, their gaze shifting back and forth between Xiao Gang's hand and the "orange patch" on the little fire dragon's back.

what?

Tree sap? Mineral powder?

The boss's domineering black... that dark skin, which seemed to be commanded by heaven, made them feel especially cool and intimidated, symbolizing the boss's unique experiences and power...

It's dyed?!

"what?"

Ash reacted with an incredulous expression, just like a Pokémon.

"Is your striking dark skin dyed?"

"Pikachu!?"

Feeling the unanimous gazes of everyone focused on him.

Especially Ash's bright, clear eyes, which seemed to say, "How could you lie to me like that?"

The little dragon instantly turned red!

Even with some skin covering it, you can still faintly see the redness underneath.

This is like a captain who is about to take off, but his family and relatives burst through the door.

Shame, anger, panic, helplessness... all emotions exploded, burning the little dragon's brain into a blank.

Extreme shame and indignation made it almost forget its current predicament.

All that remained in his eyes was that squinty eye that had exposed his secret and stripped him of his dignity!

"Roar--!!!"

Charmander opened its claws, its tail blazing with flames, and charged at Brock with a desperate, suicidal stance!

I'm going to explode with you today!

Xiao Gang never expected that his academic exploration would lead to a life-or-death chase, so he hurriedly dodged and hid behind Xiao Zhi.

A group of Xiao Gangs came and bypassed Zhi.

One chased, the other fled.

There's another one getting caught in the loop.

The scene became somewhat chaotic for a moment.

Just as Ash was considering whether or not to suppress it.

Several voices, cursing and swearing, came from below the mountain road, growing louder as they approached.

"Hey! Are you guys even sure?"

An impatient but somewhat familiar voice asked.

"Was that noise just now really the sound of a rare Pokémon?"

"It's absolutely true, boss!"

A fawning voice replied.

"You heard that cry too. Something that can cry that loudly... I guarantee with my ten years of experience as a trainer, it's definitely not an ordinary creature!"

Young Gilas, his face still streaked with tears, involuntarily puffed out his little chest upon hearing this.

That's right!

This is definitely not your average product!

"Hmph! You'd better pray it's a rare Pokémon!"

The voice from before was furious.

"You were the one who said 'the rain will stop soon' yesterday, making me spend the whole night in that lousy cave, weren't you!"

"Boss, calm down! Boss, calm down!"

"I guarantee I'll make the right choice this time! I'm sure I'll get something out of it!"

The sound grew closer, and the bushes were roughly parted, making a rustling sound.

Three or four disheveled young men, covered in mud and grass, with messy hair, pushed aside the last dense foliage and stepped onto the clearing on the mountaintop.

The one leading the group was none other than the arrogant blue-haired youth we met yesterday on the mountainside—Dayou.

His sunglasses were askew, his clothes were stained with mud, and he looked even more impatient than yesterday.

Dayou immediately spotted the large group of Pokémon in various states on the open ground at the top of the mountain.

Although most of them had bags on their heads, some of them looked quite qualified.

More importantly, he spotted the proud-looking baby Gilas at a glance!

"Young Gilas?! Haha! This is truly a rare find!"

Young Kyula stands with his hands on his hips.

He glanced at the three of them smugly.

See that? This is the treatment it deserves!

Da-you's eyes suddenly lit up.

Without even thinking, he casually pulled an empty Poké Ball from his waist, aimed carefully, and threw it forcefully at Larvitar!

"My luck has turned! It's unstoppable!"

"Whoosh-"

The Poké Ball traced an arc.

However, before it could fly to Young Gilas, a black and red figure flashed by as if it were a long-suppressed rage!

"Snapped!"

A fierce claw strike!

The red and white sphere was slashed through the air and sent flying, spinning as it crashed into a tree trunk before rolling to the ground and falling silent.

It's Charmander!

It landed steadily, gripping the ground with its four claws, causing it to sink slightly into the soil.

Its body formed an absolutely protective stance, completely blocking Larva and Ash.

Facing Dayou's direction, its body was pressed very low, its muscles taut.

A deep, cursed roar, more intense than ever before, rolled in his throat, as if squeezed from the depths of malice.

"Roar--!!!"

The roar wasn't just a simple threat; it was more like a cathartic release of pain.

It was only then that Da You noticed the little fire dragon with its rather strange color.

Startled by its imposing presence and sudden movement, Da-you immediately frowned.

"It's a heteromorph... Hmm? Wait a minute..."

"It's you?!"

Da-you blurted it out.

"Roar--!!"

The little dragon bared its teeth, its sharp teeth gleaming coldly, and sparks flew from its mouth with each heavy breath, landing on the damp ground with a soft "sizzling" sound.

Its figure, which dreams of revenge, of questioning, of returning all the pain...

Today, it just happened like this, without any warning, it came to me on its own initiative!

Since that's the case...!

"It's me. What a coincidence to run into you here."

Ash, who didn't know why Charmander couldn't even utter a coherent sentence, scratched his head.

He then responded with a comment about Da You, who was looking at him.

"Humph!"

Da-you glanced at the clear blue sky.

I was immediately relieved.

"Let me show you what I'm made of..."

Looking at the person in front of him, the little dragon's body trembled continuously.

This is ridiculous...

This was a figure it once knew intimately, a figure it had waited for three days and three nights in the cold rain.

This is the root of all its pain, anger, and change...

At this moment, standing so close and hostilely in front of him, he did not recognize it at all!

This fact stung and angered Charmander more than any attack.

"Roar--!!!"

Suppressed resentment, forgotten shame, the twisted obsession that has sustained it for so long, and the feeling of insignificance now being completely ignored.

Like a volcano that has been suppressed for thousands of years finding its only crack, it erupted with a roar!

The little dragon roared at Daiyu, using up all the air in its lungs.

The voice was filled with endless curses and accusations.

Dayou was interrupted again and yelled at, causing him to instinctively take a half step back. He became even more displeased and pointed at Charmander, saying to Ash.

"Is this your Pokémon? Can't you control it?!"