Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

What if he wakes up in the box halfway through the journey?

Isn't this just causing trouble for the delivery guy?

57. A battle where looks matter!

He was ridiculed by the cricket Xiaozhi for his lack of emotional intelligence.

Xiao Gang and Xiao Xia also found it extremely outrageous.

After adjusting their Pokémon's status to the best at the Pokémon Center.

The three did not linger and headed straight for the gym in Vermilion City, following the navigation.

As they walked, the three exchanged bits of information they had overheard in the Pokémon Center lobby.

"The Gym Leader of Vermilion City... Ma... Ma what was it again?"

Xiaoxia tapped her chin with her finger, trying hard to recall the slightly awkward name, her brows furrowing slightly.

For a moment, she couldn't quite remember the name.

"Ma Xueshi".

Xiao Gang added.

"Oh right." Xiaoxia suddenly realized and continued recounting the rumors she had heard, "It's said that he used to be a rather eccentric gym leader in the Electricity Department. That guy, what's his name, Shi..."

"Ma Xueshi".

Xiao Gang added again.

"...He especially likes to put a lot of trash cans in the dojo."

Xiaoxia waved her hand, ignoring the details of the name.

"The challenger must follow the clues hidden at the bottom of the trash can and explore step by step to find the room where he is."

"Some trainers, not knowing what was going on, just threw their trash in, causing the trainers behind them to get their hands sticky."

Ash and Pikachu on his shoulder simultaneously showed expressions of disgust.

"This is so unhygienic!"

"Pickup!"

"It's because it's dirty, troublesome, and inexplicable."

Xiaoxia continued.

"Therefore, in the past two years, the Vermilion Gym has been the subject of a joint complaint from many challengers who are sticky on their hands."

"It's said to be unhygienic, and it seems like the gym owner is deliberately making things difficult for people, which is suspected of bullying the trainers."

"The league later forced him to remove the trash cans from the gym, and even issued a special document repeatedly emphasizing that gym leaders should pay attention to their personal conduct." She paused, trying to recall, "which led to this Mr. Ma..."

"Ma Xueshi".

Xiao Gang pronounced the name clearly for the third time.

"...Well, anyway, the current Vermilion City Gym is pretty ordinary!"

"An ordinary, unremarkable Electric-type Trainer, and an ordinary, unremarkable Gym Leader..."

We chatted as we walked.

Following the navigation prompts, the three quickly arrived at their destination.

"This is... the Vermilion Gym?"

Ash looked up, examining the building before him, his tone filled with obvious doubt.

Rather than a traditional dojo, it's more like a converted small industrial warehouse or training ground.

The building's exterior is predominantly gray-blue with sharp, angular lines.

Apart from a simple badge with a lightning bolt pattern hanging above the heavy iron gate, the entire building has no other decorations that could indicate its dojo status.

"So ordinary!"

Xiao Zhi commented bluntly.

"Pickup!"

Pikachu nodded in agreement.

Without saying another word, Xiao Zhi reached out and, with a creak, pushed open the somewhat heavy iron door.

The interior space is quite spacious.

The floor is made of a smooth, hard material, and the walls are covered with protective padding.

Multiple rows of lights were also suspended high on the roof.

The venue seemed a bit empty, as if something was missing.

Look around.

A man with a buzz cut and a woman with long, wavy hair were sitting on a bench in the corner, chatting idly.

With just one glance, Misty, a Water-type Trainer, understood the identities of the two.

These are two fish.

Two small fish.

"That guy, Xiao Mao, didn't even show up."

Xiao Zhi looked around but didn't find that familiar figure. He pouted in disappointment.

"I was originally planning to find out more about him first..."

The two mediocre guys noticed the commotion at the door and initially just glanced over casually.

But when the buzz-cut man's gaze fell on the bright yellow figure on Xiao Zhi's shoulder, he suddenly froze.

"Yellow...electric mouse..."

He sat up abruptly.

Then he used his elbow to poke the big wave next to him.

"Look! It's Pikachu!"

Even the big waves couldn't help but widen their eyes.

"I'll stop them, you go and tell the boss! Hurry!"

She whispered urgently.

"understand!"

The man with the buzz cut leaped up, turned around, and ran quickly towards the depths of the dojo.

The woman with the wavy hair quickly put on an overly enthusiastic smile and came forward to greet her.

"Welcome to the Vermilion Gym! Oh dear, what a rare guest!"

Her gaze was fixed intently on Ash...

On the Pikachu on the shoulder.

The intense gaze made Pikachu instinctively shrink back.

"Is this handsome trainer here to challenge the gym?"

"Oh......"

Xiao Zhi was about to reply.

"It's okay if you wandered in by accident!"

The woman with the big waves almost spoke up before she could, and with a swift movement, she turned to the side, slammed the heavy iron door shut, and pulled the bolt shut.

"Since we're already here, our resident will be here soon anyway!"

The three of them were a little confused by this sudden enthusiasm.

This doesn't feel like a dojo.

Instead, it resembled the hideout of some underground organization.

Before they could even ask—

"Where? Where is it? Let me see!"

A loud, clear male voice, strong and resonant, came from the shadows deep within the dojo.

In the shadows, a figure almost as tall as an iron tower could be seen.

He quickly stepped out of the shadows.

The newcomer was extremely burly, wearing military green work pants and an open brown leather cardigan over his upper body.

His jacket was completely empty, revealing his well-defined, muscular abs and chest.

Her short, golden hair stood straight up.

His face was resolute, with strong features.

His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and his strikingly long chin added to his rugged and imposing presence.

His gaze swept over the three of them and instantly locked onto Ash.

Three steps in two.

The burly man immediately stood in front of Xiao Zhi.

Almost twice Ash's height, the shadow cast by his body nearly enveloped Ash completely.

"What a strong and robust physique!"

Xiao Gang couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.

I subconsciously compared my well-built physique to theirs and immediately felt inferior.

The moment the other party stood there, an intense sense of oppression emanating from pure power washed over you!