Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

Xiao Zhi said.

After all, there's a concept called the clone technique among ninjas.

He had been looking around, waiting to see which corner this person would suddenly jump out from.

After waiting for ages, there was still no sign of them.

With Maoqiu's request made first, Xiaozhi didn't say much more.

With a casual slap, he shattered the smoke.

Sure enough, Ah Xing lay stiffly on the bluestone slab, still tightly clutching the smoke bomb in her hand.

He looked like he had choked and lost consciousness, with two lines of tears from the smoke streaming down his face.

Xiao Zhi stepped forward and cautiously poked Ah Xing's shoulder.

"Hello? Hello—!"

The other person didn't react at all, lying limply on the ground, still tightly clutching the smoke grenade in their hand.

Ash scratched his head and looked back at his companions.

"She...she should be alright, right?"

"Make way, make way, I know this place well."

Xiaoxia sighed, pushed Xiaozhi aside, and stepped forward.

He pulled a Poké Ball from his waist.

A flash of white light.

Starfish, lying sprawled out on their backs, appeared in the arena.

Its five horns lay crookedly on the ground, and the gem in the center of its body was still glittering.

It looks like she's sleeping soundly.

"Don't sleep."

Xiaoxia bent down and shook the starfish, waking it from its sweet dream.

The starfish turned its body groggily, and the gemstone flashed twice.

Xiaoxia pointed to Axing, who was still in a daze.

"Give her a water gun."

After thinking for a moment, he added.

"Just regular is fine, don't make people sick from the spice."

Without thinking, the still-sleepy starfish casually sprayed a jet of water, accurately hitting Ah Xing's face.

The icy water was poured over his head.

"Waaah!"

Ah Xing jolted awake, instantly snapping into a sitting position as if by reflex.

She shook the water droplets off her face, water stains still clinging to her eyelashes, and blinked blankly.

"I... cough cough! cough cough cough!"

Before she could finish speaking, she clutched her chest and coughed violently, clearly a side effect of the top-grade lung-clearing treatment.

"Cough... What... what's wrong?"

"You're dizzy from your own smoke."

Xiaoxia calmly put the starfish back in.

That guy tried to jump towards Ash, but Misty grabbed him and stuffed him back into his Poké Ball.

"Next time you use a smoke grenade, remember to throw it out, don't hold it in your hand."

Ah Xing's face flushed red.

She frantically wiped the water off her face, wishing she could disappear into the ground.

Xiao Gang casually handed him a towel.

"Th-thank you..."

Xiao Gang nodded and tactfully took two steps back.

For someone so ordinary, clearly not my cup of tea.

His public persona is quite aloof.

"I messed up again..."

She murmured softly, her head bowed, her voice growing softer and softer.

"...I'm sorry you had to see this."

She whispered, raised her hand and wiped her face haphazardly with a towel before looking up at the three people in front of her.

"My name is A-Xing, and I'm the acting gym leader of the Fuchsia Gym. Are you... challengers?"

"That's right!"

Xiao Zhi nodded immediately, his eyes lighting up.

"I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and I'm here specifically to challenge the Fuchsia Gym!"

"Xiaozhi?"

Ah Xing looked at him, blinked, tilted her head, and thought for a moment.

This name sounds familiar...

Didn't Dad mention this a few days ago?

Or was it someone who said that?

Before she could think it through—

A purple ball of fur suddenly jumped in front of her, its round body bouncing twice on the ground.

"Kong Pong, Kong Pong!"

The fluffy antennae twitched towards Ash, then turned back and frantically waved at Annie.

Ah Xing was startled when her thoughts were interrupted.

She looked down at the fur ball and subconsciously reached out to stroke its round head.

"Do you want to eat something again?"

She habitually reached into her pocket.

But it was completely empty inside.

"Sorry, fluffy ball, I don't have anything to eat with me right now."

She rubbed the fluffy ball's head a little apologetically.

"How about I find you something delicious to eat after the challenge?"

Maoqiu: "..."

The fluffy ball's antennae froze in mid-air.

Is that what it means?

It means it's going to fight and meet the challenge!

"Empty pong! Empty pong, empty pong!"

"The meaning of 'Furball' is that it wants to meet the challenge."

Xiao Zhi translated in a very serious tone.

"Pikachu!"

That's right, that's exactly what it said!

Pikachu readily chimed in, even gesturing with its little paws in the air.

"Huh? Is that so? It's not for the food?"

Ah Xing squatted down and poked the fluffy ball's round body, her eyes filled with suspicion.

"That's really unusual. I don't usually only see you so enthusiastic during mealtimes."

"Empty pong!"

Expose the flaws, but not the shortcomings!

I'm also very proactive at other times...

Right?

"Okay, okay, I know you want to help."

Ah Xing reached out and ruffled Mao Qiu's head.

"Then I'll leave it to you to take the lead."

The furball's antennae instantly stood up.

"Empty pong!"

That's more like it!

It turned around to face Ash, its antennae raised high, assuming a fighting stance.

Although its body is still round and plump like a ball, its aura is completely different!

Nothing makes it happier than having a fight with someone it knows and proving itself!

After all, there's an old saying in Kanto.

A friend comes from afar, though...

No matter how far away they are, they will be punished!