Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

Ditto, who has tormented itself for so many years, the Ditto that imitated Magneton's explosion at 3 a.m. in the middle of the night... you actually have a day like this!

......

After breakfast, Imetti led the three of them out of the restaurant.

Walk along the stone path along the edge of the terrace into the depths of the park.

"Ta-da! Our first exhibit: the Omanyte Ecological Pool!"

Imettie turned around, took two steps back, and opened her arms with a smile.

"This is the star exhibit at the Fossil Park; many researchers even fly here specifically to see it."

My gaze passed over Imetti.

There was a circular pool about 20 meters in diameter, with crystal-clear water and a bottom paved with rock slabs that resembled an ancient seabed.

Several spiny ammonites were swimming slowly in the water, their spiral shells gleaming like pearls in the sunlight, their tentacles swaying gently, stirring up ripples.

Several smaller ammonites were lying by the pond, but the patterns on their shells were faint, with little sign of growth or the passage of time.

"oh--!"

Ash dashed to the edge of the pool, squatted down, placed his hands on his knees, and craned his neck forward.

"Puff puff~"

"So that's what Omanyte is called!"

Xiao Zhi exclaimed in surprise.

Although it has a slight accent, it's not too difficult to understand overall.

Xiao Gang knelt on the ground, took out his notebook, and frantically sketched while muttering to himself.

"The outer shell is about thirty centimeters in diameter, with twelve tentacles, and its swimming posture is similar to..."

Xiaoxia was also carefully observing the ammonites.

She watched for a while, then suddenly turned her head and found that Xiao Zhi was still lying on the edge of the pool, his face almost touching the water. She couldn't help but shake her head, walk over and nudged him with her elbow.

"Ash, haven't you ever seen a fossil Pokémon? Logically speaking... Professor Oak's lab should have some, right?"

After all, it's a renowned research institute in the Kanto region, so it should have a complete set of equipment.

Xiao Zhi shook his head.

"The doctor's main research area is not paleontological resurrection, that's too simple, so it wasn't introduced."

"Professor Oak?" Imetti blinked. "That Professor Oak?"

“Yes,” Xiaoxia chimed in, patting Xiao on the shoulder, “Ash and Professor come from the same place.”

"Amazing!" Imetti clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "No wonder Ash is so knowledgeable!"

In just a short conversation, she discovered that Ash could talk about Pokémon in a very detailed and coherent way.

From habits to skills to evolutionary conditions, there's almost no topic he can't answer.

Xiao Zhi didn't pay much attention to these things.

He was more interested in the ammonite lying on the rock next to him, basking in the sun.

"This Omanyte seems so different from the other Omanyte!"

"Did you see it?"

Imetti Kopp said.

"These are just resurrected fossils; the others are naturally reproduced."

"Unlike other places, the fossil Pokémon here, although they are all called 'fossil Pokémon,' is only because people initially thought they were all extinct, and they first learned about them from fossils."

"But it's different here. They didn't turn into fossils; they just fell into a deep sleep and were buried in the strata."

"In a sense, they are authentic ancient Pokémon, not resurrected ones, but survivors."

"I wish I could capture one."

Xiao Gang sighed.

That would create a bloodline advantage over his father.

"Subduing them... that might be a bit difficult."

"It is said that breeding fossil Pokémon is very difficult. This place is considered the best in the Kanto region, but the birth rate is still not ideal. Therefore, it is not usually open to the public. It mainly collaborates with some research institutions."

As Xiao Zhi was listening intently, a familiar, somewhat smug voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Hey—who's this? Isn't that Ash Ketchum?"

All four of them turned around at the same time.

A young man wearing a dark blue cardigan and khaki casual pants walked towards them with his hands in his pockets.

His hair was sticking up like a hedgehog, he had a signature smug smile on his face, his chin was slightly raised, and he exuded an aura of "I'm the coolest guy on the street".

Xiao Zhi was stunned for a moment.

"Xiao Mao? What are you doing here?"

"Huh?" Shigeru approached, raising an eyebrow in feigned surprise, and even tilting his head to the side as if to confirm something. "Ash, how did you know I got a few rare fossil Pokémon here?"

When he said this, the "come ask me, come ask me" attitude in his tone was practically written all over his forehead.

Xiao Zhi looked blank and blinked.

"I didn't know?" he said honestly, then, as if just realizing something, added, "You got a fossil Pokémon? Congratulations!"

Xiao Mao's expression froze for 0.3 seconds.

No?

That's it? The plot isn't right, is it?

Shouldn't you reply with "Who asked you?" and then slowly release a few Pokémon from your Poké Ball, saying, "How do you know they're still alive and well from ancient times?"

But Xiao Mao was, after all, someone who had seen a lot.

He quickly rallied, raised his head, slightly lifted his chin, and spoke with the air of a victor.

"Since I have what you don't."

"So, Xiao Zhi... now has 33 wins, 17 draws, and 480 losses!"

He paused, as if savoring the weight of those numbers.

After all, this was the first time he had officially beaten Ash since Ash awakened his intelligence!

It was worth it for him to plead with his grandfather and sister for a whole week, making countless trips and helping to move more than a dozen boxes of samples.

She was also ordered around to help feed the Omanyte cubs for three days and three nights.

Xiao Mao looked up at the sky, his eyes glistening with tears.

But it was all worth it!

It was worth it! Absolutely worth it!

Seeing Xiao Mao's almost tearful expression, Imetti quietly nudged Xiao Xia's arm and asked in a low voice.

"This is……?"

"Hmm." Xiaoxia nodded. "He's been holding it in for too long, he's gone stupid."

163. I've decided on you!

"Is that so...?"

Imetti tilted her head slightly, her eyes filled with pity, and quietly looked at Xiao Mao in front of her.

Unexpectedly, this person appeared arrogant and domineering.

But deep down, he's not exactly a bright person.

Then I'll have to be careful about my words and actions from now on. What if I accidentally provoke him? Wouldn't that be bullying the weak?

Xiao Zhi didn't say anything, he just scratched his head.

Thirty-three wins, seventeen draws, and four hundred and eighty losses?

He vaguely remembered that the last time there were not so many negative numbers, right?

When did Xiao Mao start secretly comparing himself to me again?

shook his head.

Ash stepped forward and sincerely patted Gary on the shoulder.

"Congratulations, Gary! Those fossil Pokémon must be really strong, right?"

"Of course."

Speaking of this, Xiao Mao, whose body was half numb from being slapped, regained his usual arrogance.

With a smirk, he reached for his waist, ready to pull out a Poké Ball and show it off.

However, the moment he lowered his head—

Two identical Ash appeared before him, standing on his left and right shoulders respectively.

Xiaomao: "?!"

What's going on here?!

He rubbed his eyes, but the two little Zhis in front of him did not disappear.

One Ash wasn't enough, there were even two!

Xiao Mao was starting to have an existential crisis.

Could it be... that my victory this time was fake?

Was he actually still under the illusion cast by the Gengar from the video call with his grandfather?!

Just as he was about to concentrate on fighting the illusion, one of the little devils patted him on the shoulder again.