Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

After dawdling over her washing and dressing, and repeatedly checking in the mirror to make sure she had returned to her flawless, beautiful self, Xiaoxia took a deep breath and led her Gyarados, which still looked at her with adoration and followed her every step, out of the room.

Despite feeling guilty, a trainer can't lose their composure... at least not on the surface.

After searching the backyard, the man and the dragon couldn't find even a trace of Ash and Pikachu.

Xiaoxia secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and her tense shoulders relaxed.

She immediately straightened her back, trying to salvage her slightly timid image in front of Gyarados. She cleared her throat and spoke in a deliberately relaxed tone.

"Hmph! I knew it! He's just a nobody like Ash! I don't even consider him a threat..."

"Hey! Xiaoxia, you're up?"

A loud voice suddenly came from the side.

"...because I always keep him in my heart!"

Xiaoxia was startled by the sudden greeting, and almost bit her tongue before she could finish her sentence, her speech quickening instantly.

She turned her head to look, still shaken.

But the visitor was not Xiaozhi, but Wu Neng, who had finished interacting with his child and was trying to upgrade the somewhat unfamiliar title of "uncle" to the more affectionate "father."

"M-Uncle!?"

Xiaoxia patted her chest, still shaken.

"What do you mean by 'in your eyes and heart'? You're looking for Xiao Zhi, aren't you?" Wu Neng asked with a smile. "Then you're too late."

He pointed towards the direction outside the dojo gate.

"That kid took Pikachu out before dawn, saying he was going to a power plant in the suburbs for training. What, do you need him urgently?"

"without.....!"

Xiaoxia instinctively denied it, but when she saw Gyarados, she changed her tune.

"......have!"

Wu Neng was somewhat bewildered.

"Does it exist or not?"

After hesitating for a moment, Xiaoxia still told her about Gyarados's unusual state that morning.

Upon hearing this, Wu Neng immediately called over the children who were on their way to the kitchen to help Xiao Gang prepare breakfast for the family.

Good morning, Uncle! Good morning, Sister!

Wu Neng's mouth twitched.

It seems that the great undertaking of changing one's uncle to one's father cannot be accomplished overnight.

"What did you guys do with Gyarados last night?"

Wu Neng squatted down and asked in a gentle tone.

"Yesterday? Last night we played hide-and-seek with Gyarados for a while!"

"Yes, yes!"

"Then Xiao Zhi came too. He saw that we were tired from playing, so he told us a story!"

"Gyarados was listening too! It was listening very attentively!"

Upon hearing the word "story," Gyarados's massive body visibly stiffened once again.

Telling a story?

Xiaoxia looked at Gyarados with a puzzled expression.

Just one story?

A story can scare you like this?

Wu Neng became interested and asked curiously.

"Oh? What story did Ash tell?"

The children immediately began to eagerly and excitedly recount the story:

"It's a story from ancient times!"

"Back then, the world was in chaos, and humans and Pokémon were constantly fighting!"

"He said there was a Gyarados clan that was particularly wicked and ferocious! They often stirred up storms in the rivers and seas, capsizing boats and causing everyone great suffering!"

"Later, a super-powerful trainer couldn't stand it anymore! His name was... his name was..."

"What was it again?"

"I forgot!"

"In short, it's a very strange name!"

"He held a keychain in one hand and a wind chime in the other, then jumped into the ocean to fight those wicked Gyarados!"

"He charged in and out seven times! That's amazing!"

"Finally, they defeated all those evil Gyarados! And restored peace!"

After listening, Wu Neng nodded thoughtfully.

"Well, although the details of having a keychain in one hand and a wind chime in the other are a bit strange... but in ancient times, the relationship between humans and Pokémon was indeed full of conflict, so it's not surprising that such stories have been passed down."

Xiaoxia also looked at Gyarados.

"That's it? A story scared you this much?"

Could it be that when the "overconfidence" trait is cleared, so does courage?

Upon hearing this, Gyarados was so aggrieved that it almost cried.

Not in front!

It's behind!

What happens next is the real focus! That's where the real terror lies!

Ash later vividly described how that strangely named trainer subdued a particularly ferocious Gyarados and then subjected it to horrific treatment.

Peel off the dragon's skin and pull out its tendons!

That was incredibly detailed and specific!

The key point is that while he was talking, he was also gesturing with his hands to show the position and movements on its body!

The feeling of those icy fingers gliding across the scales, that earnest tone of voice... how is this any different from listening to a tailor-made horror story!

Who wouldn't be afraid!

It's just an ordinary Gyarados that has lost its special ability, why should it listen to such terrifying things!

......

Just as Gyarados was trying to convey the terrifying details of last night to Misty through body language, and Misty was still trying to understand how specific "skinning and tendons-pulling" really was, a powerful voice rang out behind them.

"Hey! Everyone's up! I'm back!"

"Pikachu, Pikachu!"

"Roar!!!"

Gyarados's massive body trembled violently, and almost instinctively whipped its tail, shrinking behind Misty in a flash. It only dared to stick out half of its head, looking timidly toward the source of the sound.

Xiaoxia was startled by the sudden sound, her shoulders twitched, and her heart skipped a beat.

She turned around stiffly and saw Ash, Pikachu... and Staryu standing at the door.

Under Xiaoxia's unfriendly gaze.

Staryu slowly jumped off Ash's shoulder.

It stretched out its hand, stopping Misty from putting it into the Poké Ball.

Then she walked up to Gyarados, touched its head, and transformed into a red light, entering the Poké Ball in Misty's hand.

Xiaoxia: "......"

Wu Neng: "..."

Xiaoxia, whose blood pressure had spiked, angrily shoved the Poké Ball back into her pocket.

She then looked at the Gyarados behind her that kept touching her.

Hurry up, Trainer!

Get justice for your Pokémon!

Gyarados desperately tried to convey this message to Misty through its eyes.

Why don't you go up there yourself?!

Xiaoxia glared back at her.

Having understood the meaning in her eyes, Gyarados's massive head instantly drooped down.

It dares not...

So I dare to do it?!

For a moment, the man and the dragon stood frozen in place, exchanging a silent yet intense conversation through their eyes.

"That's great, Xiaoxia!"

"So you've finally learned the art of silent communication between the strong!"

Ash nodded with satisfaction as he watched Misty and Gyarados exchanging unusually frequent glances.

"But what do you mean by 'dare'? Are you suggesting some kind of special training?"

Xiaoxia: "!"

Gyarados: "!"

You can even connect with this on radio waves?! ×2

The man and the dragon were instantly jolted awake from their eye contact.