Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

We arrived at an open-air area that had been deliberately cleared and compacted.

Looking around, it resembles a makeshift fighting ring.

Xiao Ming walked to one side of the arena, turned around, and stared intently at Xiao Zhi.

“As you can see,” he said slowly, each word carrying a heavy weight, “now I only have one last victory left.”

"Let's make this clear first!"

Xiao Ming beckoned to Xiao Zhi on the other side of the arena with his finger.

"I won't hold back!"

"I couldn't ask for more!"

Seeing the solid muscles on the other side, Xiao Zhi immediately stepped forward.

"Tell me, will it be a debate or a fight!"

Upon hearing this, Xiaoming's face showed a noticeable change in expression for the first time—his face was full of question marks.

What kind of verbal or physical struggle?

In the Kanto region, there is also a saying about literary debates.

Could it be a new trend coming from the capital?

“I don’t like all that fancy stuff,” Xiaoming shook his head, choosing to get straight to the point. “Between trainers, it’s all about the strength of your Pokémon! Just send out your Pokémon!”

Xiao Zhi looked at Xiao Ming's completely bewildered expression.

A hint of disappointment flashed across his face.

"It's a battle of wits..."

“Pikachu…”

Pikachu was also a little disappointed.

I've been controlling Pidgey these past two days.

It thought it could command Ash in battle.

Xiao Ming: "???"

Pokémon battles... are they a battle of wits?

What then is this martial arts combat?!

Are you expecting trainers to start throwing Poké Balls at each other?!

"Alright."

Xiao Zhi quickly recovered, waved his hand, and rekindled his fighting spirit.

"Then let me, a master of the second stage of the Power of the Emblem, weigh your strength!"

"Wait, second level? You?" Xiao Ming, who had already been somewhat misled, suddenly widened his eyes. "You have two badges?!"

"correct."

As Xiao Zhi spoke, he naturally lifted a corner of his jacket.

The two badges pinned to the inside are displayed openly and generously.

So you're here to fry fish, aren't you?

You should know that Xiaoming's opponents usually only have one badge!

and many more!

Xiao Ming, who was a little nervous just now, saw that familiar light blue color.

He instantly breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Heh, I thought you were some kind of formidable character..." He shook his head. "It's true you have two badges, but one of them is the Cerulean Gym's blue badge!"

"So what happened?"

Xiao Zhi scratched his head.

Isn't this all something that you and Pikachu worked so hard to achieve?

"The value of that badge... everyone in the Kanto trainer community knows it."

"In short, according to the conversion formula, you can't really be considered a second-tier student."

Xiao Ming stretched out his index finger and made a virtual tap in the air.

"At most, it can be considered a peak, half a step towards perfection!"

"what?!"

"Pikachu?!"

Ash and Pikachu turned to look at Misty with incredulous expressions.

Is that so?

Does your Cerulean Gym's badge... carry so little weight?

Feeling their gazes, Xiaoxia silently turned her face away, her ears turning slightly red.

Although I really want to refute it.

Unfortunately, that's the truth, and she couldn't refute it.

"Fine, fine," Ash said, accepting the situation quickly. He shook his head and said, "A peak is a peak!"

He clenched his fist, exchanged a glance with Pikachu on his shoulder, and his fighting spirit only increased.

"But Pikachu and I are just as strong as we are, and that evaluation won't diminish us in the slightest! Right, Pikachu?"

"Pickup!"

Pikachu clenched its fist, indicating its complete agreement.

Badges can be deceiving!

But muscles won't!

If I don't know, I simply don't know!

Just as the two sides were about to engage in a battle of wits.

Xiao Ming seemed to notice something, and his expression suddenly changed.

"Wait a minute!"

He took a half step forward, his eyes fixed on the gray-brown badge inside Ash's jacket, which had been slightly obscured by the blue badge but was now fully revealed.

“Your other badge…” His voice trembled slightly with disbelief, “is… the grey badge of the Pewter Gym?!”

"Uh...right?"

Ash was taken aback by the question and subconsciously glanced at his badge again.

Could it be that I'm not even going to be able to keep my job?

But then he heard a short, surprised gasp from the other side.

"Is that the grey badge awarded by the Pewter Gym, the legendary stepping stone to the champion, the one known as the Immovable Martial, who can withstand two hits from Lance's Dragonite with just one Golem?!"

"Cough! That's right!"

Before Xiaozhi could answer, Xiaogang stepped forward first.

Xiao Ming fell silent.

"If it's that badge..."

He looked at Ash again, his gaze completely changed, replaced by scrutiny and respect.

"...Then I, Xiaoming, am willing to call you Second Dan!"

......

"Since you have been recognized by that person, your strength must be quite remarkable."

Xiao Ming straightened his back, his strong body casting a solid shadow on the arena.

"Then I won't be presumptuous!"

His voice deepened, and his right hand suddenly reached to his waist, swiftly plucking a Poké Ball and weighing it in his palm.

"Show yourself, my ace!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he swung his arm, and the Poké Ball drew a short arc in the air.

A burst of light erupted, and a figure quickly materialized on the arena.

Ash's gaze sharpened as he stared intently at the arena.

A Pokémon with dense, bright yellow armor, its plates gleaming with a matte finish under the light, landed steadily.

Pointed ears, round eyes.

Its body is compact, and its tail is like a steel whip.

Its claws gleamed with a chilling light!

"This is……"

Ash blinked and uttered the name somewhat uncertainly.

"A pangolin?"

Almost instinctively, he turned his gaze, filled with doubt and a desire for confirmation, to Xiao Gang beside him.

Teacher Gang.

Where is the Steel-type Pokémon, or at least one that excels at slashing moves?

None of your points apply.

The pangolin was only about knee-high to everyone.

Xiao Gang's expression also froze at this moment.