Ash's Pokémon Travel Has Big Problems

She didn't want to stay in front of this man for another second. Tonight's experience was too bizarre, and she needed to calm down and review it immediately.

A review may not necessarily lead to any conclusions.

After all, Sakaki's level is clearly much higher than Rika's.

The issues that Giovanni is considering can perhaps only be understood at Professor Oak's level.

After all, Professor Oak once pursued Ho-Oh as well.

But let alone getting that feather like Sakaki.

Professor Oak didn't even get a glimpse of Ho-Oh.

The only conclusion that can be drawn is that no one can see Ho-Oh unless Ho-Oh is willing to.

Of course, this is based on the premise that Professor Oak is merely an explorer.

Professor Oak did not use overly violent methods to search for Ho-Oh; he simply searched like a traveler.

Ash nodded, picked up the limp Misdreavus, and followed Rika, quickly leaving the room that was still filled with an invisible pressure.

The fat manager scrambled after them, hurriedly closing the heavy wooden door as if to shut out all the terror inside.

...He finally found a suitable reason to leave.

Boss!

—I'll close the door for you!

That's what the fat manager was thinking.

It wasn't until she returned to the bustling main hall of the arcade, surrounded by dazzling lights and a cacophony of voices, that Lijia finally breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling as if she had floated back to the surface from the deep sea.

She looked at the dream demon in her arms, who was still whimpering because she was full, and couldn't help but rub her temples.

"What... is going on here?"

Lijia muttered to herself.

What exactly is Sakaki doing here?

I don't understand at all!

What is that feather?

I don't understand either!

Lijia could only tell that it was no ordinary item.

Ash looked down at the Misdreavus in Rika's hand, and couldn't help but laugh and cry.

He gently poked the dream demon's bulging little belly, earning a dissatisfied grumble—"Mmm!"

“Perhaps…” Ash raised his head, looking at the neon-lit night outside Game City, recalling Giovanni’s deep eyes and his last ambiguous words, “…this is just the beginning.”

This incident cannot be blamed on the Dream Demon.

After all, who would have thought that Giovanni would suddenly appear here?

This is the troublesome aspect of a hybrid world.

High-level monsters and low-level monsters share the same map.

If you just go out anywhere—you might encounter a level 5 Rattata, or a level 50 Garchomp... and it's not impossible to encounter a level 80 Beedrill.

And the distance between them might only be a wall.

The big boss won't wait for the hero to come to the Demon King's castle; instead, he'll wander all over the map.

The crisis was resolved in an unexpected way.

But Giovanni's appearance and the "expectations" he left behind were like a seed planted in Ash's path.

Ash knew... that his connection with Team Rocket, and with this underground king, would never end there.

Next time, however, the outcome may not be so "easy".

After all, the Rockets are the Rockets.

Giovanni himself doesn't care about Team Rocket's own conduct... but other Team Rocket members and executives might not.

Ash hugged the Misdreavus tightly, feeling the weight of this regained treasure, and his gaze became even more determined.

Regardless, he will continue on.

"Someday—"

"I will be the one sitting there."

Become stronger!

Become stronger!

Instead of—"At eighteen, I stood like a nobody."

at this time.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu's voice suddenly appeared, and then he darted to Ash's side.

"Sorry, partner... I made you worry." Ash recognized Pikachu at a glance.

But tonight was truly unexpected.

Theoretically speaking, following Rika means you can do whatever you want in Rainbow City.

So Ash and Rika didn't think too much about it when they went out to play games.

Who knew we'd run into Giovanni?!

Ash glanced at Misdreavus...

Okay, even a ghost wouldn't know.

Theoretically speaking, all Team Rocket bases have the potential to spawn Giovanni.

But in reality, no one knows exactly when it will refresh.

"Pikachu?" Pikachu couldn't see anything on Ash and Rika, except that Misdreavus had eaten too much.

But... if it was just that the dream demon ate too much, why did it sense danger before?

"Partner, something unexpected happened. Let's talk about it when we get back tonight..." Ash didn't intend to hide it from Pikachu, but Giovanni's matter wasn't suitable for open discussion.

"Pikachu~" Hearing Ash say that, Pikachu didn't think too much and climbed onto Ash's shoulder.

It originally trained at the Rainbow Gym.

As they were exercising, they sensed something was wrong; Xiao Zhi was in danger.

This is a connection between the trainer and the Pokémon, a kind of sixth sense.

But this feeling is very vague, and it's impossible to know exactly what happened.

"Sigh... Anyway, I hope you'll keep this a secret, Ash, and don't tell anyone." If possible, Rika doesn't want to have any direct conflict with Giovanni.

The fact that she didn't destroy the game center even though she knew it was Team Rocket's base tells us why.

It's better to keep these guys under our noses than to let them roam around freely.

The Rockets are not going to give up the arcade business.

Sakaki himself certainly doesn't lack money; his goal is the whole world.

But the Rockets are short of money.

Do you really think the Rockets don't need to pay their players' salaries?

Otherwise, where would those benefits come from?

funny.

“I understand, Miss Rika…” Ash nodded and touched the box inside his clothes.

Phoenix King's feathers are truly extraordinary.

Unfortunately, this thing can't be left lying around.

After all, it was a gift from Sakaki, so it has a lot of meaning.

(The author says the following)

(3300 + 3400... two chapters)

(Wishing everyone a happy National Day tomorrow)

(??????)

Chapter 116 Trainer Abilities: First Signs

After Ash followed Rika back to the Rainbow Gym, the two parted ways.

Lijia leisurely went to sleep and rest.

Since Giovanni is here, there's no need for the Rockets to keep an eye on him.

For things you can't control, just give up and let them go!

Xiao Zhi returned to his assigned room.

The neon lights of the city outside the window had long since faded, leaving only the cool moonlight filtering through the windowpanes, draping the room in a silvery veil.

The noise and danger are shut out, leaving only a reassuring tranquility.

The world is generally peaceful, and everyone has tacitly kept the dark side hidden.

"Pikachu..." Pikachu squatted by the bed, watching Ash carefully place the limp Misdreavus on the soft bed.

The little one ate too much and became drowsy, probably in a half-awake state.

Pikachu's two red electric sacs on its cheeks were still trembling slightly from its previous worry and rapid running.

Although it received a signal that Ash was safe and sound, the vague sense of crisis did not completely dissipate until it saw Ash and Misdreavus with its own eyes.

Ash took a deep breath, sat down next to Pikachu, and gently placed his hand on its warm back.

The yellow-skinned mouse feels pretty good to the touch...

"partner."

Ash spoke, and his voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

"Tonight...we met someone incredible."

He didn't hide anything.

From the battle with Rika at the arcade, to the sudden disappearance of Misdreavus, to revealing the Gym Leader badge and entering the backstage area, and finally to the chair with its back to them, and the man who turned around and brought a heavy, oppressive feeling like a mountain.

"It's Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket."

When it came to this name, Xiao Zhi was also a little conflicted.

I wonder what will happen when I see Giovanni again at the 8th gym, the Viridian Gym?

"Pikachu?!" Pikachu suddenly raised its head, its ears standing straight up, and its eyes instantly sharpened.

Even though it didn't face it personally, the weight represented by the title "Leader of Team Rocket" and the solemnity lingering in Ash's tone made it understand what a dangerous encounter this was.

Pikachu recalled a scene from a movie he had seen before—a great demon king who was destroying the world.

Although Giovanni has no intention of destroying the world, in terms of his status, he is similar to the Great Demon King.

Ash described the scene in detail—the almost frozen air, Rika's tense body, the manager's fearful tears, and Giovanni's unfathomable demeanor.

Ash recounted how he approached the monster and, under that pressure, asked for Misdreavus, as well as Giovanni's unexpected laughter and those ambiguous compliments.

Xiao Zhi held nothing back or concealed anything.

“He said… he’s looking forward to seeing how far I can go.” Xiao Zhi’s voice carried a hint of confusion, but also a touch of excitement at being recognized by a strong person. “He also gave me this.”

He took the small box out of the inside pocket of his clothes.

Once opened, the rainbow-colored feather lay quietly in the moonlight, unremarkable.

"...Pikachu?" Pikachu approached curiously.

Ash gently touched the feather with his finger.

The next moment, the feathers shone with a rainbow of colors, soft and sacred, illuminating a corner of the room in a dreamlike way.