Ash's Pokémon Travel Has Big Problems

The cheerleaders behind him fell silent, like ducks being choked.

Xiaoxia covered her mouth in shock, her eyes wide open.

Although Xiao Gang had expected it, seeing Ho-Oh effortlessly display strength that was completely inconsistent with the "Big Mouth Sparrow" setting still made his lips twitch violently.

Xiao Gang: Lord Feng Wang, can't you at least make your act look more convincing?

Xiao Gang: Should I continue pretending to be blind? Or am I blind? Or am I blind?

Ash's Pokémon all lowered their heads, some with their claws, some with their wings, and some simply turned away, their shoulders shrugging slightly.

They were desperately trying not to laugh out loud.

The golden "big-billed finches" in the arena gracefully retracted their wings and continued to preen their brilliant feathers as if they had just done something insignificant.

However, Ho-Oh was quite interested and looked at Gary... a rather interesting brat.

Xiao Zhi's tone was full of sincerity, but also showed concern after successfully pulling off a prank:

"I already said, good luck."

Ok.

Ash refrained from saying anything—it was truly a delightful duel.

However, compared to Ash's cheerfulness, Gary had a completely different reaction.

Xiao Mao turned his head blankly.

He looked at Xiaozhi.

Then I looked at the golden "big-beaked bird".

My worldview seemed to shatter and then rebuild itself at that moment.

Xiao Mao opened his mouth, but only managed to utter a few meaningless syllables:

"No...it's impossible...what...what is that thing?"

Nidoking, which he had carefully nurtured, couldn't even mount an effective attack in front of that golden peacock.

"No...impossible!"

Xiao Mao's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"How could my Nidoking be... Absolutely impossible!"

He couldn't accept this fact.

Especially losing to Ash, whom he didn't think much of.

Moreover, how could a big-beaked finch that only looks a little unusual in color possess such terrifying strength?

A strong sense of frustration and an unwillingness to give up surged up.

Xiao Mao suddenly raised his head, his eyes sharpening again, but deep within them lay a trace of panic after his confidence had been shattered.

"That didn't count! 1v1 was too easy; it didn't show our true strength!"

Gary retrieved Nidoking, raising his voice in an attempt to mask his inner turmoil with his imposing presence.

"Ash, do you dare to have a full-on 3v3 battle? Let me see your full strength!"

The cheerleaders behind him started shouting again at the right time, but this time their cheers seemed less confident and more bewildered.

...To put it bluntly, these girls were just hired actors.

Strictly speaking, they were not Xiao Mao's girlfriends.

Ash shook his head inwardly as he watched Gary trying to hold on.

—Let's keep things organized.

But this is also the kind of prank that friends play on each other.

—In essence, Ash still hopes that Gary can grow.

Ash knows that Gary's talent and potential are beyond doubt, but his overly arrogance and eagerness to prove himself actually limit his growth.

Perhaps today's unexpected battle can serve as a good remedy.

“Okay.” Ash nodded calmly, without even recalling the Finch that was still calmly preening its feathers in the arena. “As you wish, 3v3.”

Seeing how readily Ash agreed, Shigeru's ominous premonition grew stronger.

But he forced himself to suppress the feeling, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down.

Impulsiveness and anger will not solve problems.

He needs to think and analyze.

He's Professor Oak's grandson, after all; he's not your average spoiled brat.

In essence, Xiao Mao is a good person, but he is too young and his mentality is not right.

"First... we must test the depth of this golden-beaked bird..."

Xiao Mao's brain was working at lightning speed.

"Its speed and reaction time are far beyond the ordinary, making it seem difficult to hit with physical attacks."

"Then, let's use special attacks and control skills to limit it!"

A flash of red light, and Gary sent out his second Pokémon—Exeggutor!

The towering Exeggutor tree swayed its three heads, emitting powerful superpower fluctuations.

This is precisely Shigeru's strategy: to leverage his superpowers to control the battlefield and launch long-range attacks.

...When faced with a situation where you don't know what to do, the psychic type is often a good choice.

...because the psychic type is really versatile.

[Exeggutor, don't give it any room to dodge! Use your telekinesis to manipulate the airflow and disrupt its flight path!]

Xiao Mao calmly gave instructions in his mind, while simultaneously issuing subsequent commands.

[Then, use your mental power to control the pebbles on the ground, launching an indiscriminate, overwhelming attack!]

The psychic type is also great in this respect, as it eliminates the need for verbal commands.

Xiao Mao plans to use wide-range interference and attacks to compress the "Big Mouth Sparrow's" movement space, forcing it to take the skills head-on.

The Exeggutor's three eyes simultaneously lit up with a deep blue light, unleashing a powerful superpower like an invisible tide.

In an instant, the airflow above the field became turbulent and violent, forming invisible shackles that attempted to entangle and hinder the golden figure.

At the same time, countless pebbles and clods of earth on the ground seemed to lose their gravity and floated up, shooting towards the "Big-beaked Sparrow" from all directions!

This combination of tactics is quite ingenious.

Xiao Mao's basic skills and ability to adapt to changing situations are quite good.

If it were a typical Flying-type Pokémon, it would probably have already gotten itself into a quagmire.

However, he was facing Ho-Oh.

That's really awful.

Faced with this seemingly inescapable attack, Ho-Oh, disguised as a giant sparrow, didn't even flinch.

The violent airflow, upon approaching within a certain range of it, calms down and flows around it on its own, much like a docile sheep.

Ho-Oh: I am the god of atmospheric currents!

The pebbles, imbued with spiritual power, were guided and deflected after entering a certain invisible realm.

Ok.

Ho-Oh still remembered that he had disguised himself as a Squirrel and did not use any absolute power directly.

Under Phoenix's skillful control, the attacks that Gary and Exeggutor had placed their hopes on were like ice and snow under the sun, melting away without a trace... they couldn't hit them at all.

It was as if all the effort and tactics were just a boring joke.

When top players dominate lower-skill games, the difference in skill level becomes that significant.

"This... how is this possible?!" Xiao Mao's pupils contracted again, and cold sweat slid down his forehead.

His tactics were so easily dismantled that he couldn't even get the opponent to take them seriously.

Before he could give any further instructions, the "big-beaked sparrow" in the arena seemed to think that the test should end.

Its golden beak opened slightly, and a tiny, almost invisible blade of air shot out silently.

The air blade wasn't fast, and its trajectory was clearly visible, but Exeggutor was now exhausted and recovering from its previous frenzied attack.

Ho-Oh caught it at the perfect time.

And the intensity of the attack used was just right.

It just slightly exceeded the reaction limit of the Exeggutor.

The three heads of the Exeggutor simultaneously became anxious, but it was too late, truly too late.

Almost!

Just a little bit different!

The Exeggutor tried to dodge, but it was still hit.

laugh--

With a soft sound, the air blade accurately struck the main trunk of the coconut tree.

The Exeggutor was knocked away and lost its ability to fight.

However, Ho-Oh still strictly controls its own power.

Neither Nidoking nor Exeggutor were seriously injured; they were simply knocked unconscious.

Another hit!

It was still a casual strike!

Xiao Mao stared blankly at the fallen Exeggutor tree, feeling as if his worldview was being repeatedly rubbed into the ground.

A profound sense of powerlessness gripped him.

He knew he was going to lose, and he was going to lose badly.

But his inherent pride wouldn't allow him to admit defeat.

Even if you lose, lose with your head held high!

Gary silently retrieved Exeggutor, clutching the last Poké Ball tightly in his hand.

This is his initial partner, and also his strongest trump card at present.

"Go ahead, Blastoise!"

Xiao Mao's voice was slightly hoarse, but unusually firm.

A giant Blastoise appeared in the arena, its two cannons on its back radiating a heavy sense of oppression.

It sensed the trainer's complex emotions, let out a low growl, and stood ready.

Shigeru raised his head, his gaze complex as he looked at Ash, who remained calm, and at the unfathomable golden "Finch."

He took a deep breath and said frankly:

"Ash, I admit that I misjudged this Pokémon and your previous strength."

"I apologize for this; it was due to my incompetence."

His tone was no longer frivolous, but rather carried a rare seriousness.

"but!"

He changed the subject, his eyes blazing with renewed passion.

"I will never admit defeat!"

Even knowing we will lose, I will fight alongside my comrades to the very last moment!

"Blastoise, unleash our full power!"

"Water cannon!"