Ash's Pokémon Travel Has Big Problems

However, after Gyarados applies water to Rock-type Pokémon...

Hehehe——

As for why it's not Pidgey...

Why would you send a bird with no suitable skills to hit a rock?

How was that phrase described again?

Cat lovers had a brilliant idea that's even more hellish than cat abusers.

Chapter 23 A Giant Rock Serpent Weighing Around 30 Tons

On the morning of the second day, Ash and Misty left the Pokémon Center and went to the Pewter City Gym.

After registering at the dojo's front desk, the dojo's trainer, whom Brock had instructed beforehand, led him to where Brock was.

Deep inside the Nibi City Gym.

Core site.

The air was heavy and leaden, filled with the cold, hard scent unique to minerals.

The huge circular field was paved with countless neatly cut gray-white rocks, each with sharp edges and corners, and it gleamed matte under the illumination of the high-powered spotlights at the top.

Several rough rock pillars stand tall at the edge of the site, their grim shapes casting heavy shadows.

The space was surprisingly empty; the sound of footsteps on the ground evoked dull, short echoes, which were then swallowed up by an even deeper silence.

This is a very, very large competition venue.

This is not a competition venue that a rookie trainer should be using at all.

Ash and Misty stood at the entrance, the massive rock door slowly closing behind them with a heavy scraping sound, blocking out the outside light.

"This... is the 'Core Rock'?" Xiaoxia's voice lowered subconsciously, her orange ponytail standing out starkly in the pale light of the searchlight.

It feels much larger than the area in Cerulean City.

She looked around and felt as if she had been thrown into the belly of a giant beast.

This is definitely not a place for ordinary newcomers.

Was it against the rules?

Or is there some special reason?

Although dojo leaders are theoretically required to abide by the league's rules and regulations, as local leaders, they still have a high degree of freedom.

As long as there's a reasonable explanation, it's just a violation, not a big problem, and the league can't do anything about it.

"Pica..."

Pikachu perched on Ash's shoulder, its small body tense, its bright black eyes warily scanning the overly somber space. Tiny arcs of electricity crackled from its cheek sacs, dispelling the oppressive atmosphere.

It sensed something unusual.

It's a big enemy!

There are many powerful people around.

The other end of the venue.

A figure stood as if rooted to the rock.

Xiao Gang crossed his arms, his rock-hard face sharply defined in the interplay of light and shadow, his eyes calm as a deep pool, without the slightest ripple.

The only problem is that, for a 15-year-old boy, he looks like he's 35...

He's so precocious; I wonder what Xiaogang thinks.

His gaze pierced through space, locking firmly onto Xiao Zhi, who had just stepped into this "rock heart".

There were no pleasantries, no opening remarks, only a silent, heavy scrutiny, like a mountain pressing down.

"Brock, the Gym Leader of Pewter City."

A deep voice echoed through the open space, carrying the texture of rubbing rocks: "I accept your challenge."

A referee in a dojo uniform walked expressionlessly to the edge of the arena, his voice clearly ringing out through the loudspeaker:

"Gym Challenge Rules: A one-on-one battle using two Pokémon each. Challengers may switch Pokémon at any time, but Gym Leaders may not. The battle ends when all of one side's Pokémon are unable to battle. Battle begins!"

It was decisive and efficient, without any hesitation or delay.

The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense.

"Understood!" Ash took a deep breath, suppressing the slight trepidation of stepping into such a high-level arena for the first time, and his eyes instantly sharpened.

He suddenly raised his hand, and the Poké Ball at his waist opened. "I choose you! Slug!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the Golden Gyarados was released.

“…A golden Gyarados?” Brock was surprised.

Using Water-type Pokémon to battle Rock-type Gym Leaders is the correct approach.

However, most novice trainers don't have any powerful Water-type Pokémon, and Gyarados, as one of the strongest Water-type Pokémon among common Pokémon, is already considered quite rare.

But this golden Gyarados.

Okay, Xiao Gang had never heard of Gyarados having a gold color.

This is quite rare, not much different from those endangered Pokémon species.

"In that case, I'll use Onix!" In response to Ash's release of the golden behemoth, Brock also released a giant monster.

His Onix was even larger than Gyarados.

Xiao Zhi touched his chin and made a rough estimate.

The golden Gyarados is 7 meters long and weighs three tons.

The giant onyx in front of us doesn't look like a special breed, but judging from its size... a giant onyx that's about 9 meters long should weigh around 30 tons.

In close combat, it is also an overwhelming disadvantage.

Rock-type non-living Pokémon are indeed too strong for novice trainers.

Weight is power; the minimum guaranteed combat strength is too high, and they are also immune to poison.

Real trainer battles are complicated, requiring consideration of many factors, including body size and weight.

Otherwise, there would be no need to divide combat sports like boxing into weight classes.

"Roar--!!!"

The massive body of the golden Gyarados was coiled on the gray-white rocky ground, its crimson scales reflecting a dazzling halo under the overhead light, its scarlet dragon eyes fixed on the even larger gray-brown rock serpent in front of it.

The air was filled with mineral dust and a faint, watery smell emanating from Gyarados.

Strictly speaking, this rocky terrain is not suitable for Gyarados to perform well.

The best battle environment for Gyarados is still in the sea.

...There's something awkward about it, but gym challenges are never fair.

Since humans need oxygen-rich terrestrial environments to live, the aquatic environment, which is most suitable for Gyarados, cannot be a competition venue.

Even the Cerulean Gym primarily engages in battles on the water's surface, not underwater.

Similarly, there is the flying type.

Apart from dedicated flight dojos.

Normal Pokémon gym arenas do not support Flying-type Pokémon maximizing their speed for sustained high-speed cruising.

"Water rascal, water gun!" Ash's voice pierced the heavy air.

The purpose of the water gun is to wet the entire area.

This was already mentioned before the challenge match.

"Roar?" Gyarados suddenly raised its huge head, its throat bulged, and a thick jet of water roared out!

"Crack-!"

Although the water jet was aimed at the giant onix, there was virtually no chance of it hitting.

Onix hates water, so it will avoid water even without Brock's command.

Splashes of water!

The turbid water flowed like a rushing stream, spreading wildly along the cracks and low-lying areas of the rocks in an instant.

The glistening water droplets danced under the light, quickly turning large swaths of grayish-white rocks into a deep, wet black.

"Hmm?" At the other end of the field, Xiao Gang's rock-hard face furrowed almost imperceptibly.

water?

Not to attack Onix?

He instantly understood Ash's intention.

"You want to use the entire venue as a conductive medium to create an environment for that Pikachu?" Xiao Gang's voice was deep and steady, without any ripples. "Not a bad idea."

As for why Xiaogang was able to guess Pikachu... Ash's Pikachu doesn't put itself into a Poké Ball, so it can see it as long as it has eyes.

Seeing an Electric-type Pokémon and a Water-type Pokémon splashing water everywhere... isn't the purpose quite clear?

"Unfortunately, your Gyarados won't last that long."

"Onix!" Brock's command was like a rock slamming into a wall. "Rock Blockade! Limit its movement!"

Gyarados can fly, but its high-speed flight is more like floating on the ground.

"Hiss—!" Onix let out a deep hiss, its massive tail slamming into the ground in front of Gyarados with tremendous force.

"Boom! Boom—!"

Chapter 24 Monster Clash

The ground shook violently.

Several massive, half-human-sized, jagged rocks burst forth from the ground as if summoned from hell, whistling through the air as they precisely struck several key points in Gyarados's path.

In an instant, a simple yet extremely threatening rock cage was formed.

"Roar!" Startled by the sudden tremor and flying debris, Gyarados twisted its body in a rage, trying to smash through the rocks blocking its path.

"Now! Drop the rocks!" Xiao Gang's command came immediately, without any pause.

Onix raised its massive head high, and a hard rock the size of a millstone, with sharp edges, instantly materialized above its head. With a dull thud, it crashed down like a meteorite onto the Golden Gyarados, which was briefly stuck in the rock.

"Use the water gun to spray the side!" Xiao Zhi's pupils shrank as he shouted sharply.

Gyarados suddenly turned to the side and sprayed water gun again, but this time it was aimed at a rock base blocking its way.

The application of skills in real life differs greatly from that in games.

In the game, attack skills can only attack.

Once realized, it can be used not only for attack and defense, but also for evasion.

"Swoosh—!" The force of the water flow combined with the Gyarados's massive body to slam into the ground.

"Crack!" The rock shattered with a sound.

"Boom!" The falling rocks grazed Gyarados's twisted back and slammed heavily into the spot where it had just been. The rubble flew in all directions like shotgun pellets, scraping against Gyarados's golden scales with a screeching sound and leaving several white marks.

"Roar!" The intense pain and the impact of the shattered rocks made Gyarados even more frenzied, and the old wound on the side of its neck, which had not yet fully healed, seemed to ache again.

"Keep going! Water gun! Don't stop! Cover it with water!" Xiao Zhi's voice was urgent, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Onix's attacks are powerful and heavy, and every dodge is fraught with danger. Gyarados's massive body appears unusually clumsy under these constraints.

"Hiss—!" The giant rock snake, like a tireless rock chariot, rolled its massive body across the not-so-open rock cage, each turn bringing with it a howling wind pressure.

Its hard rock tail, like a battering sledgehammer, carries the power to split mountains and shatter rocks, relentlessly lashing at Gyarados as it tries to spray water to change the environment.

"Bang! Boom!"

The deafening roar of the rocks colliding violently with the golden scales echoed continuously in the open core area, making people's eardrums tingle.

Water splashed wildly with each impact, mingling with flying pebbles and Gyarados's painful roars.

The ground was indeed getting wet, like mud after rain.