Ash's Pokémon Travel Has Big Problems

[I...don't know...]

These words were like a riddle, offering no definitive answer, but they were like a ray of light, piercing through the long-standing despair in Xiaoxia's heart.

At least... no deaths have been confirmed!

At least... the parents weren't challenging this seemingly invincible entity!

She covered her mouth, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face—a mixture of relief and a renewed surge of hope.

Dragonite slowly turned its huge head back and looked at Professor Bill again.

[The conversation was pleasant...]

[However... the tides will change... I must return...]

Its mountain-like body began to slowly move backward and sink into the sea, the waves it stirred up causing the lighthouse to tremble slightly.

In the end, only a huge whirlpool gradually receded into the distance on the sea, and the ancient echoes that lingered in everyone's hearts, carrying the scent of the sea tide.

The immense pressure that had enveloped the surroundings receded like a tide.

The night sky returned to stillness, starlight scattered, as if everything that had just happened was merely a dream.

But the pounding hearts of everyone on the platform, the tear stains on Xiaoxia's face, and the pen tightly clutched in Dr. Zhenghui's hand all testified to the incredibly real encounter.

Dr. Zheng Hui gazed in the direction where Dragonite had disappeared, muttering to himself, "A state of being neither alive nor dead... the vast ocean... it seems the research has only just begun..."

His eyes burned with a research flame more intense than ever before.

Ash gently patted Misty's shoulder, who was still sobbing but had a smile on her face, looked up at the starry sky, and smiled slightly.

"Pica..."

Pikachu quieted down and nuzzled Ash's cheek.

The chance encounter with mythology ended just like that, in a very ordinary way.

Just like when I first met Ho-Oh.

Chapter 53 Dragon Scales? Can it still be there?!

The night deepened and quieted.

Inside the lighthouse guest room, the gentle lapping of the waves seemed to still linger in one's ears.

Xiaoxia curled up on her side, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the damp marks on the pillow.

She cried.

Dragonite's riddle, "Neither alive nor dead," is like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples that are hard to quell.

The web woven from hope and the unknown is more unsettling than pure despair.

But no matter what, this is good news, isn't it?

At least it doesn't confirm the death of a loved one.

At least it's not bad news.

"elder sister……"

Xiaoxia took out her phone and started sending messages to her sister.

This is not some information that cannot be disclosed.

The giant Dragonite, with its enormous size and powerful energy, walked straight over.

The city of Kureha must have detected it long ago.

As for why no one came over...

Do you really think Dr. Zheng Hui is just a nobody?

This person is also one of the most renowned super scholars in the academic world.

They are not people that ordinary people can afford to offend.

-

The bed in the next room.

Xiao Gang put his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling.

In the dim light, he seemed to see the reflection of the shimmering starlight.

His dark face, unusually devoid of its usual composure, held a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.

You can encounter legends as soon as you set out on a trip.

What a blessing this must be for a Pokémon Trainer!

"...The world...the vast ocean..."

Xiao Gang muttered to himself.

But then the image of the three figures from the Clarin Dojo gracefully dancing in the water inexplicably flashed through his mind. He then shook his head violently and buried his face in the pillow.

It's really not good to be thinking about this at this point.

He now knows some things about Xiaoxia's situation.

They, as fellow practitioners, had heard a little about just how crazy the previous gym leader of Cerulean Gym had been.

Trying to challenge a Sea King-type Pokémon in the ocean... that's incredibly difficult and crazy.

The opposing team has a huge advantage in terms of playing space.

Pokémon in the wild are different from those in the human world. Once a struggle for dominance arises, it becomes a matter of life and death.

Just like animals vying for the top spot in a herd.

The losers will be expelled or killed.

It's already a stroke of good luck that we were able to get confirmation from a legendary figure this time.

Xiao Gang could only sigh that it was fortunate his father hadn't been so reckless back then.

Losing to the Four Heavenly Kings is a loss.

Thankfully, he didn't go crazy.

Pokémon trainers grow very quickly in the early stages because they are bringing out the inherent potential of the Pokémon.

However, once a certain level is reached, all of a Pokémon's potential has been realized, making it very difficult to go any further.

At this level, there are generally only two ways to become stronger.

①: Obtaining stronger Pokémon naturally leads to more potential to be realized... such as catching Totem and Legendary Pokémon, or raising Pokémon that will achieve great things later in life.

②: Through training, Pokémon and Pokémon Trainers seek self-breakthrough... such as Mega Form, etc.

Neither method is inherently superior or inferior.

Because they are all difficult.

Breaking through a bottleneck is never that easy.

-

Xiao Zhi lay flat on his back.

Place your hands together in front of your chest.

Everything that happened today is playing back in my mind like a fast-forwarded film—the shadow of the behemoth, the dialogue between souls, Xiaoxia's tears, the doctor's fanaticism...

He closed his eyes, trying to dispel the chaotic images.

Then, in the upper left corner of the field of vision, the system interface with a faint blue halo silently appeared.

A new notification pops up quietly:

[Achievement: First Encounter with a Legend - Completed]

[Reward: Dragon Scale]

[Effect: Hard and sturdy scales that can allow certain Pokémon to evolve.]

Dragon scales?

Xiao Zhi was slightly taken aback.

The scene just now was so grand and exciting that he didn't think of the system for a moment.

Even Xiao Zhi didn't expect the system to still exert its power.

Why didn't Ho-Oh react when we met last time?

Is it perhaps too far away?

—Dragon scales?

—It's no use giving it to me now!

Ash remembers that this thing is used to evolve Seadra into Kingdra.

Where am I supposed to find a Seadragon?

—And currently, one Gyarados is enough for the Water type.

—Any more than that would be inappropriate.

Ash slowly opened his eyes and stared at the dim ceiling.

He now needs to expand the scope of what he can handle.

Ocean Gyarados.

Lu Pikachu.

Sky Pipi Bird.

The next step is to continue expanding one's area of ​​expertise.

For example, front-line tanks, healers, ranged crowd control, and so on.

After all, he is currently traveling.

Fortunately, Xiaogang and Xiaoxia were there to help, so Xiaozhi didn't have to solve all the problems by himself.

...Okay, he really wants a Psychic or Ghost type right now.

Although Dr. Masahiro's Gardevoir is male.

But Psychic-type Pokémon are really awesome.

"Ah ah ah ah..."

Xiao Zhi scratched his hair in frustration.

—I bragged to Xiaoxia that I wanted to become a Water-type Pokémon Master.

—But system, please don't keep giving me water-type Pokémon items.

—Beautiful scales again, dragon scales again, but I don't need them right now.

—Could you give me a Mega Stone or something?!

Just as Xiaozhi was getting frustrated.

"Pika..." Pikachu beside me mumbled in its sleep.

It rolled over, its tail unconsciously brushing against Ash's calf, causing a slight tingling sensation.

This little guy is exhausted today.

There is no battle, there is no battle.

But even facing a giant Dragonite is nerve-wracking and mentally taxing...

Pikachu is truly prepared... to protect Ash at all costs should things turn bad.

at the same time.

The laboratory at the bottom of the lighthouse was still brightly lit.

"That's it!" Dr. Zheng Hui's eyes were bloodshot, but his face showed no signs of fatigue; instead, it radiated an extreme excitement.

He was directing several large, humming instruments.