Ash's Pokémon Travel Has Big Problems

Many people have a listless Pokémon wrapped in bandages in their arms or at their feet.

As the glass door slid open and closed, one could hear footsteps that were much more hurried than usual, and the occasional suppressed groans of pain from a Pokémon.

"What... what's going on?" Misty looked around in surprise. "Is the Pokémon Center in Vermilion City usually this... busy?"

Xiao Gang frowned, his face becoming serious: "Normally not."

"As far as I know, the Vermilion Gym is stricter, but they usually don't go this far."

After all, most of the trainers at the dojo are just employees.

You're risking your life for just a few hundred yuan a month?

Who knows if any of the trainers I deliberately tormented will grow up and cause me trouble in the future?

A normal level of assessment is enough for the challengers; it's not like they have to fight to the death.

So... this must have been done by Ma Surge himself.

However, as a gym leader, Lt. Surge has no reason to assess trainers of low skill level.

So... what happened to make Lt. Surge act so strangely?

This is the conclusion Xiaogang reached after brainstorming.

He felt that this was most likely the case.

Just saying.

The doors to the Pokémon Center slid open again.

A Miss Joy pushed a cart full of medicines out quickly.

Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her usual gentle smile was replaced by tightly pursed lips.

Joey practically ran to the treatment room, not even noticing Ash and his two companions at the door.

Xiao Zhi instinctively stepped forward: "Miss Nurse Joy, may I ask..."

Nurse Joy paused, recognizing Ash and Brock and Misty behind him, and sighed wearily, "Is he a new challenger? Sigh... is he going to challenge Mr. Lt. Surge again?"

She rubbed her temples, her tone carrying obvious helplessness and a hint of barely perceptible complaint: "Mr. Lt. Surge has suddenly become very motivated lately... taking on the 'tests' for the vast majority of dojo challenges..."

"I know the duty of gym battles is to screen, but... sigh, his Raichu was just too heavy-handed."

"Let those with minor injuries wait in line outside."

"I can't let the more serious injuries leave any lasting effects, so I have to treat them quickly."

"Although it won't be life-threatening, the nerve paralysis and muscle tears caused by electric skills will require a long recovery period... This is the seventeenth one brought in today."

"If you are going to take on this challenge, please be sure to... be mentally prepared."

After saying that, she pushed the cart and hurriedly left.

Miss Joey is incredibly busy, completely overworked.

Xiaoxia gasped, "The seventeenth? Has Ma Xueshi... gone mad?"

Xiaoxia was also a former dojo trainer.

She has also defeated many challengers in the Cerulean Dojo's challenger assessments.

However, some challengers will also be allowed to obtain badges.

And generally speaking, the blows won't be too heavy.

Some challenger Pokémon can be healed simply by applying some medicine or getting some minor treatment at the Cerulean Gym, and there's no need to send them to the Pokémon Center.

And some of the seriously injured are queuing at the Pokémon Center.

That means that many more people who weren't seriously injured had already received some treatment at the Vermilion Dojo and left.

Has Ma Surge become a super workaholic?

But the pass rate is just too low.

Xiaoxia felt that if these trainers passed the test, they wouldn't be so dejected even if they were injured.

So judging from the surrounding situation, it's clear that he was seriously injured and hadn't yet obtained the badge.

Ok.

Xiaogang and Xiaoxia both have the qualities of professional trainers.

They are able to gather intelligence from their surroundings to deduce clues to the truth.

Ash said in a deep voice, "It seems Meowth's information was correct. This gym leader seems to have no patience for the 'weak'."

at this time.

A commotion arose from the back of the group.

"Excuse me! Please make way!" an anxious voice rang out.

Xiao Ming, covered in sweat, pushed his way through the crowd, carrying his pangolin in his arms.

The pangolin was completely different from what it had been a few days ago. Its body was covered with large charred marks, its hard scales were cracked in many places, its limbs were still twitching unconsciously, and a few drops of white foam were oozing from its mouth and nose.

"Pangolin! Hang in there!" Xiaoming's voice trembled as he was about to squeeze to the front of the line.

"Xiao Ming?" Xiao Zhi recognized him at a glance.

Hearing the sound, Xiaoming looked up and saw Xiaozhi and the other two. A complicated expression flashed across his face, which was then covered by anxiety: "It's you guys... Sorry, I don't have time to catch up right now. Sandshrew..."

Xiao Gang immediately stepped forward: "Miss Joey has just been taken into the emergency room, I've come to check on her!"

He crouched down and skillfully examined the pangolin's injuries, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper: "Electric current penetrating wound... the scales' defense has been almost completely destroyed."

"What a powerful electric shock!"

"They managed to fight this badly despite the elemental advantage..."

Xiao Gang has come to a conclusion that makes him very unhappy—level crushing.

This is simply unreasonable.

What gym leader uses a powerful Pokémon to easily defeat weaker opponents?

Should we still adhere to the responsibilities of a gym leader?

The duty of a gym leader is to train new trainers and help them understand their shortcomings and weaknesses.

Then, based on which badge you obtain, determine the travel period and use the appropriate Pokémon.

The duty of a gym leader is to screen out unqualified trainers and allow qualified trainers to pass through.

And the Beastmaster, Xiaoming.

If he's a rookie trainer starting out, then he shouldn't lose.

The difficulty of the first gym badge shouldn't be this high.

Xiao Ming gritted his teeth, his fists clenched until they turned white: "It was Lt. Surge's Raichu... He only used one move... Thunderbolt..."

"My pangolin couldn't even touch it... Hardening and rolling were a joke in the face of that force..."

His voice was filled with resentment, lingering fear, and a hint of bewilderment after being utterly crushed.

After finally achieving a 100-game winning streak, I'm ready to embark on a trip.

How did they get beaten like this in their first dojo battle?

Seeing the pitiful state of the Sandshrew, Xiaoxia couldn't help but say, "This is too much! A gym battle isn't a fight to the death!"

Xiaoxia didn't know how to comfort him; in her view, Xiaoming's mentality had clearly been broken.

People who don't try hard are generally more likely to accept failure.

But for someone like Xiaoming who is clearly very hardworking, if his efforts don't yield results, then he'll feel a lot of pressure.

If you put in effort but get no results, then why bother putting in the effort?

This is the kind of thinking most people would have.

Xiao Ming lowered his head dejectedly: "He said... 'A piece of trash who can't even withstand this little bit of electricity doesn't deserve to have a badge.'"

Several trainers in the queue around them echoed the sentiment, their faces showing resentment and helplessness.

Maszem's mouth is indeed a bit foul.

"My Mighty Chicken was knocked down in one hit!"

"My Bulbasaur barely held on for a couple of seconds, and it's still unconscious inside..."

“He said this was ‘necessary training’… How outrageous! What kind of training is this!”

...The atmosphere at the entrance of the Pokémon Center was filled with frustration and complaints.

Chapter 57 Hanako's mother is Professor Oak's student

Ash patted Dear Ming on the shoulder: "You raised your Sandshrew very well, it's not its fault."

"Hmm..." Xiaoming was in a low mood.

“Generally speaking, your Sandshrew would definitely get a top three badge,” Brock suddenly said. “This isn’t your problem; it’s Lt. Surge’s fault.”

"Huh?" Xiaoming knew that Xiaogang was trying to comfort him, but he still couldn't muster any enthusiasm.

"Trust him, he's a very capable Gym Leader from Pewter City," Misty said.

Although Xiaogang was once a dojo master, there's no need to say it directly.

Haha~

"Huh?!" Hearing Xiaoxia say that, Xiaoming felt much better.

Just then, Miss Joey came out.

"This pangolin... he's the most seriously injured."

"Come in with me first."

In front of everyone, Miss Joey first took Xiaoming into the emergency room.

Currently, there are two treatment windows here: one for minor cases and one for emergency care.

"Goodbye..." Xiaoming said goodbye very politely.

Ash watched as Ming, looking dejected, hugged Sandshrew and followed Nurse Joy behind the emergency room door, and remained silent for a moment.

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the trainers and their Pokémon sitting or lying down in the Pokémon Center lobby, their expressions listless. The charred wounds and helpless eyes were like needles piercing his heart.

"...Hopefully he can get through this," Xiao Gang said.

"How pitiful... Why did Ma Zhishi have to be so brutal?" Xia muttered to herself.

"Let's register here first, and stay here for the night," Xiaozhi's voice broke the heavy atmosphere.

He pulled down the brim of his hat, but his eyes were unusually bright. "Check in first."

The three of them walked through the hall, which was filled with disinfectant and a faint smell of burning, and completed the registration process in the slightly noisy environment.

There are quite a few medical staff at the Pokémon Center; it's not like Nurse Joy is in charge of everything by herself.

Miss Joey is the overall person in charge, but she's often on the front lines.

After being assigned to a temporary room, Ash immediately sat down in front of the communicator.

The screen first connected to their home in Pallet Town, where Hanako's gentle and concerned face appeared.

"Ash! I'm so glad to see you arrived in Vermilion City safely!" Hanako's mother's voice always brought a sense of comfort. "Was the journey smooth? Did you eat on time? How's Pikachu?"

"Everything's fine, Mom." Ash smiled easily and briefly recounted his travel experiences, omitting the thrilling parts, especially his encounter with the giant Dragonite.

There's no point in saying this.

That would only cause Hanako's mother more worry.

It's enough to only report good news and not bad news.

“Oh, right, Mom,” Ash said casually, as if he had just remembered something, “I ran into Professor George on the way. I stayed at his cool lighthouse for a few nights and learned a lot.”

"Oh my, is that Dr. Masahiro? What a wonderful experience!" Hanako's mother smiled with satisfaction. "You should thank the doctor for taking care of you!"

Hanako was once Professor Oak's student, and she was very talented and capable.