Chapter 132

【“The Charizard here are all wild Charizard!” Jike said proudly, “Are you a little scared?”】

【“Scared?” Ash laughed. His Charizard hadn’t even been afraid when facing Entei; there was no way mere members of its own species could make it feel fear.】

【Not only was it not afraid, but Charizard was also exceptionally excited; it couldn't wait to prove itself.】

【“You’re quite spirited. Fine, in that case, I’ll choose an opponent for your Charizard.” Jike had to make Ash concede today; she wanted to properly suppress Ash and his Charizard.】

【“How about this Charizard?”】

【Jike pointed to a Charizard eating under a fruit tree not far away.】

【The Charizard chosen by Jike clearly wasn't an ordinary one.】

【It was a head taller than Ash’s Charizard, covered in muscles, its bulging belly seemingly hiding endless power.】

【“Friendly reminder, this Charizard’s strength is quite formidable. If you’re scared, I can help you change opponents,” Jike said with a smile.】

【Lance: “Has Jike read the Thirty-Six Stratagems? She’s even using provocation tactics.”】

【Clair: “It’s clear Jike really wants to prove the wild Charizard in the valley. The one she chose is at a considerably high level.”】

【Bruno: “Rarely do wild Pokémon reach such high levels. I suspect it’s because they are constantly battling each other.”】

【There is no progress in isolation; battle is the ladder for Pokémon to step into a new world.】

【In a sense, the habits of the Charizard in Charizard Valley aren't like those of wild Charizard; they are more like Charizard raised by trainers.】

【Because only trainer-raised Charizard battle incessantly day and night; ordinary wild Pokémon lack the conditions for that.】

【Cynthia: “Exactly. The only difference between them and a trainer’s Pokémon is that they set their own training plans, while a trainer’s Pokémon has plans set by the trainer.”】

【Steven: “Ash’s Charizard should be able to win, right?”】

【Flint: “It must win! Otherwise, Entei’s hard work would have been for nothing.”】

【Entei had traveled a long way to give Charizard a major upgrade; if it still couldn't beat a wild Charizard in the valley after that, it would be too unjustifiable.】

【“Then, the match begins.”】

【After arranging the opponent for Ash’s Charizard, Jike settled in to watch the show.】

【She was quite confident in the Charizard she had hand-picked. Although this Charizard wasn't in the valley’s top tier, its strength was definitely not to be underestimated.】

【It had been in the valley for less than a year, and Jike thought highly of it; given time, it would be qualified to enter the top tier.】

【The wild Charizard, which had reigned supreme on the outskirts of the valley for a long time, didn't think much of the newcomer. Yawning, it hooked its index finger at Ash’s Charizard, full of provocation.】

【Ash was quite calm and didn't take the wild Charizard’s provocation to heart, but his Charizard wouldn't stand for it.】

【It already had a fiery temper, and with its strength having just surged, it was currently in a state of seeking a worthy opponent; there was no way it could tolerate such a provocation.】

【“ROAR.”】

【With a roar, it charged directly at its opponent.】

【Dragon Claw!!!】

【Emerald-green Dragon-type energy rapidly condensed on Charizard’s left claw.】

125: The Overlord of Charizard Valley, I’ll Take on a Hundred!

【In an instant, it formed into a sharp steel-like claw.】

【The wild Charizard never expected its opponent to be so aggressive; it didn't even have time to react before the attack arrived.】

【“SLASH!”】

【It was the sound of sharp claws tearing through skin.】

【It took only one second to go from disdain to panic.】

【By then, the wild Charizard realized its opponent was no ordinary specimen, but it was too late to counterattack.】

【Nerves that had relaxed weren't easily tightened again, especially since it had already lost the initiative.】

【After the Dragon Claw, Ash’s Charizard used both hands to pin the opponent’s arms down tightly. The opponent tried to break free, but Charizard’s strength was simply too great; despite being a size smaller, it used brute force to keep its opponent from moving an inch.】

【At this moment, Jike, who was watching from the sidelines, was stunned.】

【A “small-sized” trainer-raised Charizard had completely suppressed the wild Charizard she had carefully selected. This was completely beyond her expectations and caught her off guard.】

【“Dragon Breath.”】

【Following Ash’s new command.】

【A massive amount of Dragon Breath spewed from Charizard’s mouth.】

【The point-blank Dragon-type attack sent the wild Charizard directly into a state of paralysis.】

【Realizing the opponent had essentially no ability to counterattack, Charizard slowly released its left hand, grabbed the opponent with only its right, and slammed it heavily into the ground.】

【Seismic Toss.】

【Its face made intimate contact with the ground, distorting violently in that instant.】

【The intense impact surged into its brain, and the wild Charizard, which had looked down on its opponent just moments ago, fainted instantly.】

【Jike was dumbfounded.】

【Clair: “Oh my, Jike seems unable to accept this result.”】

【Lance: “Certainly. Jike’s theory is that wild Charizard trained in Charizard Valley are stronger than those trained by trainers, but reality has dealt her a heavy slap in the face. How could she accept it?”】

【Lorelei: “You’re missing the point. It’s not that Jike can’t accept a valley Charizard losing to a trainer’s Charizard; what she can’t accept is that they lost to Ash’s Charizard.”】

【Steven: “What’s the difference?”】

【Lorelei: “How old is Ash? Not even twelve. That means the time Ash has spent catching and training Charizard is at most less than two years. A Charizard that has spent several years in the valley undergoing grueling special training and tempering lost to one that has been alive for maybe two years. How is Jike supposed to accept that?”】

【Wallace: “Makes sense.”】

【After Charizard secured the victory, Ash could clearly feel that the gazes of the nearby Charizard had changed.】

【From disdain, indifference, and contempt to the current solemnity, all the Charizard had realized that Ash’s Charizard was no simple matter.】

【“Hoo.”】

【Taking a deep breath, Jike recovered from her shock and said slowly: “I admit your Charizard is strong, but wanting to dominate Charizard Valley won’t be that easy!!!”】

【???????】

【Jike’s words left Ash full of question marks.】

【Dominate Charizard Valley? When did he ever say he wanted to dominate Charizard Valley? The only reason he came to the valley was to prove that a trainer’s Charizard is no worse than a wild one.】

【“Come on, welcome the new challenge!” Jike’s voice became high-pitched, and her expression turned solemn.】

【Her face now read a single line—Defending the honor of Charizard Valley is my duty.】

【This time, Jike didn't need to pick opponents. After the first round, all the wild Charizard had become interested in Ash’s Charizard, and they scrambled to challenge it.】

【At this moment, Ash really wanted to act cool and say, “Don't come one by one, just all come at me together.”】

【But that was just a thought; Ash would never say such a brainless thing, because not only would it be disrespectful to his opponents, but it might also lead to his Charizard getting beaten to a pulp.】

【There were over a hundred Charizard in the valley; even if his Charizard were Ip Man, it couldn't fight that many.】

【“Are they treating Ash’s Charizard like a soft persimmon?” Misty was a bit confused. Why did every Charizard want to challenge Ash’s Charizard? Had they not noticed the fate of the first challenger?】

【“They noticed,” Erika said with a smile, “That is precisely why they are rushing to challenge Ash’s Charizard one after another.”】

【What’s the point of defeating a nobody? Only a truly powerful opponent is worth challenging. Jike wasn't wrong about one thing: the Charizard in the valley are all battle-hungry, and only battle-hungry Charizard would appear in Charizard Valley.】

【The strength of Ash’s Charizard didn't scare them off; instead, it ignited their fighting spirit. To defend the valley’s honor and prove their own strength, they all wanted to challenge Ash’s Charizard.】

【There were too many challengers; if they fought one by one, who knew how long it would take.】

【“Which Charizard here is the strongest?” Ash looked at Jike.】

【“The strongest? You want to challenge the strongest Charizard in the valley?” Jike couldn't believe her ears.】

【Did this guy know what he was saying? The strongest Charizard in Charizard Valley had strength reaching the Elite level. Was he seeking death?】

【Lance: “Has an Elite-level wild Charizard already appeared in Charizard Valley? It seems the valley’s development has been booming in recent years.”】

【Jike: “Heh heh heh, now you know the power of Charizard Valley. Unfortunately, to this day, no Charizard has been born in the valley capable of battling a Champion-level trainer.”】

【Clair: “A Champion-level Charizard? Jike, are you trying to reach the heavens? There aren't even five Champion-level Charizard in the entire world. Do you know how many resources it takes to invest in each Champion-level Pokémon?”】

【At the Champion level, talent alone is not enough; massive amounts of resources must be invested.】

【Leon’s Charizard is talented enough, right? But without Rose’s funding, it wouldn't have been so easy for it to cross from Elite to Champion level.】

【Yes, Jike is a wealthy woman, but she has over a hundred Charizard to raise. Unless she pours all her resources into one Charizard, there is absolutely no way a Champion-level Charizard could be born in Charizard Valley.】

【An Elite-level Charizard is already quite exaggerated.】

【Flint: “Uh, is Charizard Valley open to the public? Can I go into the valley to catch a Charizard?”】

【Jike: “Are you dreaming?!”】

【Jike couldn't hold back and cursed.】

【Heaven knows how much heart and soul she had poured into caring for the Charizard in the valley. For Flint to want to come and pick the peaches, wasn't that a dream?】