Chapter 132

Break free? No need to break free; let Blastoise free him instead.

"Blastoise, Ice Punch."

A powerful fist shattered the ice, but before Pidgeot could even rejoice for a second, another wave of chill swept over.

It was frozen solid again.

Numb, Pidgeot was completely numb.

Can't you just finish it off and stop playing with it like this?

Once Pidgeot fell, Asuka's remaining Pokémon was only Skarmory. Although he knew he had no chance left, Asuka did not give up; he still seriously completed the rest of the battle.

"Skarmory is unable to battle. Blastoise wins."

After the referee announced Skarmory's defeat, this Gym Challenge officially came to an end.

"Master is truly too amazing."

After watching Ash and Asuka's match, Nana's little pride had vanished completely.

She also saw that Asuka lost to her not because her strength was greater than Asuka's, but simply because Asuka, seeing she was a new Trainer, did not bring out his true level. If Asuka had been as serious against her as he was against Ash, she would have been finished.

It was precisely because of Ash and Asuka's duel that Nana gained a correct judgment of the level of Gym Leaders.

"Sigh, the gap is too huge."

This was the first time Asuka lost so miserably, and his opponent was just a child under ten years old.

Truly, heroes have always emerged from youth.

"Then accept this Wing Badge, and take good care of Miss Lilia," Asuka said with a smile.

"Take good care of Lilia?" Misty was instantly stunned. What is this guy named Asuka talking about?

What is the relationship between Lilia and Ash? On what grounds should Ash take good care of her?

Besides, she was the first to become Ash's companion; if anyone needs taking care of, it should be her!!!

Azurill: "Misty lost to Lorelei, May, Serena, and Lilia, and now she has lost to Lilia again. Poor Misty."

Peony: "The world where Misty gets hurt has been achieved."

Sakura: "If you really can't make it, just return to Cerulean Gym, Misty. Your sisters love you."

Misty: "Dream on. I will never return, even if I die."

Don't think I don't know their ghostly intentions; they just want to trick me back to work. I'm not that stupid!

Sakura: "Exposed. Misty is getting harder and harder to trick."

Peony: "Think of a better excuse next time."

After leaving Ecruteak City, Ash and his group traveled forward and arrived at Charicific Valley.

Perhaps because the many wild Charizards in the valley attracted his Charizard, after entering the valley, Ash's Charizard was exceptionally excited.

It jumped out of its Poké Ball and began to roar continuously at the sky.

Charizard's roar echoed continuously within the valley, which also caught the attention of the valley's manager, Drake.

"The trio of boys, youths, and girls, what brings you to Charicific Valley?"

With green hair, a red leather jacket, leather pants, and knee-high leather boots, Drake immediately attracted everyone's attention upon appearing.

Seeing the beautiful woman, Brock hurried forward to shower her with attentions, but unfortunately, Drake had not the slightest interest in Brock; the person she was interested in was Ash, or rather, Ash's Charizard.

"Wow. What a muscular Charizard."

Upon seeing Ash's Charizard, Drake's eyes began to sparkle; she leaped forward to Charizard's front and started touching it all over.

"Such tight muscles, and the wings are flawless. I really can't imagine this is a Charizard raised by a Trainer," Drake praised Ash's Charizard endlessly.

Misty: "Remember, when she first saw Ash's Charizard, Miss Drake was always complaining, right?"

Gary: "No way, who could blame her? Ash's Charizard was so scrawny, and it couldn't even carry a person to fly."

Keep in mind that Little Lisa could carry three people flying together, yet Ash's Charizard couldn't even carry Ash alone.

It was quite normal for Drake to look down on it.

Ash: "I think my Charizard isn't necessarily worse than Black Ash's Charizard."

Lance: "A duck's beak isn't as stubborn as yours. Do you want to hear what you're saying? Ash."

Cynthia: "In a Trainer's heart, their own child is definitely the best. I understand, I understand."

Ash frowned and repeated Drake's words, "Hard to imagine this is a Charizard raised by a Trainer? What does that mean?"

"Literally," Drake answered matter-of-factly. "In my opinion, wild Charizards develop more muscular and possess greater strength than Charizards raised by Trainers."

Drake's words made Ash laugh.

He simply didn't believe wild Pokémon would be stronger than Pokémon personally raised by Trainers.

"Don't believe it?" Drake saw right through Ash's thoughts; she smiled faintly and said, "Then I'll take you to see for yourself."

Drake snapped her fingers, and Little Lisa, pulling the shopping basket, appeared immediately. "Come on, boys and girls, get into the shopping basket. By the way, only three people can sit in the shopping basket. Can your Charizard carry two people without issue?"

"No problem."

The weight of two people was easy for his Charizard; as long as it could sit, his Charizard could carry however many people.

"Alright, Brock, Lilia, Nana, you three get into the shopping basket quickly; I'll go with Ash," Misty said, striking first.

Lilia sneered coldly, not indulging Misty at all: "Heh heh, what are you talking about? Of course you, Brock, and Nana sit in the shopping basket, and I'll go with Ash!"

"What did you say?!" Misty got indignant; judging by seniority, she should be the one going with Ash.

"Sigh, such a chaotic relationship."

Drake was also stunned; she probably never expected the emotional issues between boys and girls to be so complicated.

"Wow, it's absolutely amazing. Flying on Charizard is so amazing. Yee-haw, yee-haw."

In the end, neither Misty nor Lilia got to ride Ash's Charizard; the two women fighting actually benefited Nana.

Under Drake's lead, Ash and Nana quickly arrived at Charicific Valley.

"Welcome, this is Charizard Valley."

Crossing the emerald lake, the group finally arrived at the legendary Charizard Valley.

On both banks of the lake stood various sculptures of Charizard.

"Here, Charizard are regarded as lucky guardian spirits, universally recognized as auspicious Pokémon."

Ji Ke leaped from Little Lisa's back, smiling as he continued: "Especially the untamed Charizard without trainers, those with the strongest wild instincts, are respected by everyone."

So there was such a custom; no wonder Ji Ke believed wild Charizard were stronger than those bred by trainers.

Misty: "Ji Ke, I think you're about to get slapped hard in the face."

Ji Ke: "Yes, I admit Ash's Charizard is formidable, but do not underestimate the wild Charizard in Charizard Valley too much. If it wants to win, it won't be that easy."

Ji Ke still held his own view: wild Charizard are the most powerful Charizard.

Lance: "But the strongest Charizard in the world is not a wild one; it is Champion Leon's Charizard."

Lance kindly offered this reminder.

Ji Ke: "How can you know who is stronger or weaker without a match?"

Misty: "Are you crazy? Ji Ke."

The moment Ji Ke spoke those words, even his close sister Misty lost her composure; she now seriously suspected Ji Ke had become obsessed.

Yes, she admitted, the wild Charizard of Charizard Valley were quite powerful, but it depended on who they were compared to. They could easily handle Ash's Charizard, but now their opponent was Champion Leon's Charizard.

The Charizard of Champion Leon, who had remained undefeated since his debut.

How could Ji Ke possibly say, "How can you know the result without a match?"

Truly ignorant.

Ji Ke: "Perhaps it might be just a tiny bit weaker than Champion Leon's Charizard."

Ji Ke might have realized his words were a bit too excessive and tried to make some amends.

Misty: "Sigh."

Misty didn't know what to say anymore; Ji Ke was good in every way, except whenever he mentioned the Charizard in Charizard Valley, he became obsessed.

She hoped Ash would make Ji Ke face reality.

"Untamed?" Misty asked, looking utterly surprised.

Ji Ke nodded. "Yes, the Charizard here grow strong without relying on human power. Moreover, to increase each other's strength, they constantly compete. Charizard Valley is a valley where Charizard train themselves to become the strongest Charizard, sparring and honing their skills with their companions."

It sounded incredibly impressive.

Misty and Brock could no longer wait to see Ash's Charizard battle the Charizard of the valley.

"Alright, it's time." Ji Ke pressed the switch on the gate; the iron doors slowly slid open to both sides, revealing the true Charizard Valley before everyone.

There was no beautiful scenery, only scattered greenery and countless Charizard.

Sky, rocky mountains, and earth—Charizard were everywhere. Ash's Charizard had already developed well, being a full size larger than ordinary Charizard, yet upon entering the valley, everyone discovered that Charizard of this size were common. Some Charizard were even two or three times larger than Ash's, looking just like giants.