Chapter 138

【"White, use Iron Head!" Karen took the initiative.】

【Because of her mother Ellen's help during the raising process, Karen's Mareep's level was quite high; it had even learned Iron Head.】

【Just by looking at the momentum of White's attack, Casey knew it couldn't be fought head-on, so she immediately chose a roundabout battle mode.】

【"Raticate, dodge it, circle to the opponent's side, then use Quick Attack."】

【White's battle experience was close to zero; Raticate easily dodged White's attack, then changed direction to White's side and immediately launched Quick Attack.】

Roxanne: "Dark Ash shouldn't be a full-time trainer; he should be like me, working part-time as a teacher in his spare time from training. His ability to cultivate students is simply too strong."

Erika: "Agreed. Dark Ash is indeed a good teacher. How long has Casey been with him? Now she's already looking like a pro when battling and starting to know how to adapt."】

Misty: "Adapt? Ash should be handed over to Dark Ash to be led for a few days. If he could make Ash learn to adapt, then Dark Ash would be truly amazing."

Gary: "Make Ash learn to adapt? Heh, impossible."】

Gary knew Ash too well. Even if the world were destroyed, Ash wouldn't change his battle style.】

Ash: "I don't think there's anything wrong with my battle style."】

A real man's battle should be head-on; there shouldn't be any fancy tricks.】

【"Maa!"】

【Quick Attack successfully hit the Mareep. Fortunately, it had thick wool for protection, otherwise, this hit would have made the Mareep lose its ability to battle.】

【A common problem for newcomers: once they encounter trouble, they become flustered. Karen was the same; when White encountered trouble, Karen became even more confused than White. In this situation, it was impossible for her to win the match.】

【"I told you, Karen, you still have a long way to go before becoming a real trainer."】

【After Karen lost the match, her mother, Ellen, stood up and said sternly.】

【"Yes, I know, Mom." Karen lowered her head, and her spirit disappeared along with the failure of the match.】

【"There's no need to be dejected." At this moment, Ash stood up and cheered Karen on, "No one succeeds overnight. Even the strongest trainers experience a large number of failures during their growth."】

【Ash's encouragement made light appear in Karen's eyes again. She looked at Ash with expectant eyes and said, "Then has Ash also lost many battles?"】

【It was clearly a scorching noon, but suddenly, the whole world went quiet.】

【Ash opened his mouth, wanting to speak but stopping.】

Steven: "Hahahaha, laughing to death, Dark Ash has done more harm than good this time. Do you think Karen will become even more decadent after knowing Dark Ash's record?"】

Misty: "Comforting Karen shouldn't have been said by Dark Ash; it should have been left to Brock. Brock's failure experience is too rich."】

Brock: "..."】

Flint: "I recalled carefully; whether it's roadside wild battles or official battles, Dark Ash hasn't lost a single one so far, right? How hateful!"】

Cynthia: "This record is even more exaggerated than Leon's!"】

Alder: "There's still a gap compared to Leon. The opponents Dark Ash faces definitely aren't as strong as the ones Leon faces."】

Diantha: "How old is Dark Ash? By the time Dark Ash reaches Leon's age, who will still be his opponent?"】

【"Alright, it's my turn to battle you, Ash."】

【In the end, it was Karen's mother, Ellen, who rescued Ash from the awkwardness.】

【After watching the battle between her daughter and Casey, Ellen could no longer suppress the fire of battle in her heart.】

【"I choose you, Raichu!"】

【Ellen had absolute confidence in her Raichu.】

【Raichu had been with her for over a decade. When she was still a Pokémon trainer, it fought east and west for her. Although the frequency of battles had decreased over the years, its daily training hadn't stopped. And because it had to charge the Mareep, its electricity was even more fierce than before.】

【Ten minutes later.】

【"How could this be?"】

【Looking at the Raichu lying on the ground, Ellen started to doubt life.】

Elesa: "Well, this master and apprentice duo really aren't human. The apprentice, Casey, beat the daughter, Karen, until her Dao heart was shattered, and the master, Dark Ash, beat the mother, Ellen, until she collapsed. They really are a family; they don't enter the same house if they aren't the same kind."】

Volkner: "You can't blame Dark Ash; it was Ellen who took the initiative to ask for a battle and told Dark Ash not to go easy. Dark Ash was just doing as he was told."】

Lt. Surge: "Dark Ash's Pikachu is getting harder and harder to understand. This strength is definitely at the Elite level."】

【"What? You want to travel with Karen?" Misty looked at Casey with surprise.】

【Casey nodded vigorously, "Yes, because being by everyone's side, everything goes too smoothly."】

【She, Casey, is a person with pursuits. What she pursues is a bumpy journey, but by staying by Ash and the others' side, she has no chance to experience the bumps.】

【"That's quite good. A fledgling bird that is protected will never be able to fly into the blue sky," Erika agreed with Casey's choice.】

【"Then thank you all for your care during this time," Casey bowed deeply to express her gratitude.】

【After saying goodbye to Karen, her mother, and Casey, Ash, Misty, Brock, and Erika set off on their journey again.】

【A few days later, the four arrived at a dense forest.】

【"Wow, we're finally going to reach Azalea Town," Erika stretched vigorously.】

【She had been traveling in the wild the whole time and hadn't had a proper bath. When she reached the Pokémon Center in Azalea Town, she would definitely have a good soak.】

【"Look, everyone, so many people have gathered," Misty pointed to the entrance of the forest.】

【After asking, everyone learned that the reason everyone gathered here was because they heard someone had seen a Cyndaquil nearby.】

【"Cyndaquil?"】

【Upon hearing the word "Cyndaquil," Ash's interest was immediately piqued.】

【After Charizard stayed in Charizard Valley, he happened to be missing a Fire-type Pokémon.】

【This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity must not be missed.】

【With the help of Aura, Ash easily found the specific location of the Cyndaquil.】

【Having found the Cyndaquil, the rest was simple. Pikachu went on stage, and in a few moves, it took down the Cyndaquil.】

【After catching the Cyndaquil, Ash and the others didn't stay in the forest for too long. They crossed the forest at the fastest speed and arrived at Azalea Town.】

【After arriving at Azalea Town, Ash originally planned to go directly to challenge the Azalea Gym, but who knew the Azalea Gym was actually closed. With no other choice, Ash and the others could only turn to Kurt's house to complete the task Professor Oak had entrusted to him.】

【Bad luck; Kurt wasn't home either. From his granddaughter, Maizie, they learned that Kurt had been collecting spring water used to make Poké Balls at the Slowpoke Well for the past period. Maizie didn't know exactly when Kurt would return home.】

【With no other choice, everyone had to change direction and head toward the Slowpoke Well.】

【The correct name for the Slowpoke Well should be Slowpoke Cave; this is the habitat of the Slowpoke in Azalea Town.】

【Following the map's guidance, Ash and the others easily found the famous landmark of Azalea Town, the Slowpoke Well.】

【"Then let's go in quickly," Misty, holding Togepi, was about to enter the cave immediately.】

【"Wait," Ash stopped Misty, his expression becoming serious.】

【Something is not quite right. The Aura in the cave is very chaotic; there are at least a dozen people in the cave.】

【This doesn't match the news they got from Maizie. According to what Maizie said, her grandfather went to the Slowpoke Well alone.】

【Brock: "Could it be other people from the town?"】

【"Not very likely," Ash shook his head.】

【Along the way, Ash had seen the townspeople's worship of Slowpoke. They treat Slowpoke as a totem; how could they enter the Slowpoke's habitat casually.】

【More importantly, what Ash felt was that the Aura in the cave was mixed with an evil aura.】

Lance: "Evil aura? Could it be Jessie, James, and Meowth causing trouble in the Slowpoke Well?"】

Ash: "No need to think, it must be Team Rocket!!!"】

Maybe, just like in their world, Team Rocket is frantically catching Slowpoke with a Diglett robot.】

Malva: "No, do you think the Team Rocket trio deserves the adjective 'evil'? The funny trio doesn't fit 'evil' at all."】

Jessie: "Meowth, James, is this guy mocking us?"】

James: "It's a bit like mocking us, and a bit like helping us speak."】

Meowth: "Damn it, we are Team Rocket, who travels through the galaxy! A white tomorrow is waiting for us in the white hole!!! We are the most evil!"】

【"Let's go in and take a look," Ash said with a serious expression.】

【Something must have happened in the Slowpoke Well.】

【"Should we notify Officer Jenny?" Misty believed Ash's words deeply. Since Ash said something happened in the Slowpoke Well, then something must have happened.】

【"Officer Jenny can't help either. Even if Officer Jenny comes, we have to solve it," Erika said.】

【It wasn't that she looked down on Officer Jenny, but the fact was just like that. If they couldn't solve the trouble in the Slowpoke Well, Jenny wouldn't be of any use even if she came.】

【"That's true," Misty nodded too.】

【The strength of an ordinary Officer Jenny, let alone compared to Ash, might not even be better than Erika's.】

【Black uniforms, bright red 'R'. Just after entering the cave and walking a few steps inside, Ash and the others encountered two Team Rocket members, a man and a woman.】

【"Ha, it's a group of wet-behind-the-ears brats," the man said.】

【"Sigh, curiosity killed the cat. Isn't it good to stay outside the cave? Why come in to die."】