Chapter 161

【"Noctowl. Uproar."】

【A piercing cry erupted from the Noctowl's beak. Girafarig gritted its teeth tightly, struggling to endure the noisy, grating sound. Its brain, already chaotic from the effects of Psybeam, now felt as if it were about to explode.】

【"Girafarig!"】

【Jeri finally understood why Ash was so confident that Girafarig's Future Sight would be useless. It was because Noctowl was using a sound-based move, and the damage covered the entire battlefield. As long as Girafarig remained on the field, there was nowhere to hide.】

Diantha: "Dark Ash is playing a bit dirty. Jeri is still just a child; be a little gentler with her."

Lance: "So what if she's a child? In a battle, giving it your all is the true form of respect. Besides, who isn't a child? If we're really comparing ages, Dark Ash is even younger than Jeri."

Malva: "Lance, you just keep thinking that way. If you ever find a girlfriend in this lifetime, I'll take your last name."

Lance: "Hmph, you're not my mother. Whether I find a girlfriend or not, what business is it of yours?"

Steven: "Exactly, exactly. Malva, I advise you to mind your own business. Lance and I are preparing to become Gold Saints; as for women, the further away they are from us, the better!"

【Having won against Jeri, Ash still felt a bit unsatisfied. Under Jeri's guidance, he and Noctowl challenged all the experts in the Psychic Town. Only after defeating everyone did Ash finally feel somewhat satisfied.】

【Yes, only somewhat.】

【Although everyone in Psychic Town had Psychic-type Pokémon, and many even possessed psychic powers themselves, Ash had seen the true Queen of Psychics. All the people in the town combined weren't enough to take on Sabrina.】

【It seems that if he wants to take Noctowl's abilities to the next level, he'll have to go find Sabrina.】

【After leaving Psychic Town, Ash and his group arrived at the famous scenic spot, Green Grassland. Originally, they had planned to have a good time playing there, but today, the Green Grassland felt a bit off.】

【A terrifying energy swept across the Green Grassland. Wherever it passed, all the flowers and grass were crystallized.】

【The place where Ash and the others were currently located wasn't the worst of it; the most severe area was on the east side of the Green Grassland, where a strange and bewitching Crystal Tower stood proudly.】

【"???????"】

【Misty and Erika looked at each other, completely unable to understand what had happened on the Green Grassland.】

Flint: "It's here, it's here, the Green Grassland is here. I can't wait to see Dark Ash's Charizard battle Entei."

Volkner: "You're not kidding. If Dark Ash's Charizard shows up, that Entei conjured by the Unown might not necessarily have an easy time of it."

Diantha: "Unlike you two, I have no interest in Charizard versus Entei. What I'm interested in is Dark Ash versus the Unown. Do you think, with Dark Ash's strength, he could take down one Unown with a single punch?"

Xiao Nan: "Ah? Why attack the Unown? The Unown are so cute, why hit them?"

Malva: "You hit them because the Unown are the culprits behind everything. Without the Unown, this whole incident wouldn't have happened at all."

Lucian: "Don't blame the Unown. They are just manifesting the thoughts in Molly's heart; they don't have any malice."

Cynthia: "Is your brain only capable of fighting and killing? These are Unown, super-duper-ultra rare Pokémon! You have to catch them! As long as the mysteries of the Unown are solved, human technology could very well take a leap forward."

Professor Oak: "They must be caught! It would be best to send them to my laboratory immediately after catching them. I can't wait to study the Unown."

Gary: "Don't even think about it. Even if Dark Ash catches the Unown, he won't send them to your lab. He has his own Professor Oak."

【"Now everything is ruined."】

【Looking at the Green Grassland still in the process of crystallization, Erika's mood sank to the absolute bottom.】

【Before coming to the Green Grassland, she had held great expectations.】

【Everyone said the Green Grassland was a holy land for couples' dates. She had originally wanted to take advantage of the terrain here to win Ash over in one go.】

【Now, sigh, Erika didn't want to say anything anymore.】

Misty: "?????????"

Daisy: "See that, Misty? If you keep being this dull and silly, your chances will go cold."

Violet: "No, no, Misty won't even get the cold leftovers."

Lily: "Misty, why don't we just give up? Compared to Erika, you really don't have any advantages. Dark Ash definitely won't choose you. Give up now to save yourself from heartbreak later."

Misty: "Are you three sure you're my biological sisters?"

Lily: "If we weren't your biological sisters, would we tell you the truth?"

Daisy: "Exactly, exactly. Only family won't lie to you."

Violet: "Don't say that. Maybe Dark Ash just likes Misty's type? Although the possibility is very small, it's not zero."

Misty: "..."

144: Liza arrives, three women make a crowd.

【Pokémon Center.】

【"Ash, why are you here?"】

【Liza, who was discussing with Nurse Joy how to stop the crystallization from spreading, was startled by Ash entering the Pokémon Center.】

【Could he be here to ask me for his Charizard back?】

【That won't do.】

【In the month that Ash's Charizard had stayed in the valley, the strength of the Charizard in the valley had improved to varying degrees. Now, Ash's Charizard was the most popular treasure in their valley, and she didn't want to return the treasure she hadn't even warmed up yet.】

【At the very least, she had to wait another half a year, letting the Charizard in the valley "drain" Ash's Charizard dry, before she could return it.】

Lance: "Elaborate on 'drain dry.' Is it the 'drain dry' we're thinking of?"

Bruno: "Dark Ash hasn't even started a harem yet, and his Charizard is already living the life of an emperor in Charizard Valley? Three palaces, six courtyards, seventy-two concubines?"

Steven: "Liza has foresight. Dark Ash's Charizard's genes are quite good; the strength of the children it produces won't be bad either."

Liza: "Can you stop thinking dirty thoughts? It's draining the Charizard's battle experience, not anything else!!!"

【In the casual conversation, learning that Ash and the others just happened to arrive at the Green Grassland, Liza finally let go of her anxious heart.】

【She immediately gave Charla a look. Charla understood, walked into the room, and led Ash's Charizard out.】

【Liza and Charla's little actions didn't escape Ash's notice, and Ash was speechless.】

【If he really had come to ask for his Charizard, was Liza not planning to let him see it? This was too shameless.】

【Liza turned her head away, pretending not to see Ash's expression.】

【She couldn't be blamed; everything she did was for Charizard Valley.】

【During the conversation, someone else arrived. This time, it seemed to be a big shot, as even Nurse Joy went out to greet them.】

【"Who has such a big entourage that even Nurse Joy has to go out?" Brock said unhappily.】

【Ash shook his head; he didn't know either. Let's go out and take a look together.】

【Police cars leading the way, even the TV station staff were waiting respectfully outside. Now, even Ash's curiosity was piqued.】

【With this setup, could it be that Lance of the Elite Four has arrived?】

【Who else could have this kind of status?】

Lance: "Nonsense, I'm very low-key when I go out."

For the sake of his image, he had to speak up; otherwise, people from other regions would really think he was someone who demanded a grand entrance everywhere he went.

Bruno: "What's there to explain to them? You are Lance, the strongest in Kanto; this level of status is expected."

Karen: "Bruno is right, there's nothing to explain. A Champion should have the status of a Champion."

Lorelei: "Don't lower your head, the crown will fall. We will always support you, our King."

Watching the fun without fear of it being too big, Bruno, Karen, and Lorelei were all frantically fanning the flames.

Originally, the audience didn't think Lance was such a shallow person, but under the fanning of Bruno, Karen, and Lorelei, they began to doubt. Could this be Lance's true face?

Lance: "You guys!!!"

In order to push him off the throne, these three guys had already gone insane.

【The moment the car door opened, Ash's eyes widened, because the person stepping out wasn't the Dragon Master Lance, but Professor Oak and his mother, Delia.】

【"Long time no see, Ash, Pikachu."】

【Seeing her son and Pikachu after such a long time, Delia's gloomy mood immediately improved. She rushed up and gave Pikachu a big hug.】

【In the Pokémon Center, under Professor Oak's explanation, Ash finally understood what was going on.】

【"So you're saying the culprit behind all this is the Unown?" Ash looked at Professor Oak with a solemn expression.】

【Professor Oak nodded and said, "Eight or nine out of ten. We must resolve this trouble as soon as possible, otherwise, other parts of Johto will also be affected."】

【Seeing Ash, Professor Oak was also in a very good mood. With Ash here, he wouldn't have to go to Dr. Hale's house himself.】

【He was old now; let the young people solve the troublesome things.】

【"Ash, you must bring Molly back safely," Delia said softly, biting her lip.】

【"Don't worry, leave everything to me."】

【Arriving at the Crystal Tower without any obstacles, Misty couldn't hold it in anymore and looked at Liza, "Liza, why did you follow us too?"】

【"Of course, it's for Charizard," Liza replied as a matter of course.】

【If it weren't for Charizard following Ash, she wouldn't have come along.】

【"I've already said, I'll return Charizard after dealing with the Unown. You don't need to be so worried about me." Ash was speechless.】