Chapter 18

【It's been a few days since leaving Pallet Town, but he hasn't captured any new Pokémon. This won't do; you know, if the number of Pokémon isn't enough, you don't even have the qualifications to challenge a Gym.】

【Ash has already inquired at the Pokémon Center in Viridian City; to challenge the Viridian Gym Leader Giovanni, you need at least 3 Pokémon in your hand.】

【Counting the unhatched Pokémon egg, he is still short by 1, so he must capture at least 1 more Pokémon in Viridian Forest.】

【"Mew, haven't you found a suitable target either?"】

【"Mew." Mew spread its hands.】

【Except for Caterpie and Weedle, Viridian Forest is worthy of being a paradise for Bug-type Pokémon; there are bugs everywhere.】

【"If there's really no other choice, Caterpie will do." Ash prepared to compromise.】

【He didn't have that much time to waste on meaningless searching. If he couldn't find rare Pokémon, it wouldn't be bad to use Caterpie to make up the numbers.】

【Besides, Caterpie isn't that bad. Not to mention its fast evolution speed, after evolving into Butterfree, it can use the three powders, and if you're lucky, you can even learn Confusion. It's definitely an "artifact" for rookie trainers.】

【Just as Ash was about to start his bug-catching career, fighting sounds suddenly came from the bushes not far away.】

【Following the sound, Ash saw two bird Pokémon fighting on a tree branch—Spearow and Pidgey.】

【In order to snatch the Oran Berry on the branch, neither of the two Pokémon was willing to give in.】

【Looking at Pidgey, which was gradually gaining the upper hand in the battle, Ash smiled. It really was a case of "finding something after a long search, only to find it without any effort."】

Bruno: "Is Ash going to capture that Spearow?"

Lorelei: "Don't make me scold you, Bruno. If it were you, would you capture that Spearow?"

Bruno: "Uh, no."

A Spearow that fell into a disadvantage in a fight with a Pidgey—he wouldn't want such a Pokémon even if it were given for free.

Professor Oak: "A Pidgey with a strong desire to fight, a bit like Ash's Pidgeotto."

Misty: "Not like, it simply is. It's just a Pidgeotto that hasn't evolved yet."

Ash: "Fate, this is fate. In that case, will Dark Ash also capture Pidgeotto and Caterpie?"

Brock: "Pidgeotto can't run away, but Caterpie is a bit uncertain."

Ash: "Why?"

Brock: "A year ago, Caterpie probably hadn't even been born yet."

Ash: "Ah?!"

【Pidgey, who had finally defeated its opponent and snatched the Oran Berry, hadn't had time to enjoy the fruits of victory before being dragged into a new battle.】

【This time, the opponent was much stronger than the Spearow; it didn't even see the opponent's appearance before losing its ability to battle.】

【Of course, it wasn't all bad news; there was some good news. Although it became Ash's Pokémon, it still got to enjoy the Oran Berry.】

【After capturing Pidgey, Ash asked Mew about the hatching date of the Pokémon egg. Upon learning that the egg was about to hatch, he didn't plan to capture any more new Pokémon. Once the Pokémon in the egg was born, he would have enough for the three Pokémon needed to challenge Giovanni.】

Bruno: "Ah? Ash is planning to use these three Pokémon to challenge Giovanni?"

Lance: "He's even crazier than the Ash in our world."

Although he had no good feelings about Giovanni, who seemed to be associated with Team Rocket, Lance had to say that that guy was one of the most terrifying trainers in Kanto.

Facing Giovanni, even he could flip his car if he wasn't careful. Ash was preparing to challenge Giovanni with just one baby Pokémon, one newly captured Pidgey, and one Pikachu. He really wasn't taking Giovanni seriously.

Koga: "Hasn't Ash heard of Giovanni's nickname? That guy's nickname is Giovanni of the Earth! His only combat power is the Electric-type Pikachu, and he still dares to challenge Giovanni. Isn't he taking Giovanni too lightly!"

Lorelei: "Giovanni isn't Brock; the probability of him being defeated by Pikachu is basically 0."

Ash: "What's wrong with Electric-type Pokémon? As long as you have perseverance, there's nothing you can't do! Come on, I believe in you, other me!"

【Ash stayed in Viridian Forest for another three days. During these three days, he wasn't idle. After his day and night training, Pidgey had evolved into Pidgeotto.】

【On the other side, the Pokémon egg in the backpack finally hatched.】

【Ding: Entering the prize quiz segment!】

【Question: What is the Pokémon about to hatch from the egg?】

【A: Tentacool.】

【B: Squirtle.】

【C: Phione.】

【D: Riolu.】

【E: Kyogre.】

——

(Flowers, evaluation tickets, monthly tickets, rewards, please, please, please, please, please!!!)

29: Ash's Lucario

Steven: "It's here, Brawly, the Kyogre you wanted is here, choose quickly."

Brawly: "Choose your sister, do you think I'm a fool! I'll directly rule out Kyogre first!"

Gardenia: "Which big shot can help introduce C? What is Phione?"

Steven: "Phione is... well, I don't know Phione either."

Wallace: "If you're a noob, just be quiet and listen obediently; don't think about showing off."

Steven: "Yo ho, listening to your tone, you know Phione."

Wallace: "I'm not talented, but I really do know Phione. You've heard of Manaphy, the Prince of the Sea, right?"

Steven: "No."

Wallace: "..."

Steven's "no" almost made Wallace lose his breath. After a long time, Wallace spoke again.

Wallace: "You just need to know that Manaphy, like Mew, is a very rare Mythical Pokémon. The egg obtained through Pokémon breeding from Manaphy can hatch into Phione, but Phione cannot evolve into Manaphy."

Phoebe: "Wow, how do you know so clearly."

Wallace: "Sootopolis Gym has ancient books recording Phione and Manaphy."

Glacia: "So that's it."

Chairman Goodshow: "Professor Oak, which one do you think is better to choose?"

Professor Oak: "The time that egg appeared in the video was too short, adding up to less than a second. It's hard to analyze what Pokémon is inside."

It's a pity; if there could be a front-facing close-up, he could basically analyze it. Now he can only guess blindly.

During everyone's chat, the three-second penalty mechanism protector passed quickly, and they could answer the question boldly.

Ash: "A, choose A for this question."

Misty: "Any high opinion, Ash."

In the previous few answers, Ash's accuracy rate was 100%, so Misty definitely had to respect Ash's opinion.

Ash: "I only know Tentacool."

Misty: "Get lost!"

Diantha: "I'll choose B. After all, Squirtle is an iconic Pokémon of Kanto and a Water-type Pokémon, so choosing B is the safest."

Cynthia: "Makes sense, I'll choose B too."

Wallace: "If you ask me, it's better to choose C. The Pokémon egg that Professor Oak went to great lengths to get can't be that ordinary; Squirtle's level isn't high enough."

Gary: "Makes sense, I'll choose C too."

Steven: "Is C a bit too exaggerated? Phione is also a Legendary Pokémon, right?"

Phoebe: "Ash already has Mew; capturing another Phione isn't too outrageous. I'll choose C too."

It is estimated that influenced by Wallace, among the respondents who have already answered, no one has cast their eyes on Riolu. Everyone seems to have defaulted that the Pokémon hatching from the egg must be a Water-type Pokémon.

【The countdown for answering the question begins!】

【3】

【2】

The numbers on the big screen were jumping wildly, and Korrina was extremely conflicted at this moment.

Should she choose B: Squirtle, or C: Phione, or follow the voice in her heart and choose D: Riolu?

In the end, Korrina chose to follow the voice in her heart.

Korrina: "D, Riolu."

【1】

After the final 【1】 jumped out, this quiz was officially declared over.

The screen with the black border started playing the video again.

【Under the gaze of Ash, Pikachu, Pidgeotto, and Mew, the Pokémon egg in the backpack emitted a dazzling light.】