Chapter 42

【The reception ended, and it was time for the Gym challenge.】

【There wasn't nearly as much laughing and joking during the challenge. As the top Gym Leader in Kanto, Erika still had her pride.】

【During a challenge, she absolutely would not hold back in the slightest.】

【"Ash, how many Badges do you have now?" Before the Gym battle began, Erika went through the routine of asking how many Badges Ash currently held.】

【When Ash displayed all the Badges he had collected so far, Erika was stunned.】

【The Gray Badge, the Blue Badge, the Orange Badge — these weren't what surprised her. The difficulty of obtaining those three Badges wasn't all that great.】

【What shocked Erika was the Green Badge and the Gold Badge. It had been almost a year since she had last seen a Trainer who had collected those two Badges.】

【Setting aside the underestimation born of Ash's young age, Erika shifted into serious mode.】

【The Rainbow Gym's battle rules were three-on-three. After introducing the rules, Erika began sending out her Pokémon.】

【"Go, Vileplume." After Vileplume appeared, Erika helpfully explained that Vileplume was originally meant for Trainers who held more than six Badges, but because Ash's strength was greater than that of an ordinary challenger, she had brought out Vileplume.】

【The opponent was a Grass- and Poison-type Vileplume. Ash thought for a moment and chose to send out Charmeleon to counter.】

【In terms of level, Charmeleon was a bit lower than Vileplume, but in terms of typing, Charmeleon held an absolute advantage.】

【Moreover, Ash's Charmeleon was exceptionally agile. Vileplume, with the giant bud on its head, had no way at all of catching Charmeleon.】

【Erika did try changing tactics. She also attempted using moves like Stun Spore and Sleep Powder to gain control.】

【But Ash gave her no chance at all. The moment he detected Vileplume using a powder-type move, Charmeleon immediately put distance between itself and Vileplume, then used flame to burn away all the powder scattered in the air.】

【Against Ash's relatively underhanded tactics, Vileplume didn't have the slightest opening.】

【"Come back, Vileplume."】

【Gym Leaders do not have the right to switch Pokémon during a Gym battle, so Erika recalling Vileplume was essentially the same as Vileplume surrendering.】

【Probably also worn out by Charmeleon's hit-and-run, underhanded offensive style, Erika's second Pokémon was Tangrowth.】

【The moment Tangrowth entered the field, it unleashed a furious barrage on Charmeleon.】

【Everywhere the eye could see was filled with Tangrowth's vines. Charmeleon had nowhere to dodge, and in no time at all, Charmeleon was whipped by Tangrowth until its flesh was torn open.】

【Charmeleon took a beating, but Tangrowth wasn't in much better shape either. Realizing there was no way to evade Tangrowth's attacks, Ash and Charmeleon changed tactics, switching to an all-out offensive. So while Charmeleon was being pummeled and crying out in pain, Tangrowth was also getting badly scorched by Charmeleon's flames.】

【In the end, both Pokémon collapsed on the battlefield.】

【Erika's last Pokémon was a Tornadus, which was very rare in Kanto. It was a mysterious Pokémon from the Hoenn region, said to mostly live atop trees over a thousand years old.】

【Ash had originally been about to send out Ivysaur, but the instant he saw Tornadus, he recalled Ivysaur's Poké Ball.】

【Tornadus was a speed-type Pokémon. Sending Ivysaur out would basically just mean taking a beating. Better to send Pidgeot instead.】

【Pidgeot vs. Tornadus — this could barely count as an air-versus-air showdown.】

【Although Tornadus didn't have the Flying type, it could summon gales with its leaves and use the gales to glide short distances.】

【Erika's Tornadus was at a very high level. Ash guessed it was very likely Erika's ace Pokémon.】

【In fact, Ash's judgment was quite accurate. Tornadus's strength could firmly hold an ace position on Erika's team.】

【The moment the battle began, Tornadus kept using Air Cutter to try and chip away at Pidgeot's HP.】

【Air Cutter? Pidgeot took one look and thought, "How dare you?" It, a bona fide Flying-type Pokémon, wasn't about to be afraid of the likes of this.】

【And so, Pidgeot also began using Air Cutter to strike back.】

【The two sides went back and forth, and soon Tornadus was the first to give out. After all, it wasn't a Flying-type Pokémon, so its proficiency with Flying-type moves was certainly no match for a genuine Flying-type like Pidgeot. On top of that, it also had the Grass type, so taking a hit from a wind blade meant double damage. Because of this, even though Tornadus's level was higher than Pidgeot's, it still couldn't hold on.】

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【But if it didn't use Air Cutter, its other moves didn't have a particularly good way to deal with Pidgeot either. With no other choice, Tornadus could only brace itself and use Razor Leaf.】

【"Pidgeot, Brave Bird."】

【A move like Razor Leaf was nothing more than a tickle to Pidgeot. Ash seized the opportunity and had Pidgeot use Brave Bird to finish off the opponent in an instant.】

Brock: "Amazing!"

Misty: "Ash, you should really learn from this. It's the same Pokémon, but your Pidgey still hasn't even evolved, while Black Ash's Pidgeot is already running wild killing everything."

Bruno: "Unlike when we battled Ash in our world, the other world's Erika has already gone all-out, and she still can't do a thing to Black Ash."

Lorelei: "Erika should still have Pokémon higher-leveled than Tornadus on hand. But even if she used them, the outcome wouldn't change at all. Black Ash's two strongest Pokémon, Pikachu and Lucario, haven't even been sent out."

Cynthia: "Right, this still isn't Black Ash's full strength."

Caitlin: "9 years old, Black Ash is only 9 years old. When I was 9, I was still playing Makka Pakka."

Cynthia: "I'm a little better than you, then. When I was 9, I already had a Gible."

Steven: "Do you think the parallel world's Lance might have his Champion position taken by 9-year-old Ash?"

Wallace: "That's very possible! At the rate Black Ash is improving, Lance is in danger."

Lorelei: "Lance, don't worry. Black Ash might not necessarily be interested in the Kanto or Johto Champion position. His goal is the stars and the sea."

Lance: "So I'm only picking up what others don't want?"

Bruno: "What can you do? Who told you you're not as skilled?"

Lance: "Slander, pure slander! We haven't even fought yet — how do you know I can't beat Black Ash? Just wait. The other world's me will prove it to you. Just how strong I, Lance, really am!"

In truth, everyone was only teasing. Although Black Ash's strength was formidable, it was still far from reaching Champion level.

The next Gym would be Black Ash's greatest test, because he was about to face Koga, who had already been confirmed to become the next Elite Four member.

【After losing to Ash, Erika cheerfully handed over the Rainbow Badge.】

【When placing the Rainbow Badge into Ash's hand, Erika suddenly spoke up: "Ash, how about we exchange contact information? That way we can share our thoughts on Pokémon battles and training together."】

【What Erika said sounded quite "righteous and noble," but Misty, also a woman, saw through it at a glance — this wasn't Erika's real intention.】

【Erika's true purpose was only one thing: she had taken a fancy to Ash, that great piece of cabbage.】

【Damn it. Misty cursed the scheming bad woman in her heart, but she had no way to stop her. After all, just now in the guest room, the two of them had been calling each other sisters, all sweet and affectionate.】

【Woooo, schemed by the bad woman!】

【After leaving Celadon City, Ash and the others successfully resolved a Hypnosis incident they encountered in the new city, and Misty also got her wish by catching a new Pokémon — Psyduck.】

In the second city, Brock also obtained the six-tailed Pokémon from Misty.

Misty: "Will Black Ash also participate in the P1 Grand Prix?"

Brock: "It's highly likely. Don't forget, Black Ash's Lucario is also a Fighting-type Pokémon."

Bruno: "Isn't sending Lucario to the P1 Grand Prix a bit too unfair?"

Although Bruno was a master of Fighting-type moves, he did not hold the P1 Grand Prix in high regard.

In his view, this so-called P1 Grand Prix was merely a competition for a niche group of fighters to amuse themselves, utterly unworthy of serious attention.

Cynthia: "If Black Ash takes Lucario to the P1 Grand Prix, do you think Fan Dou will set his sights on Ash's Lucario?"

Diantha: "That uncle named Fan Dou has quite a way with words. Do you think he might even talk Black Ash into it?"

Steven: "Do you think that's possible? Black Ash isn't as naive as the Ash from our world."

While everyone was chatting, the plot of the P1 Grand Prix officially began on the screen.

【"The P1 Grand Prix?"】

【Ash originally had no interest in such a small-scale tournament, but he couldn't refuse Brock's insistence, so he had no choice but to accompany Brock.】

【"Rest assured, Miss Emi. For your sake, I will definitely win the championship of the P1 Grand Prix," Brock said solemnly.】

【"I think you've got it wrong, Brock. Miss Emi asked you to wake up her irresponsible father, not to win the championship," Misty said, speechless. Brock was good at everything, except he was too easily influenced by beautiful women.】

【And was he even talking in his sleep? With Ash's Lucario there, how could he possibly win? Was he planning to win in his dreams?】

(First update after going on sale; please subscribe. If first-day subscriptions reach 500 or more, the author will update 15,000 words daily; if they reach 800 or more, 20,000 words daily; if they reach 1,000 or more, the author won't sleep at all!! Really, please everyone, first-day subscriptions are truly crucial for a new book's performance! Please!) Da.

66: Will Black Ash send his Pokémon away? Fan Dou, awakened by scolding!

【On ordinary days, Ash would invite Brock and Misty to join his special training, so their Pokémon had made great progress compared to when they first started their journey.】

【Brock's Geodude faced a Machop in the first round. The rules of the P1 Grand Prix allowed only Fighting-type moves and punches or kicks, which was actually a very harsh rule for Geodude. Fortunately, Geodude overcame the difficulties and ultimately defeated Machop. Perhaps too excited after defeating his opponent, Brock's Geodude successfully evolved into a Graveler.】

【Unlike Brock and Geodude, who encountered trouble in their battle, Ash and Lucario's performance was far more relaxed and effortless. There wasn't a single opponent in the P1 Grand Prix capable of threatening them; the two advanced steadily and directly reached the finals.】

【"Waaah, I lost. I'm sorry, I let you down, Miss Emi," Brock said, crying as he walked down from the ring after losing to Emi's father, Fan Dou.】

【"Why are you crying? Miss Emi never had any expectations of you in the first place," Misty said sharply. "The person Miss Emi asked for help has always been Ash."】

【"Now that you mention it, I want to cry even more."】

Flannery: "Fan Dou isn't as bad as I imagined; he actually beat Brock."

Candice: "It would be strange if he lost. Uncle Fan Dou and Hitmonchan's training were all geared toward the P1 Grand Prix; it would be wrong if they lost to a novice like Brock."

Flannery: "Are you saying Fan Dou and Hitmonchan can win the finals too?"

Candice: "What are you joking about? Their opponent in the finals is Ash and Lucario. It would be enough if they lasted ten seconds."