Chapter 125

Black Satoshi captured Budew, while training and making food suitable for Heracross to eat, surely we can't let Bulbasaur give it tree sap to drink, right?

After several days of travel, we finally arrived at Platycodon City.

From Miss Joy we learned the information about the Gym Leader of Platycodon City Gym.

The Poké Ball used were Hoothoot, Ledyba, and Pidgeot.

The information is not much different from what Xiaomao gave.

After exchanging Poké Balls with Professor Oak, once ready, Ash headed over to the Platycodon City Gym.

Coincidentally, Gym Leader Asu was also there, and the battle quickly began.

Facing Flying-type Poké Ball, Ash immediately sent out Pikachu.

Pikachu was also effective, with one 100,000 Volts it took out Hoothoot, then came an Electric Net plus Electric Ball, and Ledyba was also defeated.

"So strong!"

Asu also felt something was off; the Pikachu in front of him was not a fuel-saving lamp.

In an instant, he defeated his two Poké Balls.

Although those Hoothoot and Ledyba were taking care of some novice trainers, they weren't that weak either.

In front of this Pikachu, there was hardly any strength to fight back.

"Come out, Pidgeot!"

Asu's last Poké Ball was indeed Pidgeot.

"Then I'll use Pidgeot!"

Ash sent out his own Pidgeot.

Judging by appearance, Ash's Pidgeot is a bit more robust and has a sharper gaze than his own.

"Swallow Return!"

The two Pidgeots' wings and long beaks burst forth with sharp white light.

Crack!

The two Pidgeots quickly clashed in midair, the sound of their wings flapping and the crack of their beaks colliding intertwined, and at the moment of impact, a series of sparks scattered.

"What, the speed can keep up!"

Asu saw that his own Pidgeot's flying speed was actually caught up to by Ash's Pidgeot.

Pidgeot has very strict requirements for itself, staying in Professor Oak's backyard, often training, and also helping Professor Oak test the newly made training facilities.

Pikachu shouted, "Go!"

«Ash's Fearow has gotten stronger again! »

Brock saw that the Gym Leader's Fearow was also being overwhelmed.

After a few exchanges, Asu's Fearow lost.

Upon realizing the opponent's identity, Asu chuckled; after all, Ash had won the Stone League Championship, so it was only natural that his Poké Ball's strength be this great.

With that thought, his inner disappointment faded somewhat.

«This Wing Badge is yours! »

He gave the Wing Badge to Ash.

【Asu: Wow, they really turned up the difficulty; even if I gave it my all, I probably couldn't beat Black Satoshi.】

【Brock: Good thing I'm traveling alongside Ash.】

【Lily: Black Satoshi's Poké Ball and his own battle skills are getting stronger, so the upcoming Gym Leaders might be even tougher to handle.】

【Ma Zhishi: Good thing, I've already been challenged; if Black Satoshi were to challenge me now, I'd probably lose horribly.】

So these defeated Gym Leaders wanted to watch the Johto Gym Leaders get beaten by Black Satoshi.

The Black Light Screen faded, and the White Light Screen shone forth.

Ash and his companions met a Charizard-using trainer named Ke while traveling.

At Ke's invitation, Ash and his friends went to check out Charizard Valley.

However, Charizard had difficulty bringing Ash to Charizard Valley, but inside there were many Charizard—whether Ke's female Charizard or the most docile Charizard in the valley—Ash's Charizard was easily beaten.

It wasn't just a strength issue; Ash's Charizard was also considerably smaller in size.

Thrown out, Charizard soaked in the water, its determination to grow stronger burning ever brighter.

Meanwhile, the Team Rocket Trio watching on understood Charizard's feelings and even helped it regain its confidence.

Seeing Charizard stubbornly standing in the water, Ke and the Charizard of Charizard Valley sensed Ash's Charizard's resolve to grow stronger.

【Xia Bo: The strength gap is quite large; there are actually so many powerful Charizard in Charizard Valley.】

【Shitron: Even the Charizard least skilled at battle can't be defeated; just how strong are the Charizard in Charizard Valley?】

Everyone saw that Ash's Charizard had defeated many formidable Poké Balls along the way and even beaten Xia Bo's duck-billed fire dragon, yet to their surprise it didn't even place in Charizard Valley.

【Ke: That was in the past; now Ash's Charizard is ridiculously strong.】

In the White World—

Faced with the chance to grow stronger and the opportunity to travel with Ash, Charizard was weighing its decision.

Ash saw Charizard's resolve to grow stronger; just now it had arrived here, indeed it had been dealt a blow, its heart brimming with the desire to become stronger.

Ash decided to release Charizard.

«Such a weak Poké Ball, I don't need it. Alright, you may go. »

Ash lowered the brim of his hat, shielding his eyes, head down.

«Charizard, your place is not here, but there. »

Charizard watched Ash's departing figure, its eyes growing steadier.

«Charizard, you must become stronger. »

"Wait until you become the world's strongest Fire Dragon, then we'll meet again."

Ash ran, tears streaming down.

Recalling the bits and pieces with the Fire Dragon, after all, the Fire Dragon was something he had tamed since its Little Fire Dragon stage; even in its Fire Dragon stage it was rebellious, but later they reconciled.

During that time, the Fire Dragon also helped him win many Battle.

Although he was reluctant to part with the Fire Dragon, he didn't want to hinder its determination to become stronger, so he steeled himself to let the Fire Dragon go to Fire Dragon Valley for training.