Chapter 153

【Amado: I never thought about this before, but it seems they really are as they said, Musashi and Jiro, and that Meowth is very likely an undercover.】

【Sanjiro: It's highly likely they're undercover, repeatedly sabotaging our plans; if not for them, we would have already dominated the world!】

【Jiro: You're full of shit!

Sanjiro, don't slander us here; it wasn't us who first mocked you, and you also attacked that device, released Lugia, you also bear responsibility.】

【At one point, several members of Team Rocket started arguing, each spilling the beans about internal affairs; in the end, it was truly Zhen Niao who came out to stop them, and only then did those few fall silent.】

Although they were stopped, Sakaki had no intention of expelling them.

After all, they're all working for Team Rocket; they just have conflicts with each other.

But passersby found it highly entertaining; they had never seen such infighting in Team Rocket, just talking trash without an actual battle.

Bai Shijie—

After saying goodbye to Lugia and its offspring, Ash and company learned that Amy's Thunder Dragon Light had recovered, so they could accept Ash's battle.

So in order to return quickly to challenge the Gym, Ash and company took Feiying Lao Tou's Gugu Hao; although there were many mishaps along the way, they still managed to reach Qiancong City safely.

Once ready, they immediately went to challenge the Qiancong Gym.

The Qiancong Gym decides the outcome in a two-on-two format.

In the first match, the two sides were Ash's Pikachu and Amy's Magnemite respectively.

At the start of the match, Amy's Magnemite displayed superb speed, repeatedly dodging Ash's Pikachu's multiple 100,000 Volt attacks.

And Pikachu was the same, likewise dodging the little magnet monster's moves with agility, the two went back and forth, the battle was stalemated.

In the fierce offense-defense exchange, Pikachu accidentally got hit by the little magnet monster's electromagnetic wave; Pikachu retaliated, using 100,000 Volts to severely injure the little magnet monster, then seized the opportunity, unleashed an electric flash, and with one blow defeated the little magnet monster, winning Ash's first match victory.

In the second round of the battle, Ami sent out the representative Poké Ball great steel snake.

Facing the electric-type Pikachu, the great steel snake held a certain advantage in attribute, making Pikachu's attacks seem somewhat strained, unable to inflict effective damage on the great steel snake. And while Pikachu dodged one Iron Tail from the great steel snake, it could not dodge the second Iron Tail.

After Pikachu lost its battle ability, Ash sent out the fire ball mouse.

As a fire-type Poké Ball, the fire ball mouse has a certain counter effect against the great steel snake.

Ami also showed no fear, cleverly using the great steel snake's sandstorm move to block the fire ball mouse's spraying fire attack.

Each time the great steel snake used sandstorm, it would burrow into the ground, then emerge again to attack the fire ball mouse.

However, the fire ball mouse was very agile, and with Ash's commands, it could still dodge the great steel snake's attacks; even if it couldn't completely avoid them, it could avoid serious injury.

Then it utilized the hole dug out by the great steel snake to launch a sneak attack, likewise using spraying fire, and the great steel snake still blocked it with sandstorm.

This sandstorm move can block spraying fire, but it can only resist for a short time; over a long period it still fails.

The fire ball mouse increased horsepower, continually boosting the power of its spraying fire, roasting the sandstorm's sand until it turned red-hot, thus becoming a fire vortex.

The great steel snake stopped spinning, its exterior steaming with scorching heat, and slowly collapsed to the ground.

Ultimately, the great steel snake lost its battle ability because it could not withstand the high temperature.

Ami's two Poké Ball both lost battle ability, so Ash won.

Ash won the Steel Badge.

【Xia Bo: Ash is now getting more and more adept at battle, able to adapt on the fly according to the situation, growing quickly; it seems his previous hardships were not in vain.】

【Ami: Now Ash's strength to defeat me already leaves little pressure; he adapts on the battlefield, and with the fire ball mouse's fierce flames, I and the great steel snake can't beat him.】

【Ash: Haha, really? I feel fine; Ami gym leader's great steel snake is very strong, I almost lost to you!】

【Ami: Hmm, don't be modest; no one expected you could defeat my great steel snake with such a tiny fire ball mouse, and even break the defensive move I taught the great steel snake.】

It's time for the Black Light Screen to light up!

Black Satoshi's group arrived at Kasada City on Silver Rock Island, where they discovered a unique specialty—the silver feather.

While strolling, they happened to meet Yuriko. Through conversation with Yuriko, they learned that Shintaro had some knowledge of the mysterious Poké Ball possessing the silver feather, and he also knew how to produce this specialty.

From Shintaro they learned that once a ship, while sailing, encountered raging sea waves, the situation being extremely perilous.

At that moment, a huge mysterious Poké Ball appeared. It used miraculous power to calm the waves, saving everyone on board.

However, this mysterious Poké Ball only appeared briefly, instantly flying away. People could not see its appearance clearly, only seeing a few silver feathers it left behind.

From then on, the silver feather became this place's specialty. People regarded these feathers as auspicious objects, believing they could bring good fortune and safety.

As they chatted, Ash and Shintaro hit it off, especially developing a strong interest in making ornaments, and decided to learn this craft from Shintaro.

To help Shintaro propose to Yuriko, and also to have more time to study ornament making, Ash voluntarily offered to help Shintaro.

On the way, Team Rocket came to cause trouble; after Ash drove them away, he continued learning from Shintaro.

【Brock: Black Satoshi is about to start rolling up his sleeves again, actually wanting to learn to make crafts.】

【Xiaoxia: What is he learning to make crafts for?】

Not only Xiaoxia had doubts, others also had doubts.

【Hanako: Black Satoshi learning to make crafts probably intends to make crafts to give to Xiaoxia and them, right?】

【Brock: This really might be possible!!!】

As everyone expected, Black Satoshi indeed planned to make a special gift for Xiaoxia.

Ash informed Brock and Xiaoxia that Shintaro had made a birthday gift for Yuriko and planned to propose. They decided to assist from the sidelines, while Ash took charge of rushing to finish his own craft.

Under Shintaro's careful guidance, Ash quickly mastered the crafting technique and began to make the craft more exquisite.

After Shintaro finished proposing to Yuriko, Ash gave the Celebi craft he had made to Xiaoxia.

"Xiaoxia, this is for you; time was a bit rushed, so I only managed to make it like this!"

Xiaoxia's gaze fell on the craft before her—a Celebi meticulously carved from fine materials, vivid and lifelike, adorable and charming.

She was first stunned, not expecting Ash to give her such a special gift.

Only now did she realize that Ash had been learning to make crafts with Shintaro, her heart filled with emotion.

"Thank you, it looks very nice!"

Xiaoxia sincerely praised, her voice full of delight and admiration. She gently stroked the Celebi craft, feeling its warmth and sentiment.

A few seconds later, her face gradually turned bright red, her shyness evident. Taking a deep breath, she whispered, 'I really like it!'

Thank you for traveling with me; I know your feelings, so I made this gift for you...

Ash looked at Xiaoxia, whose face was flushed red, gently touched her hair, and also rubbed it.

Xiaoxia felt the sensation coming from above her head, and a feeling of indescribable joy welled up in her heart.

'Mm!' she replied softly, her voice tinged with a hint of shyness and sweetness.