Chapter 164: Here comes the Water Sovereign's trial!

You won!

Shuijing's face shifted colors, he struggled in his heart for a long time, finally speaking.

Good.

Ash felt Shuijing's expression was off, thinking he challenged himself because he claimed to have met Ho-Oh and the Water Sovereign, so he said this person was a follower of the Water Sovereign, wanting to capture it.

But he couldn't capture it, so hearing that he had met the Water Sovereign and also Ho-Oh, he considered himself the legendary Rainbow Hero, needing to pass the Water Sovereign's trial to gain its approval.

What's happening outside?

Gym staff came to report the outside anomaly.

Bug-type Pokémon gathered together, surrounding the area with silk.

Are they attacking us?

Brock looked at this situation, recalling that the Clear Bell had a calming effect on Pokémon; perhaps those Bug-type Pokémon hadn't heard the bell's sound and came specially.

No, they're angry!

Ash sensed their anger, completely unlike what Brock said.

Even without hearing the bell's sound, the Pokémon wouldn't be angry; surely something happened.

How do you know?

Shuijing and Xiaosong asked simultaneously, just looking from the window, never having touched Pokémon, yet they judged the other angry and retaliating.

Go out and see.

Going out, indeed many Bug-type Pokémon were seen, they gathered at the door spitting silk, seeming to cover the whole tower with silk.

Seeing this, Xiaosong stepped forward to inquire, but the Bug-type Pokémon said nothing and immediately attacked him.

Shuijing was the same; the Bug-type Pokémon didn't buy it, attacked again, forcing Shuijing to keep retreating, his heart full of doubt.

Don't get agitated!

Ash went up to communicate with Paras and the others.

Watch out!!!

Xiaosong shouted nervously, he had already prepared to let Gengar act, just in case. But unexpectedly, Ash wasn't attacked like them.

Pa la nuo bo~~~

Paras's hostile eyes vanished instantly, it answered Ash's questions, even behaving respectfully toward him.

The nearby Bug-type Pokémon likewise stopped moving and gradually withdrew.

What's going on?

Why is the treatment of Ash completely different from theirs???

Xiaosong and Shuijing were bewildered; Paras and other Bug-type Pokémon actually began talking with Ash, and after talking with him, they left the Bell Tower.

Brock and Xiaoxia weren't surprised; Ash has Wave Guide, can convey his feelings to Pokémon; those Pokémon sensed Ash's genuine feelings, so they didn't attack him.

As for leaving after talking with Ash, either Ash persuaded them, or it's the effect of his Rainbow Feather.

The Bell is broken!

Ash learned from Paras that the Rocket Trio broke it.

Those Clear Bells were left from the time Ho-Oh coexisted with humans; now they've been smashed by thieves, no wonder they're so angry.

Xiaosong froze, his expression worried.

First go retrieve the Bell, see if we can fix it!

Ash headed toward the forest; the Rocket Trio were there.

Along the way, Pikachu used Iron Tail to clear the path.

Finally they saw the Rocket Trio hung upside down, and the already destroyed Bell.

You!

Ash felt helpless; the Rocket Trio always cause such trouble.

The surrounding Bug-type Pokémon saw Ash approach; the originally tense standoff miraculously eased. The surrounding Bug-type Pokémon, as if touched by an invisible force, froze in unison, their previously tense attack poses instantly dissipated, replaced by pairs of eyes full of curiosity and scrutiny.

Ash began to talk his way out, slowly conversing with the surrounding Pokémon.

Seeing this, Shuijing wore a thoughtful look, eyes flickering, unknown what he was thinking.

Xiaosong and the others relaxed; it seemed they could easily resolve this.

After persuasion, the forest-dwelling Pokémon gradually calmed their anger.

At that moment, a northern wind blew gently, brushing past; all the silk around vanished, and the Bug-type Pokémon's eyes grew very gentle.

An elegant and solemn figure slowly entered everyone's view. It was a blue light shadow, shimmering with mysterious and charming radiance.

From the outline, Ash's group recognized it as the Water Sovereign.

That... is the Water Sovereign!

Ash sensed the Water Sovereign's waveform, thinking it knew of the anomaly here and came specially.

Upon hearing the name Water Sovereign, Shuijing's heart jolted, he widened his eyes at that figure, trembling slightly; that figure truly was the Water Sovereign he had long sought.

The Rocket Trio were blown away by the Bug-type Pokémon, then all left here.

The Water Sovereign's red eyes looked at Ash, quite satisfied with his earlier behavior.

Ash, are you ready?

The Water Sovereign landed on the slope, looking down at Ash.

Two white ribbon-like tails fluttered in the wind, light and graceful!

The trial is coming!

Ash met the Water Sovereign's gaze, nodding seriously.

Ready!

Come on, Water Lord!