Chapter 179: Having defeated Thunder Bird, the formidable and prudent Dr. Hei Damu!

Bang!

Pikachu spun agilely like a yellow whirlwind, its large tail gathering electric energy as it rotated, flashing with electricity, and slammed straight into the Thunder Bird in the sky.

Seeing Pikachu's unusual Iron Tail, Thunder Bird burst out a dazzling electric current that quickly coiled like a living thing, forming an unbreakable electric ball that tightly surrounded it.

The electric ball's surface flashed with thunderous roars.

Upon contact with Iron Tail, the thick electric current seemed to be swallowed by some mysterious force, unable to form an effective barrier.

After barely resisting a moment, those seemingly unbreakable currents began to disintegrate, like leaves swept by a wild wind, scattering in all directions.

The silver-white Iron Tail, accompanied by a golden electric current, pierced the current's restraint and struck Thunder Bird's head.

Thunder Bird instantly lost balance, fell from the sky, kicking up a cloud of dust and smoke.

After this strike, Thunder Bird became more serious, repeatedly unleashing powerful electric attacks at Pikachu.

Pikachu dodged when possible, and when it couldn't, it countered with electric attacks.

The gust raised by Pikachu's charge shredded the surrounding leaves.

Thunder Bird's spread lightning wings almost covered the entire azure sky, and at the moment Pikachu unleashed its strongest Thunderbolt, striking down on Thunder Bird, the whole lake emitted a sharp hum.

Even from tens of meters away, Ash and his companions could feel the scorched smell of the air burned by electric current; the golden arcs around Pikachu exploded uncontrollably, rising straight like a battle flag.

In direct clashes with Thunder Bird, Pikachu could still maintain an advantage, able to suppress Thunder Bird's electric current.

After several rounds of combat, both Pikachu and Thunder Bird suffered mutual injuries, each bearing wounds.

Pikachu panted; even without Ash's Wave Guide boost, it still displayed astonishing strength, able to fight Thunder Bird to a draw.

Thanks to its daily targeted training and the boost from that Electric Ball, the Electric Ball not only enhanced Pikachu's electric-type power but also helped it better control electric currents.

In battles against Thunder Bird, it still held the upper hand.

"Is that electric current bluish-white?"

Brock's gaze closely followed the electric current released by Pikachu; that bluish-white current seemed stronger than the previous golden one, and he smelled a scorching odor permeating the air.

Could Pikachu's electric current have undergone a qualitative change?

No longer just a pure golden current?

Could the Electric Ball have evolved the golden current into a stronger bluish-white one, greatly boosting Pikachu's attack power?

Yusha also noticed Pikachu's change. She witnessed the fierce battle between Pikachu and Thunder Bird; the clash of electric moves left her spellbound. The moves Pikachu used, which looked familiar yet slightly altered, astonished her, causing Thunder Bird to keep retreating.

"Wow, so strong! This is the first time I've seen Thunder Bird outmatched."

She gazed in astonishment at the Thunder Bird now on the defensive.

Xiaoxia remained silent, simply watching the intensely focused Ash and Pikachu.

In her view, Ash and Pikachu made such astonishing progress solely because they never relaxed during their journey. Whether as Trainer Ash or as the Pokémon Pikachu, they continually trained and grew, and also received nourishment from the Rainbow Feather.

Their strength rose step by step; they had never seen such arduously trained Pokémon and Trainer.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Like divine punishment, golden thunderbolts crashed down from the heavy clouds, directly striking Thunder Bird's massive body.

Thunder Bird still braced itself, trying to use its own electric power to neutralize Pikachu's Thunderbolt, but it didn't expect that Pikachu's released current would be even stronger than its own, carrying an irresistible force that gradually nullified its electric current.

Pikachu's electric current surged like a raging flood, unstoppable, while Thunder Bird's current gradually dissipated as it resisted.

With a booming crash, the electric current summoned by Thunderbolt completely engulfed Thunder Bird; its body trembled in the current, as if crushed by an immense force, unable to move.

Boom!

Accompanied by deafening thunder, electricity flashed like dazzling fireworks. On the ground, scorched black arcs were traced—traces left by electric current rubbing against the earth.

Thunder Bird's entire body was tightly wrapped in electric light, while Pikachu seized the moment to increase firepower, the light becoming ever more brilliant, determined to completely crush Thunder Bird.

Moments later, Thunder Bird's body suddenly erupted in a violent explosion, accompanied by blinding electric light and roaring sound; it fell like a meteor from midair, crashing hard onto the ground.

Instantly, dust and smoke billowed, sand and stones flew, and the entire battlefield was shrouded in chaos.

As the dust and smoke gradually cleared, the exhausted, disheveled figure of Thunder Bird emerged.

It struggled to stand, but had lost all combat ability.

"We won?!"

Ash joyfully hugged Pikachu.

Xiaoxia and Brock showed little surprise, after all, their battles with Lugia and Suicune had just taken place, and Pikachu's strength had grown step by step under their witness.

Yusha opened her mouth, unsure what to say.

The surrounding Electric-type Pokémon were stunned; they never expected this tiny Pikachu could defeat Thunder Bird—truly unexpected!

【Kaluno: Well, this really is the first option!】

【Ash: Black Satoshi and Pikachu are awesome, they even beat Thunder Bird!】

【Ma Zhishi: The Electric Ball boost is terrifying; even without Black Satoshi's Wave Guide boost, they still managed to defeat Thunder Bird...... Fortunately Black Satoshi challenged me first, I hope to have a good battle with the Electric-type Gym Leaders of other regions.】

【Tie Xuan: I'm an old man; Black Satoshi probably won't go easy on me.】

【Xiaoju'er: Hard to say, if they really send out Pikachu......】

【Dian Ci: Battling Pikachu once wouldn't be bad; such an amazing Pokémon...... If we battled once, it would surely have a big impact on our own Pokémon, perhaps giving them great pressure, pushing them to strive upward to match Pikachu.】

【Ma Zhishi: If they really send out Pikachu, you'll be unhappy again!】

Having defeated Thunder Bird, Pikachu returned to the lake to rest awhile.

"Thank you, Thunder Bird."

Ash communicated with Thunder Bird.

Thunder Bird landed on the lake to rest, staring fixedly at Ash, talking about the battle.

That means wait until it recovers to continue fighting!

Ash thought it unnecessary; such high-intensity combat would damage their bodies, better to heal first, then train for a while, grow stronger, and then fight again.

"Hmm, I promise you!"

Ash looked at the thunderbird, and made an agreement with it: "Next time we meet, we'll battle again; if I get the chance, I can take you to meet an older brother!"

After getting what it wanted, the thunderbird let out a cry and immediately flew away.

It seems the thunderbird isn't willing to accept losing to Pikachu, so it wants to make a deal with Ash to battle again.

The thunderbird is quite aggressive; perhaps next time we battle, we could try to recruit it.

After recovering, Ash and his party continued on their way, and along the road they met Professor Oak.

Team Rocket also disguised themselves as Professor Oak.

But before they could start their scam, Ash discovered them; since they were impersonating Professor Oak, Professor Oak himself stepped in.

Likewise, he sent the Team Rocket trio flying.

"They're really strong, no wonder they're from Team Rocket; you guys should be careful on your journey!"

Professor Oak commanded Pidgeot to use three moves to defeat the Team Rocket trio, and a solemn expression appeared on his face.

The first move defeated the Pokemon sent out by Team Rocket, the second move defeated Snorlax, and the third move sent the Team Rocket trio flying.

【Ma Zhishi: One move just defeated Team Rocket's Pokemon, and you call that strong?】

【Xiao Jian: The Professor Oak of the Black World is also that strong; I just feel he's a bit too steady!】

【Musashi: This old man is insulting us!!!】

【Kojiro: Exactly, he's obviously that strong, easily defeated us, yet he deliberately says we're strong; it feels like we got one-shotted by him, really like a comedian.】

【Meowth: Old man, come out for a one-on-one; I'll fight you!!!】