Chapter 43: One punch shatters Shan Dou's champion dream!

Black Light Screen——

Ash and his group stepped into the venue of this unique martial arts tournament, the air filled with a tense yet fervent atmosphere.

Compared to professional-level competitions, this martial arts tournament is slightly inferior in scale.

On the field, although the number of competitors is not large, each one appears spirited and full of fighting spirit.

Meanwhile, the stands are packed with people, extraordinarily lively. Everyone's eyes are focused on this small stage, eagerly awaiting the exciting showdown to come.

Looking around, one can see that the Poké Balls here are almost all Fighting-type, but on the scene we see Brock sending out Geodude, which is very eye-catching.

Geodude is not a Fighting-type, but Brock firmly chose to let it participate in this martial arts tournament.

The competition rules are also quite flexible; although it's called a Fighting Poké Ball competition, the organizers also allow Poké Balls skilled in punching or other martial arts techniques to participate.

"Today the wind is too strong, sand got in my eyes—how am I seeing someone using Geodude in a Fighting Poké Ball tournament?"

"That's ridiculous—using Geodude to enter this Fighting Poké Ball tournament, you're bound to get brutally beaten."

"Is this guy serious?"

The nearby trainers began discussing Brock's decision to send out Geodude.

But Brock doesn't care; he just wants to wake Shan Dou up, because he empathizes with Aimei's current situation, and he wants Aimei to smile again.

Ash thinks the same way; Shan Dou, who abandoned his family, is obsessed with the Champion of the P1 Tournament, and must be properly shaken awake.

After registering, they rested for an hour, and the match was about to start.

Most of the competitors are ordinary trainers, not particularly strong.

Primeape had just returned from Professor Oak's, going up to show off its training results.

On the stage, Primeape engaged in a fierce clash with its opponent; each of its attacks was full of power and speed, leaving the opponent unable to get close. The opponent, meanwhile, grew increasingly flustered, completely controlled by Primeape's rhythm, able only to defend passively.

Around the stands, the audience burst into exclamations. They were all shocked by Primeape's astonishing strength, their eyes filled with astonishment and awe. In three consecutive matches, Primeape defeated its opponents with absolute superiority, its performance undoubtedly becoming the brightest star on the field.

Xiaoxia stood below the stage, holding Pikachu to cheer for Ash, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on Ash on the stage.

Seeing Primeape victorious all the way, brave and invincible, Shan Dou watched excitedly, his gaze falling on his own Machop; comparing them, his Machop seemed somewhat lacking.

If only this Primeape were mine!

In a daze, his next opponent, Brock, came before him.

Only saw Brock with a solemn expression, earnestly looking at Shan Dou.

Shan Dou also looked at him, thinking this person had come to provoke him?

However, that wasn't the case; Brock merely came over to have a heart-to-heart talk with him.

【Ash: I've never seen Brock so stern; it seems Mr. Shan Dou's behavior has truly angered him!】

【Xiaoxia: Hmph, with his behavior, he deserves a beating!】

【Xiba: Brock empathizes with Miss Aimei's experience; this time persuading Shan Dou is to urge him to spend more time with his family, not to oppose his participation in the martial arts tournament, but to prevent him from becoming overly obsessed with it.】

【Brock: Hmm, while participating, one must also consider family; one can't ignore one's relatives for the sake of the martial arts tournament. I, from Black World, have experienced similar things, so naturally I want Shan Dou to mend his ways.】

【Ma Zhishi: Ah? Could it be that Brock persuaded Shan Dou to sober up? That doesn't seem reasonable; none of the four options are correct.】

Everyone thought the same; although they saw Shan Dou being earnestly advised by Brock, Shan Dou remains hesitant.

Semifinals.

When Brock faced Shan Dou, Geodude versus Machop, since Machop often competes, its martial arts skills are rich, and with type advantage, Geodude lost.

When it was Ash's turn to take the stage, his opponent was Team Rocket; he had noticed them early, but they were quickly defeated by Primeape, and Pikachu also chased away Meowth.

The final showdown is Ash versus Shan Dou.

"Primeape, you really enjoy this kind of battle match, right?"

Ash looked at the excited Primeape.

Pika—

Primeape nodded, throwing a few punches into the air, meaning it was born for this.

"Hmm, after this match we still have to participate in the Stone English Conference, where there are many strong trainers and Poké Balls as opponents; it's definitely the stage for you to show your strength."

Ash's eyes filled with longing; he also greatly desires to battle strong trainers.

The path of a Poké Ball Master definitely requires challenging strong trainers from all regions.

Primeape let out a few roars, bumping fists with Ash.

"Then let's head together to the stage of the Stone English Conference and win the Champion!"

Ash gazed firmly at Primeape.

Primeape also looked at him.

Both sides' eyes were filled with a determined expression.

Then let's embark on the path to Champion together!

【Xiba: This is truly the bond between Primeape and Ash, promising to meet at the Stone English Conference!】

【Brock: Primeape is very strong; if Ash hadn't sent Primeape to Mr. Shan Dou for training, Ash probably wouldn't have stopped at the top 16 of the Stone English Conference.】

【Xiaoxia: It should be top 8, top 4; if luck is good, maybe even push further.】

【Xiaomao: That's probably overkill; at that time Ash could at most reach top 16.】

【Ash: What are you talking about top 32?】

【Xiaomao: ……】

Black World——

The battle between Primeape and Machop is about to erupt.

Facing Machop's attacks, Primeape shows no fear; the fist-to-fist collision shows Machop somewhat inferior, being pushed back several steps, its steps appearing somewhat disordered.

Primeape pursues the advantage, delivering a million-ton heavy kick that sends Machop flying.

Although Machop exerted all its strength to block, it ultimately could not withstand this mountain-like heavy kick, being kicked away, slammed hard into the surrounding ropes of the stage, almost embedded there, the recoil bouncing it to the ground, appearing extremely disheveled.

"Get up quickly, Quick Fist Lang, we can't lose to them."

Shan Dou shouted loudly, his expression excited, this is the closest to the Champion.

"Too late, Fury Fist!"

The Fire Monkey's fists were wrapped in a layer of dark black light, the symbol of its anger and power, its body like an arrow released from a bow rushing towards the Quick Fist Lang who had just barely stood up.

Bang!

Quick Fist Lang had just stood up when he saw the dark black light; even if he timely raised his hands in front of him, he was still punched away, ultimately falling powerlessly outside the arena.

It was overwhelming, leaving Quick Fist Lang unable to fight back.

The Fire Monkey didn't even dodge Quick Fist Lang's moves, choosing to confront him head-on, beating Quick Fist Lang until he lost his battle ability.

Champion dream, shattered again!

Shan Dou looked at the excited Fire Monkey with a complex expression, being harshly defeated by this young trainer.

Looking again at the audience stands, his daughter Ai Mei's hopeful yet worried gaze made him hesitate, wondering if it was truly his own unsuitability for this fighting tournament.

But seeing Ash's Fire Monkey so strong, he felt it was the Poké Ball's own problem, went up, thick-skinned, asked Ash to borrow the Fire Monkey, promising to raise it well.

Ash's face turned cold.

Flat-out refusal!