Chapter 97: Let's carve ice to make a boat!

After settling the Fossil Helmet incident, Ash and his group arrived at Napulu Island; this time they were there to challenge the island's official Gym, and they had also specially formulated a detailed strategy and arranged a targeted training plan for Dragonite.

Xiao Jian, serving as the team's observer, personally witnessed how Dragonite, under the guidance of the Water Cannon Turtle, gradually overcame obstacles and mastered the essence of Water- and Ice-type moves. It has now made great progress in mastering Water- and Ice-type moves, even learning the Water Cannon Turtle's "Water Gun"!

The hit rate is kinda touching!

Don't rush, take it slow!

Ash said to Dragonite, after all Dragonite is still young; to reach Wartortle's shooting accuracy, it indeed needs time and a lot of practice.

Mmm~

Dragonite softly responded, seeming to understand Ash's words, snuggling close to him. From Ash, Dragonite felt an incomparable sense of peace and reassurance.

Chika!

Beside them, Celebi was eager to give it a try, waving its two fingers, wanting to show off its training results.

However, it only lightly hopped a few times, with no effect.

Celebi blinked its eyes, seeming still unclear about what just happened.

Seeing this, Xiaoxia smiled and said to Celebi, "It's okay, Celebi, let's try again!"

Celebi once again used Flick, but it was still Water Splash.

Dead silence!

The move Celebi just used was,

Water Splash?!

Xiaoxia fell silent, wondering how training Flick twice resulted in Water Splash both times—you're not a Magikarp, and Magikarp mostly only knows Water Splash, so don't learn from Magikarp.

As for Celebi, ever since Xiaoxia discovered it could use Flick, she has nurtured it carefully, but found that Celebi's Flick sometimes isn't particularly appropriate.

Can't rush it; let the Gem Starfish teach it later.

Ash also lacked a Psychic-type Pokemon on hand, and had no methods for training Psychic-type Pokemon; he thought this was another oversight, and that he'd need to learn more when he gets back, so as not to be unprepared if he ever catches a Psychic-type Pokemon.

According to the rule set by Gym Leader Xiao Dan, only by climbing to the summit can one qualify to challenge the Gym.

Xiaoxia, there are warm clothes inside; you go up first!

Ash had no complaints about the prerequisite for challenging the Gym; it was a good chance to test his recent training results.

Xiaoxia nodded, knowing Ash was about to start using this opportunity to train.

Pikachu, how about we have a match?

Ash looked at Pikachu, who was doing warm-up exercises.

Pika!

Upon hearing Ash's words, Pikachu immediately stopped its movements, turned to face Ash, its eyes blazing with fighting spirit, and cheerfully cried out, indicating it was totally fine and that it hadn't battled Trainer Ash in a long time!

You guys....... don't climb so fast at the start, or you'll run out of stamina later!

Gym Leader Xiao Dan reminded the swiftly climbing Ash and Pikachu ahead. She followed closely behind them, but obviously couldn't keep up with their astonishing speed.

Ash and Pikachu seemed not to have heard her reminder, continuing to climb at a fast yet steady pace, soon leaving Xiao Dan behind.

Xiao Dan watched their receding backs, inevitably feeling worried. Starting too fast makes it easy to collapse from exhaustion later. Although there is snow here to cushion a fall, getting hurt from dropping would certainly be unpleasant.

To his shock, the human and the mouse never stopped for a moment, climbing straight to the summit.

You guys....... awesome!

He had intended to keep reminding them, but seeing the human and mouse already leave him behind and reach the summit, Gym Leader Xiao Dan immediately switched tone and began praising the human and mouse.

They really are strong; managing to climb up so quickly shows this challenger is formidable, giving him considerable pressure.

【Xiao Dan: Cough cough, completely blown away by Black Satoshi; didn't expect Black Satoshi himself to be this strong.】

【Xiba: Hahaha, Ash's physique is not ordinary; Black Satoshi keeps training and getting stronger, so seeing Black Satoshi climb the mountain this fast is no surprise—if he climbed slowly, that would be surprising.】

【Ya Xuan: Indeed, Black Satoshi can even forge aura missiles by hand; climbing a mountain poses no difficulty for him, and even throwing stones down from above wouldn't faze Black Satoshi.】

Ash, where's the Gym Leader?

Xiao Jian watched Ash and Pikachu come up, but didn't see Gym Leader Xiao Dan.

Still down below!

Ash replied, looking at Pikachu, "Pikachu, you still can't keep up with me—your speed's gotten even faster!"

Pika(≧▽≦)! (Of course!)

Pikachu stood up, hands on hips, displaying a proud expression.

Ash couldn't possibly be a Pokemon too, could he?!

Xiao Jian saw Gym Leader Xiao Dan finally coming up slowly, only then realizing how far the two of them had pulled the Leader; thinking back to being by Ash's side, witnessing his training and various extraordinary feats, it felt less like something a human could do.

Moreover, Ash is a psychic, actually able to sense the existence of Fossil Pokemon.

Ash, come on, let's do the Gym challenge!

Xiao Dan looked at the ready Ash, "You should know the challenge rules of Napulu Gym by now, right? They're quite different from your usual Gym challenges."

Ash nodded, having experienced his first Gym, he was also quite looking forward to the ever-changing Gym rules.

The first match is to freeze the hot water spraying ahead; whoever freezes it fastest wins!

Xiao Dan sent out Nidoqueen.

Ash then sent out Dragonite.

Freezing Beam!

The two Pokemon simultaneously used Freezing Beam, with Dragonite first freezing the hot water into an ice column.

Nice! Ash stepped forward and hugged Dragonite.

Thanks to Wartortle...... Dragonite was able to master Ice energy so quickly, plus Wartortle's guidance.

Chika!

Celebi flicked again in celebration, simply happily celebrating, without actually using the Flick move.

Awesome!

Ash looked at Xiao Dan in astonishment; his Dragonite's mastery of ice-type energy was so awesome, surpassing his Nidoking.

The second round is to use ice pillars to make the pattern on the wooden plaque!

In the second round, one can send out three Poké Balls; Ash sent out Charizard, Magmar, and Pikachu.

First, let Charizard melt the ice pillars a bit, then have Magmar and Pikachu craft them.

Clap!

Pikachu carefully tapped the ice block with its tail, not using much force, with a crack, the ice block split, and Magmar took the ice block out, its hands continuously digging at the ice.

Splash (iДi)!

After digging for a while, Magmar couldn't stand it anymore, its hands freezing cold, and it hurried to Charizard's tail to warm up.

When it was Pikachu's turn to dig, it was the same; the two creatures took turns warming up.

Charizard didn't need to, as it wasn't afraid of the cold, and its claws kept digging.