Chapter 100: I've Tamed the Battle Bird!

Beside the waterfall deep in the forest,

"Kuchu!"

As the Battle Bird spread its wings and leapt high, it launched a fierce dive toward the water below,

Bang!

Huge water splashes flew.

Ash and the others, who had rushed over from afar, all froze at the sight.

The Battle Bird really was persistent in practicing this move.

Ash walked to the shore and reached out his hand to the Battle Bird that had swum to the shore.

"Kuchu~?"

Although puzzled as to why Ash would appear here, the Battle Bird still reached out and grasped his hand, and Ash pulled him firmly onto the shore.

"Battle Bird, I intend to tame you."

"Kuchu? Kuchukuchu!"

The Battle Bird first froze, then repeatedly nodded and took a battle stance.

This was beyond Ash's expectations.

Ash, however, did not know.

Had he not been unwilling to abandon the weak Pokemon in the forest, worrying they'd be bullied, Battle Bird would have already volunteered to follow Ash on his journey after witnessing the strength of Pikachu and Diancie.

Now that Ash has come looking for him, Battle Bird naturally won't hesitate,

But he can't take care of those weak Pokemon in the forest.

"Go, Greninja!"

Facing a Battle Bird at level 44, Ash chose to send out his Greninja at only level 36.

Although its level was lower, Greninja's base stats were higher,

Especially after its Bond Evolution, the surge in base stats could fully compensate for the level gap, even allowing a reversal!

The only point to note is that Greninja, a Fighting type, has double effectiveness against Water and Dark types.

The good news is that Flying does not resist Flying, so Flying-type moves are doubly effective against the Flying/Fighting-type Battle Bird.

Based on this, Ash felt that this battle might not even require Bond Evolution.

"Smokescreen! Shadow Clone! Sword Dance!"

As Ash's words fell,

Greninja made a chanting gesture, swung its arm downward, and immediately a mass of black smoke enveloped the scene.

The Battle Bird frowned,

Although it is a Flying-type Pokemon, its short wings meant it had not mastered moves like Gust that could disperse the smoke.

Furthermore, Ash even cautiously had Greninja use Shadow Clone, so even if it charged into the smoke, it might not be able to find Greninja's true form.

The Battle Bird thought it over and chose to meet change with constancy, using Scratch.

Sharpening its claws to increase attack and accuracy.

Seeing this, Ash's lips curled slightly; this round was in the bag.

"Sword Dance!"

After two consecutive Sword Dances, Greninja's attack rose to +4!

Meanwhile, the Battle Bird's Scratch had only been used twice, barely reaching +2.

"Flash!"

Hearing Ash's command, the Battle Bird startled, narrowed its eyes, and readied itself to strike back at any moment.

Soon, a figure shrouded in white light shot out of the black mist like lightning,

It has arrived!

"Kuchukuchu!"

The Battle Bird unleashed the Fighting-type move Karate Chop, its palm swift as lightning, delivering successive chops.

However, Greninja rushed straight to the Battle Bird's flank,

"Acrobatics!"

Greninja's knife-hand strike, swift as electricity, fiercely hit the Battle Bird's chest.

Bang!

With a loud bang, the Battle Bird's body shot forward like a cannonball into the distant sky.

During this, the Battle Bird lost consciousness directly.

After a long while, when the Battle Bird awoke, a continuous stream of healing waves poured down upon its head.

This was Ash summoning Latios to heal it.

Seeing the Battle Bird wake up,

Ash smiled, reached out to pat the Battle Bird's head, and at the same time took out the prepared Friend Ball, placing it before the Battle Bird.

"Battle Bird, I've already won! Now you should fulfill your promise and become my Pokemon."

"Kuchukuchu!"

Without any hesitation, the Battle Bird reached out and pressed the white button at the center of the Friend Ball.

Swish!

A red light shot out, enveloping the Battle Bird, and quickly drew it inside.

Thud!

Without any wobble or resistance, the moment the Battle Bird was sealed inside, the Poké Ball fell calm.

I've captured the Battle Bird!

A hint of joy flashed across Ash's face,

"Great, Ash!"

Serena genuinely felt happy for Ash.

Clemont and Yurie also sent their blessings to Ash.

"Come out, Battle Bird!"

"Kuchaa!"

Coming out of the Spirit Ball, the Battle Bird looked energetic, which is normal, after all, it had received treatment from Latias.

However,

Just as the Battle Bird was about to personally express its thanks, it discovered that Latias's figure had already vanished from the scene.

"Battle Bird, I don't intend to change your habit of showing off before finishing off an opponent,"

but if you want to keep that habit, you must increase your speed, otherwise your attacks will always be dodged by opponents in future battles.

"Kuchaa~"

Regarding this, the Battle Bird, understanding full well, lowered its head somewhat guiltily.

"Don't be like that, I don't mean to blame you; I'm saying I have a way to help you."

"Kuchaa?!"

The Battle Bird, head lowered, suddenly lifted its head, looking at Ash, eyes full of disbelief.

"Really, your ability is Soft, but I can change it to Lightweight."

While speaking, Ash took out the prepared Ability Capsule from his spatial backpack.

Worth mentioning,

The Ability Capsule allows a Pokemon's ability to switch among its regular abilities.

While the Ability Patch switches between regular and hidden abilities.

The Battle Bird's regular abilities are Soft and Lightweight, and its hidden ability is Break Mold.

Therefore, to change into Light Gear, what is needed is an Ability Capsule, not an Ability Ointment.

"Kuchaa?"

Although somewhat doubtful,

But when faced with the Ability Capsule that Ash handed over, the Combat Bird ate it without hesitation.

After the Ability Capsule was taken, a strange power instantly acted on the Combat Bird's whole body, startling it, but with no further effect, it relaxed.

And in Ash's view, on the Combat Bird's data panel, its Ability had already been changed from Soft to Light Gear.

【Ability】: Light Gear (Speed doubles when an item is lost (stolen) in battle)

As for this effect alone, it's actually somewhat redundant, still requiring the loss of an item to trigger.

However,

His gaze lowered,

He looked at the enhancement preview, and the enhanced Light Gear indeed did not disappoint Ash.

【Ability】: Light Gear 1 (Speed doubles when not carrying an item)

Compared to losing an item in battle, not carrying an item is much easier to trigger.

Moreover, even at the first stage it is like this, making Ash look forward to the subsequent enhancements even more.

The enhancement task, however, is quite easy to achieve,

【Enhancement Task】: Defeat the upcoming challenger Machamp.

According to the task description, he doesn't even need to seek out Machamp; just waiting a bit longer here will suffice.

While he was pondering,

In Ash's aura sense, he detected three auras approaching.

Ash recognized two of them,

One is the Teddiursa previously defeated by Diancie, and the other is the Old Builder who thought he hid well but was actually discovered by Ash hiding in the forest.

And the spirit striding ahead of them, angry and rushing forward, is precisely the mission target Machamp!