Chapter 33: The True Taming of Froakie!

"Right, it seems the curator went to Galar once before; could it be a Bug‑type Pokémon discovered in Galar?"

"It's the hometown of the current strongest Runner‑up Dan Di! The Pokémon there seem all very strong."

Ash nodded calmly,

"You actually guessed correctly,"

"This one truly is a Bug‑type Pokémon from the Galar region, and it even has a Gigantamax form."

"As for… why, in everyone's eyes, Dan Di is not the strongest Champion,"

"That's obviously because of the Journey of the Divine Mystery,"

"Ash's helpfulness offered many highly valuable suggestions,"

"so that the current world‑number‑one trainer is Baicai Jie Xirona, who is rumored to have a romance with Ash."

"Seeing the others' confusion,"

"Zi Luolan casually introduced: 'Eurorup, a Pokémon from the Galar region, Bug + Psychic type.'"

"【Pokémon】: Eurorup (♂)"

"【Type】: Bug + Psychic"

"【Ability】: Insect Intuition (when HP is not above 1/3, Bug‑type moves' power increases by 1.5×,)"

"【Level】: Lv 30"

"【Moves】: Strange Light, Magic Bounce, Illusion Beam, Hypnosis, Swap Spot, Bug Cry,"

"【Base Stats】: Total 505, HP 60, Attack 45, Defense 110, Special Attack 80, Special Defense 120, Speed 90,"

…

"Insect Intuition is also called Fierce Bug,"

"similar to the Fierce Fire ability, its boost effect is naturally similar, need not elaborate,"

"What makes Eurorup even harder to deal with is its typing and stat distribution,"

"Psychic is weak in the game, but in reality it is a very powerful universal attribute."

"Telekinesis can defend, can attack, and can even interrupt an opponent's action, forcing the enemy's body to crash into the ground or rocks."

"Far more difficult to handle than the Bug‑Steel typing of Gigantamax Scizor,"

"the stat distribution is even excessive,"

"dual resistances of 110 and 120, and speed is a very fast 90!"

"If it weren't for the HP stat being only 60, it would be a bit frail,"

"this is almost a perfect Bug‑type Pokémon."

"Unlike the previous two battles,"

"from Butterfree to Gigantamax Scizor, the opponent's level rose,"

"but our Pokémon's level also increased, and the counter coefficient rose as well, reaching an astonishing fourfold."

"However, this Eurorup is a full Lv 30, already exceeding the yet‑unreleased Froakie by 15 levels, exactly double."

"The level gap plus the stat gap,"

"makes this battle almost a foregone conclusion; no one expects Froakie to win."

"Ash plans to let Rocket Bird strike while the iron is hot, trying to inflict a burn on the opponent."

"But Froakie voluntarily burst out of its Poké Ball."

"and came onto the field,"

"and used its voice to drive Rocket Bird away."

"The excited Rocket Bird naturally didn't want to retreat,"

"so Froakie even generated a water ripple from its hand."

"'Froakie!'"

"Ash promptly halted the clash between the two Pokémon, and Froakie turned its head,"

"'Ribbit!'"

"Their gazes met,"

"Froakie's single‑shaped pupils dilated, revealing a determined look,"

"exactly how Froakie looks when it gets serious."

"This made Ash, who was about to speak, pause."

"Ash knows Froakie's temperament well,"

"regardless of how beneficial his planned tactics might be for Froakie's later appearance,"

"the unchangeable fact is that Lurantis did not take part in Rocket Bird's battle."

"Naturally,"

"Rocket Bird also shouldn't have joined its fight."

"Otherwise, if Lurantis were defeated, Rocket Bird would come out, and then there would be no objection."

"Ash must keep everything balanced,"

"this is the viewpoint from Froakie's standpoint."

"What Ash thinks stems from guilt over the previous life's Ninja Frog chopping‑down‑tree ending, feeling he let Froakie down,"

"and this life he tries to consider Froakie as much as possible,"

"thinking to let Rocket Bird wear down the strong opponent, then have Froakie finish it off,"

"undoubtedly the battle would go much smoother, and Froakie would claim the third victory."

"However, this consideration,"

As for a Croaking Bubble Frog with a strong personality, however, they absolutely could not agree.

It is even a kind of insult,

Ash understood their thoughts from the gaze of the Croaking Bubble Frog,

Even if they lose this battle, it's fine; losing just means continuing to grow stronger, striving for no future defeat,

Victory can be left to the Rocket Sparrow, even if it's an alternate-color Luralua Silk, that's fine,

They themselves, no matter what step they take, have accepted it.

This kind of tenacious, fearless of hardship and darkness mindset instantly infected Ash,

Yeah,

If the Croaking Bubble Frog were truly that fragile, why bother abandoning those former trainers?

From this moment on,

Ash finally fully accepted the Croaking Bubble Frog as their own Pokémon,

rather than that indebted Koga Ninja Frog,

The Croaking Bubble Frog is still a Ninja Frog, but destined not to be that Ninja Frog that stopped at the Runner-up!

Looking back at the past, they, who had not yet obtained the system, would not hesitate before the enemy's strength.

"Then... let's battle!"

Ash couldn't help but shake their head,

Who would have thought that the system's appearance would instead cause their trust in their partner to waver,

"Go on, Croaking Bubble Frog, let the opponent witness our strength!"

"Croak!"

Looking at Ash, whose attitude toward them was completely different, more genuine and casual,

The Croaking Bubble Frog showed a very relieved expression.

Although it's unknown why Ash was like that before, there's no doubt that they now prefer Ash's current lofty ambition and natural nonchalance.

However,

Just as the Croaking Bubble Frog was about to step onto the battlefield, Ash called out to stop them.

"Wait..."

The Croaking Bubble Frog turned back in confusion, "Croak?"

"Put on this!"

With a slight smile,

Ash took out the sharp bird beak previously plucked from the Rocket Sparrow, replacing the mysterious water droplet on the Croaking Bubble Frog that amplified the power of water-type moves.

Against Bug-type, Water-type does not have the advantage,

Flying-type is the Croaking Bubble Frog's ultimate move!

……

The challenger still attacks first,

"Croaking Bubble Frog, Electric Flash!"

Ash waved their hand, and a large amount of white light instantly appeared on the Croaking Bubble Frog's water-blue body,

The body swiftly lunged toward Europ.

"Europ, Hypnosis!"

Violet's moves were still quite solid,

and seized the opening in the Croaking Bubble Frog's active attack,

As long as you take the initiative to attack, you must necessarily confirm the target range, making it impossible not to look at the opponent,

Being hit by Hypnosis will be inevitable.

As for the Croaking Bubble Frog's Electric Flash,

not being of the same type, and with Electric Flash's limited power, Europ can easily take it.

"Close your eyes, feel my Waveguide Power, and follow the Waveguide!"

Along with Ash's words falling,

a blue energy suddenly rose from Ash's body, resonating with the Croaking Bubble Frog on the field,

The powerful Waveguide Power entered the body, not only greatly enhancing the Croaking Bubble Frog's Waveguide,

but also directly promoting the significant increase of the Croaking Bubble Frog's own faint Waveguide, leaping from elementary to intermediate level.

At the same time, a dazzling white light rose,

"Evolution?"

Ash strangely glanced at the Croaking Bubble Frog, whose body was enveloped in white light mid-charge, gradually increasing in size.

Croak-head Frog

They looked at the panel in confusion.

【Pokémon】: Croak-head Frog (♂)

【Level】: lv15

【Skills】: …, Sword Dance,

【Carried】: Sharp Bird Beak (increases Flying-type move power by 20%)

【Special Ability】: Croak Bubble, Waveguide Power (intermediate)

【Base Stats】: Total 405, HP 54, Attack 63, Defense 52, Sp. Atk 83, Sp. Def 56, Speed 97,

"How weird, let me take another look."

After Ash repeatedly confirmed, Croak Bubblefrog really evolved,

Level 15, early evolution,

Such things do happen in reality,

Many wild sprites, while protecting their children or during self-rescue processes, also exhibit similar early evolution phenomena.

Meanwhile, there are no defects.

But Ash has always followed the usual steps; this is the first time he has seen this phenomenon in his own sprite.

Clearly, the Croak Bubblefrog is determined to defeat its opponent!

What also pleases Ash is that perhaps earlier Ash had shown the Croak Bubblefrog a video of the key points of learning Sword Dance,

After evolving, the Croak Headfrog directly understood the Sword Dance, which is crucial at this moment.

You aren't good at defense, are you?

Then I'll break through your defense!

What is Surprise? This damn thing is Surprise!