Chapter 128: Entei

"Tyrantrum, Dragon Claw!" Ash's shout echoed across the training field; Tyrantrum leapt up, its metallic‑shimmering claws slicing the air as it lunged fiercely at Chou Ni.

"Chou Ni, dodge and then use Sludge Bomb!" Huo La reacted instantly; as soon as the words left his mouth, the sticky Chou Ni slipped away like a lump of jelly, while a jet of black sludge burst from its body, flying precisely toward Tyrantrum's landing spot.

On the training field of the Pokemon Center, the two's battle raged fiercely.

This was already the seventh match in three days— the Rainbow Gym explosion caused such a stir that it not only alerted the League Headquarters but also placed Yuhong City under temporary control, forcing Huo La, Ash and the others to put their travel plans on hold; each day they could only cooperate with Officer Jenny's investigation and pass the time by battling.

At noon, the two sat in the Pokemon Center's restaurant, a table before them piled with hamburgers, fries and juice.

Xiao Gang was taken away shopping by Xiao Xia and Lilian; Bilan said they needed to investigate who caused the explosion, and had been missing for several days.

Ash, one hand holding a hamburger and the other shoving fries into his mouth, said vaguely, "Huo La, sparring with you I win less and lose more, but I feel my Pokemon have improved a lot! Tyrantrum's Dragon Claw is now faster and more accurate, and Pikachu's Thunderbolt is steadier!"

Huo La took a sip of juice, looked at him and asked, "By the way, over at Li Jia Guan Zhu's place, do you still want to continue the Gym battle you left unfinished?"

"No need!" Ash immediately set the hamburger down, puffed out his chest proudly, "Li Jia specifically sought me out yesterday, saying that to commend me for rescuing her and the Pokemon in the breeding lab, the unfinished battle was counted as my win, and the Rainbow Badge has already been given to me!"

"Well, your luck's certainly good," Huo La raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with teasing.

"What luck?!" Ash immediately furrowed his brow, retorting earnestly, "When I fought Li Jia, Pikachu had already driven her Gloom to the brink! If the sudden explosion hadn't interrupted the match, my Pikachu would have definitely won in the end— that's pure, legitimate strength!"

Seeing his face flushed with urgency, Huo La couldn't help but laugh, "Alright, alright, Pikachu's strength is undeniable. Once this matter is over, we'll find a place and have a proper match so you can truly prove your power, okay?"

"Sure! It's a deal!" Ash's attention snapped back, his eyes lighting up; he grabbed the hamburger and took big bites, muttering, "When the time comes, I'll definitely show you Pikachu's greatness."

Just after the two finished lunch and were about to return to their rooms to organize battle notes, the Pokemon Center's doors were flung open violently.

A short-braid man cradling a curled Vaporeon stumbled in, his voice frantic, "Someone help! Nurse Joy! Please save it! My Vaporeon is about to die!"

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw the Vaporeon in his arms covered in wounds, its blue fur dust‑covered, its breathing shallow, its once lively eyes now half‑open, a sight that tugged at hearts.

Nurse Joy immediately set aside her work and hurried over, "Let me see! How badly is it injured? What happened?"

"We... we just encountered Entei in the forest west of Yuhong City!" the short-braid man gasped, his tone full of dread and a hint of regret, "It's my fault for being greedy—seeing a legendary Pokemon made me want to capture it, but as soon as I sent out Vaporeon, Entei defeated it with a single move..."

"Entei?!" The trainers present erupted in excitement, and even Huo La couldn't help but exchange a glance with Ash— one of the legendary Ho‑Oh's guard, appearing near Yuhong City?

Ash rushed straight to the short-braid man's side, his eyes dazzling, "Entei! The legendary Pokemon said to be born from volcanic magma?"

"Yes... that's it!" the short-braid man nodded, his head drooping in dejection, "It's stronger than the legends say; I didn't even see its move clearly, and Vaporeon fell."

Trainers who heard the name Entei instantly boiled with excitement, sprinting toward the exit—who wouldn't want to see a legendary Pokemon with their own eyes? Even if they can't capture it, a glimpse is worth it.

The short-braid man reiterated to Nurse Joy, "You must heal Vaporeon," then stood uneasily outside the treatment room waiting.

"Huo La! Did you hear? It's Entei! Let's go to the forest right away!" Ash grabbed Huo La's arm, his voice urgent, his steps already moving toward the doorway.

Huo La shook his head, pointing outside the window, "The Rainbow Gym explosion hasn't been resolved; the League has imposed temporary martial law on Yuhong City, with officers guarding every entrance and exit— we can't get out."

As soon as the words fell, a clamor erupted outside the doors.

The trainers who had just rushed out were stopped at Yuhong City's exit—several police officers, together with League trainers, solemnly explained the martial‑law regulations, refusing to let any trainer take a step forward, no matter how they pleaded.

Ash watched the blocked trainers outside, his excitement instantly collapsing into a sour expression, "Huh? So... that means we won't be able to see Entei at all?"

"Not necessarily," Huo La stroked his chin, his gaze landing on Ash, and asked thoughtfully, "Ash, did you ever pick up a seven‑colored feather somewhere before?"

"Huh? Seven‑colored feather?" Ash scratched the back of his head, furrowing his brows as he tried to recall, then slapped his thigh, "Right! I think I actually did pick one up! It looked so pretty, so I tossed it into my bag, planning to go home and have Mom help make a little hat for Pikachu, using it as a decoration!"

Huo La's mouth twitched—no wonder he's the chosen one; he treated a Ho‑Oh feather as a mere trinket, what a bold heart.

"Come, take me to see that feather," Huo La tugged Ash toward the room, his tone urgent, "If we can see Entei, it might all depend on it."

"Huh? Is it that important?" Ash looked surprised, but obediently led Huo La back to his own room.

He rummaged through his overfilled backpack for ages, finally pulling a palm‑sized feather from a hidden corner.

Holding the feather, it truly shimmered with a seven‑colored sheen under the light; each filament seemed wrapped in tiny starlight, unmistakably extraordinary. Huo La leaned in and saw it was a Ho‑Oh feather—the Rainbow Feather.