[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-pokemon-counting-ash-s-eight-masters-peak-battle":3,"chapter-pokemon-counting-ash-s-eight-masters-peak-battle-pokemon-counting-ash-s-eight-masters-peak-battle-chapter-17":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Pokemon: Counting Ash's Eight Masters Peak Battles!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1941979,2660,"Chapter 17","pokemon-counting-ash-s-eight-masters-peak-battle-chapter-17",17,"\u003Cp>Even after so much time, Ash is still Ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ultimate steel straight man!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But being a straight man has its benefits; as Xiao Chun was caught by Ash again, she felt the heat in Ash's palm once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's great!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, just as the two stepped into Vermilion City, a pair of Bulbasaur suddenly appeared, blocking their path forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's wrong with these Bulbasaur?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to yesterday's events, Xiao Chun is no longer so afraid of Pokémon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she cannot yet be as intimate as Ash, she can at least stop resisting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing Xiao Chun's question,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>various images flashed rapidly through Ash's mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, his memory settled on his past experience traveling to the 'Miracle Garden'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These Bulbasaur are probably about to evolve. Want to go take a look together?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash extended an invitation to Xiao Chun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Xiao Chun would not refuse Ash's invitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two followed the Bulbasaur together to the Pokémon Gym currently under construction in Vermilion City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These Bulbasaur were all climbing toward the highest point of the Pokémon Gym.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wanted to bask in the sunlight on the very top floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the scene before him, Ash couldn't help but sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Back then, I also had a Bulbasaur, but my Bulbasaur did not want to evolve.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why? Don't Pokémon only get stronger when they evolve?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's true, but my Bulbasaur had body image anxiety. It didn't like the bloated figure it would have after evolving into Ivysaur or Venusaur. Actually, Pikachu feels the same way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the topic shift to itself,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pikachu shook its head repeatedly and made an X with its cute little hands in front of its chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It definitely does not want to evolve!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raichu is stupid and ugly! Not cute at all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After evolving into Raichu, it would be much bigger than it is now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then it wouldn't be able to stay on Ash's shoulder anymore!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silver Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Ash's words on the screen,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash himself slapped his right fist against his left palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that's why. I was wondering why Pikachu and Bulbasaur didn't want to evolve; it turns out they have body image anxiety.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hahaha, Pikachu, you really are cute.\" Misty, standing nearby, couldn't help but pinch Pikachu's little cheeks on Ash's shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight of Pikachu puffing up both cheeks was simply too adorable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash, really! How could he expose his own thoughts like that!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pikachu felt full of resentment toward the Ash on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its little secret had been exposed right in front of everyone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's okay, Pikachu. Whether you evolve or not, I will respect your wishes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Ash reached for the Poké Ball at his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bulbasaur, you are the same. If you don't want to evolve, I won't force you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash's words moved Pikachu so much that tears were about to fall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't use Thunderbolt while you're getting emotional, hey!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sinnoh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paul looked disdainfully at Ash's remarks on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Pokémon unwilling to evolve; what purpose does it serve in a team?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if one truly likes it, a Pokémon that refuses to evolve and lacks the desire to fight is better off left in the Professor's laboratory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He is a Trainer, not some philanthropist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since becoming a Trainer, Paul's goals have not differed much from Ash's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His goal is to become a tactical master and a Champion!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Pokémon unwilling to evolve represents only one thing: weakness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And weak Pokémon will never appear in his team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it is time to give up on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paul watched the Chimchar he had just caught not long ago fighting with all its might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it still could not defeat the opponent's Pokémon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Pokémon with no desire to fight has no place in his team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Paul is not Goh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, he would give the Pokémon two choices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One is to return it to the Professor's laboratory, and the other is to release it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chimchar, do not disappoint me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…….\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>In the scene—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More and more Bulbasaur climbed onto the roof of the Pokémon Gym.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Haruka watched the group of Bulbasaur with a probing gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From childhood to adulthood, she had never witnessed the evolution process of a Pokémon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As more and more Bulbasaur prepared themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They began to glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the omen that the Bulbasaur were about to evolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mass evolution of Bulbasaur was a rare miracle; even Ash had seen it only a few times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to enjoy the spectacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large net rained down from the sky, sweeping up every Bulbasaur on the roof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar motion, a seamless technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And... a reaction so practiced it had become muscle memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Team Rocket, it's you again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash didn't even need to look up to know who was responsible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, after Ash spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Team Rocket trio, as if triggered by some mechanism, immediately responded to Ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since you asked so sincerely!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then we shall graciously tell you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To prevent the world from being destroyed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To protect the peace of the world!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Upholding love and true evil!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cute and charming rebels!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jessie!\" \"James!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We are the Team Rocket duo, roaming the galaxy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"White hole, a white tomorrow awaits us!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's right, Meowth~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Swoosh~ Nance!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Classic lines, a familiar voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the Team Rocket trio riding a hot air balloon appeared above Ash's head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Long time no see, brat. I'll take these Bulbasaur without further ado.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps due to the long separation, after obtaining the fruit she wanted, Musashi even had time to greet Ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Musashi's familiar voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash, who hadn't seen her in ages, actually felt a hint of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder, during this time of resting at home, I always felt something was missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the Team Rocket trio causing trouble, Ash even felt a bit unaccustomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They're back! They're all back!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pikachu, use Iron Tail.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pika!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pikachu on Ash's shoulder leaped up, its tail behind it shimmering with a metallic sheen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp flash of light sliced through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant net wrapping countless Bulbasaur was severed by Pikachu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that the Bulbasaur were all unharmed, Ash finally breathed a sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even old acquaintances can't act like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash was a bit angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since you can't catch the Bulbasaur, then brat, your Pikachu will have to pay the debt.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Musashi's angry voice drifted through the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they lowered their hot air balloon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Landing on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meowth, Musashi, and James glared angrily at Ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This act of the villain accusing first felt especially familiar to Ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There can't be any disgusting dark-skinned guys around here!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Ash's worry was unnecessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Musashi and James, as usual, prepared to battle him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pikachu, having landed, was already in a battle stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No choice; both sides are just too familiar with each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash waited for Musashi and James to pull out their Poké Balls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, Ash miscalculated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, the Team Rocket trio produced a gacha machine from somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they solemnly claimed it was borrowed from headquarters, a secret weapon specifically designed to capture Pikachu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One can only say, truly Team Rocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You really have so many secret weapons targeting Pikachu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brat, watch this!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying that, Musashi and James began to turn the gacha machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bang,\" \"Bang,\" two sounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two Poké Balls fell out from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The audience watching the broadcast were stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those two Poké Balls that came out of the gacha machine were thrown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two beams of red light flashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gyarados and Tyranitar appeared before Ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait! That gacha machine is wrong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gyarados! A Pokémon with an extremely fierce temperament!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tyranitar! A pseudo-legendary, needless to say!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash scrutinized the gacha machine up and down; it seemed this time the Team Rocket trio really went all out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They are facing Pikachu!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Pikachu that hasn't started traveling to a new region yet, one whose level hasn't been reset!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Pikachu with experience traveling through six major leagues is incredibly strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current Pikachu is not simply 1 plus 1 plus 1!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the ace of Ash, the first champion of the Alola League.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gyarados and Tyranitar couldn't gain any advantage against Pikachu's hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a single exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Pokémon already bore battle marks left by Pikachu on their bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brat, how did you become so strong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Should we try another plan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try attacking that group of Bulbasaur, meow~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trio, whispering in secret, finally accepted Meowth's proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the battle reached a stalemate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Team Rocket suddenly ordered Gyarados and Tyranitar to attack that group of weak, pitiful, and helpless Bulbasaur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tyranitar's Stone Edge and Gyarados's Water Gun!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battlefield fell into a stalemate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Team Rocket had no honor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how could Ash watch those adorable Bulbasaur get attacked like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under May's incredulous gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ash and Pikachu threw themselves in the way, blocking both attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Ash was soaked through, and Pikachu was covered in wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brat, this time we win.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Long Du: At first, I thought these Team Rocket members were some kind of comedic characters from nowhere. Now, seeing their conduct and how they could do such despicable things, they truly are Team Rocket!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Misty: Ah! That's not right! These three really are comedic characters!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who has been accompanying Ash on his journey from the very beginning? It must be Misty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this Team Rocket trio is no less so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the moment they saw Ash's Pikachu, this trio has stuck to Ash like a leech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter where Ash goes, you can always see them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by their performance throughout this journey, the Team Rocket trio truly are comedic characters!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that after Ash won the championship, this Team Rocket trio evolved too?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A version update?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mars: Boss Giovanni, did you see that? We are your most loyal subordinates! We three will definitely bring Pikachu back to you!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[James: Brat! Pikachu can't beat us anymore! You might as well admit defeat!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Electro: Wait a moment. Did you get something wrong? Those events in the light screen are from the future. Do you think you can beat Ash right now?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mars: Can't beat him...]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Iron Wheel: Then don't jump around like that. Be careful not to get wiped out in one go.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mars, James: Sorry, we were wrong!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pallet Town Gym.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the content on the light screen, Giovanni felt suffocated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn't get angry at the members he chose himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Giovanni's hand stroking Meowth's head grew a bit harder.\u003C\u002Fp>",1754,"2026-06-15T03:53:07.792Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","7fdfbf18a327938b1dc95384473e9146da435a609ec67cd2f4a77ed0aa4f73dd","pokemon-counting-ash-s-eight-masters-peak-battle-chapter-18","pokemon-counting-ash-s-eight-masters-peak-battle-chapter-16",20,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fpokemon-counting-ash-s-eight-masters-peak-battle-cover.jpg"]