Chapter 97

"Ten, one hundred, one thousand, ten thousand! There are actually over ten thousand people!"

At this moment, Ash was completely stunned!

He never imagined that he would have to defeat ten thousand trainers before he could battle Leon!

How is this something a human could possibly achieve!

Hearing Ash's shouting in her ear, Chloe didn't even need to think to know what Ash was thinking.

Clearly, Ash hadn't really taken in much of what she had just said about the World Coronation Series.

"It's not like that. With a Poké Ball, you can challenge trainers ranked up to 1000 places above you at most. After that, in the Great Ball tier, you can only jump 100 places, and there are no restrictions above that."

"So that's how it is. It's a good thing you're here, Chloe, otherwise I would have been working in vain again." Ash finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Over 10,000 trainers—even if he and Pikachu battled without eating or drinking.

To reach the level required to challenge Leon within a year, he would have to battle 27 trainers every single day!

This workload!

It's practically at a death-defying level!

Even a battle maniac like Ash couldn't handle it!

Thankfully, Chloe saved his life!

……

【Leon: Actually, Ash doesn't need to do that. Another rule of the World Coronation Series is that the Elite Four and Champions of each league can directly enter at the Ultra Ball tier.

Even tournament champions can advance to the Ultra Ball tier; the Poké Ball tier is just to screen the levels of trainers.】

【Flint: Ah, there's a rule like that? I spent over half a month just to upgrade to the Great Ball tier; doesn't that mean I lost out big time?】

【Wallace: I'm dying of laughter. Flint, how come I feel like you and Ash are on the same level? Ash had never been exposed to the World Coronation Series rules, so it's understandable, but you...】

【Bruno: It's a good thing Lance helped me submit my application, otherwise I would have been foolishly grinding points from the Poké Ball tier.】

【Lucian: You two are truly a pair of idiots; it's really hard to comment on being your colleague.】

【Cynthia: Fortunately, I don't have such worries~】

Humblebrag!

Cynthia is definitely humblebragging!

Flint: If I weren't unable to beat you, I would have wanted to beat you up a long time ago!

Of course, Flint wouldn't dare post this in the barrage.

He still had some self-awareness.

After all, Cynthia is the existence at the pinnacle of the entire world right now!

No! The place where Cynthia stands is the pinnacle of the entire world!

She is one of the Masters Eight!

【Ash: So envious! I'm definitely going to cry; I want to participate in the World Coronation Series right now!】

【Misty: Then I'll reluctantly accompany you; there is absolutely no other reason!】

This... is what they call "the thief protesting his innocence"!

【Delia: My Ash is really well-cared for~】

【Gary: It's truly infuriating! Why is Ash so popular? I'm the most amazing one!】

……

On the day he returned to Vermilion City, Ash said goodbye to Chloe.

He returned to Pallet Town alone.

Ash was considered somewhat of a celebrity in Pallet Town.

Delia had already received the news not long after he returned.

She had heard Professor Oak mention several times that Ash had another girl he was close with in Vermilion City.

She wondered if he had brought her back this time!

Delia pushed open the door, just preparing to see where Ash was.

But she saw Ash's figure rushing past the front door.

"Mom, I'm going to Professor Oak's place." Ash's figure was like a gust of wind, rushing in and rushing out.

Seeing such a reckless Ash, Delia couldn't help but smile.

After so many years, Ash was still the same Ash.

At the Oak Research Lab, the same gust of wind blew past.

It knocked over the instant noodles Professor Oak hadn't had time to eat yet.

So much so that Professor Oak didn't even have time to understand what had happened.

The researchers around him also looked at each other in dismay.

"Did something just pass by?"

In Professor Oak's backyard.

As soon as Ash stepped in, he took a deep breath and roared toward the inside.

"I'm back!"

The sound was so loud it echoed in the backyard for several seconds.

After a few seconds of silence, the entire backyard immediately became restless.

A gale blew from not far away; it was 30 Tauros charging toward the direction where Ash was.

Their speed was not a bit inferior to the speed at which Ash had been running just now.

Immediately after, an orange figure flashed across the sky.

This was one of Ash's original partners—Charizard.

More and more Pokémon were charging toward this side.

Noivern, Infernape, and many other Pokémon arrived one after another!

More and more Pokémon appeared on the light screen.

【Ash: So the future me can catch so many Pokémon; being able to form bonds with so many partners, I'm truly so lucky!】

【Flint: This Infernape, so strong! I feel an unyielding spirit in it; those burning flames are like an eternal fighting spirit, truly so fascinating.】

【Leon: This Charizard too, it looks very spirited; I wonder if there's a chance to spar.】

【Steven: Sceptile is also not bad; I really like this kind of gaze that doesn't even take gods seriously.】

【Gary: As expected of you, actually catching 30 Tauros; you're really something!】

One can only say he is Gary, seeing the key point at a glance.

【Ash: What's wrong with Tauros? They are also my partners, and they are also ones I can fight alongside!】

【Professor Kukui: Speaking of which, it's quite sad; isn't Ash the Champion of Alola? How come I don't see a single Alolan Pokémon here!】

【Cynthia: Is there a possibility that Ash used other Pokémon to sweep through all of Alola?】

【Professor Kukui: Impossible, absolutely impossible!】

【Cynthia: I actually think Ash's Alolan Pokémon might still be deposited over in Alola; after all, I heard that Alola has a unique ecology where some Pokémon undergo regional changes due to survival reasons, and this might be it.】

【Lorelei: See, this is called professional.】

【Ash: Really! I actually have other partners I haven't seen yet; I really want to see them soon!】

【Brock: I discovered a problem; where is Pidgeot? It wouldn't still be in Viridian Forest, right? Ash, don't tell me that 5 years have passed and you still haven't brought Pidgeot back.】

【Ash: This... this is absolutely impossible! It must be that Pidgeot went out on its own; maybe it will be back in a while.】

Actually, when saying this, Ash didn't even believe it himself.

But for some reason, he now had a special urge to go and see Pidgeot.

Even though it hadn't been long since they parted, now it felt like an old friend he hadn't seen in over a decade.

Wait until the Silver Conference ends, then go back and take a look!

…….