Chapter 22: with translation of chapter title

After the meal,

Before starting, upon thinking of the perfect idea in his mind, Clemont immediately fell into a self‑indulgent hypnotic state.

"Hahaha!"

Ash and Serena exchanged a glance, looking at each other,

"This… are you okay?"

Yurie, feeling hopeless, turned completely red, showing a resentful expression as if she'd been dragged into social death,

"Pidgey, please don't do this, my sister is scared!"

Clemont, lost in self‑indulgence, was completely unaffected by external factors.

"Let science create the future!

Clemont Engine! Activate!!!"

Opening the mechanical backpack he'd been carrying, he took out a bunch of parts and Clemont dove into building the machine.

When it came to tightening screws, Clemont was really handy,

his hand speed, in Ash's view, was practically like being on fast‑forward.

But as time went on, the three just watching felt no sense of involvement and instantly grew bored.

While waiting, they turned their attention to other things.

The Latias that stayed on the scene was naturally the first choice, surrounded by Serena and Yurie.

After obtaining Latias's consent,

the two girls, accompanied by Ash, got to experience what it felt like to ride Latias,

Yurie sat in front, Serena in the middle protecting Yurie, and Ash at the rear protecting the two in front.

……

The campsite,

"My mission is complete!

Clemont excitedly raised the finished machine, calling everyone to gather.

"Eh, where is everybody?"

Looking at the empty campsite, Clemont slowly drew a question mark.

In the distant sky,

Latias constantly used its psychic power to monitor Clemont's side, and the moment it saw the machine finished, it immediately relayed the situation to Ash.

"Then let's head back."

On the way back, Latias didn't choose to fly but directly activated Instant Teleportation.

Whoosh!

Latias, carrying the three of them, appeared in the campsite.

Seeing the three return, Clemont instantly dispelled the doubts in his mind and raised his invention high.

"The machine is done, ding‑dong!"

The three looked over,

only to see a golden horn attached to a brown wooden box, instantly recognizable as a speaker.

Honestly, at least in terms of color scheme, it looks pretty much like the regular speakers sold in stores.

Clemont exclaimed excitedly, "Named: Machine to Attract Pokémon for Battle!"

Yurie: "……That name is really blunt!"

"Anyway, let's go try it quickly!"

Clemont, a bit impatient, lifted and lowered his legs quickly, swaying his body left and right,

just like a dog waiting for its owner to feed it,

Under Clemont's constant urging, Ash had Latias use Instant Teleportation, swiftly moving them to the forest location where the most Pokémon gather.

After confirming that Ash and Serena had released the Vulpix for training, two Lurantis, a Politoed, and a Spearow,

and they put on Clemont's specially made sound‑proof earplugs to avoid being affected.

"Spearow? Huh?! Where did that Spearow come from?"

The three looked puzzled at Ash,

Ash locked eyes with the Spearow, extended his index finger, and rubbed the little guy's chest feathers,

the little creature immediately showed a pleased, comfortable expression,

"I forgot to tell you, Spearow! It's a new partner I caught while training moves with Politoed."

Nodding, Clemont impatiently pressed the machine's switch!

"Well, I'm starting now!"

Waves of sound, inaudible to ordinary people, quickly spread outward; the previously idle, unmotivated wild Pokémon suddenly changed demeanor, their eyes turning aggressive and clearly locking onto the machine in Clemont's hand.

"Great, it works!"

Seeing the machine really work, Clemont was happier than anyone present.

Buzz buzz buzz!

The sound of high‑frequency wing vibrations reached everyone's ears,

deep in the forest,

a swarm of Beedrill with yellow‑black carapaces and two silver, spear‑like stingers led the charge.

As their wings beat, they swiftly broke through the trees' cover and charged straight toward the open grass where the group stood.

The group also then saw the number of the Beedrill swarm,

About 30-plus, piled together, it's really a bit scary, making one's scalp go numb.

The good news is,

Bug-type Pokémon, because their base stats are weak, evolve very early,

These Beedrill, although they are fully evolved, are only around level 15.

We can take them on!

Latias used telekinesis to protect Ash and his friends and the machine, then said something to Ash, earning his approving look.

Looking toward the first wave of Beedrill rushing to the battlefield,

Ash's eyes gleamed; before, he always had Pikachu run in circles to draw aggro, then fled in a panic when chased,

Now he simply waits for the enemy to come to him—Clemont is really great!

While his mind wandered, Ash showed no mercy in his words.

"Froakie, Acrobatics! Lurantis, Magical Fire! Pidgey, Whirlwind Blade!"

Serena's voice followed closely,

"Vulpix, Ember! Lurantis, Magical Fire!"

The strong-willed Froakie, even facing a swarm of Beedrill, showed no fear, stepping forward first to attack!

His legs suddenly exerted force, a blue light flowing over his body, shooting forth like an arrow released from a bow,

The targeted Beedrill #1 sensed danger, instinctively swerving to avoid,

Beedrill #2 behind it was still dazed, just about to follow the swerve, when Froakie's fist struck it.

Bang!

The tremendous force directly flung the struck Beedrill #2 backward, its body slamming into Beedrill #3 behind it,

Beedrill #3, unaware of what had happened, shot out like a cannonball, flying backward a hundred meters and losing combat ability!

Instant kill!

Or a double kill!

Froakie looked down at his own hands in disbelief, he really... had become this strong?

After the shock, Froakie looked at Ash with an excited face.

Although the battlefield was chaotic at the moment, such a striking scene inevitably became the focus of the four's gaze.

"Huh?"

Serena, Clemont, and Yurie all stared wide-eyed, stunned, watching this unfold,

"How can Froakie's power be so exaggerated?"

Ash was fine, knowing it was the Acrobatics double-effect triggered,

However, the moment Beedrill #1 dodged, it reminded Ash of the battle between Froakie and Pidgey,

In that battle, Froakie likewise found it hard to hit Pidgey,

It shows that ground units really are at a disadvantage against flying units,

Moreover, Froakie is often fighting above his level; his Speed base stat of 71 is already a bit lacking, yet he cannot even learn a speed-boosting move akin to high-speed movement,

Fortunately... unlike other trainers, Ash can enhance the Pokémon's traits to help Froakie,

Once he future‑enhances to Bond Phenomenon 2,

he can, thanks to the trait, trigger an attack, special attack, and speed boost of +1 upon defeating an opponent—future prospects are bright!