Chapter 41: As Expected, Old Man Numb (Physics)!

Since Sumilu Village had no Pokémon Center,

That evening, several people stayed in the ranch's guesthouse.

Since the ranch occasionally took in guests, it had no shortage of beds,

The environment was simple but very clean.

They placed their own bedding from the spatial backpack on top of the original bedding,

This increased the thickness of the bedding, making it not only softer but also more reassuring to use.

Ash and Clemont teamed up to prepare two rooms.

Yes, two rooms!

Now that Ash and Serena's relationship is out in the open, there's no need to split up and prepare another room.

After eating,

After returning to the room, although they knew Ash had a match tomorrow, having tasted the pleasure,

How could the young man and woman hold back?

……

The next morning,

Ash and Serena woke up early,

Serena accepted the ranch's breakfast work,

Ash then began a morning run around the ranch with the Pokémon,

After breakfast,

Ash and Clemont, whose heart was pounding with anxiety, set out.

Serena and Yurie, together with the old grandmother and her little granddaughter, went to the central square to cheer for Ash and Clemont.

At the starting line, Ash sat smiling on the back of the Unicorn Rhinoceros,

He glanced sideways at Clemont, whose tension made his whole body tremble, and burst out laughing.

"Don't be so nervous, Clemont; believe in yourself—you must defend the fighting power of the Little Chrysanthemum fans!"

"I understand!"

Clemont suddenly shouted! It was as if a miniature universe had exploded.

This scene instantly drew the attention of the surrounding competitors, spectators, and even the host,

"Yo, our competitors can barely wait any longer, they're rubbing their palms in anticipation of victory!"

"The race starts!"

With the referee's wave of the flag,

"Come on, Unicorn Rhinoceros!"

In order not to embarrass his idol, Clemont really gave it his all.

He pulled out the 120% effort level from yesterday's training, utilizing every detail,

and ended up directly at the front.

But this is after all a long-distance run,

Ash followed at the rear at a steady pace, yet never letting the distance grow, silently letting those ahead block air resistance for him, planning to sprint at the end to overturn the race.

As the riders entered the forest,

The big screen in the central square suddenly went black,

"Ash..."

Serena clasped her hands worriedly, caught a glimpse of Miss Junsha about to set out for the investigation, and hurried over.

"Miss Junsha, please be sure to take me with you!"

"No way—what if you encounter danger by coming along!"

Seeing Miss Junsha refuse, Serena was about to leave, her Brain working rapidly.

"Wait, Miss Junsha... I... I have a Psychic-type Pokémon that can help."

"Is that so?"

After a moment's thought, having a Psychic-type Pokémon would indeed greatly increase the safety factor and could even help find people.

"Then you may come along, but only you may come."

Miss Junsha directly refused Yurie's request to follow.

Yurie was on the verge of crying out in frustration right then, and Serena quickly spoke to comfort her,

After all, Serena herself had only just managed to get the chance to accompany them.

If Miss Junsha were to react negatively and demand she release her Psychic-type Pokémon, a single Ralts, she'd likely be kicked off the vehicle outright.

Therefore, Serena also dared not let Yurie make too much noise.

"Don't worry, Yurie—I'll definitely bring Ash and Clemont back, and Buzzbuzz Mouse will take good care of you!"

"Ding ding ding ding!"

Buzzbuzz Mouse nodded confidently, as if saying, "Leave it to me."

Riding in Miss Junsha's special vehicle, the two sped all the way into the competitors' course.

……

Deep in the forest,

As a commotion came from ahead, people and horses were thrown into disarray; Ash promptly reined in the reins, causing the Unicorn Rhinoceros to stop.

A capture net was scattered down from high altitude in the distance,

"Pikachu, Iron Tail!"

Pika pi!

Pikachu suddenly jumped from Ash's shoulder, its body flipping as its tail, gleaming with silver light, struck forward.

Zap!

The capture net was forcibly torn and cut apart!

"I sense someone wants to ask who you are!"

"I'll graciously answer you!"

"No, I didn't ask! Pikachu, 100,000 Volts!"

While interrupting Team Rocket's self-introduction and ordering Pikachu to attack, Ash quickly threw a Sprite Ball at Meowth, feinting.

"Indeed Old Man!"

Musashi sent out Indeed Old Man to block the 100,000 Volts,

Unlike before, a bluish‑blue current instantly split down, and Indeed Old Man instinctively rose to meet it, using Mirror Reflection to bounce back the 100,000 Volts.

After leaping high, he suddenly noticed that the color of the electricity Pikachu released today seemed a bit off,

Once the current entered its body, the numb, tingling paralysis made it shudder with shock—Pikachu's strength had actually increased again.

Fortunately, after paying the price of being paralyzed and flung to the ground, Indeed Old Man finally managed to block this strike!

Whoosh!

The bluish‑blue current returned with double the power, the bucket‑thick lightning resembling the heavenly thunder that descends when a cultivator transcends tribulation.

Clemont and the other riders caught in the net hurriedly turned and closed their eyes,

"Despair fills my mind; my life is over!"

However, the current did not fall on those few people.

The doubled‑thick 100,000 Volts was harmlessly absorbed by Pikachu, which has the lightning‑rod trait.

During this,

Musashi swiftly swatted away the Sprite Ball Ash threw at Meowth,

"You little brat, don't you have any manners? You keep interrupting our speech!"

Without answering Musashi's question,

Ash's face turned grave: "What are you scheming this time?"

"Naturally, it's to capture all the Unicorn Rhinoceroses, Pikachu, and Mewtwo in one net, forcing them to serve the great Team Rocket."

Standing on a steel cage resembling a prison wagon, Musashi's face was full of triumphant pride.

He casually tossed out a square box,

directly enclosing Pikachu inside,

Light burst forth, and several beams shot from the box, forming a plane made of six light beams.

When the light faded, a prison wagon similar to the one Musashi stood on, which held a Unicorn Rhinoceros, appeared, with Pikachu imprisoned inside.

True Optical Printing,

It's way too advanced—this tech tree point is absurd!

"All right, Pikachu is in hand—time to hand over Mewtwo, you brat!"

Ash naturally wouldn't comply with the trio's wishes,

"Pikachu, Iron Tail!"

"Pika!"

Pikachu's tail glowed with silver light—exactly the sign of the Iron Tail skill!

"Useless—the material Meowth used to make the cage can withstand Champion‑level Sprite destruction; give up, Meow!"

"Oh? Really?!"

Ash smirked: "Who told you Pikachu's strength is only Champion‑level?"

"Ahaha, you little brat, you're not joking, are you? If not Champion‑level, what could it be?"

The trio seemed to have heard something hilarious, laughing uncontrollably.

"Sonas!" he said seriously—run!

As Indeed Old Man's words left his mouth, Meowth's smile instantly froze,

"Indeed Old Man, you're joking—how could this possibly be true, Meow?!"

"Pika~chu!"

Accompanied by Pikachu's angry roar,

The silver, beast‑cleaving Iron Tail instantly sliced the steel cage open as easily as cutting tofu.

No further explanation from Indeed Old Man was needed,

Boom—

The upper half of the prison wagon was directly blasted away by Pikachu.

The tiny electric mouse stared intently at the distant trio.

"... Glug!"

The trio silently gulped.

"This this this..."

"100,000 Volts!"

As Ash's words fell,

The trio, together with Indeed Old Man, flew up into the sky,

"Truly worthy of being the Pikachu we've got our eyes on, Meow!"

The electric current's power has increased again!

「The power of the electric current actually increased again! 」

What an unpleasant feeling!

「What an unpleasant feeling! 」

At that moment, an engine sound came from behind, getting closer.

At that moment, an engine sound came from behind, approaching from far to near,

Miss Junsha and Serena arrived late.

Miss Junsha and Serena arrived late,

Ash! Are you all right?

「Ash! Are you all right? 」