Chapter 60: Honestly, I Say!

Sure enough,

When the encyclopedia showed no response, they found themselves and others suspended in the air,

Screams echoed, one after another!

"Aaaahhh!"

Ash reached out to cover his ears, waiting until everyone grew tired of shouting,

Only then did he leisurely take Serena's hand and walk toward Nana's side.

Facing them, the bizarre heroine played by Nana had a flood of fresh blood pouring from her eye sockets, white flesh beginning to rot, and a swarm of maggots crawling out.

A foul stench of decay rushed at them, making Serena recoil intensely, trying to drag Ash away without looking back.

Suspended upside‑down in the air, Musashi, MeowMeow, Clemont, Yurie, and Dongdong Mouse all immediately vomited.

Nevertheless, Ash kept walking forward as if nothing were wrong.

The woman, whose body had collapsed into a heap of flesh with only half a skull remaining, asked in confusion, "Aren't you scared of me?"

"Why should I be scared? You should be the one scared, shouldn't you?"

Ash smiled, reached out and pressed his hand against the half‑face; in the perception of Waveguide, this was Nana's chest.

What Ash didn't expect was that Nana didn't step back.

Or rather, she hadn't expected Ash to reach out directly to a rotting piece of flesh crawling with maggots, so Ash's hand landed solidly.

Honestly,

Nana's height and leg shape weren't as up to the standard of high‑end model Xiao Ju'er, but her stature was truly far stronger than Xiao Ju'er's.

The thought flashed through her mind in an instant, and Nana's ferocious spiritual power erupted! It flung everything around away.

Fortunately, Ladias intervened in time, blocking Nana's raging spiritual power.

Her telekinesis surged but didn't achieve the imagined effect, and Nana pouted.

"Let go!"

Ash withdrew his hand apologetically and looked at the newcomer.

By then, Nana had removed her telekinetic disguise, even the darkness in the corridor was largely dispelled.

Gold City Super Ability Gym Leader Nana, and Rainbow City Grass-type Gym Leader Ellija, who had become Nana's plaything,

Nana wore a signature red outfit, with light pale makeup and a pair of red irises that drew special attention.

At the same time, she possessed a strong aura rarely seen in women,

Domineering yet aloof, her gaze seemed to conceal a sword ready to strike.

Of course,

This cannot exclude the credit from Ash's earlier grab.

"That energy just now was..."

"Waveguide!" Ash smiled faintly.

Nana frowned, "You discovered me long ago?"

"Yes!"

While answering Nana's question, Ash glanced at Musashi, who lay on the ground as if nothing had happened.

"Kojiro is in the room to the left near the corridor corner."

"Oh, thanks, little imp!"

After the thanks, Musashi in a white robe bearing an 'r' and the light‑yellow MeowMeow walked straight past Nana, but she ignored them.

Ash then looked toward Nana's side,

where a gray cat stood upright on the floor.

【Elf】: Miao Miao (♀)

【Attribute】: Psychic

【Trait】: Piercing (can pierce an opponent's barrier or substitute for attack)

【Level】: lv18

【Skills】: Grab, Stare, Clap Surprise, Desire, Telekinesis, Light Wall, Illusion Beam,

【Held Item】: Curved Spoon (Psychic moves deal +20% damage)

【IVs】: HP 31, ATK 7, DEF 28, SPATK 31, SPDEF 24, SPD 30,

【Base Stats】: Total 355, HP 62, ATK 48, DEF 54, SPATK 63, SPDEF 60, SPD 68,

Although only two IVs are 31, the useful Defense, Special Defense, and Speed are not low, especially Speed, which is just shy of achieving a 3v.

Even though its level lags behind the current level 19 Iridescent Larulass, its base stats have the advantage.

Facing her Iridescent Larulass would even be at a disadvantage, a good whetstone.

Ash immediately invited, "A match?"

As a Psychic, Nana's perception of others' gazes was especially keen,

She instantly deduced that Ash was referring to Miao Miao and nodded.

"Alright!"

Nana's mind shifted,

In the next instant, Nana, Ash, and Miao Miao appeared on the open muddy ground outside the manor's back door.

At this moment, the outside world was still pouring rain,

Nana and Miao Miao both used telekinesis to shield themselves from the downpour, unaffected.

But Ash did not,

seeing Ash drenched like a drowned chicken, caught off guard and flustered,

In Nana's icy red eyes, a hint of mischief quietly blossomed; her demeanor was no longer the previously aloof "no strangers allowed," but instead showed a trace of the playful charm unique to a girl.

If anyone else, especially Nana's parents, saw this scene, their jaws would surely drop in shock.

Although Nana returned to normal after that golden gym battle with Ash, she still treated everyone else, including her parents, with a cold, indifferent attitude.

At that moment,

Serena's voice came from the second‑floor window.

"Ash! Are you okay?"

"Pikachu!"

Ladiyas blinked, and the red‑and‑white dragon girl, carrying the yellow electric mouse, flew straight through the window to Ash's side,

even though a torrential downpour raged, it did not affect Ladiyas or Pikachu in the slightest.

The fur on its body remained light and lively despite the rain; a close look showed raindrops rebounding about a centimeter before reaching Ladiyas.

As Ladiyas arrived, a psychic field opened, and the rain could not touch Ash at all.

"Thanks, Ladiyas!"

At the same time, Ash waved toward the second‑floor windowsill!

"Don't worry, I'm fine!"

Serena's face broke into a relieved smile.

Across from Ash, Nana saw the smile and inexplicably felt a wave of irritation,

What is wrong with me?

She shook her head, suppressing the irritation for the moment; Nana's gaze fell on Ladiyas, and deep within her red pupils flashed a strong envy—how she longed to possess that psychic‑type divine beast.

Meanwhile,

Ash also sent out the spirit he intended to use,

"Go, Lurulass!"

It had a blue watermelon‑shaped head, orange, textured antennae on its forehead, ruby‑like eyes, milk‑white hands and skirt, and wore a black evening gown over it.

The exotic Lurulass instantly captured Nana's heart.

Nana's gaze toward the blue‑white figure burned even hotter than when she saw Ladiyas!

The reason Nana came to Kalos this time, besides wanting to battle Gigi‑flower and Calu‑na, was also to capture the exotic Lurulass.

"I'm ready; we can start anytime!"

Almost the instant Ash finished speaking, Nana's demeanor turned sharply cold, as if rejecting everyone from a thousand miles away.

"Miao, clap‑strike ambush!"

"Lurulass, hold the line!"

The two commands rang out almost simultaneously,

Miao sprang forward with a ghost‑like speed, closing in on the exotic Lurulass.

The clap‑strike ambush is swift, but defending is even swifter!

A white shield materialized, protecting the exotic Lurulass at its center; under Nana's and everyone's incredulous stare, it easily blocked Miao's illusionary beam!

"Pre‑read?!"

'Pre‑read' means predicting the opponent's answer before they speak it and acting accordingly.

It can be said that only top trainers can employ this technique.

In most cases, it only appears in 'familiar' battles.

Here, 'familiar' refers both to trainers and to spirits.

Many spirits have only one strategy, so they can be considered familiar, allowing pre‑read.

But now neither condition holds,

making the impact especially huge!

In Nana's red eyes there was surprise and joy, and her gaze toward Ash carried a faint hint of expectation.

The clap‑strike ambush blocked it,

But if I cheat, what will you do?

A burst of purple light suddenly surged from beside Nana, streaming endlessly toward Miao, continuously amplifying Miao with Nana's own psychic power,

and a soft white evolution glow appeared on Miao.

The scene before them truly made everyone break a sweat for Ash.

Clemont clenched his fists anxiously, his tone urgent, "This is bad; the situation is turning against Ash!"

Serena clasped both hands together and whispered a silent prayer, "Ash…"

Yurie muttered repeatedly, "Come on, Ash, come on, Ash, come on!"

By contrast, the Team Rocket members peeking out of the neighboring room's window were far more brazen, shouting loudly,

"Go for it, little brat! Don't lose to that fissure girl!"

Nana tilted her head, her cold, emotionless eyes flashing, causing the three Rocket members to quickly retreat their heads.

However…

What no one knew was that the exotic Lurulass, already on the brink of evolution, rose to level 20 after receiving that clap‑strike ambush.

Noticing this subtle change, Ash's mouth twitched upward.