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"Elite Four?!" Misty exclaimed in surprise after hearing Ash's explanation.
She studied the man standing before them more carefully. Although she had never met him in person, she had definitely heard his name before. After all, he held the same prestigious position as her idol, Lorelei, who was also one of the Elite Four. (In the anime, Lorelei was mentioned as a Water-type specialist, but she actually specializes in Ice-types.) These were incredibly famous figures in the Pokémon world.
"Thank you so much for your help!" Ash said sincerely as he faced Bruno.
Charizard had already been rushing to the scene, but Bruno had arrived one step faster and saved him regardless.
What truly amazed Ash was that Bruno had just used his own physical strength to interrupt Onix's charge, even though he'd attacked from the side.
When facing a massive behemoth like Onix, the fact that a human body could actually redirect its momentum seemed almost impossible.
However, Ash wasn't entirely shocked by this feat. While human strength generally couldn't compete with Pokémon in direct confrontation, the upper limits of human potential were remarkably high for exceptional individuals.
Although Bruno was one of the Elite Four, he had long been renowned as a "humanoid Pokémon"—someone who could compete with actual Pokémon purely through physical prowess.
Bruno wasn't the only person in the world capable of such feats either. For instance, Alder, the Champion of the Unova Region's Elite Four, was another such individual.
Alder was famous for being able to match strength with powerful Pokémon like Bouffalant through sheer physical conditioning. In truth, anyone who could reach Elite Four or Champion-level status possessed exceptional abilities in one way or another.
Ash understood this principle well, which was precisely why he had been rigorously training his own body ever since arriving in this world.
"You're welcome, young man. I truly admire your courage in protecting Pikachu and Togepi the way you did!"
Bruno responded warmly, his voice carrying genuine appreciation. When he'd heard the commotion and rushed over, he'd witnessed Ash shielding both Pikachu and Togepi with his own body.
That display of selfless courage had immediately piqued his interest in the young Trainer before him. However, just as he'd been preparing to intervene, he'd suddenly sensed an inexplicable aura emanating from Ash.
Although Bruno possessed no special psychic abilities, years of intense physical and mental training had honed his senses far beyond those of ordinary people.
The aura radiating from Ash couldn't be seen or physically touched—Misty and Brock appeared completely unaware of it.
But even though Bruno didn't understand exactly what kind of power it was, he could definitely sense the extraordinary presence flowing from the young Trainer.
At the same time, he'd noticed the dramatic change that came over Onix. The fact that Ash could frighten a rampaging, out-of-control Onix into momentary stillness simply by standing his ground was genuinely incredible.
Although the effect hadn't ultimately succeeded in stopping Onix's charge, Bruno still found Ash's mysterious power remarkably impressive.
"Ash, what exactly happened to that Onix just now?" Misty asked nervously, glancing at the even more severely damaged mountain path ahead. She still felt shaken by the close call.
"Huh? Did you say... Ash?"
Bruno's expression shifted noticeably when he caught Misty's use of the name, recognition flickering across his weathered features.
Not only had he heard that particular name before, but looking at the young man standing before him now, Bruno felt certain he'd seen him somewhere previously.
"Does Master Bruno know Ash?" Brock asked in surprise, picking up on Bruno's reaction.
As one of the Elite Four and Brock's personal idol, Bruno commanded immense respect. Although Brock had chosen the path of a Pokémon Breeder rather than competitive battling, he had always deeply admired Bruno's dedication and strength.
While Bruno specialized in Fighting-type Pokémon as an Elite Four member, he was also exceptionally skilled with Rock-type and Ground-type Pokémon—which naturally appealed to Brock's own interests.
"You have a Pikachu... So you must be the Ash that Lance and Agatha mentioned?"
Bruno spoke thoughtfully, his gaze shifting to the Pikachu perched on Ash's shoulder before looking back at the Trainer for confirmation.
"If they weren't talking about someone else, then yes, that should be me!" Ash replied calmly, unsurprised by the recognition. He'd experienced similar situations many times before.
Although he'd never deliberately sought fame or attention, news of his accomplishments had clearly spread throughout the Pokémon League. What did surprise him slightly was that both Agatha and Lance had apparently mentioned him specifically to Bruno.
"Ha ha ha ha! I never expected to run into you here—what a remarkable coincidence! But you're quite different from what I'd heard. Granny Agatha described you as an arrogant little brat who doesn't know how to respect his elders!"
Bruno suddenly burst into hearty laughter at Ash's confirmation. Of course, Bruno didn't take Agatha's harsh words seriously—the elderly Elite Four member was notorious for her sharp tongue even when speaking to people's faces, let alone behind their backs.
However, observing Ash's polite and respectful demeanor just now, Bruno could see that the young Trainer was nothing like Granny Agatha's description suggested.
"I've learned how to deal with different people appropriately and say the right words to the right person," Ash responded with a slight smile.
For someone like Granny Agatha, speaking overly politely and acting too deferential might actually make her uncomfortable. She seemed to prefer people who could match her sharp wit and speak their minds directly.
"Ha ha! Well said! No wonder both Lance and Agatha think so highly of you," Bruno laughed appreciatively.
Although he spent most of his time in intensive physical training away from civilization, Bruno still received news about significant events in the Pokémon world.
He'd heard about the recent incidents in both Rainbow City and Viridian City, all of which had apparently involved the young man standing before him. If Bruno hadn't witnessed Ash's courage with his own eyes just moments ago, some of those stories might have been difficult to believe.
But having seen that bravery firsthand, Bruno's respect for the young Trainer had definitely increased.
"Um... Master Bruno, are you training in these mountains?" Brock finally asked the question that had been on his mind—namely, why Bruno had appeared in this particular location.
"That's correct! But my primary objective here is to capture the largest Onix in these mountains!" Bruno stated directly, not bothering to hide his purpose.
"The largest Onix?" Brock repeated in confusion, uncertain what Bruno meant.
"Yes—that's the very one you just encountered!" Bruno clarified, gesturing toward the path where Onix had disappeared moments earlier.
"That Onix was absolutely enormous and terrifying! We should head back to camp quickly! If that Onix returns, we could be in serious danger!" Misty said anxiously, still clearly frightened by the recent encounter.
"You're right about being cautious. Master Bruno, we were actually just about to prepare lunch back at our camp. If you don't mind, we'd be honored if you'd join us!"
Brock extended the invitation eagerly. After all, opportunities to meet Elite Four level Trainers were extremely rare. Spending additional time with Bruno and learning from his extensive experience would be invaluable.
"Oh? Are you certain that would be alright?" Bruno asked. Being a generous and straightforward person by nature, he didn't immediately refuse the offer.
"Of course! We'd love to have you!"
"Well then, I gratefully accept your invitation. Thank you!" Bruno admitted he was feeling somewhat hungry after his morning training, so he accepted without further hesitation.
Soon the entire group was heading back toward the camp together.
Along the way, Bruno learned that Ash had come to train in the mountains specifically to prepare for the upcoming Pokémon League competition. When they arrived at the campsite, Bruno also had the opportunity to observe several of Ash's other Pokémon.