"Are you all really getting this excited? My Zapdos is just an ordinary Pokémon, not nearly as amazing as you think," Red said leisurely, telling everyone not to get so worked up.
Not only Gary, but even Ash looked speechlessly at his big brother, while Leaf beside them stared blankly at Red.
After all, Red's statement was really too pretentious, but fortunately everyone knew Red's personality and thought he was just being 'modest.'
Seeing everyone's misunderstanding looks, Red didn't bother to explain further. After all, his original team was even stronger than Zapdos, so he wasn't particularly excited about Zapdos's legendary status.
At this moment, even the thick-headed Ash understood what it meant for Red to have captured Zapdos!
This was a legendary Pokémon trainer, not an existence that ordinary people could match. Yet in Red's mouth, it seemed so ordinary, as if Zapdos really was just a common Pokémon.
"Maybe Red's perspective is much broader? That's why he finds Zapdos's status relatively ordinary," Leaf explained, and this statement gained agreement from both Ash and Gary.
After hearing Leaf's words, Red nodded approvingly. After all, his Zapdos didn't possess divine authority and was ultimately just an ordinary Pokémon, albeit one with legendary bloodline power flowing through its body.
In Red's view, Zapdos's current strength wasn't due to its bloodline talent, but through Zapdos's own efforts.
Talent doesn't determine everything. Hard work is the best proof of strength.
This was also one of the reasons why Red had always downplayed Zapdos's legendary status: to motivate it to train diligently.
Although their emotions had calmed down considerably, the three were still looking forward to seeing Zapdos in action.
For this reason, after getting Red's permission, Professor Oak led everyone to the backyard garden, preparing to introduce the garden's design concept in detail.
Everyone followed Professor Oak to the garden, where a cute Doduo came over and warmly greeted Gary. This was Gary's Doduo.
"Hey, my sweetheart, How have you been?" Gary smiled.
"That's Gary's Doduo."
Ash's old habit kicked in as he immediately took out his Pokédex to analyze Doduo's data.
"Doduo, the Twin Bird Pokémon. A Pokémon discovered due to a sudden mutation, having 2 heads. It can run at speeds of 100 km/h."
"The Pokémon here all look very healthy," Brock commented, looking at the Pokémon living freely in the garden.
"Of course! This garden was designed so that the Pokémon I care for can live naturally, in environments as close as possible to their conditions before being captured. This is also very important for investigating individual differences," Professor Oak proudly explained to everyone.
After sensing the fighting spirit in the gazes of those around him, Red's eyes glowed blue as he used his psychic powers to call for the distant Zapdos to come over.
"What is that?!" Gary exclaimed.
In front of everyone, storm clouds suddenly covered the sky above, blocking out the sunlight with dark thunderclouds. High-voltage electricity formed lightning strikes that appeared one after another, and then Zapdos, its body crackling with electricity, made a dramatic entrance.
"The sky darkens and lightning strikes continuously... truly worthy of being a legendary Pokémon..." Leaf said in amazement, even freezing for a moment at Zapdos's entrance.
"My lawn..." Professor Oak sighed helplessly, seeing the grass in front charred by the lightning strikes.
"..."
Seeing this scene, Red slowly released his Viridian Power to gradually restore the previously charred lawn, which finally improved Professor Oak's mood considerably.
The landed Zapdos acted like a common chicken, hopping and bouncing over to Red, extending its head to nuzzle Red's cheek, and completely lacking its previous divine majesty.
After seeing Zapdos acting affectionately, everyone else was completely bewildered. Was this still the imposing Zapdos from moments before?!
Seeming to notice the strange looks from everyone around, Zapdos's expression stiffened for a moment, then it coughed a few times and straightened its attitude, puffing out its chest and looking proudly at Ash and the others.
"If you all want to battle Zapdos..."
Red's words stopped halfway through. If these were unknown challengers, Red could easily have all three of them defeated by Zapdos without showing any mercy.
But Ash's trio was different. Red didn't want this battle to affect their future battle conditions.
For this reason, Red changed his mind and used his psychic powers again to notify Kabutops and Omastar to come over.
Within moments, the running Kabutops and rolling Omastar arrived and immediately came to Red's side.
"Let's have a 3-on-3 battle. I'll send out Zapdos, Kabutops, and Omastar."
Although it was still one against three, this was certainly more comfortable than having Zapdos battle alone.
"Red really is so considerate," Professor Oak said warmly.
"What kind of Pokémon are these?!" Ash exclaimed, only to find that his Pokédex couldn't analyze Kabutops and Omastar's data.
Seeing this, Red silently took out his own Pokédex to analyze the data for everyone.
"Kabutops, the Shellfish Pokémon. Rock and Water type. It swims quickly with its streamlined body and seems to tear apart prey with its scythes to suck their bodily fluids."
"Omastar, the Spiral Pokémon. Rock and Water type. Its tentacles are as developed as hands and feet, and it bites while firmly grasping its opponent."
To give Ash's trio more of an advantage in battle, Red specifically revealed the two Pokémon's types.
"Alright, I choose you, Pikachu!"
Ash said excitedly, sending out his reliable partner, planning to use the type advantage to defeat Kabutops and Omastar.
"In that case, I'm counting on you, Nidoking!"
After thinking it over, Gary finally decided to send out Nidoking, which could counter Zapdos, then gave Leaf a meaningful look, suggesting she send out a move that could completely counter the two ancient Pokémon.
"Then I'm counting on you! Come out, Venusaur!"
With that, Leaf threw the Poké Ball in her hand, sending out her starter Pokémon Venusaur to battle.
Seeing Venusaur's entrance, Kabutops and Omastar couldn't help but show weary expressions, since they were quadruply weak to Grass-type moves.
"Nice team composition, except for..."
Red looked somewhat speechlessly at the excited Ash and Pikachu, wondering if they'd still be able to smile so happily after learning that Zapdos had the Lightning Rod ability.
The Lightning Rod ability had a significant effect in team battles, because just as the ability's name suggested, Zapdos with this ability could absorb enemy Electric-type moves, becoming immune to them while boosting its own Special Attack.
This meant that Kabutops and Omastar wouldn't be able to take any electrical damage from Pikachu at all. They only needed to guard against Nidoking and Venusaur.
Unless Pikachu had mastered multi-target or all-target moves that could resist the Lightning Rod ability.