Chapter 127: I'll Just Smash My Head into the Road!!
Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
"Roar!!"
Charmeleon roared at the heavens, breathing blazing fire toward the sky, wearing the proud expression of a victor.
In stark contrast was the Paras that fell from the tree hollow, its entire body charred black. Its condition was wretched, and the aroma of its seared crab shell filled the air.
"Paras…"
Qingmei hurriedly rushed over to check its injuries, stuffing four or five Revival Herbs into its mouth just to keep it alive.
"Jiji!"
However, because the Revival Herbs were so bitter, the recovering Paras's affection for its trainer dropped to its lowest point. It swatted Qingmei's hand away and ran off into the depths of the forest.
Perhaps it was simply running away out of shame, feeling it was useless.
"Paras, don't go in there! Wait for me!"
Qingmei, a few seconds behind, didn't have time to bother with the others and immediately gave chase.
If it ran into a Rattata or Caterpie along the way, her Paras would be done for!
"Hey, Charmeleon, I specifically told you to go easy!" Ash complained, a little angry.
The moment he finished speaking, Charmeleon twisted its head and aimed its flame at him!
As the blazing flames rushed toward him, Ash didn't dare be careless. He dodged nimbly to the side, narrowly avoiding getting a face full of fire.
However, the Pikachu gnawing on a Revival Herb at his feet suffered a terrible fate, taking the full force of the Flamethrower to its face.
After the flame subsided, Pikachu's face was charred black, and the Revival Herb in its paw had been burned to a crisp.
Seeing that Charmeleon's target was still Ash and that it had completely ignored him, Pikachu's veins bulged in a fit of rage!
In this family, I'm the alpha!!
"Pika!"
With a low cry, sparks flew from Pikachu's cheeks, forming an electric snake that shot out with extreme speed. It directly struck the completely defenseless Charmeleon in the flank.
In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared, setting off a terrifying clap of thunder on the spot.
"Boom!!"
By the time the electric light and black smoke had dissipated, Charmeleon was already staggering. It swayed a few times before collapsing unceremoniously onto the ground.
"Pika!"
Pikachu nodded in satisfaction, picked up another Revival Herb from the ground, and swallowed it without a second thought.
*Trying to fight me? You're still too green!*
*Did you really think I, Pikachu, have gotten old and can't fight anymore?!*
"Pika!"
Once the Revival Herb was down, Pikachu's face instantly turned ashen. It spat out all the leaves in its mouth, and its affection for Ash dropped by one point.
Ash: "?"
With a helpless look, he recalled Charmeleon into its Poké Ball.
It was so obedient as a Charmander. He could understand it being disobedient right before evolving, but why was it still not listening several days after evolving?
Could it be that it was about to evolve into a Charizard?
"Heh heh, young man, don't overthink it. It's simply that your trainer level is too low."
A withered, aged voice, tinged with sarcasm, reached them. Everyone's gaze immediately focused on its source.
An old woman, hunched over and draped in a gray cloak, walked out from the pharmacy tent belonging to Qingmei's family.
Standing beside her was a Pokémon, clearly related to Paras. It was a large crab, half the height of a person. The small mushroom on its back had now become a single, enormous mushroom, covering its body like a large umbrella.
"Beep. Parasect, the Evolved Form of Paras. The crab's body has been completely drained by the mushroom on its back. In reality, it is merely a parasitized, walking corpse—a mere tool."
The Pokédex automatically reported.
Hearing this, Ash, Misty, and Brock looked at the Parasect with horror. They saw that its large, lively eyes from its Paras stage had now become lifeless, hollow white voids, making it truly look like a walking corpse.
The old woman beside it smiled noncommittally and introduced herself:
"I am Qingmei's grandmother, and the owner of this pharmacy. Dear customers, would you like to buy some headless Caterpie sashimi? It's six times more nutritious than Tauros~"
Everyone couldn't help but shiver. Just looking at this old woman was enough to make one's skin crawl.
Ash mustered his courage and asked, "Grandmother, what did you mean just now when you said my trainer level is too low?"
Hearing this, the old woman's eyes curved into a smile. Seeing that they were her granddaughter's friends, she didn't feign mystery and explained gently:
"Your little dragon is disobedient because your trainer level is too low. In other words, you're not up to snuff."
This situation was most common among Fire-type, Fighting-type, and Dragon-type Pokémon. If a trainer wasn't strong enough, it was very easy for their Pokémon to disobey commands.
"I'm not strong enough…?" Ash repeated.
Then he raised his head, his eyes shining brightly.
He was the man who would become the Pokémon Master. That being the case, he, as a trainer, must also be the strongest!
"I get it now!"
He had to let Charmeleon know his strength!
Ash clenched his fists, a plan secretly forming in his mind.
…
Deep in the forest, Qingmei was squatting down, stroking her Paras and comforting it softly.
"It's okay, you just need to get stronger slowly…"
"Jiji…"
Paras hung its little head, aggrieved, letting out a few dejected wails.
It wasn't trying to fake an accident; it wanted to evolve more than anyone.
"Miss Qingmei, we finally found you."
Before long, Ash and his group arrived before the girl and the crab. This time, Ash's expression was full of confidence, as if he had already found a solution.
"Let's have another battle! I've figured out how to let Paras win!" Ash said confidently.
The youth's spirited expression was infectious. After a moment's hesitation, Qingmei stood up, her and Paras's battle intent rekindled.
"Paras, we definitely won't lose this time!"
"Jiji!!"
This time, Ash didn't send out another Pokémon. Instead, he leaned down and whispered a few words to Pikachu before pointing with his thumb.
"I choose you, Pikachu!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu flexed its little fists. Having just eaten a Revival Herb, it was now brimming with vitality, as if it had endless energy.
"Miss Qingmei, have your Paras use a ranged move!" Ash suddenly advised, the corner of his mouth turning up.
"That's right! Using a ranged move means we don't have to worry about Paras faking an accident." Misty and Brock nodded to themselves, a look of realization on their faces.
Seeing this, Qingmei didn't hesitate and pointed her thumb forward:
"A ranged move? Paras, use Pin Missile!!"
"Jiji!"
Paras spread its claws and flung out a transparent needle. It was only about two centimeters long; using it as a toothpick would probably cause it to break in your mouth.
Its power was also extremely weak.
"Plink."
The Pin Missile landed softly on Pikachu's stomach. The latter, getting the message, began to tremble all over after a half-second delay. It let out a tragic wail and its body shot backward several meters like a cannonball, even dragging a long trail on the ground.
It was as if it had been hit head-on by a powerful Hyper Beam.
By the time it stopped, Pikachu was already drenched in sweat and panting heavily, clearly looking like a candle in the wind.
"Damn, I can't even tell if that's real or fake!?"
Ash scratched his head. For a split second, he had truly believed it was a terrifying Pin Missile.
So his Pikachu was this good at acting?
"Now that's an international superstar."
"With acting skills like that, young people could learn from him for years."
Brock and Misty, watching from behind, couldn't help but lean back in awe, a gasp of admiration escaping them.
Seeing this, Ash's expression changed as well, and he roared at the top of his lungs, "Pikachu, it's all or nothing! Use one last Quick Attack!!"
"Pika!!"
Pikachu erupted with terrifying electric sparks to raise its morale. With a look of unyielding, do-or-die determination on its face, it kicked off with its small legs and began to run. Its body was cloaked in a shimmering white light as its speed instantly skyrocketed. It was as fast as a phantom, its agile footwork a dazzling blur.
This was its final Quick Attack!
"Jiji…"
Paras looked around in a panic. It couldn't even see Pikachu's shadow.
Suddenly, a sharp glint flashed in Ash's eyes as he shouted, "Now, Quick Attack!!"
"Pika!!"
Pikachu found one of Paras's blind spots. Pushing the strength in its hind legs to the absolute limit, it shot out with a "swoosh," carrying an incredibly terrifying momentum.
"Swoosh swoosh swoosh!!"
The Quick Attack was as fast as a phantom, gone in a flash!!
"Thud!!"
Pikachu slammed its head into Paras.
…The tree behind it.
"Boom!!"
The tree trunk, three people thick, was snapped in half by the terrifying force of the impact. It crashed to the ground, kicking up a large cloud of dust, while Pikachu was thrown back by the powerful recoil, its head spinning.
"Pika…"
After staggering a few steps, it simply tilted its neck and played dead on the spot, having lost its ability to battle.
"Jiji?"
Paras stared blankly at the fainted electric mouse before it.
"Damn it, what powerful psychological ability! It countered Pikachu's prediction by standing still! We've lost!!"
Ash quickly added the final layer of interpretation.
Hearing this, a jolt ran through Paras's body, and it began to wave its claws at the sky!
It understood!!
"Vmmm!!"
The next second, the exclusive white light of evolution lit up around its body!!
Seeing this, Ash was secretly pleased.
"When it comes to faking an accident, Pikachu is invincible!"
When you try to fake an accident on the road, you still have to find a car to run into.
I'll just smash my head into the road!!
(end of chapter)