Chapter 129: Thanks, I'm Touched by Such Filial Piety.
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
"Hitmonchan, have you forgotten what I taught you?!"
A somewhat gruff, low shout came from the side. The three of them looked closely and saw a dark-skinned, middle-aged man with a long face. His skin looked as if it were forged from molten steel. He wore a simple workout tank top, his bulging muscles visible through the gaps in his clothing.
"So it does have a Trainer?"
Ash wasn't disappointed; instead, he became even more excited because it seemed this senior Trainer wanted to have a match with him too.
Then let's battle!
Hearing this, Hitmonchan wiped the wound from its cheek, took a deep breath, and opened its eyes. In that instant, its aura changed dramatically.
"Aibii..."
Hitmonchan started hopping in place, its entire body becoming incredibly light. Its two fists, looking like boxing gloves, were held up to its chin, seemingly ready to attack at any moment.
"Primeape, be careful!"
However, Ash's warning was completely useless. Primeape, unable to contain its impatience, launched another straight punch.
"..."
Hitmonchan's expression didn't change as it slightly shifted its body, easily dodging the attack. Then, it changed the direction of its hops, abruptly moving forward.
Using this momentum, Hitmonchan's aura abruptly changed once more, becoming aggressive. Its two fists suddenly lashed out, relentlessly striking Primeape's body.
"PAPAPAPAPAP!!"
The flurry of punches formed a vast, inescapable net. Hitmonchan even preemptively interrupted Primeape's attempt to counter-attack, forcing it back. Primeape could only cross its arms in front of itself, forced into defense.
"PAPAPAPAPAP!!"
Hitmonchan's punching power exploded, and its final, concluding punch sent Primeape flying several meters away!
"Pri—"
The stunned Primeape was directly knocked out, rendered Unable to Battle.
"So strong..."
"How many critical hits did that hit...?"
From behind, Brock and Misty were utterly shocked.
As for Ash, he recalcitrantly recalled his Unable to Battle Primeape into its Poké Ball, then immediately threw out another Poké Ball.
"I choose you, Charmeleon!!"
His Charmeleon's limbs and physique were similarly agile and powerful; it could completely be used as a Fighting Pokémon in battle.
"ROAR!!"
Charmeleon appeared, performing its signature move of breathing a jet of blazing flames toward the sky, its morale high.
Then, its gaze suddenly changed, and it turned its head to target Ash behind it.
Ash: "?"
The next second, the Charmeleon, baring its sharp fangs and claws, pounced at him. Its clawed fists were spiky, and they were enveloped in a terrifying layer of dark energy.
Throat Chop!
Ash: "!"
Hitmonchan: "?"
"Your training is still insufficient, youth."
Seeing the human and the dragon comically entangled in a brawl, the middle-aged man gave a disdainful yet smug smile. With a beckoning gesture, he led Hitmonchan toward the town.
"Our goal is to win this year's P1 Grand Prix!!"
"Ebi!!"
They roared, their voices gradually fading away into the distance.
As the middle-aged man and Hitmonchan departed, the battle between Ash and Charmeleon was also nearing its end.
The smoke and dust settled, revealing that Ash had already pinned Charmeleon beneath him. His arms and legs were braced together in the most stable triangle, firmly pinning its movements.
"Return, Charmeleon."
Ash quickly took the opportunity to recall Charmeleon to its Poké Ball, finally letting out a deep breath.
Staring at the Poké Ball in his hand, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Before the group could say anything, a young woman suddenly ran out from the town. She looked to be seventeen or eighteen, with delicate and pretty features. Her soft, long brown hair was tied into a side ponytail, cascading beside her face.
"Is everyone alright? I apologize for my father!"
She gave Ash a deep bow.
"It's fine. Besides, I was the one who attacked first. You don't need to apologize, beautiful lady."
Though he didn't quite understand what was happening but was still impressed, Brock shoved Ash aside like a Meowth that had caught the scent of fish. His eyes were deep, and the corner of his mouth curved into a handsome and elegant smile.
"Your palm seems a little dry. Would you like me to give you a massage?"
He gently lifted the woman's arm and began to seize the opportunity to flirt.
"Miss, your hairstyle also seems a little precarious~"
Aimi: "?"
After this display, Aimi's face turned slightly red. She subtly withdrew her hand and began to introduce herself.
"Hello everyone, my name is Aimi. I'm the daughter of the Fighting Soul Gym in this town. My father was the man from earlier, and he's the Gym Leader of the Fighting Soul Gym, Shandou."
"Fighting Soul Gym...?"
Ash was secretly surprised. Celadon City was just a stone's throw away; how could another Gym be squeezed in between?
Fighting Soul?
What an imposing name!
"Hehe... Actually, our family's Gym hasn't passed the League's official recognition yet, so it's not officially in business..."
Aimi looked a little embarrassed as she said this.
Despite its imposing name, it was ultimately an unlicensed Gym, its status lower than even the Cerulean Gym.
Misty: "..."
Although she didn't know what was happening, she couldn't help but feel offended.
"My father has become obsessed with the P1 Grand Prix, so he's been completely ignoring the Fighting Soul Gym's affairs. Otherwise, it should have become an officially sanctioned Gym a year ago," Aimi explained helplessly.
A Gym needs to be reviewed and inspected by the Pokémon League. Once it passes, it can be awarded official Badges and the authority to distribute them.
Brock and Misty nodded at this. As Gym Leaders themselves, they knew how difficult this review process was.
"By the way, what is the P1 Grand Prix?" Ash asked curiously.
"It's a type of competition that focuses on fighting moves and techniques. Although its status and influence aren't as prestigious as the League Conference, its standing among fighting enthusiasts is no less," Brock, as a man of Rock-Solid Will, knew a thing or two, and slowly began to explain.
The P1 Grand Prix is divided into City-Level, Regional-level, and the highest, World-level.
A world-level competition is held once every three years.
According to this year's competition schedule, it should only be at the City-Level stage currently, with battles held in specific cities.
Only the top three finishers in this competition are qualified to participate in the regional competition six months later, which is the Kanto Region P1 Grand Prix.
Then, achieving a top 8 finish in the Kanto Region-level competition will qualify them for the World P1 Grand Prix Finals held a year later.
It's said that this year's P1 World Grand Prix will be held in either the Hoenn Region or the Sinnoh Region, one of which will be chosen as the final battleground.
Brock could be considered a man with half a fighting spirit himself. He had watched the entire World P1 Grand Prix Finals two years ago live on his 4K HD television.
He still remembered the participants in the finals at that time. On one side was a masked warrior from a rural Alola region, who did not reveal his name.
On the other side was a mysterious old man from the Galar Region, who was said to be a master-level existence over there.
"World Grand Prix?!"
Hearing this, Ash's eyes lit up. This competition sounded truly thrilling.
So he blurted out,
"By the way, can Trainers participate in this competition?"
Aimi: "?"
Although she didn't understand why this youngster would ask such a question, she still answered seriously after a moment of hesitation:
"I don't think so..."
Hearing this, Ash secretly threw a punch at the air. This was blatant discrimination against humans!
Slandering people isn't right.
"Anyway, could I ask you to defeat my father in the P1 Grand Prix about to be held in this town tomorrow?" Aimi pleaded, blinking her moist eyes.
Hearing this, Ash and his companions all shuddered. They couldn't quite understand Aimi's actions.
Asking outsiders to snipe her own father's qualifying match?
Thanks, truly touched by the filial piety.
"No, that's not it... sigh."
Aimi sighed and began to explain the whole story.
Her father had become completely obsessed with the P1 Grand Prix, ignoring everything else like a gambler. The man was practically possessed.
Even her mother couldn't stand his madness and ran off with the neighboring middle-aged man last year.
She still remembered that the neighbor was a handsome, refined-looking man, completely different from her own rough-dark-skinned father.
When she was little, quite a few neighbors had even said that she was actually the neighbor's daughter. After all, Shandou was so dark-skinned and had a rough, long face. How could he have fathered someone as fair and gentle as her?
To be fair, Aimi did indeed look quite a bit like the handsome, refined-looking neighbor.
The three of them: "..."
Getting back on topic, the P1 Grand Prix had become Shandou's Inner Demon, not his dream.
Aimi just wanted her father to wake up, to pause for a moment and recognize his true self again.
"Well, you're a truly filial daughter."
The three of them couldn't help but give Aimi a thumbs-up.
(end of chapter)