Now, when Pikachu goes all out, he can even fight against professional-level Pokémon, and the other Pokémon besides Pikachu are also steadily improving.
Ralts is even about to evolve.
Based on Ralts's usual performance, she is not far from evolving, and her level is already at the peak of ordinary. She will probably evolve into Kirlia as soon as she crosses this hurdle.
At that time, the little one won't be able to sit on his shoulder every day, and he feels a little reluctant to part with her.
But Ralts can't possibly stay in this form forever. Not only is Ash unwilling, but Ralts herself is unwilling. She is influenced by Ash and wants to go to the battlefield every day and fight in all directions!
Squirtle's level hasn't changed much, but Bulbasaur's and Charmander's levels have each increased by one level. One is at the peak of ordinary, and the other is at the advanced ordinary level.
The former had already stayed at the advanced ordinary level for some time, so after joining Ash's team and improving their nutrition and training methods, their level was able to rise by one level in a short period.
But Charmander is different—he had just recently gone from beginner to intermediate ordinary! In just four days, he had already gained another level. This speed of improvement even amazed Brock.
The last time an improvement speed surprised him so much was Ralts.
As an experienced Gym Leader, he had seen countless Pokémon, but in his impression, only those two Pokémon in Ash's hands were so abnormal.
Not only are they rare species, but their talent is also top-notch. Can this really be described as luck? Is it luck, or is it destiny?
Besides Charmander, Pidgeotto's level also increased by one level to intermediate advanced, but Pidgeotto is similar to Bulbasaur.
He had already accumulated a lot of time at the initial advanced level, so the level increase was a matter of course.
These are Ash's improvements during this period, and he has finally arrived in Vermilion City, ready to challenge his third Gym.
After a long journey to Vermilion City, Ash originally wanted to challenge the Gym he had been thinking about for a long time, because they arrived in Vermilion City on the afternoon of the third day, which was still early.
But Brock suggested going to the Elf Center to rest first and to gather information about Vermilion City. He didn't know much about the Vermilion City Gym either, only that the Gym Leader seemed to be a retired soldier, so he probably wouldn't be an easy opponent.
Ash also felt that there was some truth to this, so he first came to the Elf Center in Vermilion City. On the one hand, he let his Pokémon rest, and on the other hand, he also washed up. Getting lost along the way meant they rarely showered.
Ash and Brock were fine, but Xiao Xia couldn't stand it at all. Her normally fragrant body had become smelly. What girl could endure that?
She had already exceeded the endurance of ordinary people to persevere for so many days.
After washing up, the three of them, Ash, returned to the lobby of the Elf Center.
"It's a bit strange, Ash. Have you noticed that there are far more injured Pokémon here than in other places?" Brock said to Ash, looking around the Elf Center with a puzzled expression.
Ash also looked around, with the same puzzled expression on his face: "Yes, the number of injured Pokémon here is almost equal to the total number of injured Pokémon I've seen in all the Elf Centers combined."
"These were all done by the Gym Leader of the Vermilion City Gym." A soft voice came out, and everyone looked over to find that the speaker was Nurse Joy.
Brock looked at Nurse Joy with a slight blush, and the thoughts he had been pondering about why the surrounding Pokémon were like this instantly flew a thousand miles away.
He had no resistance to older sisters.
"The Gym Leader of the Vermilion City Gym? Don't Gym Leaders usually battle challengers with the purpose of testing them? Even if they defeat a challenger's Pokémon, they usually wouldn't be so ruthless." Xiao Xia said with slightly furrowed brows.
The injuries of the surrounding Pokémon ranged from light to severe, some even had their entire bodies wrapped in bandages, and their Trainers were holding them, looking dejected and sad.
If these injuries were all inflicted by the Gym Leader, that would be too much.
"The Gym Leader of the Vermilion City Gym is named Ma Zhishi. He is a retired soldier, so he is basically merciless towards challengers. This is his demeanor from when he was in the army, and now he has brought this demeanor to the Gym challengers."
"When facing challengers, he usually raises the difficulty by one level. What was originally a beginner battle becomes intermediate, and what was intermediate becomes advanced—he calls this a test for Trainers. Only by passing this test can one become an Elite or Champion-level Trainer in the future." Nurse Joy said with a sigh.
"That's too much! Isn't that forcibly putting an excessive burden on the challengers?!" Ash said angrily.
If, when he faced Brock, the opponent had given him an intermediate difficulty, he probably wouldn't have been able to get his first badge at all.
Intermediate difficulty Pokémon are at least at the advanced peak level, and possibly even Superior level. How could a rookie Trainer like him defeat them?
This is simply an impossible challenge. If he doesn't want to give a badge, he should just say so. Why torture challengers like this?
"There's nothing we can do about it. The difficulty of a Gym challenge is chosen by the Gym Leader himself. If you don't agree, you can choose not to challenge, after all, challenging is not mandatory. If you are unwilling to challenge the difficulty set by the Gym Leader, you can choose to go to other Gyms. Perhaps the Gym Leader of the Vermilion City Gym just wants to use this method to make challengers retreat in the face of difficulties."
Brock also sobered up from his infatuation at this time and began to analyze calmly.
"But why would he do that?" Ash expressed his confusion. Isn't the duty of a Gym Leader to teach challengers more things, help them improve, and lay the foundation for participating in the Alliance Conference in the future?
Why would there be a Gym that wants challengers to retreat in the face of difficulties? Don't they care about Gym performance metrics?
"Maybe he doesn't want to fight weak challengers? If he builds up a bad reputation, then only strong Trainers will come, and he can have exhilarating battles." Nurse Joy guessed.
This is related to Ma Zhishi's identity as a retired soldier. In the army, there is no mercy. If you don't train to death, you train until you're dead.
So, after retiring and becoming a Gym Leader, Ma Zhishi simply doesn't know what mercy is.
If it weren't for the Alliance regulations, he wouldn't even set beginner or intermediate levels. If you come to challenge, it's full power!
"This is troublesome—Ash, are you still going to challenge?" Xiao Xia asked Ash with some concern.
She originally thought that the difficulty of this place would be similar to Celadon City Gym, but based on the opponent's personality, the challenge Ash faces will definitely far exceed Celadon City Gym. This battle might even be Ash's first defeat, and if not handled well, it might even affect Ash's confidence.
"...I'm going! I'm going to teach that guy a lesson! It's not because he's so harsh on challengers or anything, but because he actually does such things to Pokémon! Even if it's a battle, causing that level of injury is too much! That's definitely intentional!" Ash looked at the Elf Center full of injured Pokémon, his eyes firm, and his voice strong and clear.
Ash's love for Pokémon cannot be said to be unmatched, but it is definitely among the top in the world. He is the kind of person who, when his own Pokémon are in danger, will let them leave first and then stay behind to cover their retreat.
The life of a Pokémon is greater than his own life.
He also cherishes his own Pokémon very much. He trains hard with them, even training more than them, and after training, he uses the basic massage techniques he has learned to help everyone relax.
He also often studies with Brock the food flavors that his Pokémon like, and what ingredients to use and how to prepare them so that his Pokémon can enjoy delicious food while also absorbing sufficient nutrients.
So Ash cannot stand people who treat Pokémon badly, whether it's abandoning Pokémon or severely injuring them to the point of near death... it's all the same!
In fact, the latter is even more detestable.
Ma Zhishi's actions undoubtedly ignited Ash's anger. This time, his challenge to Ma Zhishi is not only to teach him a lesson, but also to make sure he stops doing such things in the future.
Although he doesn't know if he can do it, he has to act first! If he doesn't do it, how can he know if he can do it?
If he succeeds, at least those who challenge the Vermilion City Gym in the future won't have to suffer the same pain as the Trainers currently in the Elf Center.
"This opponent won't hold back, and will even strike hard. Ash, are you sure?" Brock also frowned, asking with a hint of concern.
Even if an ordinary Gym Leader saw Ash with two badges, knowing that he had only been traveling for just over a month, they would probably still choose the beginner difficulty to battle.
But this Vermilion City Gym Leader doesn't play by the rules.
He is also clear about the level of Pokémon Ash has. If the Gym Leader of the Vermilion City Gym chooses an intermediate challenge difficulty, then Ash should still have a good chance of winning.
However, if the opponent chooses the highest difficulty challenge for Ash, the current Ash is still too difficult to deal with.
"Hmm—Nurse Joy, do you know what Ma Zhishi's strongest Pokémon is?" Ash nodded firmly, then turned to Nurse Joy and asked.
"His strongest Pokémon... it should be Raichu. It is said that it is the Pokémon that has been with him since he joined the army, and its strength seems to have already reached the professional level."
"Professional level—I understand. Thank you, Nurse Joy. Let's go, Brock, Xiao Xia." Ash said, leading Pikachu and Ralts out of the Elf Center. Xiao Xia and Brock exchanged glances, then reluctantly followed Ash out. Xiao Xia had even already decided that if the opponent dared to seriously injure Ash's Pokémon, she would intervene in the battle and stop the opponent!
Given Ash's love for Pokémon, if his Pokémon ended up looking like those in the Elf Center, he would probably cry.
On the way to the Vermilion City Gym, Ash walked in front, with Xiao Xia and Brock close behind, but what the two didn't see was that Ash was currently closing his eyes.
[Mengxin Xiaozhi:Big Boss s, please help me. If I go all out with Pikachu now, can I defeat a professional-level Raichu?]
A few seconds later, [Tactician Xiao Zhi: If you give me that Aura Fusion and Partner Form, it's 99/1. I have 99 ways to do him in.]
[Mengxin Xiaozhi: ...What about me?]
[Tactician Xiao Zhi: As for you, it depends on who you're fighting. Is the opponent an Elite? What specific level of professional?]
[Mengxin Xiaozhi: No, it's the Gym Leader of the Vermilion City Gym, Ma Zhishi. Professional level—I don't know yet.]
[Tactician Xiao Zhi: Oh, it's Uncle Ma Zhishi. Then as long as his Raichu's level isn't professional advanced, you should have a 70% or more chance of winning. He doesn't have much brains. As long as you use what I taught you well, you basically can't lose. If you lose, don't say I taught you.]
[Mengxin Xiaozhi: *cough cough*, even if I win, I wouldn't dare say you taught me. Well, I'm going.]
After communicating in the group for less than a minute, Ash opened his eyes, which were full of confidence.
Since even Tactician Xiao Zhi said he had a 70% chance of winning, it means that his current strength is definitely enough to contend with Ma Zhishi.
Tactician Xiao Zhi's estimates are always conservative, never overestimating. If he says 70%, it's actually at least 80%.
Although Ma Zhishi from other worlds cannot be compared to the one in this world, Tactician Xiao Zhi's words still gave him some confidence.
That's right, if he wants to subdue the opponent, he has to take down the opponent's strongest Pokémon!
So Ash's goal this time is Ma Zhishi's strongest Pokémon—Raichu!
The trio arrived in front of the Vermilion City Gym.
After Ash stated that he was there to challenge the Gym, the door of the Vermilion City Gym opened.
Inside, a muscular, tall, and strong blond man looked at the three of them with a frivolous expression.
"Yo, are you the challengers? Heh heh, this challenger is quite cute~"
Saying that, the big man's gaze fell on Xiao Xia next to Ash,
and then he moved towards Xiao Xia as if he wanted to greet her with a hug.
Xiao Xia was startled and took a step back, but she couldn't dodge the opponent's hug, after all, the opponent's size was almost equivalent to two Xiao Xias.
Just then, Ash blocked Xiao Xia's path, raising his hand and pressing it against the opponent's chest. The big man instantly couldn't advance an inch.
Seeing this, the big man's face showed a puzzled expression. He looked at Ash's thin, unmuscular arm, full of questions.
How did this skinny arm hold him back with one hand?
Ash's palm lightly vibrated, and the tall big man instantly stumbled back more than ten steps, creating distance between himself and Ash.
At this moment, the big man's face was filled with disbelief.
What kind of strength does this guy have? Why can he push him back so far with one hand?
With those small arms and legs, is it reasonable?
"Please don't harass my friend, and also, I am the one challenging the Gym." Ash said coldly.
He already had a bad impression of the Vermilion City Gym, and as soon as he entered, someone even harassed Xiao Xia, making his impression even worse. What kind of people are these!
The big man paused, then burst out laughing: "Hahaha, little boy, are you joking? You brought a Pikachu to challenge? This is a Gym, not a children's playground!"