After some discussion among the crowd, they finally understood the reason. Samuel Oak turned out to be from forty years ago!
He was not originally from this era. It was just that forty years ago, someone was chasing Celebi, and Samuel Oak intervened to save Celebi but was still pursued by the adversary.
When Samuel Oak opened his eyes, he found himself lying in the forest, with Celebi quietly sleeping by his side, and the person who had been chasing him was nowhere to be found.
Before Samuel Oak could figure out the reason, Iron-Masked Marauder controlled a giant robot and tracked him down. He could only escape with Celebi once again, and Ash knew what happened next.
"Samuel Oak is actually from forty years ago. Time travel and all that—it's truly unbelievable. When Celebi wakes up, you should let Celebi take you back," Ash remarked, full of emotion.
He also wanted to experience time travel, but he wasn't the type to waste Celebi's power for personal reasons.
Just taking one person through time and space is already burdensome for Celebi. If you bring along several more people, it might wear Celebi out.
Even with the Champion Level strength of a Phantom Pokemon, it can't casually take multiple people through time and space.
If one could reach Divine Domain Level, then it might be a different story.
Samuel Oak nodded, relieved that Celebi wasn't taken by that bad person; otherwise, he might have remained in the era forty years ahead forever. His parents and friends would surely be devastated if they couldn't see him again.
Fortunately, the worst-case scenario did not occur.
Now, he only needed to quietly wait for Celebi to wake up and take him back to the past era.
Before Celebi awakens, he can also ask Ash and the others about what differences there are between the world forty years later and before.
"Eh! The Pokedex?! That's amazing; such an advanced thing must have been created by an incredible researcher!"
"A smartphone? Able to make remote calls! Video calls! My heavens, that's incredibly convenient! When I go back, I should find some scientists on our side to see if they can make one!"
"Ash, you're only fifteen?! I thought you just looked young; turns out you're about the same age as me!"
"..."
Everything Ash and the others talked about shocked Samuel Oak. The Pokedex, smartphones, and the like did not exist forty years ago.
And Ash's age surprised him so much he couldn't close his mouth.
At his same age, close to sixteen, Ash was already battling legendary Phantom Pokemon, while his strength hadn't even reached Elite Level; the difference was too vast.
However, when he learned that Ash was a unique existence even in the era forty years later, he felt a lot better.
If fifteen or sixteen-year-olds generally had Elite Champion Level strength forty years later, he would have wanted to find a block of tofu to knock himself out.
"Someone's coming." Suddenly, Ash turned his gaze towards the dense forest as he was joyfully chatting with Samuel Oak, sensing a powerful aura approaching.
"Rustle!" A rustling sound came from the forest, and a blue figure immediately leapt out from within!
The figure was covered in a brilliant ice blue fur, smooth like flowing liquid gems, and exuded an aura of elegance.
The embodiment of the North Wind—Suicune!
Ash was surprised to encounter Suicune again, but this Suicune's aura was different from the previous one. Besides the difference in aura, the most noticeable aspect was Suicune's strength.
This Suicune only had Elite Advanced Level strength, while the previous Suicune had Champion Intermediate Level strength—such a disparity!
"Whoa!!" Let go of Celebi!!
Upon hearing this, Ash was momentarily stunned, instinctively glancing at the sleeping Celebi. He quickly understood why Suicune appeared here.
"Suicune, calm down. We are not the ones harming Celebi. Celebi is not injured; it's just sleeping," Ash explained, waving his hands at Suicune.
Clearly, Suicune had sensed in some way that Celebi was in danger and rushed over promptly.
However, upon arrival, Celebi was actually fine, and Suicune hadn't noticed the situation.
In fact, Celebi, also known as the Forest deity, would cause disturbances in the forest whenever abnormal. This was why Suicune recognized something was off about Celebi.
At present, Celebi was asleep, but the previously formed disturbances in the forest due to Celebi had not calmed, which was the key to Suicune's misunderstanding.
But now, Celebi's condition was clear—only asleep—and Suicune naturally could see this, so its vigilant and angry expression gradually faded.
Then, its gaze fixed on Ash: "Whoa~"
There is an aura of Lord Ho-Oh on you; what is your relation with Lord Ho-Oh?
"Indeed, you Three Holy Beasts have remarkably keen senses." Ash pointed at himself and introduced with sincerity, "I am Ash, the Rainbow Hero, pleased to meet you."
Upon hearing this, Suicune's formerly calm expression resurfaced with astonishment: "Whoa~"
So it's the Rainbow Hero; my apologies for my rudeness.
"Ah, it's nothing about offense or anything—no need for such formalities..." Ash waved his hand and then blinked, curiously asking, "Speaking of which, you shouldn't directly belong to Ho-Oh's steward Three Holy Beasts, right? So if I defeat you, can I capture you?"
Previously, Ash fought with that Champion Intermediate Level Suicune. Though he won and obtained the Suicune's scale, he couldn't capture it without challenging Ho-Oh.
That Suicune was directly under Ho-Oh's command among the Three Holy Beasts, differing from other Three Holy Beasts. But this one is just an ordinary Three Holy Beast.
Despite both being Suicune, the status differs, and so does the strength—is it possible for him to capture this Suicune?
Suicune was taken aback, apparently not anticipating such a request from Ash.
After a moment of silence, it nodded towards Ash—signifying permission.
Only Ho-Oh's steward Three Holy Beasts cannot be captured by humans because they serve as Ho-Oh's eyes in the outer world and handle many tasks for Ho-Oh.
An ordinary Three Holy Beast can be captured if defeated openly.
Some might say, even a steward Three Holy Beast, as long as I defeat and catch it in the ball, isn't it mine?
Such is not true. If a steward Three Holy Beast is captured in a Pokeball, once released, it will undoubtedly escape.
Excluding the Rainbow Hero wielding Ho-Oh's power, no one can become their Trainer.
Ordinary Three Holy Beasts aren't bound by such rules; they've willingly acknowledged the Trainer as long as they're not wicked.
Given Suicune's authorization, Ash eagerly snapped his fingers, shouting to the Pikachu at his feet: "Let's do this again, Pikachu!"
"Pika, pika!" Pikachu leapt out from under Ash, full of energy.
It's the second fight against Suicune. But unlike the previous time, this time Pikachu doesn't need Aura Fusion for a power-up; hat-wearing is enough.
Because this time, the opponent is only Elite Level!
"Wait, wait... That's Suicune?! It's the Suicune among the Three Holy Beasts!" Samuel Oak exclaimed, eyes widening, "Ash, are you just sending Pikachu?"
He didn't understand the "Rainbow Hero" aspect, only realized one thing—Ash was initiating a capture battle with Suicune, but the Pokemon Ash sent seemed a bit off?
Why send Pikachu!
Wouldn't sending that Pokemon called Mewtwo guarantee a win!