"How overconfident, daring to challenge even Darkrai!"
Watching Albert hurriedly recall his plump, pink Lickilicky and turn to run away, Dawn commented quite bluntly.
It turned out that not long ago, Albert couldn't stand this troublemaker Snarling at him and wanted to drive it out of the town.
So he took the lead and sent out his own Pokémon, the pink and plump Lickilicky, using a yellowish Hyper Beam, trying to drive it away.
But unexpectedly, Darkrai just casually glanced over, condensed a dark and eerie black sphere in one hand, and hit Lickilicky.
After being enveloped by this expanding pitch-black energy sphere, Lickilicky, which could still use Hyper Beam, collapsed to the ground.
He could only leave a harsh remark and walk towards the Pokémon Center, covered in dust.
"Sorry, I made a fool of myself in front of you!"
Even though it was trouble caused by her suitor Albert, Alice still apologized quite sincerely to the three of them.
Ash and the other two naturally said it was fine, after all, it wasn't Alice's fault.
"Whew!"
Holding his computer, Anthony saw Albert leave and seemed to relax as if relieved.
Dawn, standing nearby, clearly noticed this scene, her eyes rolling as she teased Alice: "Since Miss Alice doesn't like agreeing to Baron Albert, then you mean..."
Faced with Dawn's teasing, as a senior sister, Alice wasn't shy either, openly looking at the honest Anthony beside her and pulling his arm into her embrace.
She stated without reservation: "I already have someone I like!"
"Wow!"
The girl covered her mouth in surprise, clearly not expecting such a bold response.
It was just a small poke, but the other party went all out.
After a series of combo moves, Ash, Dawn, and Pikachu—two humans and one Pokémon—were left stunned, their heads buzzing.
Anthony, as the person involved, also didn't expect this move from her.
Although happy inside, he remained silent on his face, hesitantly holding his computer and walking away in the end.
Only poor Brock walked aside silently, looking at the clueless Anthony with an envious and resentful expression, crying bitterly.
"This..." Watching the timid and constantly evading Anthony, Dawn felt puzzled.
Do boys also have a shy and evasive side?
Shouldn't they all be like a certain guy, acting exceptionally proactive and a bit mischievous when encountering such things?
The girl's puzzled expression met the gaze of a certain boy whose lips kept curling up, startling her into turning her head in time and using her indigo-blue hair to block his intense stare.
"It seems he likes you too, and is quite proactive!" Alice, twirling her golden hair, took her turn to size up the blushing girl before her.
Compared to the girl's attack, Alice's counterattack was remarkably effective, instantly making Dawn's face as red as her Chimchar's bottom.
Ash and Pikachu just watched the girl who tried to tease others but ended up being teased herself, looking quite comical.
Half a day later, he finally pulled Dawn, who hadn't yet recovered from her state, and Brock, who was still drawing circles nearby, bid farewell to Alice, and returned to the Pokémon Center.
The three of them simply booked rooms here, had dinner, and then went about their own business.
Dawn went to the training ground near the Pokémon Center, saying she was preparing for Contests.
Brock was preparing materials, making Pokémon food that suited the tastes of the two Chansey. Since they were the same type, Ash asked Brock to make an extra portion.
As for himself, he had important tasks to handle, adjusting the equipment of his Pokémon to prepare for tomorrow's Battle of the Two Gods.
So he alone took Pikachu to the backyard of the Pokémon Center and released all his Pokémon's Poké Balls.
As all five Poké Balls were thrown out, five red lights flashed in sequence.
Sceptile, biting a twig and standing coolly with hands in pockets, and Charizard, who had just returned not long ago with an extraordinary presence—these two ace Pokémon, one fire and one grass, made their appearance first.
After all, both of their strengths had broken through to the Elite level due to various reasons, and with the ability to temporarily boost their power through Mega Evolution, their strength was solidly at the Champion level.
In Pikachu's non-powered-up state, they were definitely his strongest main forces at the moment.
Next to appear was the majestic and imposing Suicune.
Don't think Suicune is truly weak just because it was beaten up by Sceptile in the forest—it definitely possesses Elite-level strength.
In the current team, this strength is absolutely noteworthy.
After all, Pikachu on his shoulder, in its non-powered-up state, is also at this stage.
And the large raptor with smooth feathers and a massive frame was also in the team.
As the former leader of the Pidgey Family in Viridian Forest, its own strength was quite remarkable.
After Mega Evolution, not to say it could be of great use, but in terms of speed, it was absolutely unmatched, enough to serve as Pikachu's flying mount.
Cooperating with the flightless Pikachu, it could achieve an effect of 1+1 > 2.
The last member was the Aerodactyl caught in Oreburgh City.
Since being revived, this guy's strength was in a slow recovery phase, so logically, Ash shouldn't have paid it much attention.
But under the guidance of Professor Oak, the Champion expert, and the special care of many Pokémon in the backyard, Aerodactyl's recovery speed was greatly accelerated.
According to Professor Oak's original words, this guy's strength could at least reach that of an ordinary Gym Leader's main Pokémon, i.e., at the level of Gym Leader Hyouta's Aerodactyl.
Plus, this guy could fly, so after careful consideration, he brought it along.
"Roar~"
Seeing its Trainer, Aerodactyl stood quite obediently in place, like a well-behaved baby.
"Hmm... the training was successful!" Ash commented somewhat wryly, as Aerodactyl had been trained to be overly obedient.
"Alright, I let you all out today to tell you that there will be a tough battle tomorrow, so we must be prepared today!" Scanning each Pokémon one by one, he said with an unusually serious expression.
"Roar~ (Yeah!)"
Aerodactyl, looking like a well-behaved baby, opened its huge mouth and responded loudly, making Pikachu and the other Pokémon look at it with strange expressions.
They also looked at Sceptile with odd expressions, as if asking: What did you and Scizor do to Aerodactyl?
"Cha~ (Not my fault)"
Sceptile bit the twig and turned its head away, avoiding the uncomfortable gaze.
But when looking at Aerodactyl's figure, it shook its head sympathetically—who let Aerodactyl encounter that Weird Old Man and his terrifying companion.
Tsk tsk tsk!!!
Just reminiscing about it made Sceptile's body tremble uncontrollably.