Ash had already defeated two Gyms—and even recruited two Gym Leaders as companions.
Too strong.
Ash and his group continued traveling toward Vermilion City. Misty, however, couldn't stop talking about the luxury cruise ship S.S. Anne that docked there, reminding Ash and Brock about it from time to time.
"Hey, Ash."
"I heard there are lots of Trainers around here," Misty said, nudging Ash with her shoulder and blinking mischievously.
"Kehehe… that suits me perfectly." Ash grinned.
To him, those Trainers were simply EXP fodder.
"Pika!" (+1)
Pikachu adjusted Ash's crooked cap.
Behind them, the steady Brock watched the two of them joking around.
It felt like a responsible older brother watching his younger siblings play.
"Pidgeotto, Quick Attack!"
Ash found another Trainer and began his level-grinding journey.
Right now, only Pikachu had reached the Elite Tier, at Lv. 30.
Current Team Levels
Pikachu — Lv. 30
Gyarados — Lv. 26
Pidgeotto — Lv. 23
Butterfree — Lv. 15
Ash planned to raise Gyarados and Pidgeotto to Elite Tier before reaching Vermilion City.
He still had five Junior Rare Candies in his System Backpack, so he wanted to use them as late as possible.
"Pidgeotto, Twister!" ×3
"Gyarados, Crunch!" ×3
"Butterfree, Sleep Powder—then Poison Powder!" ×3
"You're too strong… We're completely no match for you."
The two opposing Trainers looked pale as they glanced at the adorable Butterfree floating beside Ash.
They could only surrender helplessly.
These dirty tactics were the Trainer's orders, not my fault, Butterfree seemed to say.
I'm just the one carrying them out.
These two were already the 19th victims.
Misty stood to the side, not even daring to say she was Ash's companion.
She was worried the opponents might get angry enough to start a fight.
At first, when Ash used Pikachu, the battles were fairly normal.
Later, when he started using Pidgeotto and Gyarados, things became a little strange—but still acceptable.
But once Butterfree came out…
Even though its level was lower than the opponent's Pokémon, Ash used pure tactical warfare.
Sleep Powder.
Poison Powder.
He slowly wore the opponent down bit by bit.
And since the opposing Pokémon didn't even have long-range attacks, they could only helplessly watch Butterfree kite them endlessly.
The entire battle rhythm was completely under Ash's control.
"Freee~!"
(Don't blame me. Talk to my Trainer.)
Butterfree floated beside Ash.
Its bright red eyes and cute voice made it impossible for the opponents to get angry at it.
So instead, they silently cursed Ash.
In truth, Ash didn't really want to fight like this either.
If Pikachu fought them, it would be a complete power gap, and the experience gained would be tiny.
That's why he used his other Pokémon instead.
But Butterfree had a low level and limited moves.
Without TMs, these were the only tactics available.
"Not really. Butterfree is just very strong," Ash replied honestly.
After all, a Butterfree with Elite Four–tier potential was nothing like an ordinary Butterfree.
Many Trainers who had battled it were forced to admit:
A Pokémon commonly found by the roadside could actually become this powerful.
"Ash, take a break," Brock said, handing him some hot food.
Ash smiled and accepted it.
He first let his Pokémon recover their stamina.
After all, they were the ones doing the hard work.
"Ash has a really strong bond with his Pokémon," Brock remarked.
In Brock's eyes, Ash might love battling, but he always paid attention to his Pokémon's condition.
Pokémon were companions, not tools used only for fighting.
"Yeah," Misty agreed with a nod.
By noon, Ash reviewed his battle results.
He had fought over twenty battles that morning.
Team Progress
Pikachu → Lv. 31
Pidgeotto → Lv. 25 (6 battles)
Gyarados → Lv. 28
Butterfree → Lv. 22
Butterfree had improved the most.
Ash had successfully raised all his Pokémon's levels—
But he had also become notorious in the area.
Almost no Trainer who battled Ash walked away smiling.
"Ash, are you trying to challenge a win streak?" Brock asked while packing up their things.
Ash paused.
He hadn't actually thought about that.
But now that Brock mentioned it…
There seemed to be an NPC Trainer nearby attempting a 100-win streak using a Sandshrew that could even use Fissure.
Did someone gift him that Pokémon or something?
After packing up, Ash continued toward Vermilion City.
"Hey! There he is—the guy with the red hat!"
Seven or eight Trainers suddenly approached from the side, pointing at Ash.
Seriously?
They lost, so now they brought backup?
Did they learn this from the "Phoenix Chick" Spearow strategy?
"Pika pika!"
Pikachu sensed the hostility, electricity sparking from its cheeks.
Misty and Brock frowned.
They recognized the two Trainers leading the group—
They were among those Ash had defeated earlier.
Clearly they weren't satisfied with losing and had come for revenge.
I told you not to use such dirty tactics…
If you're going to use them, save them for official Gym battles.
Gym Leaders would adapt their strength anyway.
"What do you want?" Ash asked.
Seriously—what era was this?
People still did the "Wait after school, I'll call people to block you" routine?
Unfortunately for them—
He was the one being blocked.
"You're the one from Pallet Town who beat more than a dozen Trainers in a row?" a burly Trainer asked.
"That's right. A man never changes his name."
"I am Gary Oak of Pallet Town."
Ash proudly patted his chest.
Borrowing Gary's name for a bit.
When traveling outside—
You can give yourself whatever identity you want.
"I'm Wang Laoji," the burly Trainer introduced himself.
"Trainers who challenge long win streaks like you are pretty rare."
"So let me see how strong you really are."
"Alright," Ash said after a moment of thought.
The guy had brought so many Trainers over to deliver EXP.
Looks like Gyarados might reach Elite Tier soon.
"Single battle. One Pokémon each. The battle ends when one Pokémon can no longer fight."
Wang Laoji threw a Poké Ball.
"Go! Ariados!"
Pokémon: Ariados — Lv. 23
Pidgeotto could instantly defeat it.
But Ash didn't want to use it.
With a simple press of the Poké Ball button, he enlarged it and released—
"Go, Gyarados!"
"Why not use Pidgeotto?" Misty wondered.
"Flying-type versus Bug-type would be easy."
Neither she nor Brock could quite keep up with Ash's thinking.
Wang Laoji was already intimidated—but he forced himself to continue.
After all, his Pokémon had dominated battles across the entire region.
"Gyarados, Ice Fang!"
"Gyarados, Waterfall!"
"Use Bite!"
"I can't fight this at all!" ×8
"This kid is evil!" ×6
"My Pokémon are getting tortured!" ×5
"ROOOAR!"
Gyarados roared toward the sky.
Its aura grew even more imposing, creating an overwhelming pressure.
Ash had already used an Ability Patch on Gyarados.
Its Ability was now Moxie.
(When this Pokémon knocks out an opponent, its Attack rises by one stage.)
But now—
Eight or nine opposing Pokémon had challenged Gyarados one after another in a gauntlet battle.
None of them managed to defeat it.
Instead, they only kept triggering Moxie, raising Gyarados's Attack again and again.
Gyarados looked around.
Every opposing Pokémon was lying on the ground.
A proud glint flashed in its eyes as it roared again.
Its meaning was roughly:
"I can still take on ten more!"
"Everyone here is trash!"
[ New Mission Triggered]
Quest: Achieve a 100-win streak
…What?
Ash blinked.
Why was he suddenly the one challenging a win streak?
Wasn't he supposed to be challenging Gyms instead?
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