Leaving Cerulean City, Ash and his companions pressed on toward their next destination Vermilion City. Along the way, they heard rumors of a local trainer known as "A.J. the Beast Tamer." Traveling with a Sandshrew, he had reportedly defeated nearly a hundred challengers in a row, earning himself quite a reputation.
"A hundred-win trainer? Sounds pretty impressive," Brock said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Misty, however, was unimpressed. "Hmph, he probably just hasn't run into any truly strong opponents yet. Right, Ash?"
Ash simply smiled without giving a direct answer, but he was genuinely curious about this "A.J. the Beast Tamer."
Being intimately familiar with the original story, Ash knew that this kind of isolated, "behind closed doors" winning streak often concealed significant weaknesses.
As expected, they soon came upon a conspicuous tent pitched at a fork in the road. A sign stood proudly beside it, reading: A.J. the Beast Tamer: 98 Consecutive Wins! Who is the next challenger?
Outside the tent, a boy wearing a vest stood with his arms crossed, looking quite arrogant. This was A.J. At his feet, a remarkably well-trained Sandshrew watched them with sharp, piercing eyes.
When A.J. saw the trio, his eyes lit up. His gaze settled on the Pikachu resting on Ash's shoulder, and a confident smirk played across his lips. "Oh? New challengers? It looks like my ninety-ninth victory has just arrived. The rules are simple: one-on-one. Do you have the guts to accept my challenge?"
Misty was about to snap back, but Ash stepped forward first, his expression calm. "I accept. However, I'd like to have a little wager on this match."
"A wager?" A.J. arched an eyebrow.
"If you win, I'll give you a recipe for High-grade Pokémon food," Ash proposed. "But if I win, you have to seriously consider a piece of advice I'm going to give you."
A.J. laughed, full of confidence. "Hmph, whatever! It's not like I can lose anyway! Sandshrew, get ready for battle!"
Ash patted the Pikachu on his shoulder. "Pikachu, I'm leaving this one to you. It's time to test the results of our special training."
"Pika!" Pikachu hopped into the center of the field, his fighting spirit burning bright.
"Sandshrew, show them what we're made of! Use Poison Sting!" A.J. barked the first order. Sandshrew let out a dense barrage of purple Poison Sting needles.
"Pikachu, dodge it with Quick Attack and close the distance!" Ash commanded calmly. Pikachu transformed into a streak of yellow lightning, easily weaving through the needles and instantly closing in on Sandshrew.
"He's fast!" A.J. was startled, but his reactions were sharp. "Sandshrew, use Harden, then Scratch!"
Sandshrew's body took on a metallic luster as its defense increased, and it lunged at Pikachu with its claws out.
"Don't trade blows directly, Pikachu! Use Double Team!" Ash ordered.
In an instant, seven or eight identical images of Pikachu surrounded Sandshrew. Sandshrew's Scratch hit nothing but air.
"What?!" A.J. froze. He had never seen a move used quite like that before.
"Now, Thunder Shock!" Every image of Pikachu released a discharge of electricity simultaneously. Though the power was spread thin, the sheer interference was overwhelming.
Sandshrew began to look flustered as the electricity crackled around it.
"Don't panic, Sandshrew! Use Rollout!" A.J. tried to regain control. Sandshrew curled into a ball, utilizing Rollout to initiate an indiscriminate attack while building up speed.
"Pikachu, track its trajectory and meet it with Iron Tail!" Ash gave an unexpected command.
Pikachu's tail was instantly enveloped in a metallic sheen. He timed the movement perfectly, watching the path of the rolling Sandshrew, and swung with everything he had!
Bang!
The Iron Tail slammed accurately into the rolling Sandshrew! It was super effective! The momentum was shattered, and Sandshrew let out a pained cry as it was sent tumbling across the ground, heavily damaged.
"How is this possible?! Sandshrew's Rollout was actually broken?!" A.J. stared in disbelief. This was his most prized tactic, one that had never failed him before.
"The finishing blow, Thunderbolt!" Ash didn't give him a moment to breathe.
The powerful current struck the immobile Sandshrew squarely. Sandshrew collapsed, unable to continue the fight.
"San... Sandshrew!" A.J. rushed over and scooped up his partner, his face a mask of shock and defeat. His ninety-eight-win streak had been ended just like that.
Ash walked over and handed A.J. a Potion. "Your Sandshrew is very well-trained. Its foundation is incredibly solid."
A.J. took the Potion with a conflicted heart and began spraying it onto Sandshrew. He whispered, "...Thank you. You... you're strong. I lost."
Ash looked at him, his tone becoming serious. "A.J., you are indeed strong. I can see the bond and the effort you and Sandshrew have put in. But have you ever stopped to think why your streak was broken so easily today?"
A.J. looked up, confusion in his eyes.
"Because you've stayed here, waiting for challengers to come to you," Ash said, gesturing to their surroundings. "Most of the people you face are either novices or trainers of your own level. Your tactics work against them,
but the moment you encounter an experienced opponent with a versatile strategy or someone who completely counters your attributes your style falls apart. Like today, you were clearly unprepared for the speed and special moves of an Electric-type Pokémon."
A.J. opened his mouth to argue, but he realized Ash was right. He really hadn't left this spot in a very long time.
"True strength isn't built by defeating countless similar opponents in the same place," Ash continued. "You need to go out there and see all kinds of trainers. You need to face every type of Pokémon, experience failure,
learn from your mistakes, and constantly adapt. The Kanto Region is vast. There are powerful Gym Leaders out there, the legendary Elite Four, and even powerhouses from other regions. If you stay here, your strength will stagnate, and you'll bury the potential you and Sandshrew share."
A.J.'s stubborn gaze slowly shifted into deep reflection. He looked down at the Sandshrew in his arms, which had regained some energy. Sandshrew looked back at him, its eyes seemingly filled with a newfound longing for the world beyond.
Ash finished by saying, "I've given you my advice. Whether you stay here to maintain a false myth of being 'unbeatable' or find the courage to go out and see the wide world with your Sandshrew that choice is entirely up to you."
With that, Ash, Brock, and Misty turned to leave, leaving A.J. standing alone, gazing into the distance in silence.
[Ding! Host has defeated A.J., ending his winning streak and providing key life guidance. Reward: 300 World Origin Points.]
[Current World Origin Points: 5000.]
On the road, Misty sighed with emotion. "Ash, what you said back there was really meaningful. If A.J. actually listens, he'll definitely become much stronger in the future."
Brock nodded in agreement. "Yeah. For trainers and Pokémon to grow together, they truly need a broader stage."
Ash smiled but said nothing more. He hoped A.J. would make the right choice. Their journey would continue, with more challenges and encounters waiting just ahead.
Now that these World Origin Points have accumulated to a significant amount, it's time to spend them. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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