"Brock, there's no need to go that far," Chihong said, stopping Brock, who was about to kneel down in gratitude. "I'm just showing you how to make energy blocks. This method may seem rare to you, but it's actually a common way of preparing food for Pokémon in the Chengdu region."
"Really?" Brock's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Really—more real than Pearl!" Chihong grinned. "Actually, making energy cubes is simple. All you need is an energy cube machine. Of course, making delicious ones is a different story. That part depends entirely on your talent. And, well, not everyone has the same amount of that."
"Don't worry, Red. I'm full of talent! I'm aiming to become the world's best Pokémon Breeder. If I didn't believe in my own abilities, I wouldn't have chosen this path," Brock said confidently. Then, scratching his head, he added, "But where exactly can I get one of those red energy cube machines?"
"No need to buy it. I've got an extra one right here. You can have it." Chihong took off his backpack and pulled out a small machine—no larger than 30 centimeters—and a booklet. "This one's yours. I'll also give you a few basic formulas for energy blocks of different types. Once you get the hang of these, and if you're truly gifted, you'll be able to develop your own perfect recipes."
(Actually, I bought it from the Elf Mall. It wasn't even expensive—only cost 100 points.)
"Chihong, I really... thank you!" Brock's eyes sparkled as he took the cube machine and booklet with both hands. "I'll never forget your teachings. I swear I'll make energy cubes as tasty as yours!"
"It's no big deal," Chihong replied with a casual wave. "I hope you achieve your dream. Think of this as my way of sponsoring your future."
Though he knew Brock was talented, Chihong also understood that replicating the energy cubes from the System Elf Mall would be next to impossible. Still, he believed that Brock could make cubes that were perfect for this world.
"Yeah! I'll definitely do it!"
After dinner and a quick wash-up, the group settled into their tents for the night. Everyone prepared to rest—except for one person.
Silently, a figure slipped away from the tents and walked toward the riverbank. Under the glittering stars above, he sat alone, deep in thought.
That figure was Ash.
To be honest, Ash was struggling. Despite his cheerful front after the battle earlier, the truth was that he couldn't sleep. The match against Chihong had rattled him.
He'd been feeling pretty confident after winning five gym badges. Maybe too confident. But the duel with Chihong had shown him what real strength looked like. That overwhelming pressure... it wasn't like anything he'd experienced before. Even though he'd faced crushing defeats in the past, the stark difference in strength this time had shaken him to the core.
What troubled him the most was the Fire Dinosaur—Charmeleon. Its behavior today had been unsettling. Ash was beginning to fear that if he didn't improve quickly, he might lose his Pokémon's trust—or worse, their loyalty.
"No... I have to get stronger," Ash muttered to himself. "If I don't, I'll lose them."
"Pika-pi~"
A soft voice reached his ears.
It was Pikachu.
He had woken up and, realizing Ash wasn't beside him, had come out of the tent to look for him. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he hurried over when he saw Ash sitting alone by the river and tugged gently at his pant leg.
Ash reached out and patted Pikachu's small head.
"Don't worry, Pikachu. I'm okay. I just can't sleep. I've been thinking... do you think we can ever catch up to Red's strength?"
"Pika, Pikachu!" Pikachu responded without hesitation. Although he didn't fully understand what Ash was worried about, he beat his little chest with determination (does Pikachu have a chest?) to say, "As long as I'm here, we'll fly past him someday."
---
The Next Morning
At dawn, Chihong was the first to emerge from his tent. Even though he'd practiced late into the night—testing out his new special abilities and earning a few dozen experience points—he still got up right at 7 a.m. It was part of his daily discipline.
Stretching his arms and yawning, he washed up and began his morning exercises. Before long, Ash and Brock also climbed out of their tents, still a little groggy from sleep.
After a hearty breakfast prepared by Brock, Chihong packed up and got ready to leave.
"You're really not going to travel with us?" Ash asked, a trace of disappointment in his voice.
He had thought it through during the night. From now on, he would treat Red—Chihong—as his second target. The first? Well, that was obvious: becoming the greatest Pokémon trainer.
He also wanted to ask Robert for advice on how to train and raise his Pokémon more effectively.
"Yeah, Red, why not stick around a bit longer?" Brock chimed in. "I still have a ton of questions about energy blocks."
Chihong smiled and shook his head. "I prefer traveling alone. As for training and raising Pokémon, I can only guide you on the basics. The rest, you'll have to figure out yourself. Everyone's path and methods are different."
He turned toward Ash.
"Just remember what I said, Ash. Trust your partners. Believe in them, and they'll give you surprises beyond your imagination. That's what you really need to learn."
Then he looked at Brock.
"And you, Brock... I've already given you all I can. The rest is practice. Even though my breeding knowledge came mostly from books and trial-and-error—well, with a little help from the system—you just need to keep working hard."
"Believe in your partners..."
Ash repeated the words under his breath, then looked up with renewed determination.
"Red, I won't forget what you said. I won't stop believing in my Pokémon. I'll train them properly, and I swear—when we meet again, I'll surprise you. We'll have a proper battle. A real one."
Brock nodded and clenched his fists.
"You're right, Chihong. I'll put everything into practice."
(The author complains: "Brock's squinting eyes don't show any expression at all!")
"I'm looking forward to it," Chihong said with a smile.
With that, he pulled out a Poké Ball and tossed it forward. A dazzling light flashed as Pidgeot appeared in front of them, majestic as always. Chihong stepped up and stood gracefully on its back.
He waved at them one last time.
"Take care, everyone!"
With a powerful flap of its wings, Pidgeot soared into the sky, carrying Chihong higher and higher until he disappeared into the clouds.
Ash and Brock stood there, watching the sky long after Red was gone, the wind gently rustling the grass around them.
A new determination burned in their eyes.
They knew their journey had just begun.