Chapter 290: The True Protagonist Pokémon!
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander
"Swoosh—"
Ash's collar was grabbed, and he leaned back, about to give Gary a motherly Seismic Toss. But Gary's body suddenly shrank back, and seizing the opportunity as Ash adjusted his posture, he instantly broke free. Stumbling backward, Gary put some distance between them.
Ash only felt his palm turn strangely slick, and in a moment of inattention, Gary had already slipped away.
It was like a Treecko detaching its tail to escape, or as slippery as a Barboach.
"Hmph, you're still a little too naive."
Gary smirked smugly, thinking to himself, *Does anyone really think I'd let myself get hit by Ash's Seismic Toss?*
Although his physical strength was slightly inferior to Ash's, his freewheeling way of life on the road had made him quite a few enemies. If nothing else, his escape skills were naturally maxed out.
Seeing Ash about to charge at him again like a raging bull, Gary's face darkened, and he quickly held up a hand to stop him.
"Hey, we're Trainers! How can we engage in something as vulgar as a fistfight!? I see you've also gotten eight Badges and are heading to the Indigo League Conference, but with those amateurish skills of yours, you'll probably be eliminated in the first round. Hmph, in that case, let's have a battle today, and I'll make you submit to my incredible strength ahead of schedule!!"
Hearing this, Ash paused, slightly stunned. It seemed that since the first day he set out on his journey, he hadn't had a single real battle with Gary.
Immediately, his gaze grew fiery.
Gary was his childhood friend and lifelong rival. With his big brother Green backing him up, his strength might even be greater than his own. To be able to battle him...
At this thought, Ash took a wide step forward, slapped his chest, and declared:
"I'm afraid you won't even make it to the finals of the Indigo League Conference! Fine! I accept your challenge!"
He also wanted to have a match with Gary!
Seeing the two of them mark out their positions on the grassland, facing off from a distance, the two great rookies from Pallet Town were about to have a major showdown. Not only did Brock and the others swallow nervously, watching with tense expressions, but even Professor Oak inside the Research Institute heard the commotion, temporarily set aside the three feathers, and ran out to spectate.
On one side was Ash, whom he had watched grow up, a boy of remarkable aptitude who was progressing at lightning speed.
On the other side was his grandson, whose name was...
"Ahem, Ash, what is my grandson's name?"
The Professor suddenly asked.
Everyone: "?"
*Are you here to liven up the atmosphere before the match?*
"..."
In the Soul Space, however, Red revealed a familiar smile. He never expected this Professor Oak to say the exact same thing as the one from the video game world.
*Everyone clearly knows his grandson's name, yet he's asking me to name him right before he sets out?*
Of course, on the other side, Green's face was livid.
Everyone ignored Professor Oak's antics and refocused on the tense battle.
"Hmph, since this is an unofficial battle, let's make it a 1v1. I'll defeat you in our real duel, in front of countless people!"
Gary smiled arrogantly, taking a Poké Ball from his waist and tossing and fiddling with it in his hand.
He was just as eager for a battle with Ash!
"I'm sending out the true Protagonist of this Pokémon World!"
At this, Ash raised an eyebrow. *Protagonist?*
It looked like it would be his starter, the turtle Pokémon. He just didn't know if it was the Wartortle he had seen before or if it had already evolved into its final form, Blastoise.
But it didn't matter. If it was a Water-type, it was time for his specialty!
Without hesitation, Ash gestured with his thumb and shouted, "Pikachu, I choose you!!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu leaped from the side to stand before Ash, brimming with battle intent as electric current sparked from its cheeks.
It had only been pretending to be asleep earlier when the Sky Overlord, Aerodactyl, was present. That ferocious bird of the sky naturally had a type advantage over an electric mouse like it.
It wasn't that Pikachu was scared; it was simply disgusted.
But the moment the other left, it immediately woke up. Now, fighting a water turtle? Pikachu was a natural expert!
"Oh~ an electric mouse, is it~"
Gary naturally knew that this electric mouse was Ash's starter Pokémon. Although he appeared dismissive and full of disdain on the surface, he didn't dare be careless. He threw out his own Poké Ball.
"Bang!"
A red light flashed, but what appeared was not a blue turtle, but a small, yellowish-brown Pokémon.
It stood on all fours, its round head playful and cute. Its purplish-black eyes held a noble elegance, and its face resembled a fox or a small dog. A thick ruff of yellow fur encircled its neck, and behind it was a large, brush-like tail.
It was an Eevee.
"Bui!!"
The Eevee's expression was spirited, its small eyes filled with battle intent. It threw its head back and let out a loud cry, its cute voice tinged with a ferocious roar. It was small, but its aura was extraordinary.
"An Eevee?"
Ash remembered that Gary had sent out an Eevee in Saffron City.
But just an Eevee? Could that really be considered a Protagonist of the Pokémon World?
"The true Protagonist of the Pokémon World has always been my Pikachu!"
Ash immediately jumped to his Pikachu's defense.
Gary gave a smug smile and said:
"Hmph, Ash, that's where you're wrong. According to this year's statistics, Eevee is now at the top of the list of the ten great Protagonist Pokémon! And your electric mouse is merely in third place."
First place was Eevee.
Second place was Mew.
Only then, in third place, came Pikachu.
"What kind of garbage ranking is that? It's completely meaningless!" Ash retorted immediately.
Pikachu was the eternal Deity!
"Oh? Is that so?"
Gary revealed a taunting smile. Right before a match was the best time to shatter an opponent's mental fortitude. This was a lesson Green had taught him.
It was said that in the past, Green had relied on taunting Red before their battles until he was so ashamed he wished he could find a hole to crawl into. Only then was he able to achieve consecutive victories and completely dominate Red.
"My Eevee has eight evolutions, you know. It's a darling of the world~ Not only that, but in the Alola Region, it has a unique Z-Move~ It's even said that the possibility of an ultra-rare Partner Eevee has been discovered, with abilities that are transcendent~"
Gary's gaze locked onto Ash as he teased him, word by word:
"So, what's so special about that common electric mouse of yours~?"
Ash: "..."
After some thought, he really couldn't come up with an answer.
Besides being gluttonous, lazy, and loving to sleep, he really couldn't name any special abilities...
"Hmph, but in the future, my Pikachu will surely wield the Divine Thunder of the Nine Heavens and become the Lord of Thunder!!"
Even if he couldn't come up with anything, he couldn't lose in terms of momentum. Ash roared, and in response, Pikachu also got down on all fours in an aggressive stance!
"Pika!!"
"Hehe, can't win with your words, so you're resorting to violence, are you~"
Gary was still dishing it out. Then his gaze hardened. His hand, held up before him like a claw, suddenly clenched into a fist, as if crushing something. His expression turned fierce, and a sinister smile curled his lips.
"Fine then, let me show you what a true Protagonist Pokémon is!!"
The battle began!
Pikachu and Eevee immediately struck similar starting poses, their eyes filled with battle intent!
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!!"
"Eevee, we'll use Quick Attack too!!"
As the words fell, two streaks of white light flashed across the grassland, charging toward each other at extreme speed.
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