On the beach of Penggan Island, the expressions on the faces of the delinquent boys and Serena were utterly dumbfounded, as they couldn't quite grasp what had just transpired.
Serena's Fennekin was about to be taken down, yet somehow, the delinquent boy B's Fearow was instantly knocked out instead!
Who did this?! Who!!
"You guys, bullying a down-and-out Pokémon, and bullying a girl too, don't you have any sense of manliness?" A cheerful voice rang out, and that broad back immediately shielded Serena.
Serena didn't even know where this person had come from. In just a blink of an eye, he had suddenly appeared in front of her.
Judging from his words, he seemed to be on her side, and... for some unknown reason, seeing this back, Serena felt a very familiar sensation.
Even though she hadn't seen this man's face, her senses kept telling her that she had never met him before. However, the deepest intuition of a woman told her that not only did she know this person, but she knew him in a way etched into her soul.
What was with this contradictory feeling?
"Who do you think you are? Daring to meddle in the affairs of our delinquent group? We're aiming to challenge the Southern Cross Star and dominate the Orange League!" Delinquent boy A said indignantly.
"Dominate the Orange League? You guys? I'm not underestimating you, but with your level of strength, you probably wouldn't survive a single move against the Southern Cross Star," Ash retorted mercilessly. For people like them, who lacked morals, conscience, and upbringing, Ash wasn't going to show any mercy.
Besides, what Ash said was true. Although the Orange League is much weaker compared to other leagues, it's technically just a subsidiary of Johto and Kanto, and even the Alola League is far stronger than the Orange League.
In the Orange League, there's no position equivalent to the Elite Four. Even the Southern Cross Star, which the delinquents mentioned they want to challenge, consists only of four, essentially equivalent to the gym leaders of other leagues.
Once you defeat the Southern Cross Star, you can proceed to challenge the chief Trainer of the Orange League, Yusi. Defeating Yusi means you've dominated the Orange League.
This generation's chief Trainer seems to be the strongest in history, and it's said that since he took the position, he's never been defeated.
If he could, Ash would really like to have a match with him, but he's here for a more important mission and doesn't have the time to challenge the Orange League.
Overall, the strength of the Southern Cross Star in the Orange League is comparable to the gym leaders of other leagues, but in reality, their status is equivalent to the Elites of other leagues, and the chief Trainer represents the Champion's position.
No matter their strength, their status is there, okay?
Whether it's status or strength, they aren't something these three scoundrels can mess with. Don't be fooled by that Hitmonchan's punch breaking Ember looking mighty; in reality, Fennekin is at just the Newbie Peak level.
That Hitmonchan, despite appearing flashy and superficial, is said to be at least an Advanced Level Pokémon, akin to a big boss for that novice girl.
Besides the Hitmonchan, the other two Pokémon are at most at the Advanced Junior Level, and their six stats can be described as downright miserable.
A high level implies having been through numerous battles, but lousy six stats indicate a lack of care or no cultivation at all, basically left to grow naturally with battles to force their level up through experience.
Levels achieved this way are no different from flashy skills; even a decently trained Ordinary Level Pokémon could take these three down.
If the newbie girl behind him had even half a month more of training time, she could have taken these three down on her own without his help.
"You there, how dare you look down on us! Zi Tai, get him!!" Delinquent boy A shouted at the remaining delinquent boy.
Fearow had already lost its fighting ability due to the previous Quick Attack, leaving only Hitmonchan and Beedrill on the field.
Two against one, the advantage is theirs!
"Go, Beedrill, use Twineedle!"
"Bzz!" Beedrill buzzed as it flew toward Pikachu, while Hitmonchan also closed in, the two Pokémon attacking Pikachu from both sides.
"Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
"Pika—Chu-Pikachu!!" Pikachu's back glowed with a metallic sheen, then in a flash, it darted forward, disappearing in an instant!
Both Beedrill and Hitmonchan suddenly lost their target. The two Pokémon looked around, unable to find a trace of Pikachu, only feeling a whirlwind swirling around them. Was this... the storm caused by Pikachu's movements?
What a joke! How could a yellow rat do such a thing!
In the next moment, Pikachu appeared between Beedrill and Hitmonchan. Neither Pokémon had time to turn before being struck by Iron Tail, sending them flying!
The two Pokémon were blown backward, crashing into the two delinquent boys, sending them flying as well!