"Tch~"
Shinji spoke the truth.
Gary, however, didn't like hearing so-called truths. He took out a Poké Ball and put Blastoise inside.
There was no need to continue this match.
This guy had appeared out of nowhere.
In Marsh City, their battle was evenly matched, but now he had given up on the idea of playing and was wholeheartedly training his Pokémon. This guy's improvement speed was no less than his own; his Wartortle evolved into Blastoise, and Gary's Sneasel evolved into Weavile on the same day.
His Torterra was completely ineffective against ordinary Fire-type Pokémon, and his Arcanine couldn't utilize its advantages at all; ultimately, he needed to use Ice-type moves to inflict fatal damage.
Furthermore,
Shinji had somehow obtained a Drapion.
Drapion was already quite powerful and could use Toxic Spikes.
Gary was no longer the same Gary.
He would never repeat the mistake he made in his previous battle against Shiraha.
He could already skillfully deflect this type of move using high-speed spin.
The long battles also allowed Shigeru to gradually understand the strengths and weaknesses of his team, and he acquired many Pokémon he hadn't obtained before, also teaching Blastoise multi-type moves.
No matter which Pokémon he faced, he was now a formidable opponent.
During his battle with Shinji, Shinji also gained a deep understanding.
While not being a rich kid, Shinji naturally couldn't afford to buy TMs, but he followed an elite path, and the talent of his Pokémon was exceptional.
"Shigeru!"
"Is it really you?"
At the same time, a handsome young man wearing a hat rushed over after hearing about an exciting match.
He was somewhat surprised to see Shigeru in the match.
He hadn't expected to see him on this ship.
"Hmm? Ash."
"He's on the ship too?"
Bai Yu frowned; Ash's appearance wasn't good news.
This guy's appearance was mostly accompanied by danger, rarely any opportunities.
In the Pokémon world, he was undoubtedly a chosen one.
Red and Blue Future's achievements are indeed outstanding, achievements that Ash could hardly surpass even in ten years. However, Ash took a full ten years to stand on the Kanto Region stage, defeat all the regional champions head-on, and become the undisputed strongest trainer.
Besides this, Ash possesses a special ability:
a friend of legendary Pokémon!
No protagonist from any generation could possibly encounter so many legendary Pokémon.
From the creator god to the legendary birds, Ash has seen almost all of them. Unfortunately, Ash's memories are forever tied to the Kanto Region, and specifically to his battle with Leon.
Ash's appearance was likely accompanied by the Team Rocket trio.
Bai Yu casually glanced around and quickly spotted James dressed as a girl, accompanied by a Pokémon dressed in revealing clothing with its face painted black. Standing beside them was Meowth, a Pokémon that looked like a little girl.
The Team Rocket trio, hailed as the true protagonists throughout the generations,
had indeed appeared.
It seems this journey on the Saint Alexandria wasn't going to be peaceful. "
...
Who did I think it was? Isn't this Ash, the loser from Pallet Town?"
"Ash, how many badges have you got now? I've got a whole six Gym Badges!"
Gary looked at Ash running up to him, proudly showing off his badge count.
Besides these six badges, Gary had defeated quite a few Gym Leaders.
In Gary's mind, those few low-level Gym Leaders were nothing; he didn't even bother to get their badges before turning around and leaving the city.
He only cared about the eight major badges and the Macha City Gym Badge; all other badges were worthless in Gary's eyes.
"Six badges~"
"I've only got three badges so far..."
Ash's voice suddenly became much softer; he thought he had caught up with Gary.
He hadn't expected the gap between them to be so large; Gary had already obtained a full six Gym Badges.
The slightly tanned boy beside Ash was also somewhat helpless.
As for the orange-haired girl, she didn't want to expose Ash's lie.
Of those four gym badges, Ash obtained Brock's by trickery, and she gave him hers. As for the other two badges, only the Vermilion City Gym badge was earned through Ash's skillful command; the rest were obtained through shortcuts.
In other words, the badges Ash received were of very low value.
Misty wanted to say it, but she didn't want to dampen Ash's rare fighting spirit.
"Four badges? You didn't mean to beat the four weakest gyms, did you?"
"Ash, you should learn from Red what Pokémon battles are all about."
"You don't even understand type advantages and disadvantages. I really don't know how you defeated those four gym leaders."
Gary looked at Ash with a mocking expression.
He knew Ash's battle level better than anyone.
Every battle he fought was a complete failure; he didn't even understand the most basic type advantages and disadvantages.
How could he get four badges like that? Xiao Shi could only suspect that the four Gym Leaders were holding back.
No, they were deliberately letting him win.
"What did you say?!"
Xiao Misty clenched her fists upon hearing this.
She hadn't expected Xiao Shi to be so harsh.
Xiao Misty had followed Ash all the way, witnessing his growth firsthand, but Xiao Shi made all that growth seem worthless.
Xiao Shi ignored Xiao Misty and walked towards Ash.
"Red said that you would become a worthy opponent for me in the future."
"But with only four badges, what right do you have to defeat me in the future!"
"Ash, if your growth is still like this a month from now, don't even dream of becoming a Pokémon Master."
Xiao Shi stopped, said these words, and then turned to leave.
"Xiao Shi!"
Xiao Shi stopped upon hearing this.
"I will definitely defeat you and become the Kanto Region champion!"
Ash's eyes gleamed; at this moment, only this thought occupied his mind.
After hearing these words, Gary's lips curled into a smile, and he ignored the other person.
He had been just as naive as Ash before, believing the world was simple and that he could defeat any trainer, until he met White Feather.
Witnessing White Feather's battle with Green, he realized how far he still had to go to become the strongest.
Now, his mind was filled only with becoming stronger, becoming the champion, and standing at the pinnacle of this world.
"Gary..."
Ash looked at Gary's retreating figure.
He felt that the guy he had grown up with had changed.
Ash's intuition told him that Gary had become stronger.
Very strong. Could he really defeat him now?
Even Ash himself began to waver.
Shinji, watching Gary walk away, looked at Ash again.
Shinji didn't like to meddle in other people's business; he just found Ash quite interesting.
He walked up, his gaze landing on the Pikachu beside Ash.
Unexpectedly, this seemingly unremarkable Pikachu possessed remarkable talent.
No wonder Gary said the other person would become his future rival; they certainly have some skill.
Shinji thought to himself, then slowly said, "This Pikachu has good potential, it's just a pity the trainer is a hothead."
"Are you the trainer who battled Gary earlier?"
Ash arrived a bit late, only witnessing the final battle between Blastoise and Weavile.
He also checked Weavile's information in his Pokédex,
learning that the Pokémon was from the Sinnoh Region.
"My name is Shinji, Shinji from the Sinnoh Region!"
Shinji said, then walked past Ash.
For some reason, he had a feeling he would have a battle with that guy someday.
That match would be unforgettable.
"What?! So impolite!"
Misty looked at Shinji's attitude and felt inexplicably angry.
"It is indeed impolite, but both of them are very strong."
"Both of them challenged my gym before, and I lost both matches."
Brock still remembered the two.
In that match, he had almost used the full power of his Pokémon.
Unfortunately, he still lost to those two, despite the type advantage.
But in Brock's opinion, both of them possessed exceptional fighting skills and would become extremely powerful trainers in the future, a prediction that had now come true.
As for Ash…
the gap between him and those two was still quite large.
That Weavile alone was enough to sweep aside all of Ash's Pokémon.
As for Gary's strength, Blastoise was indeed weak against Pikachu, but in Brock's view, Gary might not even need that Blastoise to defeat Ash.
"Then I…" Ash wanted to ask about the difference between himself and the other two,
but Brock remained silent.
At that moment, Ash clearly understood just how vast the gap was between himself and those two.
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(End of Chapter)