The three of them were stunned.
They quickly stepped aside and began whispering among themselves.
"Ash… did you actually do something like this?"
Brock asked seriously.
"I've been with you guys the whole time, haven't I?"
Ash shot back.
"…Then the misunderstanding is cleared. You're still loyal."
Ash: "..."
Hold on.
I don't think I even said my name earlier, did I?
Misty cautiously chimed in:
"Um… should we maybe run?
It's obvious someone is using Ash's name to do bad things."
"That's definitely Gary!"
Ash snapped angrily.
"Messing with Blue was one thing, but now he's framing me? That's crossing the line!"
But Brock suddenly opened his eyes.
A sharp gleam flashed across his gaze—so bright it almost blinded the other two.
"There's actually another possibility," Brock said slowly.
"He's Professor Oak's grandson. His thinking might be completely different from ordinary people."
"Maybe he truly is researching reverse-type combat. Especially you, Ash—I've already seen the conceptual framework of that strategy in your battles."
Ash frowned.
"Then what about sniping someone's promotion match?"
"Think about it," Brock replied calmly.
"Whether it's 99 wins or 100 wins makes no real difference. This kid already had the strength to leave and travel."
"But he was shackled here by a pointless obsession. Maybe Gary's goal was to force him to break that mental barrier."
"Once the mindset shatters, he might even grow further."
Brock stroked his chin and sighed deeply.
"Gary… as expected of Professor Oak's grandson. Every move has meaning."
Ash & Misty: "..."
Back at Mt. Moon, you said something very similar.
So Gary was on the fifth layer all along?
Wait—
doesn't that guy also have a sister?
Ash thought for a moment, then turned toward Ace Trainer, who was still hugging his Sandshrew.
"In that case—
I'll snipe him again and completely shatter that shackle!"
Brock & Misty: "?"
Which layer is this now?!
Vermilion City
Inside an upscale café, a spiky-haired boy leisurely sipped freshly brewed coffee.
Outside—
"Hey—ho! Hey—ho!"
A lively girl in a red skirt and white sunhat was sweating profusely while clearing weeds around the café.
"Xiao Suan, use Cut!"
Smack!
Ivysaur's vine lashed out, instantly clearing a wide patch of ground.
Blue's Bulbasaur had successfully evolved—
a bud had grown on its back.
But its nickname remained unchanged.
As for what Blue was doing now—
She was working part-time.
In eight days, the S.S. Anne, a top-tier luxury cruise ship, would depart from Vermilion Harbor.
As a countryside girl, Blue desperately wanted to experience life as a "high society" person.
Then she saw the ticket price.
Instant nausea.
"What a scammy ship…"
While she sat dejectedly in the Pokémon Center—
That man appeared.
Gary—already seven days ahead of them—
arrived with his familiar smug smile.
He was also waiting in Vermilion City to board the S.S. Anne.
"Die!"
Blue didn't hesitate.
She threw a full-force Pallet Town Turtle Punch straight at Gary's face.
Gary smiled lightly and tilted his head aside, dodging effortlessly.
Average Pallet Town resident: superhuman.
"You still dare show up in front of me?!"
Blue's voice trembled.
Her large, expressive eyes twisted with rage—
another step and dark tomoe might've appeared in her pupils.
She was seconds away from ordering Ivysaur to tie him up and toss him into the harbor as Sharpedo food.
"Cough."
Gary suddenly raised an envelope.
The incoming Vine Whip froze less than half an inch from his face.
Key Item: S.S. Anne Ticket
"How do you have that?!"
Blue instantly switched expressions, smiling sweetly.
She feinted, trying to snatch it—
but Gary easily avoided her.
"Gary~ just hand that useless piece of paper to me~"
"Let bygones be bygones, okay?"
Gary calmly pulled out a second envelope, chin raised slightly, smiling like a true elite.
"I earned these by working here for seven days. Two tickets."
"I could give you one… but I still have some cleanup left to do."
"Like the weeds around the city."
"All mine! I'm a professional weed clearer!"
Blue instantly changed outfits, now fully equipped with sickle and hoe, radiating energy.
Gary nodded in satisfaction.
"Clear all the weeds in Vermilion City, and one ticket is yours."
Blue dashed out of the Pokémon Center, ripping out every weed she saw.
Before they parted, Gary casually tossed her a disc.
"Oh, right—take this too.
The supreme secret technique: Cut."
"It's internationally recognized as a mandatory skill for starter Pokémon."
"Not only great for clearing weeds—it's also a powerful combat move~"
Blue accepted it without suspicion.
Ivysaur quickly learned Cut, and the weed-clearing speed skyrocketed.
Maybe Gary… was actually a good guy?
Though somehow, this Cut looked a bit… weak?
Whatever.
Xiao Suan definitely got stronger!
From inside the café, Gary sipped his coffee, wearing a smile of absolute control.
Working part-time?
Never in this lifetime.
Those tickets were obviously bought with money.
After all, as the grandson of the most famous Pokémon Professor in Kanto—
His wallet was stacked.
"Seriously… someone actually taught their starter Cut?"
"Hahahahaha!!"
He laughed arrogantly, legs crossed, lively as ever.
Deep within his soul, Green's spirit fell silent.
"…In just two weeks, this kid has done more suicidal things than I did in my entire previous life."
"Maybe it's time to change hosts…"
"But how, exactly?"
Back at the Private Gym
Ash and Ace Trainer's battle officially began.
"So you're the stepping stone for my 100th win?"
Ace Trainercracked his whip against the ground, trash talk activated.
Pre-match trash talk was tradition.
It rattled opponents—and if their mentality was weak, it could outright break them.
"No," Ash replied calmly, passion burning inside him.
"I'm here to… uh… help you break your shackle!"
If Gary could defeat this 99-win monster, then Ash could too!
He glanced at the Sandshrew.
Ground-type?
No hesitation.
He threw a Poké Ball.
"Pika!"
A crisp cry rang out—
The mysterious, seasoned Red's Pikachu appeared once more.
Electricity crackled across its cheeks.
An overwhelming pressure burst outward, blanketing the battlefield—
Like unleashing a primordial beast.
Then—
It stopped.
The Pikachu stood upright, pointed at Sandshrew, then turned its head toward Ash.
"Pika?"
…This?
You called me out for this?
Not Ho-Oh. Not Mewtwo.
Just a dirt mouse?
Don't insult me.
Ash ignored it completely.
"Please, Old Pikachu—Thunderbolt!"
He wanted to see its true power.
"Pika…"
The Red's Pikachu merely twitched its ears—
Then scratched its cheek with a hind leg.
Red's Pikachu used Slack Off.
"Beep. When a Pokémon's level far exceeds its Trainer's, it may disobey commands."
The Pokédex helpfully explained.
Otherwise, handing a Champion's ace to a rookie would instantly break the system.
Ace Trainerswallowed hard.
"A Pikachu with pressure… that's rare."
That pressure earlier was terrifying.
But—it wasn't listening!
This was his chance!
"Sandshrew—Sand Attack!"
Sandshrew kicked up dust, filling the rocky terrain with flying grit.
But somehow—
The Pikachu had already vanished.
It reappeared elsewhere, still lazily scratching itself.
The sand hit nothing.
"So fast… I didn't even see it move,"
Ace Trainer's heart sank.
Not again…
"My 100-win promotion match—
am I really getting sniped again?!"
"Then try this—Swift!"
A guaranteed-hit move!
Don't panic—I can still win!
Sandshrew whipped its tail.
Dozens of golden stars shot toward Pikachu.
Tap tap tap—!
Swift exploded across its body.
HP -0
HP -0
HP -0
After the full combo—
The Red's Pikachu yawned.
Everyone: "..."
They knew it was high-level.
They didn't know it was this high.
"Sandshrew—use our strongest move!!"
Ace Trainerscreamed, voice cracking.
"Fissure—MAX POWER!!!"
A one-hit KO move that defied the rules!
For an unevolved Pokémon to master such a move—
Sandshrew's strength was undeniable.
His 99 wins weren't luck.
I can still turn this around!!
Sandshrew leapt, spun violently, and slammed its powerful fist into the ground.
CRACK—BOOOOOM!!
The earth shattered.
Cracks spread outward, splitting the battlefield into massive ravines.
Dust and debris engulfed everything.
"So strong…"
Ash whispered.
It was his first time seeing a one-hit KO move.
The question was—
Could the Red's Pikachu survive it?
The dust cleared.
Pikachu squatted casually at the edge of a ravine, still kicking its legs lazily.
The devastated terrain around it looked completely unrelated.
Not a single scratch.
Ace Trainer's heart froze.
His knees buckled as he dropped to one knee.
"…I lost again."
The first time—
a single Hydro Pump ended his dream.
The second time—
a Pikachu ignored him entirely.
His mentality—
Completely shattered.
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