Chapter Twenty-Four: The Thousand-Year Tortoise

After the match, Ash walked over and gently helped Xiao Ming, who was emotionally shattered, to his feet. He asked in a soft voice:

"Have you gained enlightenment?"

Beast Tamer Xiao Ming raised his head, his tear-filled eyes fixed intently upon Ash.

*Master, what am I supposed to be enlightened about?*

"In essence, there is no difference between a 99-win streak and a 100-win streak. You were merely bound by your own obsession. In reality, your strength has long been sufficient to set out on a journey."

"Sever your shackles and go see the world outside!"

Ash spoke with a solemn expression and a deep, resonant voice.

Beside him, Brock’s face had turned so dark it could reflect light. *Master, you certainly copy others’ lines fast!*

If these words had come from some small-fry, they wouldn't have held any weight. But coming from the person who had just shattered his 99-win streak, they carried profound significance.

After bowing his head in contemplation for a moment, Xiao Ming suddenly experienced an epiphany. A single thought surged into his mind.

"Indeed."

To achieve the so-called title of 100 wins, he had stubbornly stayed in this godforsaken place for weeks. Moreover, his opponents over these 99 matches had mostly been small-fry trainers like Youngsters and Bug Catchers; there was truly little room for growth. He really shouldn't have stayed here any longer, wasting his youth!

"I understand now, Master, I understand everything! I will dismantle this tent right now and set off immediately to challenge a Gym!"

Xiao Ming was a man of action. He immediately prepared to command his Sandshrew to use Metal Claw on the surrounding tent stakes. At that moment, Xiao Ming suddenly remembered something and turned back to ask:

"By the way, Master, you are a man who already possesses two badges. Which two Gyms are they? I intend to follow the great path you have walked and tread it once more."

"Oh, my first Gym was Pewter City..." Ash answered casually, speaking without reservation.

"It was the one next to Pewter City!" Brock interrupted in a hurry. He did not want his younger siblings to have to face a Sandshrew capable of using Earthquake.

"Then it must be Cerulean City..." Ash arched an eyebrow and could only continue.

"It was the one next to Cerulean City!" Misty also tensed up and hurried over to interject. The Cerulean Gym was currently the weakest of them all, and she didn't want her sisters to be schooled by this beast tamer. If not for that strange round-faced Pikachu, she felt Ash wouldn't have won so easily.

Ash frowned upon hearing this. If he couldn't mention Pewter City or Cerulean City, then only one city remained...

Brock clapped his hands together forcefully. "Right, it's Viridian City. The Viridian Gym there was Ash's first."

Misty chimed in with a smile, "Exactly! And Viridian City is famously the weakest Gym in the Kanto region, perfect for a novice to start from zero and gain the confidence to win."

Xiao Ming had no reason to doubt them. He quickly dismantled his tent-gym, packed up his Pokémon gear, and prepared to set off to challenge the Viridian Gym.

*The weakest Gym, huh? Hmph, I truly do need a punching bag right now to regain my confidence.*

Carrying his massive hiking pack, Xiao Ming turned around one last time before leaving:

"By the way, Master, what is your name?"

Ash: "!"

A dead end. If he explained now that he was the real Ash from Pallet Town and that he had been impersonated, wouldn't that make him look pathetic? Damn it, had Gary calculated even this far ahead?

After struggling for a long moment, Ash finally gave his answer.

"I am the person who will become a Pokémon Master. You can just call me Master in advance."

Brock and Misty: "..."

"Understood, Master! I’m off to challenge the Viridian Gym and regain my confidence!"

Xiao Ming marched off toward Viridian City, his face filled with supreme confidence and high spirits! His future was infinitely promising!

...

Postscript: From that day on, the name Xiao Ming vanished from the world of Pokémon forever...

...

Soon, the trio continued on their journey.

***

Crossing the empty, rocky terrain, they arrived at a forest.

"Lulu~"

A Pokémon with grass on its upper body and blue lower limbs suddenly jumped out from the bushes, blocking their path.

"Beep. Oddish, the Weed Pokémon. It buries itself in fertile soil and uses moonlight to recover its stamina," the Pokédex automatically reported.

Ash frowned and couldn't help but tap his Pokédex. *Is it broken?*

Misty’s face lit up with joy. She pushed Ash aside and prepared to throw her Poké Ball. "It's an Oddish! I've decided to catch it!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Aren't you the 'Blue Will' person? Why are you catching a Grass-type Pokémon?" Ash complained in a hurry. He was currently lacking a Grass-type. Excluding that outrageous round-faced Pikachu, he only had three Pokémon. He wanted to catch a few more before reaching Vermilion City to bolster his roster.

Misty wasn't annoyed; she pointed to the Oddish's lower half. "Are you blind? Isn't this the standard 'Blue Will'?"

Ash: "?"

Misty threw her Poké Ball backhanded: "I choose you, Starmie! Use Rapid Spin!"

"Star!"

Starmie charged forward, spinning at high speed. The force was so great that the Oddish couldn't possibly withstand it.

*Wham!*

The Oddish's petite body was sent flying far away.

"Hit it again! Use Swift!"

"Da-da-da..."

The yellow stars shot out and shattered against the Oddish. In just two hits, it was already on its last legs.

"Now's the time! Poké Ball, go!"

Misty’s eyes glowed as she pulled out an empty Poké Ball, ready to throw it. Her movements were smooth, flowing, and executed in one go!

*Swish-bang!*

Suddenly, a long green vine lashed out from the bushes behind them, precisely swatting the Poké Ball away.

"Who’s there? Do you think Poké Balls grow on trees?" Misty complained, frustrated by the failed capture.

The bushes rustled, and another Pokémon emerged, shielding the Oddish. It had a green body, walked on all fours, and carried a giant green garlic bulb on its back.

An old acquaintance—Bulbasaur!

"Saur, saur..."

Bulbasaur growled, its expression resolute. Its message was simple: *Don't even think about touching the Oddish!*

Ash’s eyes lit up, and he quickly moved his Pokédex toward it.

"Beep. Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon. Half-meat, half-vegetable. Comes with its own seasoning for grilling."

Listening to the emotionless, mechanical voice of the Pokédex, Ash felt a strange sense of relief. It seemed the world hadn't ended yet. *At least it's not broken.*

Bulbasaur used Vine Whip again, instantly tying Starmie into a tight knot.

*Crash!*

Then, with a powerful dash, it rammed into Starmie. The gem on Starmie’s chest was already making "bee-bee-bee" sounds.

"Such a strong Bulbasaur!" Ash exclaimed. He was immediately smitten. Before he started his journey, he had fantasized about receiving a normal starter Pokémon. Although the round-faced electric mouse he ended up with wasn't bad, it would be even better if he could fulfill his original wish now.

Without a second thought, it was his turn to push Misty aside. He sent out his top-three general.

"I choose you, Pidgeotto!!"

Flying-type beats Grass-type; he had this in the bag!

"Pidgeotto, use Gust!"

"Pidge-otto~!!"

Pidgeotto soared into the air with a high cry, its wings flapping violently to stir up a raging gale.

Facing a windstorm that should have countered it, the Bulbasaur stood as immovable as a mountain. It planted its four feet firmly on the ground, drew a deep breath of pure air, and puffed out its chin and belly into a massive arc that pressed against the ground.

*Puff-whoosh!!!*

In the next second, Bulbasaur exhaled a stream of air from its mouth that was in no way inferior to the Gust.

*Whoosh-whoosh...!!*

The two whirlwinds collided and clashed, eventually canceling each other out and dissipating into the air.

Ash's expression darkened. "Holy smokes, is that a Flying-type Bulbasaur...?"

Brock and Misty: "..." *It’s just a simple case of incredible lung capacity, isn’t it...?*

"If long-range attacks won't work, let's try melee. Pidgeotto, use Quick Attack!"

Pidgeotto nodded, its body glowing with a white light. Its speed surged, and it charged toward the target with its sharp beak.

"Saur!"

This time, Bulbasaur extended both vines and lashed them mercilessly against the ground beneath its feet. Using the recoil, it leaped into the air to dodge the Quick Attack.

The attack wasn't over; while in mid-air, it flipped to adjust its posture. The two vines lashed out again, ready to deliver a binding package to Pidgeotto.

"Pidgeotto! Look out!" Ash shouted instinctively.

The combat intuition of this Bulbasaur seemed a bit too high.

*Swish!*

The vines whistled through the air, wrapping directly around Pidgeotto.

"Pidge-otto!"

But the vines passed right through. Pidgeotto's figure flickered like foam and vanished into thin air. The vines had missed.

In the next second, Pidgeotto's form appeared ghostly right beneath the Bulbasaur.

"That move again..." Misty was the first to react. Back then, Pidgeotto had used that very move to evade her Starmie's Water Gun and reappear on the other side. Was this move a skill...?

"Beep. Pidgeotto has learned a new skill: Aerial Ace!" the Pokédex helpfully reminded him.

Ash was overjoyed. He gestured grandly and roared:

"Go, Pidgeotto! Use Aerial Ace!"

Pidgeotto’s beak was covered in a sharp white light. At a ghostly, tricky angle, it struck the Bulbasaur—which had no time to dodge—and sent it flying into the air.

*Aerial Ace! It’s super effective!*

Ash seized the opportunity to press the attack: "Final blow, use Gust!!"

Pidgeotto flapped its wings, whipping up another powerful whirlwind. The last time, Bulbasaur had needed to be on all fours to utilize such powerful lung capacity. Now, suspended in mid-air, it had no way to counter the wind.

*Whoosh-whoosh!!*

The powerful gust hit home!

Bulbasaur’s body was sent flying back like a cannonball until it crashed into a giant tree, its eyes beginning to swirl.

"I choose you, Poké Ball!!"

Ash threw the ball like a baseball pitcher. A flash of red light flickered, and Bulbasaur was sucked inside.

*Click... click... click!*

A moment later, the Poké Ball stopped shaking.

"Yes! I caught a Bulbasaur!" Ash rushed over in excitement to pick up the ball, while his other hand embraced Pidgeotto, the hero of the day.

"Your Aerial Ace was so cool, Pidgeotto!!"

Pidgeotto chirped loudly and flapped its wings in agreement.

*Though, what was with that "Go" (Gong) earlier? Even if I am male, there’s no need to point it out specifically, right?*