章節 12: Chapter 12: Promotion

"Although I've seen it many times in Professor Oak's lab, seeing it out here by myself still feels completely different..." Ash thought to himself as he walked through the wild. All around him, he observed the scenery—bushes, grass, and trees—where he could spot a few wild Pokémon.

The Pokémon here were not very strong. Ash could tell from the system's information that their strength was on par with Pikachu's, around the Earl Dervish level. That made sense, considering there were few powerful Pokémon in areas close to human settlements. The Pokémon League had worked hard to create safe zones for humans, which naturally meant the area around them was inhabited by weaker Pokémon.

"Should we try to catch a Pokémon?" Ash asked Pikachu, stopping in his tracks. His gaze settled on a Pidgey sitting on a nearby tree, preening its feathers.

Pidgey was a common sight in the Kanto region. Despite being a familiar Pokémon, it was not weak. Pidgey had a small, unremarkable body with cream-colored feathers on its face, belly, and wing tips, while the rest of its body was a brownish color. Its sharp eyes had black markings that helped it see better in the bright sun, and its sharp beak and claws were lavender in color. Pidgey also had three tufts of hair on its head—two on the sides that were yellow, and one in the middle that was brown.

While Pidgey wasn't very strong compared to other Pokémon, it had two powerful evolutions: Pidgeotto and Pidgeot. Pidgeotto, with its higher speed and strength, could hold its own in battles, while Pidgeot, its final form, could surpass many other Pokémon of similar levels. When fully evolved, Pidgeot resembled an eagle more than a simple bird, making it a force to be reckoned with.

"Pika, pika..." Pikachu didn't make the decision for Ash. It wasn't Pikachu's responsibility to decide whether they should catch the Pokémon. It was Ash's role as the Trainer.

After a moment's thought, Ash made his decision. "I won't catch it for now. I know I could easily defeat it with your strength, Pikachu, but I'm not sure how I would train it afterward," he explained. While Ash had learned a lot from Professor Oak, he still didn't feel confident about training new Pokémon.

"Though, I do think a battle would be a good thing for us!" Ash added, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "What do you think, Pikachu?"

"Pika—!" Pikachu nodded in agreement. It was ready for a battle.

"Alright then!" Ash stepped forward confidently, and Pikachu jumped down from his shoulders. They both looked up at the Pidgey, who had noticed them and was now eyeing them from the tree. "Let's have a duel, Pidgey!"

"Bo——!" Pidgey scoffed, clearly unimpressed. With a flutter of its wings, it launched itself into the air, using Dual Wingbeat to fly away, not even bothering to engage with Ash and Pikachu.

Ash and Pikachu were taken aback. They had been completely ignored and looked down upon by Pidgey! It was frustrating, but Ash wasn't about to let Pidgey get away that easily.

"I won't let you escape that easily!" Ash shouted. "Pikachu, use Thunder Shock!"

"Pika, pika!" Pikachu, a bit annoyed by the dismissal, agreed wholeheartedly. It was eager to prove its newfound strength after receiving the inheritance of the Soaring in the Sky Dragon.

A spark of electricity crackled around Pikachu, forming into a golden beam of lightning that shot toward Pidgey.

Although Pidgey was quick to react, the speed of the Thunder Shock was too fast. Pidgey attempted to dodge, but it was too late—the attack hit Pidgey squarely.

"Bo——!" Pidgey screeched in pain as it was engulfed in the golden electricity. The powerful Thunder Shock sent Pidgey tumbling from the air, smoke billowing from its small body as it crashed to the ground, completely knocked out and unable to continue the fight.

Ash stared at the fallen Pidgey, surprised by the outcome. Pikachu had defeated it in a single blow. It was clear that Pikachu's power had increased, even with the type disadvantage. "Is this the power from the inheritance of the Soaring in the Sky Dragon of Osiris?" Ash mused aloud.

He remembered that Pikachu had just fought Gary's Squirtle earlier that day, yet now, after receiving the inheritance, Pikachu had grown significantly stronger in such a short time. The difference was undeniable.

"Pika—!" Pikachu confirmed with a proud smile, showing that it indeed felt stronger than before.

Ash knelt beside Pidgey, checking its condition. Thankfully, despite being knocked out, Pidgey would be fine after some rest. There were no serious injuries, and it would recover fully. Ash was relieved that he hadn't caused any lasting harm.

Picking up Pidgey gently, Ash placed the bird Pokémon under the shade of a nearby tree so it could rest and recover. After making sure Pidgey was safe, Ash decided it was time to continue their journey. He didn't want to spend the night in the wild, so he aimed to reach Viking City before dark.

As Ash and Pikachu walked away, a dark shadow suddenly appeared in the woods nearby. The ominous figure was surrounded by a dense group of other figures—at least forty or fifty, all with fierce appearances. Their feathers were black on their backs and beige on their chests, with messy crests on their heads and sharp beaks like raptors. These were not Pokémon to be taken lightly.

As the group of fierce-looking Pokémon entered the area, the other wild Pokémon scattered in fear, quickly hiding from the new arrivals. The air grew tense, and even Ash could sense the danger these Pokémon posed. It was clear that they were a formidable group—one that would not hesitate to attack anyone who stood in their way.

Ash looked back toward the shadows, a shiver running down his spine. Whatever these Pokémon were, they clearly weren't to be underestimated. He had a feeling that their encounter wasn't over yet.

As Ash continued on toward Viking City, he felt a surge of excitement and anxiety. It had been an eventful day, and he knew that many more challenges awaited him on his journey. But with Pikachu's newfound strength, he was more determined than ever to face whatever came next.

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