During that long hour, Goh’s experience was basically one nightmare after another.
Just when he finally escaped the Diglett swarm and dragged his exhausted body forward, tragedy struck again.
A flock of Pidgey happened to be flying overhead.
Goh instinctively looked up.
At that exact moment, a glob of bird droppings fell from the sky like an “object from beyond the heavens,” landing perfectly in his open mouth.
Goh’s eyes went wide, his face twisting with extreme horror and disgust.
He frantically stuck out his tongue, desperately trying to spit the thing out, while both hands kept wiping at his mouth.
His miserable appearance made it almost impossible not to laugh.
And yet, that was only the continuation of the nightmare.
He had not gone far before he accidentally stepped on an Oddish hidden in the grass.
Startled and angered, the Oddish instantly released a large cloud of Stun Spore.
Goh had no time to dodge.
The Stun Spore sprayed directly into his face.
His body immediately stiffened.
His limbs trembled uncontrollably, the muscles in his face began to twitch, and his eyes filled with despair and helplessness.
…
During that one hour, unlucky incidents like that came one after another.
Goh was tormented until he was dizzy and disoriented.
Bruises covered his body, and his face was full of pain and exhaustion.
By the end, he barely had the strength to stand.
He collapsed on the ground like a puddle of mud, completely unable to take care of himself.
Left with no other choice, they had to call medical staff, who carried him away on a stretcher.
Goh lay on the stretcher, staring blankly at the sky, still mumbling something under his breath.
Watching Goh being carried away, Ash secretly smiled from the side and thought, “This is only the beginning.
From now on, you’ll get one of these every day.”
After Goh was taken away, Professor Oak cleared his throat and reorganized everyone for the next activity, as if what had just happened was nothing more than a minor episode.
The campers gathered around the bonfire, roasting berries while excitedly talking about Goh.
“Did you see him getting chased by those Diglett?
That was hilarious!” a girl with twin ponytails said, covering her mouth as she laughed.
Another boy immediately chimed in, “And the bird poop!
How did it land right in his mouth like that?
Hahaha!”
After hearing that, everyone could not help bursting into laughter.
Leaf, Blue, and Chloe huddled together too, quietly discussing it among themselves.
“I really didn’t expect him to be that unlucky today.
It felt like he was cursed by misfortune,” Chloe said softly, shaking her head with a trace of sympathy on her face.
Blue curled her lips.
“That’s what he gets for being so full of himself.
Maybe this was a lesson from god.”
Ash sat nearby, outwardly focused on grooming Pichu’s fur, but his ears were secretly listening to everyone’s chatter.
Goh’s unlucky incidents had already become the hottest camp gossip.
As for Goh himself, he was recovering in the hospital and had no idea he had become everyone’s laughingstock.
Still, the summer camp activities continued.
With Pokémon by their side, the campers spent their time happily and meaningfully.
Professor Oak counted the campers in front of him.
The roster in his hand flipped as he muttered names under his breath.
“Hm?
Why is one missing?” Professor Oak frowned slightly and scratched his head in confusion.
He carefully checked the roster again, matching each name one by one, and discovered that a camper named Serena really was missing.
At that moment, Ash walked over to Professor Oak, Pichu curiously looking around from his shoulder.
“Professor Oak, what’s wrong?” Ash asked with concern, confusion shining in his eyes.
“A camper named Serena is missing,” Professor Oak said, looking up with worry all over his face.
“I don’t know whether she ran off somewhere to play or ran into danger.”
“Professor Oak, don’t worry.
I’ll go look for her.
I’m pretty familiar with this forest, so maybe I can find her,” Ash said confidently, patting his chest.
Pichu called out from beside him as well.
After all, this forest was where it had once lived.
Professor Oak nodded.
“Then I’ll leave it to you, Ash.”
Ash quickly ran into the woods.
He took a deep breath and focused his mind.
In an instant, a pale blue wave slowly spread from his body, flowing outward like a gentle halo.
That wave was none other than his Aura.
As the Aura Guardian, Ash had already gained full control over this power through intense training.
The power of Aura rippled softly through the air, like a pair of invisible hands searching every corner.
Ash closed his eyes and focused completely on the feedback from his Aura.
Images appeared in his mind one after another, guiding him as clearly as a map.
Soon, the Aura sent back a strong response.
His eyes snapped open, excitement flashing through them.
He had successfully locked onto Serena’s location.
He quickly ran in the direction of the signal, dry leaves rustling beneath his feet.
As he drew closer, Ash could sense a trace of tension and unease in Serena’s Aura.
Finally, behind a patch of bushes, he saw a petite figure.
It was Serena.
Serena was curled up in a pile of decaying leaves, hugging her knees.
“If I’d known this would happen, I never would’ve come.
I hate summer camp!
This is all Mom’s fault…”
“Is anyone there?” Her voice was truly weak and helpless.
Just then, the rustling of branches and leaves came from between the trees.
A smiling voice pierced through the twilight.
“Is there a lost little kitten here?”
Serena suddenly looked up.
Through the thin mist between the trees, a young man appeared beside her with Pichu lying on his shoulder.
“You are…” She hurriedly wiped her tears, only smearing the tear tracks across her cheeks.
“Hi, I’m Ash, from Pallet Town,” Ash greeted her with a smile.
“Are you hurt?” His gaze fell on her bleeding knee.
Before she could answer, he had already taken out a pain-relief spray.
When the cool mist sprayed over the wound, Serena sucked in a sharp breath from the pain.
“Bear with it.
It’ll be over soon.”
Ash took out a clean handkerchief and gently wrapped it around her knee.
When the final knot was tied, Serena looked at the serious side of his face and suddenly felt that even the chirping insects in the forest had become gentle.
“Th-thank you… Ash.”
Ash carefully checked her wound.
After quickly treating it, he crouched down.
“Come on.
I’ll carry you.”
His voice seemed to possess a strange kind of power, gradually calming Serena’s panicked heart.
Serena’s cheeks flushed.
After hesitating for a moment, she shyly leaned onto Ash’s back.
Ash stood up steadily and adjusted his posture, making sure Serena could sit comfortably.
“Hold on tight,” he said softly.
Then he started walking out of the forest.
Ash’s back was firm and warm.
Serena breathed in the faint scent on him, a mixture of sunlight and grass, and for some reason, it made her feel safe.
She gently wrapped her arms around Ash’s neck and rested her head against his shoulder.
At that moment, her nervousness slowly faded away.