“Have you run into him?”
“There’s a madman in the forest who’s bringing a Pikachu around everywhere looking for people to battle!”
“I’ve already run into him three times in a row, and every single time, I was beaten by that Pikachu…”
Outside the forest, quite a few Youngsters in shorts and Bug Catchers had gathered together.
When they talked about that Trainer with the Pikachu, a trace of fear could not help showing in their eyes.
A girl with short orange hair slowly passed by, pushing a bicycle in her hands.
“Hey, girl over there.
Are you by yourself?”
A young Trainer stopped the girl.
Misty looked at the Trainer in front of her warily.
“Yeah.
Is there a problem?”
The young Trainer kindly reminded her, “There’s a madman in the forest right now who’s challenging people everywhere.
It’s too dangerous for you to enter the forest alone.
I suggest you—”
Before he could finish speaking, Misty impatiently interrupted him.
“I know, I know.
You’re suggesting I find a bodyguard, right?”
“I don’t need any help, and I’m not buying any health products either.”
Misty spoke entirely on her own, directly ignoring the young Trainer’s goodwill.
She walked around him and entered the forest.
The forest was quiet.
The weather today was clear, with not a cloud in sight.
Bright sunlight passed through the dense leaves of the forest, shining down onto the ground and forming pillar after pillar of light.
It looked breathtakingly beautiful.
“I heard there are a lot of Bug-type Pokémon in this forest.
I hope I don’t run into any.” Misty gripped the bicycle handles even harder, her fingertips turning pale.
However, what one feared always came.
As Misty went deeper, the surrounding grass rustled.
Misty looked over in terror.
A green caterpillar poked out from the grass.
This green caterpillar was incredibly large, roughly the length of an adult’s arm.
It looked rather frightening, especially to Misty, who was already afraid of bugs.
The moment she saw this green caterpillar appear, Misty was so frightened that she directly smashed the bicycle in her hands toward it.
“Jiji!”
Caterpie opened its mouth, spitting out a large mass of silk that instantly wrapped the bicycle into a bundle.
It glanced at Misty, who was still staring in terror, and pounced at her without even thinking.
At the critical moment, a slightly childish voice rang out from within the forest.
“Pikachu, don’t let it get away!
Use Thunder Shock!”
Immediately afterward, Pikachu’s cry rang out.
“Pika, Pikachu!”
A bolt of yellow lightning shot out with a swish, like a fierce beast locking onto its prey.
This scene frightened Caterpie so badly that it could only hurriedly use the bicycle it had just bound up as a shield.
However, the power of this lightning was extremely great.
The silk wrapped around the bicycle had only just touched the lightning when it melted away rapidly, like ice and snow meeting scorching flames.
The bicycle was the first to endure the baptism of Thunder Shock, directly turning into a pitch-black lump of charred scrap.
The power of Thunder Shock did not diminish, and it still swallowed Caterpie.
Struck by this Thunder Shock, Caterpie’s eyes rolled back, and it collapsed on the spot.
“A mere Caterpie.
You think you can escape from my grasp?” Ash’s smug laughter came from behind.
He walked forward, took out a Poké Ball, and directly captured the unconscious Caterpie.
Then Ash and Pikachu turned to look at Misty.
“I didn’t expect there would still be a Trainer coming into the forest now.
Even though I’ve already completed a ten-win streak, I don’t mind winning one more battle,” Ash said eagerly.
By this point, Ash had already achieved the feat of ten consecutive victories.
It was not merely ten consecutive victories against Trainers.
Ash had even brought Pikachu along to defeat many wild Pokémon.
Through so many battles, Pikachu and Ash’s battle experience had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Even Pikachu’s Growl and Thunder Shock move proficiency had both reached the maximum level.
“No matter who you are, since you had the courage to come into the forest all by yourself, you’re probably a Trainer.”
“In this quiet place, where no one will disturb us, with one boy and one girl alone together, let’s have an intense wild battle!”
A blazing fire burned in Ash’s eyes as he issued a battle challenge to Misty.
But Misty directly ignored Ash.
Her eyes were entirely fixed on her bicycle.
“Aaah!
My bicycle!” Misty went forward and helped up the bicycle that had already been completely destroyed, tears welling in her eyes.
She suddenly stood up, stepped forward, and grabbed Ash by the collar.
“I don’t care who you are!
Pay for my bicycle!”
Ash’s expression immediately stiffened.
Only now did he realize that when Pikachu’s Thunder Shock had captured Caterpie earlier, it had destroyed a bicycle.
This was awkward.
He had only just set out on his journey, so he did not have much money on him.
And this was not a game where defeating an opponent would earn you money.
Fortunately, bicycles should not be that expensive.
Thinking this, Ash could not help clearing his throat.
“Ahem, I’m heading to Viridian City now.
When I go back, I’ll compensate you for your bicycle,” Ash promised helplessly.
“That’s more like it.” Hearing that he was willing to compensate her, Misty also breathed a sigh of relief.
When she turned her head, she saw Pikachu beside Ash, also looking somewhat awkward.
Misty’s eyes turned, and she thought of Pikachu’s overwhelming Thunder Shock from just now.
If someone with such powerful strength protected her, she would not have to be afraid of the Bug-type Pokémon she encountered along the way.
Misty immediately thought of a legitimate reason to make the other party escort her.
“You broke my bicycle, so I’m going with you to Viridian City.”
Ash nodded.
That was only fair.
“Pikachu, there aren’t any opponents in this forest worth challenging anymore.
Let’s set off next,” Ash said, turning to Pikachu.
“Pika, Pikachu.” Pikachu nodded and responded a few times.
It had already been traveling with Ash for a day.
During this day, it had lived together with Ash and battled together with him.
As for this Trainer, Pikachu was very satisfied.
But Pikachu knew that Ash had been trying hard to bury something in his heart all along.
From time to time, he would reveal emotions of worry and fear… just like now.
Pikachu raised its head and looked at Ash.
Ash’s brows were almost twisted into a knot, and his eyes were full of nervousness.
“I’ve already defeated ten Trainers in a row, and both of Pikachu’s moves have been raised to maximum proficiency.”
“I can do it.
I can definitely protect Pikachu!”
Ash clenched both fists tightly, constantly encouraging himself.
It was not only Pikachu’s strength that had improved.
Ash had also captured three Pokémon.
These three Pokémon were Weedle, Pidgey, and Caterpie.
[Name: Weedle]
[Gender: Male]
[Type: Bug, Poison]
[Ability: Shield Dust (Protected by shield dust, preventing the additional effects of moves from affecting it.)]
[Moves: Poison Sting (Beginner), String Shot (Beginner)]
…
[Name: Pidgey]
[Gender: Male]
[Type: Normal, Flying]
[Ability: Keen Eye (Its sharp eyes prevent its accuracy from being lowered.)]
[Moves: Gust (Beginner), Sand Attack (Beginner)]
…
[Name: Caterpie]
[Gender: Male]
[Type: Bug]
[Ability: Shield Dust (Protected by shield dust, preventing the additional effects of moves from affecting it.)]
[Moves: Tackle (Beginner), String Shot (Beginner)]
A total of four Pokémon.
This gave Ash much more confidence when facing the danger that was about to arrive.