Outskirts of Viridian City.
A torrential downpour fell from the sky.
Ash and Misty held up umbrellas, slowly walking through the heavy rain.
Pikachu lay on Ash’s shoulder, staring intently ahead.
Not far away, a few stray feathers poked out from the grass.
The sharp-eyed Pikachu immediately discovered that it was a Pokémon.
“Pika, Pikachu.”
Pikachu patted Ash and pointed at the stray feathers in the distant grass as it cried out.
“Pikachu, did you find another wild Pokémon?” Ash’s eyes lit up.
Following Pikachu’s finger, Ash also discovered the target.
“Same as usual.
I’ll lure the wild Pokémon out, and you launch the attack, Pikachu.” Ash looked around and picked up a small stone.
Pikachu nodded, then jumped down from Ash’s shoulder and stood in the heavy rain.
“Even in this heavy rain, you still want to battle wild Pokémon?” Misty said helplessly.
She had never expected that she would end up traveling with such a battle maniac.
“Of course.
We can’t let go of any opportunity to improve our strength,” Ash answered as though it were only natural, then threw the stone at the wild Pokémon in the grass.
“Whoosh—”
A sharp sound cut through the air as the stone accurately struck the wild Pokémon on the head.
A large bump rose on its head.
The wild Pokémon stood up, its sharp eyes filled with anger as it stared fixedly at Ash.
“It’s Spearow, a Flying-type Pokémon,” Misty exclaimed.
“This kind of Pokémon has the worst temper.
They’re also the type to hold grudges over every little thing.
If one targets you, things will get really troublesome!”
Just as Misty said, Spearow had a bad temper.
After confirming that Ash was the one who had thrown the stone, Spearow suddenly spread its wings, flew high into the sky, and was about to charge at him.
Its pair of sharp claws looked as though they wanted to tear Ash’s skin off.
However, facing the ferocious Spearow, Ash did not panic at all.
“Pikachu, now!
Use Thunder Shock!” Ash shouted.
Just as Spearow was about to fly in front of Ash, Pikachu moved.
The electric sacs on its cheeks released electricity.
Thunder Shock shot out like a python.
In an instant, it struck Spearow.
The powerful electric current made Spearow faint immediately and fall to the ground.
“You really are strong,” Misty said, clicking her tongue in amazement when she saw this scene.
Ever since she met Ash, Misty had been shocked by his and Pikachu’s strength.
Through their conversations, she had learned that Ash was a rookie Trainer who had only just set out on his journey today.
Yet he already had such strength.
It was clear how much effort he had put in.
“Don’t celebrate too early.
Something seems wrong…” Ash frowned and reached up to adjust the red-and-white cap on his head.
It was not just Ash.
Even Pikachu’s expression turned solemn.
Following Ash and Pikachu’s gazes, Misty looked over.
On a tree in the distance, countless pairs of eyes flickered.
“Gaa—”
Hoarse, sharp cries echoed through the surroundings.
A flock of Spearow flew out from the treetop with a loud flapping sound.
The expressions of Ash, Misty, and Pikachu changed abruptly.
Misty’s face revealed fear, and she looked extremely panicked.
“Oh no, it’s a flock of Spearow!
We need to run!”
Ash and Pikachu, however, were extremely excited.
“Great!
There are actually so many wild Pokémon.
If we defeat all of them, Pikachu’s strength will definitely improve a lot!”
Battling was the best way to improve strength.
“Pikachu, use Thunder Shock on those Spearow!” Ash waved his hand, and Pikachu immediately stepped forward to use Thunder Shock.
Under the Thunder Shock with maximum proficiency, the Spearow could hardly endure it.
Quite a few Spearow fell to the ground like crashing airplanes.
As Pikachu continued using Thunder Shock, having already reached maximum proficiency with the move, a new understanding gradually emerged in its heart.
It struck its cheeks hard, and even more powerful electricity surged from its body.
A current of electricity stirred violently, and an even stronger electrical wave erupted from Pikachu.
Under the impact of this bolt of lightning, more and more Spearow collapsed.
As the new move was unleashed, a notification appeared before Ash’s eyes.
[Pikachu has gained a deeper understanding of the move Thunder Shock and learned Thunderbolt.]
“Amazing!
Pikachu learned Thunderbolt!” Ash was extremely excited.
When the Spearow saw that Pikachu was this powerful, no matter how bad their tempers were, they no longer had the courage to keep fighting.
They turned and fled.
Seeing this, Ash looked regretful.
“So much experience wasted.
What a pity.”
Ash waved his hand, picked up the umbrella, and stepped forward to shield Pikachu from the wind and rain.
“Pikachu, you did great.
You actually learned a new move and even drove back so many Spearow,” Ash praised.
Pikachu was very pleased.
It proudly raised its chin, looking extremely smug.
Defeating the flock of Spearow and learning Thunderbolt was only a small episode on the road.
After the incident was settled, Ash, Misty, and Pikachu continued toward Viridian City.
The rain in the sky gradually stopped.
After the rain came clear skies, and a tall rainbow bridge hung across the sky.
“What a beautiful rainbow… What’s that?” Misty frowned as she looked toward the sky and discovered a figure flying above the two of them.
Ash put away his umbrella and looked up together with Pikachu.
They saw a great bird radiating seven-colored rainbow light all over its body.
Wherever it passed, it was as though rainbows connected in its wake.
“What Pokémon is that?” Just as the two of them were wondering, a feather slowly drifted down from the sky and fell in front of Ash.
Ash could not help stretching out his palm, allowing the feather to land on it.
The feather seemed to be filled with a dense aura of life.
Even the grass after the torrential downpour began to become even more vibrant because of the feather’s appearance.
“It’s so pretty!” Misty widened her eyes and reached out to pinch the feather between her fingers.
But at the very instant Misty touched the feather, it visibly turned gray-white.
This scene frightened Misty so much that she hurriedly let go.
When the feather fell back into Ash’s hand, it regained its color once more, filled with vitality.
“This is the feather of the Legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh.
Only a Rainbow Hero recognized by Ho-Oh can make it shine.”
Ash’s vision blurred, and an illusion that only he could see appeared before him.
It was a dispirited-looking young man.
His appearance was eighty to ninety percent similar to Ash’s.
One could even say he looked like Ash after growing up.
After seeing this illusion, Ash immediately understood that this was another version of himself from a parallel world.
Now that his future self had appeared, Ash knew that the other party had some kind of obsession in his heart.
Thus, Ash did not hesitate and immediately looked into the eyes of the future Ash.
[Name: Ash]
[Age: 19]
[Identity: Failed Rainbow Hero]
[Obtainable Rewards: Increased physical strength, Exp.
Candy ×1]
“You should already know why I appeared,” Rainbow Hero Ash said calmly.
Ash nodded slightly.
Because Misty was present, he did not speak.
“My obsession is very simple.
It is…”
“Let me see Ho-Oh one more time.”
The failed Rainbow Hero Ash raised his head and gazed into the distance, until Ho-Oh disappeared without a trace.