“Bang, bang, bang…” He punched the tree trunk, which was as thick as a man’s embrace, again and again.
Wood chips flew, and sap was already oozing from the trunk.
After a portion of his soul was repaired, he could feel his strength and speed increasing.
Perhaps he could even learn new moves.
According to his thoughts, maybe in the future, he could develop other moves like Brick Break or Fire Punch.
Even if not, learning Take Down and Ultimate Impact wouldn’t be bad, right?
While fantasizing, he put away his swollen fists, then began practicing Tackle with his legs, back, shoulders, forehead, and other body parts.
This was the effect of mastering the move, allowing him to use various parts of his body for tackling.
Pikachu watched him from the side, greatly shaken.
What to do when your Trainer is even more ferocious than you?
When a battle starts, can he just directly shout: “Go Ash, use Thunderbolt?”
Of course, being driven by this atmosphere, Pikachu’s training was even more efficient.
Ash only ended today’s training when his entire skin was red and swollen, on the verge of cracking.
“Phew… thankfully it didn’t break open,” Ash blew on his slightly bruised elbow.
If it broke, Hanako would be sad…
“Phew…” Having completed his full-body workout, Ash lay sweating on the grass.
Pikachu also flicked its tail and tiredly lay on him.
Besides Thunderbolt, Ash had also arranged Iron Tail practice for it.
“Come on, Pikachu~” Ash took out a bottle of Moomoo Milk and handed it to him.
“Pika~” Pikachu immediately perked up, hugging the bottle and chugging it down.
However, upon seeing Ash only eat an Oran Berry, the little guy stopped drinking and put the half-finished milk back.
“Pika, Pikachu~”
Ash was slightly stunned.
He hadn’t expected Pikachu to offer him food.
Such human-like emotions appearing in a Pokémon were very rare.
Ultimately, most wild Pokémon still retained habits similar to animals in his previous life, and food, even among their own kind, was something they would rarely share.
Only a Pokémon mother would offer food to her baby in such situations.
Therefore, Pikachu’s actions seemed particularly precious.
“Pika–chu…” The little mouse shook its head resolutely.
“I can’t do anything with you…” Ash picked up the milk bottle and took a sip.
The same fresh taste, but the feeling was completely different.
The setting sun in the sky was already just a hint of red, and in the sky, faint specks of stars could already be seen.
On the grass, Ash and Pikachu leaned against each other: “Hey, Pikachu, do you know…”
“Pika?”
“Once, my biggest dream was to become partners with you…” Ash’s eyes shimmered.
This world had always been his dream, and Pikachu, as his partner, was also part of that dream.
“In this world, there are Pokémon I like everywhere, girls I admire, and companions I long for…”
Ash’s voice was a little ethereal…
He had held these words in for ten years; this was the first time he had ever uttered them.
“Pikachu! Pikachu!”
Ash turned his head.
Pikachu’s face was full of encouragement and fighting spirit.
“Is that so?” A brilliant smile appeared on his face, “Then, let’s go together to experience the scenery of this world, create every joy together, and defeat every strong enemy together… okay?”
Saying that, Ash extended his clenched right hand.
“Pika~!”
Under the starlit sky, the little paw and his fist met.
The promise made at this moment sowed the seeds of a legend…
That night, Ash and Hanako were sitting at the dining table, eating.
Dinner tonight was cooked by Ash.
After all, with the golden finger of cooking talent, he still needed to practice more.
The dishes were still simple, inexpensive seasonal vegetables, but the taste was much better than usual.
Ash had made significant progress in all aspects, from ingredient handling, knife skills, seasoning, heat control, and wok tossing, which led to this result.
“Mmm…
so delicious,” Hanako swallowed the food in her mouth and handed her bowl over, “Ash, Mom wants more~!”
“Uh…” Looking at Hanako’s face, if it weren’t for the lack of a blushing face and heart-shaped eyes, Ash would have truly thought it was another scenario…
Who could refuse a beautiful mature mother saying she wanted more…
After serving the rice, Ash organized his thoughts, then slowly spoke, “Mom, I want to…”
Seeing Hanako’s curious gaze, Ash gritted his teeth, “I want to start my journey.”
“…” Unlike the expected stern refusal, Hanako’s face didn’t show any obvious emotional fluctuations.
She pouted her lips, “I thought you’d wait until the very last moment before leaving to tell me…”
Her beautiful face reflected a hint of reluctance under the lights; Hanako hadn’t done anything, but Ash couldn’t help but feel a pang in his heart.
“That…” He wanted to say something, but Hanako interrupted him.
“It’s nothing, I’ve always known… Ash’s dream, you know~” A faint smile appeared on her face: “It’s to become a Pokemon Master, right?”
As she spoke, she even made a gesture: “Poke-mon Getto Da-ze! I got a Pokémon!”
Ash was stunned; the scene before him blurred slightly, and he recalled an afternoon many years ago.
“Ash, come, let’s play together, okay?” Hanako held a rubber ball, looking at Ash, who was just three years old.
Ash said in a childish voice, “Mom, you’re so childish! I’m a boy with a dream!”
“Oh? Then tell Mom about your dream?” Hanako smiled brightly, pulling Ash into her embrace.
Ash struggled, striking the exact same pose Hanako had just made: “Poke-mon Getto Da-ze!”
Hanako thought he was just babbling and laughed, shaking with mirth: “Hahaha, you silly boy~ Where did you get that word from!”
“I’m not babbling! That means ‘I got a Pokémon’! My dream is to become the strongest Pokemon Master in the whole world!”
“Alright, alright, our Ash is a future Master~!” Ash pouted unhappily; anyone could hear the perfunctoriness in Hanako’s tone.
“What about Mom? Your dream.”
“Mom, well… I just hope Ash can be happy, joyful, and content…”
“Then my dream is also for Mom to be happy!”
“No, I want to give Mom the happiness she wants!”
The mother and son exchanged glances, both seeing the past promise in each other’s eyes.
Hanako walked over to Ash and ruffled his hair: “Go on, Ash, Mom will support you.”
Ash suddenly grabbed her hand: “Mom, are you happy?”
“Hm?” Hanako paused slightly; Ash was looking down, so she couldn’t see his expression: “If Ash is happy, Mom is happy~”
“Then, Mom, do you think sacrificing yourself like this will make me happy?”
“…” Hanako was silent for a moment.
Although her tone was calm, even with a slight smile, both Ash and she herself knew very well that she was reluctant for him to go on a journey.