Chapter 27: Pikachu Evolution Item: Electric Amplifier

"Pika?"

"Awoo~"

"Pika?"

"Awoo~"

Soon, the two Pokémon engaged in a conversation in the language of dragons.

The three Muggle humans could only stand by, staring blankly.

"Pika pika..."

After a long while, Pikachu jumped down from the high rocky platform and began gesturing wildly toward the three of them, as if trying to express something.

"Let me try. Pikachu and I have a bond of destiny; I'm sure I can understand what it's saying."

Ash took the lead, stepping in front of the other two with an expression of absolute confidence.

He rubbed his eyes and looked directly at Pikachu on the ground.

Combined with the latter's series of body movements and facial expressions...

Ash felt a sense of connection slowly bridging him and Pikachu, allowing him to gradually grasp the meaning behind the gestures.

"Oh, I see. It means this Charmander is here for intensive, solitary training, and it wants us outsiders to leave quickly, right?"

Ash translated slowly.

Pikachu: "?"

The two behind him could only temporarily agree with this interpretation.

After all, they didn't share a bond with Pikachu. In this situation, Ash, who possessed a bond of destiny, was more credible.

Furthermore, if it was indeed intensive training, then the state of exhaustion made sense.

Wild Pokémon had their own worlds, and humans truly shouldn't disturb someone's training at will.

"What a pity..."

Ash sighed inwardly but chose to leave.

It seemed catching it was out of the question, since the Charmander had already told them to get lost.

Pikachu: "?"

Charmander: "?"

It wanted Ash to help find its trainer...!

Soon, the three arrived at a small Pokémon Center cabin halfway up the mountain.

Just as they pushed open the door, a clap of thunder roared outside.

*Patter, patter, patter...*

Before long, a torrential downpour began.

"Even in this weather, it continues its intensive training. What an admirable Charmander..."

Looking at the heavy rain outside, Ash couldn't help but look up and sigh with admiration.

Then, he glanced at Pikachu, who was standing by the doorway, shivering and shaking water off its body. His expression changed, looking as if he were disappointed in a failure.

"Pikachu, why don't you go stand in the rain too? Maybe you'll evolve tomorrow."

Pikachu: "?"

"Pikachu's evolution isn't achieved through intensive training, you know. They say it requires a certain item," Misty interjected.

How could a trainer not even know how their own Pokémon evolves?

"An item?"

Ash couldn't help but become interested. He pulled out his Pokédex and asked

"Pokédex, Pokédex! Tell me, what item does Pikachu need to evolve?"

*Beep beep. Searching for Pikachu's evolution item...*

The Pokédex emitted a series of incomprehensible electronic sounds, its CPU whirring as it began its retrieval.

*Search successful. This search took 27 seconds, surpassing 1% of all Pokédexes nationwide. Excellent. Beep beep. Pikachu evolution item: Power Amplifier.*

Brock and Misty: "?"

Pikachu: "?"

"Power Amplifier? Sounds quite high-end..."

Ash lowered his head in thought. He had never heard of such an item in all his years.

However, the prospect of gaining powerful combat strength upon evolution was very tempting.

Although the current Pikachu was still in its growth stage, preparing the evolution item in advance wasn't a bad idea.

"So, where can we find this item...?"

As Ash pushed the door open to go inside, the two behind him exchanged glances, looking somewhat bewildered.

"Was it a Power Amplifier?"

"I thought it was a Thunder Stone?"

The two whispered to each other.

Inside the mountain cabin Pokémon Center.

Though small, it was fully equipped with medical devices, lodging facilities, and the standard Nurse Joy and Chansey service.

The three sat down at a dining table, intending to have a good meal and rest.

*Rumble!!*

Another bolt of thunder struck outside. The sky, which had been relatively clear, was now covered in dark clouds, looking ominous, as if a dangerous storm was imminent.

Ash, who was usually eager to eat, frowned. The curry in front of him suddenly lost its appeal.

"Hey, Brock, if it keeps training like this, someone's going to get hurt..."

He asked tentatively, his expression worried.

Brock and Misty also lost their appetite. They clearly understood what Ash meant; he was worried about the Charmander from earlier.

"Pika!"

At that moment, Pikachu finally couldn't take it anymore.

It jumped up and kicked Ash's knee, signaling that his translation earlier was nonsense.

*Your whole family is doing intensive training in the rain!*

"What is it, Pikachu? Don't you like today's Electric-Mouse flavored rations? I'll give you my curry then."

Ash ignored Pikachu and instinctively pushed the curry toward it.

Pikachu: "?"

Though confused, it wasn't about to pass up curry.

Pikachu buried its head in the bowl and began to feast, deciding to eat first and explain properly once it was full.

*Patter, patter, patter.*

While the three were still lost in thought, another group of people hurried into the Pokémon Center.

They looked a few years older than Ash's group, and based on their attire, they seemed like a bunch of rowdy youths.

They paid no mind to Ash and his friends, sitting directly at the table next to them.

"What a miserable rainstorm!"

"By the way, Brother Dayou, you're amazing! You caught so many Pokémon so quickly."

"As a Bug Catcher, I, Kenjiro, declare you the strongest!"

The youth being fawned over, named Dayou, leaned back with his hands behind his head and his legs crossed, looking extremely smug and satisfied.

"Hahaha! This great lord is the future League Champion. Naturally, my starting point is this high!"

He then laid out a large pile of Poké Balls on the table—at least twenty of them—which rolled around haphazardly on the surface.

"But Brother Dayou, why haven't we seen your Charmander?"

"Oh, you mean that Charmander? That weak Pokémon couldn't even beat a Gyarados. I've already ditched it."

Dayou waved his hand dismissively.

Then, as if remembering something, he threw his head back and laughed triumphantly.

"I even told it to wait for me in the mountains and that I'd come back for it soon. Haha, that little guy actually believed me!"

"As expected of Brother Dayou! So insidious!"

"Legendary!"

The lackeys nearby showered him with flattery, causing Dayou to once again swing his legs proudly and laugh loudly.

At that moment, a shadow fell over him.

A low voice reached his ears, trembling slightly with an immense, contained fury.

"So... you were the one who abandoned that Charmander...?"

At some point, Ash had appeared behind him.

His usually cheerful expression was now incredibly serious, even angry.

"What's it to you—"

Before Dayou could finish, a sharp whistling sound rushed past his ear.

This was followed by a sharp pain on the side of his face.

*Slap!*

A crisp sound of a slap rang out.

With his face as the starting point, Dayou was violently flipped over by the sheer force, crashing onto the floor.

Ash had slapped him.

He had said it before: if he saw someone who abandoned their Pokémon so casually, he would take action.

"You brat, you little Caterpie!!"

After a moment of stunned silence, Dayou scrambled up from the floor, clutching his face in a rage, the veins on his forehead bulging.

Was this guy insane? He actually dared to hit the great him?!

Even his lackeys were stunned.

They knew how to battle with Pokémon, but they had never learned how to engage in physical brawling!

So, they just stood there shouting "666" for the time being?

"Don't fight! Don't fight! You'll kill someone like this!"

Brock and Misty were also shocked by Ash's sudden outburst. They hadn't expected this usually dazed boy to have such a violent side.

The two exchanged a glance and rushed forward to intervene.

Brock held back Dayou, while Misty held back Ash.

"Let me go! I'm going to beat that country bumpkin to a pulp!!"

Dayou roared maniacally.

Brock: "No! Fighting is wrong!"

He tightly restrained Dayou's body. No matter what, physical brawling was fundamentally wrong.

"Let me go! I'm going to beat that city boy to a pulp!!"

Ash roared maniacally as well.

Misty: "Okay."

Dayou: "?"

Misty released her grip, and Ash immediately lunged forward again like an unleashed Arcanine.

The first blow had hit the left side of Dayou's face; this time, he swung a heavy right hook.

Just as Dayou tried to move, he found that his limbs and body felt as if they were bound by rock or steel, rendering him completely unable to move.

*Whoosh—Thud!!*

In the next instant, a heavy punch slammed into the right side of Dayou's face!

The intense force caused his head to spin violently. When he tried to stand, he looked like a flickering candle in the wind.

Ash had beaten Dayou senseless!

"The Pokémon Center is not a place for fighting!!"

Only after the two strikes did Nurse Joy appear, sternly putting an end to this trainer brawl.

"Please stop fighting immediately, or your trainer licenses will be revoked!"

"It was indeed my fault."

Having vented his anger, Ash quickly bowed to Nurse Joy to apologize, admitting he shouldn't have fought recklessly.

Without waiting for Dayou's reaction, he grabbed a raincoat and bolted out of the Pokémon Center.

Beating someone up wasn't the priority right now; the priority was that Charmander!

Brock and Misty also hurried after him.

As the three left, the dazed Dayou finally regained his senses.

He pointed angrily in the direction they had gone and roared, "Nurse Joy! They hit me! Quickly, revoke their trainer licenses!"

"I'm sorry, but we would need video evidence for that. This Pokémon Center is too small; we don't have cameras."

Nurse Joy gave him a dismissive look and slowly walked toward the medical ward.

It seemed she was going to prepare the medical facilities for that Charmander in advance.

Dayou: "..."

Left alone, Dayou stood there in awkward silence.