Chapter 24: The Thousand-Year-Old Turtle

After the match, Ash walked up and slowly helped the mentally broken Takeshi up, asking softly

"Have you attained enlightenment?"

The Beast Tamer made Takeshi lift his head, his teary eyes staring straight at him with intense focus.

*Master, what am I supposed to realize?*

"There is essentially no difference between a 99-win streak and a 100-win streak. You are merely being bound by your own obsession. In truth, your strength is already sufficient to go out and travel."

"Cut your shackles and go see the world!" Ash said in a low, serious voice.

Beside him, Brock's face was so dark it could reflect light.

*Master, your ability to copy people is truly fast!*

If these words had come from some random weakling, they would have had no persuasive power at all. But coming from the man who had just defeated the 99-win streak, these words carried profound meaning.

After lowering his head in deep thought for a moment, Takeshi finally had a sudden epiphany, and a single word surged into his mind.

"Indeed."

For the sake of a so-called 100-win title, he had stubbornly stayed in this backwater place for several weeks. Moreover, the opponents he faced during those 99 matches were basically just "small fry" trainers like Bug Catchers and Youngsters; there had been very little actual improvement.

He really shouldn't have stayed here any longer and wasted his youth!

"I've realized it, Master! I've realized everything! I'm tearing down this tent right now and setting off to challenge the Gym immediately!"

Takeshi acted on impulse, immediately commanding his Sandshrew to unleash a Metal Claw on the surrounding tents and wooden stakes.

At that moment, Takeshi suddenly remembered something and turned his head to ask

"By the way, Master, you are already a man with two badges. Which two Gyms were they? I plan to retrace the great path you walked."

"Oh, my first Gym was in Pewter City..." Ash answered casually, sharing everything he knew.

"It's the city next to Pewter!" Brock quickly interrupted. He did not want his younger brother facing a Sandshrew capable of cracking the earth.

"Then it's Cerulean City..." Ash raised an eyebrow and continued.

"It's the city next to Cerulean!" Misty also interjected with a tense expression.

Currently, the Cerulean Gym could be considered the weakest Gym, and she didn't want her sister to be "educated" by this Beast Tamer. If it weren't for that special, round-faced Pikachu, she might have even thought it was impossible for Ash to win so easily.

Hearing this, Ash frowned. If he couldn't say Pewter or Cerulean, then there was only one city left...

Brock slapped his palm: "Right, it's Viridian City! The Viridian Gym there was Ash's first Gym."

Misty chimed in with a smile: "That's right, and Viridian City is famous for having the weakest Gym in the Kanto region. It's perfect for newcomers to start from scratch and gain the confidence of victory."

Hearing this, Takeshi had no suspicions. He quickly dismantled the tent gym, packed up his Pokémon equipment, and prepared to set off for the Viridian Gym.

*The weakest Gym, huh?*

*Hmph, right now, I indeed need to find a punching bag to regain my confidence.*

Carrying a massive hiking backpack, Takeshi suddenly turned back before leaving and asked

"By the way, Master, what is your name?"

Ash: "!"

Checkmate.

If he explained now that he was the real Ash from Pallet Town and that he had been impersonated, wouldn't that be incredibly embarrassing?

*Damn it, that guy Gary, has he even calculated this far?!*

After agonizing for a long time, Ash finally gave an answer.

"I am the man who will become a Pokémon Master. Just call me 'Master' in advance."

Brock and Misty: "..."

"Alright, Master! I'm off to challenge the Viridian Gym to regain my confidence!"

Takeshi strode off toward Viridian City, his face filled with supreme confidence and high spirits!

His future was infinitely promising!

*Postscript: From then on, no one by the name of Takeshi was ever seen again in the Pokémon world...*

***

Soon, the three of them continued their journey.

Having crossed the empty rocky terrain, they arrived at a forest this time.

"Lulu~"

A Pokémon with grass on its upper body and blue lower limbs suddenly jumped out from the bushes, blocking their path.

"Beep. Oddish, a Grass-type Pokémon. It roots itself in fertile soil and recovers its strength by moonlight," the Pokédex reported automatically.

Ash frowned and couldn't help but tap his Pokédex.

*Is it broken?*

Misty's face lit up with joy. She pushed him aside, preparing to throw a Poké Ball.

"Is it an Oddish? I've decided, I'm going to catch it~!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Aren't you the 'Blue Will'? Why are you trying to catch a Grass-type Pokémon!" Ash complained.

He was currently lacking a Grass-type Pokémon. Not counting that ridiculous round-faced Pikachu, he only had three Pokémon on him. Ash wanted to catch a few more before reaching Vermilion City to bolster his team.

Misty wasn't annoyed. She pointed at the Oddish's lower body.

"Are you blind? Isn't this standard 'Blue Will'?"

Ash: "?"

Misty threw out her Poké Ball: "I choose you, Starmie! Use Rapid Spin!"

"Star!"

Starmie spun at high speed and charged. The force was far beyond what the Oddish could withstand.

*Whoosh-thud!!*

The Oddish's small body was sent flying a great distance.

"One more hit! Use Swift!!"

*Rat-tat-tat...*

The yellow stars shot out and shattered against the Oddish. In just two hits, the latter was already in a state of near-collapse.

"Now's the chance! Poké Ball, go!"

Misty's eyes brightened as she pulled out a plain Poké Ball, ready to throw. Her movements were fluid and seamless!

*Whoosh-thud!*

Suddenly, a green vine shot out from the bushes behind her, precisely slapping the Poké Ball away.

"Who is it? Do you think Poké Balls grow on trees?" Misty complained after the failed capture.

The bushes rustled, and another Pokémon emerged, shielding the Oddish. It had a green body, walked on all fours, and carried a large green bulb on its back.

An old acquaintance: Bulbasaur!

"Bulba... Bulba..."

Bulbasaur let out a low growl, its eyes filled with determination. Its message was simple: *Don't you dare touch the Oddish!*

Ash's eyes lit up, and he quickly moved his Pokédex over.

"Beep. Bulbasaur, the Bulb Pokémon. Half meat, half vegetable; comes with its own seasoning for a BBQ."

Listening to the emotionless, mechanical voice of the Pokédex, Ash felt a strange sense of relief. It seemed the world wasn't ending yet.

*As long as it's not broken, it's fine.*

Bulbasaur unleashed its Vine Whip again, instantly tying Starmie into a knot from head to toe.

*Crash!!*

Then, it lunged forward with a powerful tackle. The gem on Starmie's chest began to flash "BIBIBI" in warning.

"What a strong Bulbasaur!" Ash marveled.

He immediately felt the urge to battle. Before he started traveling, Ash had always dreamed of catching a normal starter Pokémon. While catching a somewhat "off" electric mouse wasn't bad, it would be even better if he could fulfill that wish now.

Without thinking, this time it was his turn to push Misty aside and send out his third-ranked ace.

"I choose you, Pidgeotto!!"

The Flying-type had the advantage over the Grass-type; this battle was practically won!

"Pidgeotto, use Gust!"

"Pid-geotto~!!"

Pidgeotto let out a high-pitched cry and soared into the air, flapping its wings violently to create a howling wind.

However, facing the Gust that countered it, the Bulbasaur remained as steady as a mountain. Its limbs gripped the ground firmly as it took a deep breath of pure air, its chest and belly swelling into a massive arc close to the ground.

*Puff!!!*

In the next second, Bulbasaur actually exhaled a gust of air that was no less powerful than the Gust.

*Whoosh...!!*

The two whirlwinds collided and clashed, eventually canceling each other out and dissipating into the air.

Ash's expression darkened: "Damn, a Flying-type Bulbasaur..."

Brock and Misty: "..."

*It's probably just incredible lung capacity, right...?*

"If long-range attacks won't work, let's try melee! Pidgeotto, use Quick Attack!"

Pidgeotto nodded, its body enveloped in a white light. Its speed surged instantly as it lunged toward the target with its sharp beak.

"Bulba!"

This time, Bulbasaur extended two Vine Whips and lashed the ground ruthlessly. Using the recoil, its body leaped high into the air to evade the Quick Attack.

The offensive didn't stop; while mid-air, it performed a flip to adjust its posture. The two Vine Whips on its sides whistled through the air again, attempting to wrap Pidgeotto in a binding combo.

"Pidgeotto! Watch out!" Ash shouted instinctively.

This Bulbasaur's combat instincts seemed a bit too high.

*Swish-thud!!*

The Vine Whips arrived, directly entangling Pidgeotto.

"Pid-geotto!"

However, the vines simply passed through. Pidgeotto's figure vanished like foam, turning into a phantom. The Vine Whips hit nothing.

In the next second, Pidgeotto's silhouette appeared ghost-like directly beneath Bulbasaur.

"That move again..." Misty was the first to react.

Back then, Pidgeotto had used this exact move to evade her Starmie's Water Gun and reappear from the other side. This move seemed to be a specific skill.

"Beep. Pidgeotto has mastered a new move: Aerial Ace!" the Pokédex prompted warmly.

Ash was overjoyed. Seizing the moment, he waved his hand and roared

"Go, Pidgeotto! Use Aerial Ace!"

Pidgeotto's beak was covered in a sharp white light. At a ghostly, tricky angle, it struck the Bulbasaur, which had no time to dodge, sending it flying into the air.

*Aerial Ace is super effective!*

Ash pressed the advantage: "One last hit! Use Gust!!"

Pidgeotto's wings shook, creating another powerful whirlwind. Last time, Bulbasaur had needed its feet on the ground to utilize its massive lung capacity. Now, being mid-air, it was unable to blow air again.

*Whoosh!!*

The powerful whirlwind hit dead center!

Bulbasaur's body was sent reeling back like a cannonball until it slammed into a giant tree, its eyes beginning to roll.

"I choose you, Poké Ball!!"

Ash threw the Poké Ball like a baseball pitcher. A red light flashed, and Bulbasaur was sucked inside.

*Click... click... click!*

After a long moment, the Poké Ball stopped shaking.

"Yes! I caught Bulbasaur!"

Ash rushed over excitedly to pick up the Poké Ball, while his other hand hugged his hero of the day, Pidgeotto.

"Your Aerial Ace was so cool! Go, Pidgeotto!!"

Pidgeotto let out a loud cry and flapped its wings in cooperation.

*But what does that "Go" mean?*

*I mean, I am indeed a male, but there's no need to point it out so specifically, right?*

(End of Chapter)