Chapter 210: Gengar: Just a Flashing Beak
Chapter 210: Gengar: Just a Flashing Beak
"This is the 'Crimson Badge,' representing that you've passed the challenge at the Sootopolis Gym."
Sweating profusely, Elder Xia handed a crimson, flame-like badge to Jing He.
How many badges is this now?
"Gengar~~"
Gengar took the badge and began toying with it in its palm.
"And here's this."
As per tradition, Elder Xia rummaged through his collection and produced a TM.
"This is—"
"Big Fire Blast." Elder Xia laughed heartily.
"I have some experience with this move. After my modifications, it should be even more powerful."
Even if it gets deflected, there's still "Mid Fire Blast" and "Small Fire Blast," right?
But with a move as powerful as this, Jing He naturally wouldn't refuse.
First, he received "Thunder," and now "Big Fire Blast." Just these two TMs alone are worth over a million.
Not to mention, they also came with personal insights from Maxie and Elder Xia.
But the cost of the materials needed to learn these moves... that's what's giving him a headache.
And besides...
Whether it's "Thunder" or "Big Fire Blast," the training is bound to be quite disruptive.
Jing He started to worry about his house.
Especially since "Big Fire Blast" can only be learned by Haxorus, and Haxorus, when not in battle, can be quite... destructive.
Exiting the gym, the cool night breeze provided a much-needed relief for the two, who were drenched in sweat.
Looking at the pale, exhausted Elder Xia, Jing He couldn't help but ask, "Elder Xia, are you alright?"
"Fine!"
Elder Xia, his lips slightly pale, waved his hand energetically and said, "This was the coolest battle I've had in a while."
Jing He's expression was peculiar.
He had heard that the Sootopolis Gym Leader, Elder Xia, didn't like challengers and had even disguised the gym as a hot spring inn.
He had always thought it was because Elder Xia, like many other gym leaders, disliked weak challengers.
But now it seems...
Each challenge leaves him exhausted!
Why build the gym's battle arena inside a volcano?
"Teacher Jing He, how about we relax in the hot springs together?"
Elder Xia stretched, his body making a series of "cracking" sounds.
"Um, I just remembered I left the gas on at home. Elder Xia, I'll be off first!"
Jing He, along with Gengar, quickly took their leave.
Watching their retreating figures, Elder Xia muttered to himself, "Young people have so much energy. They can still be so lively after a battle."
Under the bright moonlight, the tranquil stream trickled, and the regular "pattering" of bamboo in the quiet courtyard could be heard.
Declining Elder Xia's invitation to the hot springs, Jing He, who was also drenched in sweat, still took the little ones for a half-hour soak.
Sitting on the smooth, exposed gray rocks, he watched the four little ones playing in the water, his gaze gentle.
Glaceon and Haxorus were both injured, but after using a generous amount of healing and burn sprays, they had mostly recovered.
Now, they were playing in the hot springs, a clear sign of their improved condition.
Jing He gently stroked Haxorus's tail, which was resting beside him.
He was thinking about something.
Since Haxorus can fly, can it also carry a person? Can it be ridden?
In theory,
Given Haxorus's size, carrying a person should be easy, as long as they hold on tight to avoid slipping off.
If not,
Gengar could probably take over.
"Without realizing it, the little ones have grown so much."
Jing He felt a bit nostalgic.
Gastly had evolved into Gengar, Beldum into Metang, and Minior into Haxorus.
Sylph, although not evolved,
had transformed from a shy and timid little creature hiding in the trash to one that now bravely faces Ninetales, even standing up to and defeating it.
During its battle with Ninetales, the determined look in its eyes, pleading Jing He not to switch it out, made him realize the little one's growth and change.
A Pokemon's growth isn't just about evolution.
Of course, evolution is a leap in life, a fundamental transformation.
But what Jing He values more is the psychological growth and transformation of the little ones.
Whether or not they evolve is their choice.
His role is to take care of these little creatures.
"Gengar," Jing He called out.
"Gengar?"
Gengar, disguised as a ghostly fountain, turned its gaze, water gushing from its mouth.
Jing He's eye twitched.
Am I already poisoned?
"How many badges do we have now?" he asked.
Hearing this, the four little ones gathered around, laying out eight colorful badges on the ground beside the hot springs.
Among them were the "Rock Badge" from Hoenn and the "Dragon Badge" from Johto.
The little ones chattered excitedly, discussing which badges they had earned, each one proud of their contributions.
"Badges are not just symbols of a trainer's strength; they are also medals for the Pokemon," Jing He reflected, gaining a deeper understanding of their significance.
Then,
they set aside the "Rock Badge" and "Dragon Badge."
"Hey, Metang, the 'Pink Badge' is from Kanto too."
"Chu?"
Metang blinked, looking "disdainful" as it placed the "Pink Badge" back.
Gifted badges indeed lack the same presence.
"Gengar~~"
Six badges now.
Gengar, with only six fingers, counted them and found they were just enough.
“Ooh?”
Are we still two short?
“Mm-hmm.”
Jing He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
We still have the Bluebell Gym and the Sootopolis Gym left.
Gengar excitedly shouted:
“Gengar!”
When are we going to challenge them?
Jing He glanced at him with a hint of annoyance. “It’s not that simple.”
Facing the puzzled looks from the four little ones, he picked up the badges from the ground one by one.
He said sternly:
“Have you all seen how strong the Gym Leaders in the Kanto region are?”
Hearing this, the little ones became more serious.
Even they had heard that the Kanto region’s Gyms were the toughest to beat.
And in practice, they had indeed felt the difficulty of challenging the Kanto Gyms.
“So,”
Jing He’s expression grew even more serious as he said without breaking a sweat:
“The last two Gyms are the toughest!”
The little ones’ expressions turned grave.
It’s a well-known fact.
The best things are often saved for last, and the hardest challenges are no different.
It seems the last two Gyms will be hellishly difficult, they thought to themselves.
“Your strength might be enough to face other Gyms, but for these last two, you need more practice.”
“Gengar!”
Led by Gengar, the four little ones nodded seriously.
We need to train more.
“Now!”
Jing He stood up from the hot spring with a splash, wrapping a towel around himself.
Are we going to train?
The little ones looked at him with eager eyes.
“We’re going for a midnight snack!”
Huh?
“You need to eat to sleep well, and you need to sleep well to train better!”
Oh~~
Something felt off, but upon closer thought, it didn’t seem wrong.
Because of the volcano,
Red Lotus Island didn’t have an airport.
So the next day, Jing He and his companions took a small ferry, crossed a strait, and arrived at New Bark Town.
Jing He was skeptical about Haxorus’ ability to carry people in flight and didn’t dare to try it.
He didn’t enter New Bark Town but instead planned to take a bus directly to Vermilion City.
Since arriving in the Kanto region, he had a strange feeling that he might be challenged at any moment.
If you asked, the Kanto region was the place with the highest battle enthusiasm (confirmed by the shorts-wearing boy and the bug-catching boy).
He was afraid that if he entered New Bark Town, Professor Oak might suddenly get the urge to practice with him.
And the old professor was way too enthusiastic about Gengar, to the point where even Gengar was a bit scared.
So they decided to skip New Bark Town.
However, before reaching the bus station, they had to cross a vast grassland.
The winter sun was warm, and the grass swayed gently in the breeze.
“Actually, we could challenge the Sootopolis Gym and the Bluebell Gym before the tournament. We might as well go home and sleep in,” Jing He thought with a chuckle.
After all, he hadn’t bothered to check the start date or the prizes for the Indigo League, so there was no rush.
More importantly,
The tournament required six Pokemon, and he only had four. Collecting the badges wouldn’t help much.
But the little ones seemed highly motivated.
“Gengar!”
Gengar, with his hands cupped like a megaphone, stood on a high slope and shouted.
Jing He glanced at him. “Why are you so excited?”
Then he beckoned to him.
“Come here, let me ride you and see how it goes.”
“Gengar? Σ(дlll)”
You’re serious?
Jing He smiled.
Look at how scared this mischievous little fatty is.
Suddenly,
Jing He and the little ones all turned to look at the nearby forest.
“Chaaa!!”
A massive flock of Spearow, like a black cloud, swooped down, flapping their wings rapidly, as if they had been startled. Their red eyes locked onto Jing He and his group.
Jing He couldn’t help but press his nose.
Forgot this area is their territory.
But they only bully newcomers like Ash and Pikachu.
Zzzzzz—
“Ooh~~”
A sudden “Blizzard” appeared.
“Hooorrrr!!”
Haxorus also rose to his feet, with sparks jumping from the small horn on his head.
Thunder Shock!
A golden bolt of lightning shot upward, tearing a huge gap in the black cloud.
The Spearow rained down like leaves, “pattering” to the ground.
After the “Spearow Rain,” a beautiful rainbow arched across the sky, and a large, colorful bird’s tail feathers swept through, sparkling with tiny, glittering lights.
“Chuuu!!”
Kowai the Steelix called out excitedly, then immediately looked down.
Where are the rocks?
“Gengar?”
Gengar rolled his eyes irritably.
What’s the fuss about? Just a shiny Beakon, nothing special.
But it is pretty.
But Jing He wasn’t so calm.
He gazed at the magnificent figure in the sky and murmured, “It’s a cameraman!”
Little Vulpix and Haxorus looked enlightened.
So it’s a “cameraman.”
The rainbow revealed the legendary Pokemon, Ho-Oh!
It’s said that Ho-Oh only appears before righteous trainers, and no one has ever seen Ho-Oh in its entirety, existing only in legends.
Thinking of this, Jing He raised an eyebrow.
“I must indeed be a righteous trainer.”
(End of Chapter)
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