"You've won so many matches but still haven't gotten a badge, so you're not that impressive after all."
Ash, true to his nature, went straight for a face-to-face challenge without hesitation. He unzipped his jacket, proudly revealing two badges, and boastfully told Xiao Ming, "Look, I won ten consecutive matches and got two badges!"
In a daze, Ash's nose began to gradually lengthen, like a certain puppet.
"With your strength, winning ten matches, any Gym that would give you a badge must be third-rate."
"Which city are those two weak Gyms in?"
Of course, when it came to face-to-face challenges, Xiao Ming was no slouch either, directly enraging the three people besides Ash.
"What did you just say?"
"Ash, teach him a lesson!"
"If you can't win, you'll get up and train with me every morning!"
The two who were called third-rate Gyms were very displeased. They were two of the eight Gyms recognized by the Alliance. If they weren't forbidden from personally bullying people, they would surely let this Xiao Ming know why flowers are so red.
However, both of them also looked at Yu Feng with surprise. After all, it was normal for them, as Gym Leaders, to be so angry, but why was Yu Feng angry?
Yu Feng took out his badge case and pointed to it, motioning for them to see that inside the badge case were the badges from their two Gyms.
Wasn't that cursing him along with them? Aunts can endure, but uncles cannot.
Yu Feng promised that if Ash lost, he would end Xiao Ming's winning streak at the 99th match, and as long as Xiao Ming kept doing this, he would come back to stop him, ensuring he could never leave.
Don't underestimate the resolve of a Psychic-type Pokémon holding a grudge, you scoundrel!
"Battle start! Go, Sandshrew!"
Of course, the current Xiao Ming didn't know how vengeful a person he had provoked, and excitedly sent out his Sandshrew.
"I'm the one who's going to set a new winning streak record, not you."
Ash was as confident as ever; his winning streak had made him arrogant.
"Ash, don't underestimate your opponent!"
Brock saw that Ash was being very careless now, as arrogance can make one blind to their own weaknesses.
"Sandshrew is a Ground-type Pokémon, Pikachu's Electric-type moves are useless!"
Misty told Ash Sandshrew's information, though it probably wouldn't make much difference whether she told him or not.
Certain Geodude and Onix, please watch me carefully!
"I know that very well, you two just watch quietly!"
Ash was very annoyed by Brock and Misty's reminders. Why did they need to teach him such basic things?
Of course, the consequence of doing so was... Pidgeotto was directly defeated by Sandshrew, and the newly swapped-in Butterfree also looked at the ground with a blank expression.
"He really is well-trained, isn't he?"
"He's so good at controlling them with the sound of his whip!"
Watching Xiao Ming command Sandshrew with a whip on the field, Misty and Brock couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
Of course, Yu Feng couldn't bear to watch. Psychic powers don't even require speaking; even if he did speak, it would only be a way to confuse his opponent.
He didn't need such crude methods, you telepathic kid!
As Xiao Ming cracked his whip again, Sandshrew burrowed out from behind Butterfree and pinned Butterfree to the ground, unable to move.
"What's wrong? Is that all you've got?"
Xiao Ming didn't know why, but a chill inexplicably ran through him despite the seemingly guaranteed victory.
"Go quickly and avenge Pidgeotto and Butterfree!"
Ash forcefully tugged on Pikachu's tail, trying to make him enter the battle, but Pikachu clung tightly to the edge of the battle arena, refusing to let go.
Ash didn't notice Yu Feng, Brock, and Misty, whose foreheads were covered in cold sweat, dodging to the sides.
"Pika! Chu!"
Seeing that there was no one around, Pikachu's cheeks flashed with dazzling electricity, and a Thunder Shock hit Ash, directly giving Ash an X-ray effect.
"Idiot."
Misty stood to the side, arms crossed, watching Ash. After all, it was clear from the situation that Pikachu didn't want to fight; forcibly dragging him in was just asking to be shocked.
However, all of this was observed by three pairs of eyes in a tree.
"That Sandshrew isn't just strong, he's exceptionally strong."
"So he is..."
"Don't underestimate him, Meowth."
Team Rockets' trio's attention was drawn to Sandshrew, and they carefully observed him, as he was a Pokémon they intended to capture.
"That Trainer looks so country bumpkin. I hate that type the most. That Da Guitou over there, though, he fits the bill quite well."
Jessie began to critique the Trainers present.
"But for Team Rockets' ambition to conquer the world, shouldn't we add some powerful Pokémon?"
James also had great confidence in their future.
"You can't even handle a tiny Pikachu and Da Guitou, and you're talking big, Meowth."
Meowth, however, poured cold water on their aspirations. If they couldn't even get past Pikachu and Da Guitou, what dreams were they talking about?
James moved his eyes away from the binoculars and looked at Meowth speechlessly. Couldn't a person even talk about their ideals?
Then he punched it down to the base of the tree... The '98 wins' on the sign outside slowly turned into '99 wins'.
"Success! 99 consecutive wins!"
Xiao Ming was very happy; one more win and he could go on a journey.
"Why? I'm the one who wins badges!"
Ash was very puzzled. He was the one with badges, so why would he lose to someone without them?
Ash grabbed Xiao Ming's arm, demanding a rematch, but Xiao Ming flatly refused, stating that Pokémon also needed rest.
"There must be something wrong! I've fought so many matches before, and I won every single one. There's no way I'd lose as soon as I step into your arena!"
Ash, unconvinced, pleaded with Xiao Ming to fight another match outside, claiming that since Sandshrew had defeated a Flying-type Pokémon against type advantage, there must have been foul play in the arena.
"Are you conscious? I think you should clear your head before coming back."
Xiao Ming shook off the persistent Ash. After all, why should he entertain Ash's shameless request when he had won through genuine skill?
He then left the dejected Ash and walked back into his tent.
"See? This is the consequence of not training your Pokémon."
"If you woke up early every day to train your Pokémon like me, you would have defeated him long ago."
Yu Feng patted the somewhat dejected Ash, suggesting that he should wake up early and train like him in the future. Ash lost to Xiao Ming precisely because he didn't train his Pokémon.
If he had just trained Butterfree's reaction time a little, it wouldn't have been pinned to the ground and rubbed by Sandshrew.
"No, thanks. I can't handle your training."
Ash thought about Yu Feng and Shiny Kirlia's intense sparring every morning and couldn't help but shiver. He wasn't like Yu Feng, able to endure so many moves.