Ash just needs to train again.”
Although Brock had spoken very seriously before, he would still comfort Ash if anything really went wrong with him.
“But…”
Ash felt inexplicably annoyed. He had won so easily before, but now that he was here, problems arose. It felt strange no matter how he thought about it.
“You and your Pokémon are weak in your limbs and unstable in your lower body. My Charmander could take down both you and your Pokémon.”
Yu Feng rolled his eyes at Ash. Even his newly acquired Charmander could take down all of Ash’s Pokémon.
A single Ember could send Butterfree on a one-day trip to the Pokémon Center, not to mention the poor Beedrill and Pidgeotto. He would grab their feathers and pluck them out.
“I’m not like you…”
Ash’s voice was very soft, thinking Yu Feng couldn’t hear him at all.
Unfortunately, Yu Feng’s ears were very sharp. Just as he was about to burst out, a voice from inside the tent interrupted him.
“Your performance just now was disgraceful. Why are your reactions so slow? Now I’m going to teach you another lesson, Sandshrew!”
Misty’s voice scolding Sandshrew came from inside the tent, attracting their attention.
Ash stealthily peeked into the tent, watching the scene inside.
Beedrill and Butterfree were doing dodging training. Some Rattata were jumping through hoops, while others were doing balance training on balance balls.
Misty and Sandshrew were alone by a pool full of water. Sandshrew stood on a high diving platform.
Sandshrew leaped down directly into the pool, then, as if touched by something unbearable, quickly jumped out of the water and spun wildly on the ground, trying to shake off the water.
“You can’t be afraid of water!”
Misty cracked a whip on Sandshrew, making him stop spinning.
“Stop it!”
Ash appeared out of nowhere, wrapped his arms around Misty’s waist, and knocked him into the pool.
Misty, who hadn’t had time to react, was also pulled down by Ash, and both of them sank into the water.
“What’s going on? You… what are you still doing here?”
Misty was very surprised to see Ash still there. After all, it was rare for someone to stay after failing a challenge.
“Sandshrew will die!”
Ash was very dissatisfied with Misty for tormenting Sandshrew like this. Treating a water-fearing Sandshrew this way was truly irritating.
“It’s none of your business! Understand this, this is how we usually train!”
Misty found Ash, this rash person, very strange. It didn't look like they were acting on a whim.
“Training? Are you talking about wearing those strange things?”
Ash became even more confused by Misty’s talk of training. He glanced at the strange device on Sandshrew and was even more bewildered.
“Those aren’t strange things. They are Pokémon Enhancers, secret weapons that can stimulate a Pokémon’s potential.”
Misty climbed out of the water while explaining what his machine was.
“Oh, and Sandshrew, you can’t Slack Off!”
As if remembering something, Misty shouted at Sandshrew, who was slacking off by dog-paddling.
“Sandshrew is clearly afraid of water!”
“I know that!”
“Then why?!”
“Jump down, Sandshrew!”
Misty, who was arguing with Ash, felt that Ash definitely wouldn’t understand just by talking. He had to let Sandshrew do it himself so that Ash, this stubborn guy, would know right from wrong.
Sandshrew, who had appeared on the diving platform at some point, dropped down past Ash, splashing water on him in a provocative manner, even though he was already wet.
Sandshrew jumped out of the water again, shook off the water from his body, and stood before everyone once more.
“Your Sandshrew, is he not afraid of water?”
Brock was a little surprised. He had never seen a Sandshrew unafraid of water before.
“Even if you search the whole world, you won’t find a second Sandshrew that has overcome its fear of water. Sandshrew, do the 강화 special training.”
When talking about Sandshrew overcoming his fear of water, Misty’s face was full of pride. After all, you might not find a second Sandshrew like this even if you searched all regions.
“Maybe there are some Rhyhorn and Onix that aren’t afraid of water.”
Yu Feng brought up two Ground and Rock-type Pokémon from his memory that weren’t afraid of water. These were even more resistant to water than Sandshrew.
And if he remembered correctly, Alola’s Sandshrew also didn’t seem to be afraid of water!
“Hmph, those aren’t Sandshrew.”
Misty looked at the training where Sandshrew was curled up and being hit back and forth by Rattata, showing a satisfied expression.
“Stop it quickly! Do you want to train Sandshrew into a punching bag?”
Ash couldn’t take it anymore. For someone who loved Pokémon like him, Misty’s training method was undoubtedly dancing all over his bottom line.
Hearing Ash’s words, Brock and Xiao Xia almost fell to the ground. Yu Feng covered his forehead, feeling a headache, and Misty had an expression of 'what are you talking about?'.
“Pikachu!”
Pikachu, who knows where he pulled it out from, dangled a cushion in front of Ash.
“Huh? A cushion as a reward? Oh! This isn’t the time for jokes!”
“Chu~”
Seeing Pikachu’s actions, Ash was a little angry, as this was not the time for jokes!
And Pikachu, after being scolded by Ash, carried the cushion to Yu Feng, seeking comfort.
“Sandshrew is too pitiful!”
“Too pitiful?”
Misty spoke seriously to Ash, as if he had heard something funny: “This kind of training is the key to training Sandshrew’s skin to be as hard as steel!”
“Why are you tormenting Sandshrew like this?!”
Ash was somewhat displeased. In his opinion, this was not training at all; it was tormenting Sandshrew.
“Because Sandshrew is the first Pokémon I ever caught!”
Misty explained to everyone the reason for training Sandshrew this way. His goal, like Ash’s, was to become the world’s number one Trainer and Pokémon.
“What you’re doing is wrong. Pokémon and Trainers should be friends!”
“You’re too loud, go back!”
Misty had nothing to say to Ash, whose philosophy differed from his own. After all, different philosophies lead to different perspectives, and he didn’t want to try and persuade a stubborn person.
“Yu Feng, quickly, you say a few words to him too!”
Ash turned his gaze to Yu Feng. After all, he was raised by Pokémon and would surely understand his thoughts.
“I think he’s right. Even in nature, if you neglect training, you might be preyed upon by other Pokémon.”
“It’s the same logic for your Pidgeotto and the Caterpie from before, Ash.”
Yu Feng shook his head. Aside from being annoyed by Misty’s arrogance, he largely agreed with Misty’s views. It was only because the Gardevoir Family had no natural predators, coupled with the Clan Leader’s strength.
Otherwise, who knows where they would end up living.