"Gyarados, use Bite!" On the open grassland, two Trainers are battling, and a large group of Pokémon are watching.
The two battling are Ash and Misty. The Pokémon they command are Blastoise and Gyarados!
Half a month has passed. During this time, Ash and Misty have been training intensively every day. The training is challenging, but the results are remarkable.
Ash's Pokémon have grown to varying degrees. The one with the highest growth rate is not Pikachu or Charizard, but Haunter!
Haunter has broken through the elite level and reached the high elite level, but this is only its apparent strength. In the past half-month, Haunter has learned the secret skill Aerial Ace!
It is the only Pokémon other than Pidgeot that has learned Aerial Ace. Although the other Pokémon have also sought Pidgeot's guidance, they haven't been able to learn it.
Even Pidgeot learned Aerial Ace through move inheritance!
This amazed Ash, as Haunter learned this powerful skill in such a short time through its own efforts.
After learning it, Haunter integrated Aerial Ace into its attack routine. It can now attack three times simultaneously when using any move. Its actual combat strength has greatly improved, surpassing Venusaur and Blastoise to become the fifth strongest on Ash's team.
Pikachu's strength has also broken through to the high elite level, the same as Charizard, but in terms of overall strength, it is still slightly inferior.
Charizard's strength has not improved much and remains at the high elite level, but it has further narrowed the gap with the gym leader level.
Pidgeot's strength has also broken through to the high elite level, and its overall strength has improved significantly, ranking fourth on Ash's team.
Aerodactyl's strength has reached a certain level. Intensive training is difficult to improve its strength significantly in a short time, but there has been a small increase. Mainly, it has enriched its battle experience and can utilize its strength better in battles.
Beedrill is also working hard to learn from Pidgeot. It's not seeking to learn Aerial Ace, but the move Drill Run, which is more suitable for its attack style.
Although it hasn't fully mastered Drill Run yet, Ash believes that with continued effort, Beedrill can achieve it. The fact that it's making progress is already commendable.
Ash's overall strength has grown considerably. Misty hasn't been idle either. She visited Professor Oak, contacted her sisters, and sent Horsea back to the Cerulean Gym. She also brought the Magikarp from the gym to Professor Oak's lab.
Although raising Magikarp is difficult, requiring proper nutrition and training, Misty, having overcome her fear of Gyarados, decided to raise a true trump card Pokémon, and Gyarados had the potential.
So, in the past half-month, besides training her other Pokémon, she dedicated most of her time to nurturing Magikarp, and her efforts finally paid off. Magikarp successfully evolved into Gyarados.
Gyarados
Attribute: Water, Flying
Category: Atrocious Pokémon
Ability: Intimidate
Hidden Ability: Moxie
Moxie: After a Pokémon with this Ability knocks out a Pokémon, its Attack stat is raised by one stage.
Strength: Silver
"Blastoise, use Withdraw, then Rapid Spin!" Facing the charging Gyarados, Ash calmly issued a command.
"Blastoise!" Blastoise, upon receiving the order, activated its Water-type energy. It retracted into its shell, and its defense increased!
Gyarados's Bite, infused with Dark-type energy, landed on Blastoise's shell, inflicting some damage. However, Blastoise's defense was excellent, and its strength surpassed Gyarados, so it didn't sustain significant damage.
Simultaneously, Blastoise used Rapid Spin within Gyarados's mouth, forcing it open. It maneuvered in mid-air, struck Gyarados's body, and sent it flying several meters away!
Gyarados's massive body slammed into the ground, creating a visible dent in the grass.
"Okay, let's call it a day!" After this attack, Ash ended the battle instead of letting Blastoise continue.
Misty also agreed. It was a training match, and it was getting late. They needed to head back.
"Blastoise!" Blastoise approached Gyarados and raised a finger, as if giving a thumbs-up.
"Gyarados!" Gyarados's fierce eyes softened, and it smiled, pleased with the praise.
After packing up, Ash and Misty recalled their Pokémon and headed home. They had been training on a plain outside Pallet Town, not in Professor Oak's backyard, to avoid disturbing the Pokémon there.
On their way back, they saw a group of vehicles approaching.
Most of the vehicles were off-roaders, with two RVs.
Ash and Misty were curious about the convoy but didn't intend to ask. However, the team stopped beside them,
"...~ Hello..." Although Ash and Misty were a little concerned about the team's origin, they didn't intend to ask. However, the team stopped beside them, and a young woman with short, dark blue hair in her twenties stepped out.
"Hi, how can we help you?" Ash looked up slightly at the woman, who was a head taller than him.
"Are you residents of Pallet Town? We're an archaeological team here to conduct research in a valley near Pallet Town," the woman introduced herself with a smile, then took out a map. "We'd like to ask if you know where this location is."
She displayed the map in front of Ash and Misty. Pikachu, perched on Ash's shoulder, poked its head out to examine it.
"Isn't this the mountainous area west of Professor Oak's Laboratory's backyard?" Misty recognized the marked location at a glance.
"Professor Oak's Laboratory? Thank you so much!" The woman's eyes lit up as she put away the map and thanked them.
"You're welcome..." Misty nodded with a smile, while Ash looked a little perplexed.
"Archaeological team... Archaeological team..." Ash vaguely remembered that an archaeological team had come to Pallet Town for research, and something unusual had happened. However, he couldn't quite recall the details.
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