After listening to what Gary said, Ash felt very embarrassed. He had no information and wanted to compete with Gary.
If Gary really agreed to compete, Ash thought that he couldn't even find Blaine, so he would definitely lose.
"Then Gary, do you know Blaine?" Ash asked.
"No."
Three Murkrows flew over the heads of Ash and the other two...!
"What? You don't even know Blaine after all this time." Ash thought Gary knew Blaine and wanted to follow Gary to find Xi Bo.
"Why are you so anxious? Don't you mean you haven't collected all 8 badges yet? If you can't find Blaine, your trip will be in vain." Gary said.
"Did you collect all 8 badges?" Ash said unconvinced.
Ash's process of collecting badges is very difficult. He has only collected 6 badges so far, and he is still two badges away from the entry standard of Indigo Plateau Conference.
Gary didn't waste any words. He took out the badge box and opened it. There were 9 badges neatly arranged inside.
"1, 2, 3... What! You have 9 badges." Ash was shocked.
Ash remembered that two months ago, Gary only had 1 more badge than him, how come he has 3 more badges now.
Instantly, Ash felt that he didn't need to compete with Gary in the number of badges, and he had completely distanced himself from him.
"It's amazing, he actually collected 9 badges. Ash has all the badges, and Gary also has them." Misty observed carefully.
"Let's not talk about this, let's talk about Cinnabar Gym." Ash quickly changed the subject and said: "Gary, how are you going to challenge Cinnabar Gym?" "Go find Blaine." Gary said.
"Don't you know Blaine?" Ash asked in confusion.
"I don't know him, but Blaine is also a researcher, Cinnabar Laboratory, you can find Blaine directly at the Laboratory." Gary said.
"I see, then when we get to Cinnabar Island, we will go directly to Cinnabar Laboratory, and I will challenge Blaine first. " Ash said.
"I advise you to challenge after me, watch the battle between me and Blaine first, see what kind of Pokémon Blaine has, and learn my fighting style by the way, so that you will have a greater chance of defeating Blaine." Gary suggested.
"What! Learn from you... I don't want to, I have my own fighting style." Ash retorted.
But Ash regarded Gary as a strong rival, how could he learn the fighting style of a strong rival.
"It's up to you, anyway, I want to challenge Blaine first." Gary didn't care, after all, Ash is still a child now, and needs to calm down.
"Why should I let you challenge Blaine first?"
"Please, if it weren't for me, even if you wanted to find Blaine, it would take you a day or two. I saved you this time, shouldn't I challenge first?"
"Okay, then let you challenge first, I want to see how good you are. " Ash said.
Although Ash is a child, he is still very reasonable. Repaying a favor is Ash's life motto.
Misty and Brock looked at Ash being played around by Gary and shook their heads helplessly.
Who said not to learn other people's styles just now? Now they want to watch Gary's battle. It's really hypocritical.
"Pikachu!"
Pikachu also shook his head helplessly.
"Hey, you haven't evolved Pikachu yet." Gary looked at Pikachu and said.
[LV39 Pikachu3/Champion]
After not seeing for a while, Pikachu's level has also increased, but the level is not high, still in the elite range.
"My Pikachu is not going to evolve." Ash said.
"Pika! Pika!" On this point, Pikachu and Ash are in the same camp.
"Why? After evolution, the strength of Pokémon will be greatly improved. Why not evolve?" Gary asked.
"No reason, just my Pikachu doesn't want to evolve, so it won't evolve. " Ash said.
"I see, then your Pikachu will have a hard time in the future." Gary said.
"Hard time? What do you mean?"
" Pikachu?"
Ash and Pikachu were both confused, (acaa) why would there be hard time if they didn't evolve.
"Pokémon evolution is normal growth. If a Pokémon chooses not to evolve, its potential will be difficult to tap quickly, and its level will increase very slowly." Gary explained.
"Is it really like that? But my Pikachu is very strong." Ash didn't think there was anything wrong with Pikachu at all.
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded in agreement, he is very strong.
"You can take a look at the other evolved Pokémon in your hand, whether they are higher than Pikachu in level, your Pikachu's strength has not fallen behind, it is entirely because you have been regularly training Pikachu, if you relax a little Pikachu's level will lag behind your other Pokémon." Gary said.
Ash was stunned. After thinking carefully, Pikachu was indeed surpassed by the Pokémon that joined the team later, and the most obvious one was Charizard.
Charizard is the strongest Pokémon in Ash's hand at present.
"It's okay if it's slow, I don't care." Ash said.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu was immediately moved by Ash and decided to reward Ash for this gym battle. He would fight seriously and never loss.
"As long as you are happy, by the way, there are free drinks and snacks over there. You can go and taste them. They taste good." Gary said.
"Where are they!" If you don't take advantage of it, you are a b*****d. How can you let go of such a good opportunity?
"It's over there." Gary pointed to a long table not far away, on which various fruits and snacks were placed.
Ash immediately ran over to taste it, and Misty and Brock followed him.
...!
Three hours later, the cruise ship arrived at island.
Gary and Sabrina followed Ash and his group off the cruise ship, entered Cinnabar Island, and came to the Pokémon Center.
Because he wants to challenge Blaine, Gary's current Pokémon are not suitable for the challenge, so he needs to exchange two Pokémon.
Gary plans to temporarily send Electabuzz and Magnemite over, and exchange Blastoise and Rhyperior.
The video call is connected.
"Gary, where are you now?" Seeing his grandson calling after a long time, Inkunbo asked with concern.
"Currently in Cinnabar Island."
"Oh, Cinnabar Island, it's the place of training and longing, it seems that you plans to challenge Cinnabar Gym..." Professor Oak said.
"Professor Oak, hello." Ash suddenly squeezed next to Gary and showed his face.
"Ash! You are with Gary."
Professor Oak was also surprised to see Ash suddenly appear.
"Yes, I also plan to challenge Cinnabar Gym, and I met Gary on the way." Ash said.
"Then you should do your best." Professor Oak encouraged. .