Chapter 302: Ho-Oh? Just a Remnant of a Bygone Era.
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander
Miyazaki Mountain.
In truth, to call it a mountain wasn't quite right.
It was just a small earthen mound, a few dozen meters high, which could be considered an adjoining hill of Pallet Town's Back Mountain.
Ash and his group were wandering near Miyazaki Mountain, hoping for a chance encounter with Elite Four Bruno. They wanted to steal a few of his secret techniques to have a better chance at the League Conference in a month's time.
As for why they weren't trying to steal from Brother Red?
His Level was too high. They couldn't understand his moves, so they couldn't steal them.
It wasn't that they didn't want to; it was that they simply couldn't.
"By the way, what is a Master like Bruno doing in a place like this?"
Ash was actually quite puzzled. He and Gary had often run all over this small mountain as kids, so he was very familiar with it. Aside from some common Pokemon like Geodude and Sandshrew, there was nothing else. What would an expert of the Elite Four's caliber be doing here?
Brock immediately retorted:
"You don't get it. Master Bruno has his own profound reasons for his actions. If you understood them, you'd be Elite Four Ash. How about I start calling you Master Ash right now?"
When it came to his idol, Brock became a complete hypocrite. His usually righteous tone was now laced with a rare hint of passive-aggressiveness.
"However, based on my investigation, I believe Master Bruno is most likely here for this."
Brock suddenly pointed to a wooden sign hanging on a nearby tree, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes.
It was a warning sign, and the words written on it were very simple.
"A giant Onix has been spotted on Miyazaki Mountain. All hikers, please be careful."
"—The Hiker Association."
That's right, Brock was a Three-Star Hiker and had already gotten this information from the Hiker Association's internal discussion group.
Recently, a giant Onix had appeared on Miyazaki Mountain. It had a remarkable frame, its body more than three times the size of a normal Onix, and a ferocious temperament, making it dangerous to approach. Many Hikers didn't dare get close.
Master Bruno must have come here to Catch this giant Onix!
"Master Bruno, I will definitely lend you a hand!" Brock said, clenching his fists, his eyes welling up with tears.
Everyone raised an eyebrow, looking at Brock in confusion, not quite understanding.
"A giant Onix? Isn't that your specialty?"
Brock was a Rock-type expert, and his signature Pokemon was Onix. If a giant Onix really appeared, Brock should have been drooling over it. But now he was going to help someone else Catch it?
It was like falling in love with a girl, only for your idol to suddenly say one day that he had his eyes on her too.
And then you immediately turn into your idol's lackey and even help him win over the girl you love?
Brock's pupils constricted. He pointed a finger at Ash and asked angrily:
"What do you guys know! Let me ask you, Ash, if you and Brother Red both took a liking to the same Pokemon, would you Catch it yourself or help Brother Red Catch it?"
"My bond with Brother Red is rock-solid, but a Pokemon is still a little more important than our brotherhood. Worst case, after I Catch it, I can let Brother Red borrow it for a stroll."
Ash answered immediately, without hesitation.
It was the perfect answer, expressing his stance while also showing his magnanimity.
Red: "..."
*I'd like to put a leash around your neck and take *you* out for a stroll.*
Brock's brow furrowed deeply again, and he abruptly pointed at Misty.
"Let me ask you, if you and Elite Four Lorelei both set your sights on a powerful and rare Lapras, would you Catch it yourself or help Lorelei Catch it?!"
Misty raised her eyebrows and also replied quickly:
"Master Lorelei already has a Lapras. If a new one appears, it's naturally every trainer for themselves. Speaking of which, doesn't Master Bruno already have a powerful Onix? And you're still foolishly helping him Catch a new one?"
Although Elite Four Lorelei was her idol, Misty planned to one day surpass her, viewing her as her greatest Rival.
What sense did it make to weaken herself while strengthening her Rival?
Brock's expression became incredibly conflicted, and he was lost in his dilemma.
Finally, his expression darkened. He rounded on the last person, snatching his DSLR.
"Todd Snap, let me ask you, if Ho-Oh appeared before you right now and wanted to smash your DSLR, would you smash it or not?"
Ho-Oh was a revered deity for every photographer; its every move held profound meaning.
Unexpectedly, Todd Snap immediately clutched the DSLR to his chest and shook his head furiously.
"Smash it? Hell no! How could Ho-Oh be more important than my precious photographs?"
He was a man of wild ambition.
In the future, he even planned to dethrone Ho-Oh from its divine pedestal in the world of photography and rename the Ecruteak Photography Contest to the Todd Snap Photography Contest.
When that time came, what would Ho-Oh be?
Just a remnant of a bygone era.
Everyone: "?"
Ash, Misty, and Brock shuddered, hastily putting a good deal of distance between themselves and Todd Snap.
"A remnant." That was a word they never expected to hear.
*Oh, great Ho-Oh, if you can hear us, you should know about this guy.*
*We don't know him that well...*
Seeing Brock's face once again consumed by his dilemma, Ash, being his good bro, stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and offered the perfect solution.
"Teacher Brock, just listen to me this time. We'll go find Master Bruno first. Then, I'll steal his signature moves, and you'll steal that giant Onix. Today, we two brothers will work together and steal that Elite Four member clean, right here and now!!"
Ash's voice drifted into Brock's ears like a demon's whisper, filled with supreme, wicked temptation.
Brock: "..."
He nearly raised his hand to strike his good brother down on the spot.
But on second thought... it didn't sound entirely unreasonable, did it?
Idols aren't just for worshipping; they're also for surpassing...
At the same time, on the other side of Miyazaki Mountain, two figures were locked in a serious standoff on a bare, flat patch of ground.
Nearby stood a brown duck holding a leek, acting as if it were their Referee. It had a similarly tense expression, and a bead of sweat even trickled down its forehead.
To call it a standoff was to witness a truly bizarre scene, as the difference in height and build between the two was vast.
One of the humans was over two meters tall with an enormous build. His messy, black, spiky hair was tied back, giving him the wild and untamed appearance of a man from the mountains.
This giant of a man had thick brows, large eyes, and a stern face. He was bare-chested, and without him even flexing, his muscles were so well-defined they looked ready to burst.
His lower half was clad in tattered white training pants, and he wore metal shackles on his limbs. Just by standing there, he radiated a fierce and untamed aura, making it impossible for anyone to let their guard down.
It was none other than the Elite Four member Ash and his group were looking for—Bruno!
As for the other figure, it was a bit strange.
This person was just over 1.5 meters tall and appeared very slender. Compared to Elite Four Bruno, they looked like a miniature person.
(end of chapter)