In the time that followed, Ash did not capture any more Pokémon, as he had already gathered all the Pokémon he needed for his journey and for challenging Gyms.
The next step was to train these Pokémon before thinking about catching new ones.
Another three days passed, and a somewhat disheveled Xiao Xia and Ash finally stood at the exit of Chang Pan Forest.
Seven days, they had spent a full seven days in the forest, almost turning into wild people!
If Ash hadn't occasionally carried Xiao Xia, given her walking speed, they probably would have been delayed by another two or three days.
During these seven days, Xiao Xia only bathed twice, and it was just a quick wipe with a towel by a small pond because the water was too cold. Even in the scorching heat, cold water bathing is not good for a girl.
So now, Xiao Xia's first thought upon reaching Ni Bi City was to quickly find a place to shower!
Otherwise, she would go crazy.
Ash wanted to challenge the Gym immediately; he was eager to test the results of his special training during this period.
But at Xiao Xia's suggestion, Ash still went to the Elf Center first to drop off Pikachu and the others for recovery, and he himself went to take a hot shower to relieve the fatigue of these past few days before challenging the Gym, which would be better.
Even if Ash didn't feel tired, his Pokémon would.
While in Chang Pan Forest, Xiao Xia was constantly amazed by Ash's stamina and spirit; even Pokémon couldn't compare to this monster among humans, Ash.
It was afternoon, and Ash and Xiao Xia were already standing at the main entrance of Ni Bi Gym.
Ash eagerly pushed open the large door of Ni Bi Gym, murmuring, "Watch me, June 17th will be the day I get my first badge!"
Xiao Xia rolled her eyes behind him. If he failed later, she would definitely say to Ash, "June 17th is the day you first failed a Gym challenge."
Whether this day would become Xiao Xia's mocking catchphrase or the beginning of Ash's rise depended on this battle against the Pewter Gym Leader.
As the two entered Ni Bi Gym, the lights of Ni Bi Gym lit up one by one. Finally, the Gym lights focused on the battle stage.
On the battleground, a dark-skinned young man with spiky black hair stood at the position for the Gym Leader.
"That's the Ni Bi Gym Leader, Brock," Xiao Xia softly explained to Ash who the dark-skinned youth, focused by the lights, was.
"Brock, huh... he looks like a very serious person," Ash also murmured softly.
Brock stood on the field, arms crossed, looking seriously at Ash and Xiao Xia: "Are you the challengers this time?"
"To be precise, it's me! I'm Ash from Pallet Town, here to challenge Ni Bi Gym!" Ash stepped forward, pointing his thumb at himself, and Pikachu on Ash's shoulder also responded with a cheer.
"From Pallet Town? A Rookie Trainer?"
"Yes, counting today, I've only been traveling for nine days."
"Nine days, huh... then you really are a genuine newcomer. If it were other newcomers who had only traveled for nine days, I would definitely advise them not to challenge the Gym, but to train for a while longer outside first, because a Gym challenge is no child's play. But if you're from Pallet Town, that's different."
Brock's words made Ash pause: "Why is it different if I'm from Pallet Town?"
"Before you, another young man from Pallet Town came to challenge me. He beautifully won the lowest difficulty Gym challenge. His skill in commanding Pokémon and the strength of his Pokémon didn't seem like a newcomer's. As someone also from Pallet Town, I suppose you're not ordinary either."
Ash narrowed his eyes slightly. If Brock was talking about the person he thought, it should be Gary, who drove a sports car and was always a step ahead of him.
Although he didn't know how that guy drove a sports car through Chang Pan Forest, there was no doubt that he was once again a step ahead of him. What an annoying guy.
"I'm not like that guy. I'll defeat you even more cleanly and decisively!"
"Is that so? I'll be looking forward to it... By the way, the person behind you looks a bit familiar..." Brock shifted his gaze to behind Ash.
At this moment, Xiao Xia was tilting her head, only paying attention to Ash and Brock with her peripheral vision.
The moment Brock said this, Xiao Xia quickly said, "No! Absolutely not! You must have seen wrong! A world-class beauty like me is unique in the world. I've never seen you, so how could you have seen me?"
"Is that so?" No emotion could be seen in Brock's narrowed eyes, and his words were ambiguous.
But to Xiao Xia's relief, Brock did not pursue the matter further.
As fellow Gym Leaders, even if Brock hadn't seen her in person, he should have seen her picture somewhere, just as she had seen Brock's picture.
That's why Xiao Xia was so nervous, but now it seemed that regardless of whether Brock recognized her or not, he probably wouldn't expose her identity.
"Then the challenge rules are two-on-two. The side whose all Pokémon lose their ability to battle first is the loser. Given that you've only been out for less than ten days and are a Trainer with no badges yet, this Gym challenge will be at the lowest difficulty. Is there anything you don't understand?"
Ash shook his head, indicating that he understood everything.
"Alright, the battle is about to begin." Brock said, taking out a remote control and pressing a button. The walls on both sides suddenly opened, followed by a rock formation moving out from the walls, eventually closing in the middle.
The previously flat field had now become a rock field, which was the true challenge arena of Ni Bi Gym.
"How amazing, it changed the terrain in an instant..." Ash exclaimed, his eyes full of excitement and interest.
"As the Gym Leader, I will send out my Pokémon first, and I cannot switch Pokémon during the battle. So my first Pokémon is... Go, Geodude!" Brock finished explaining the remaining rules, then threw out his Poké Ball.
With a flash of light, a Pokémon made entirely of rock, with no lower body and large fists, appeared on the field.
[Geodude, Rock Pokémon. Its physical defense is very high, and it has exceptional resistance to physical attacks.]
Ash took out his Pokédex, and after understanding Geodude's information with his Insight Eye, he took out a Poké Ball from his waist.
"My first battle is decided, it's you! Go, Butterfree!"
"Bilibili~~" (I checked the Japanese version to confirm, Butterfree really makes this sound.)
Flapping a pair of patterned butterfly wings, Butterfree appeared and floated in mid-air.