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After lunch, Ash and the others continued their journey towards Fuchsia City. This time, the trip to Fuchsia City was taking quite a while, as Ash and the others were training as they went. Including time spent on battles, it was normal for it to take longer.
But in another day or two, they should reach the next city. After resupplying there, they would travel for another week or so, and then they should arrive at Fuchsia City.
If there were fewer battles along the way, that time could be cut by about half.
An hour later, as Ash and the others were walking on a normal road, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them.
"Are you Trainers? I seem to smell a fighting Aura on you!"
Ash and the others were stopped by the figure, who looked at Ash and directly stated the reason for stopping them.
Ash and his companions were actually quite used to this kind of thing, as they sometimes did the same.
Generally, this opening move was the start of a wild battle.
Ash looked closely at the person blocking their way. It was a sturdy-looking middle-aged man, and beside him was a humanoid Pokémon wearing red boxing gloves.
This was a Fighting-type Pokémon, Hitmonchan. Its level was not low, being at the Peak of Advanced Grade.
In the wild, that was already a pretty good level.
"Are we having a wild battle? Come on, how much are you betting?" Ash took off his backpack, handed it to Misty, and then skillfully took out a Poké Ball, speaking to the middle-aged man in front of him.
He had gained experience from wild battles. Wild battles didn't require much verbal communication. After confirming both parties' willingness to battle, they would set the stakes, and then they could begin.
However, some wild battles didn't involve betting, but Ash accepted them all the same. After all, every battle could accumulate experience for his Pokémon, and the more battles, the better.
However, upon hearing Ash mention a wild battle, the middle-aged man in front of him was visibly stunned, then said somewhat inexplicably, "What wild battle? My name is Anthony! I am the person who is about to win this year's P1 Fighting Competition Champion! The reason I came to find you is because I smelled the Aura of a Fighting-type Pokémon on you, and I wanted to ask if you were interested in a spar."
Ash: ...
"You don't know what a wild battle is?"
"What wild battle?"
Good heavens, there was actually someone whose knowledge was more lacking than his!
When Ash heard that the other party didn't even know what a wild battle was, he was momentarily astonished. This guy looked like he was almost forty years old; had he never even experienced a wild battle?
"A wild battle means a duel between Trainers in the wild. If both parties are willing, they can also bet some money or something as a small pleasure during the battle," Ash patiently explained toAnthony.
In Ash's opinion, this middle-aged man was a bit pathetic. He was so old and didn't even know what a wild battle was. He probably ran out of a deep mountain forest.
"Ahem, I see, so that's it. Sorry, I misunderstood you. Uh... yes, I came to have a wild battle with you. Let's bet a thousand Pokedollar," Anthony coughed awkwardly, then quickly tried to salvage the situation.
"Alright, let's start," Ash said, actively pulling away and moving to the opposite side of Anthony, which left Anthony a bit slow to react.
They could start battling now? Was it that casual?
"I choose you, Wartortle!" The Pokémon the opponent would likely use was the Hitmonchan beside him. In that case, he would use a Pokémon of a similar level to battle the opponent.
If he used Charizard, it would be a bit like bullying.
However, whenAnthony saw Wartortle, a strange expression appeared on his face: "Um... do you not have a Fighting-type Pokémon? I came out specifically to find Trainers with Fighting-type Pokémon to battle for the P1 Fighting Competition. If it's not a Fighting-type, I might not be able to..."
Anthony looked hesitant. Since the opponent wasn't a Fighting-type Pokémon, he seemed unwilling to waste time battling here.
Upon hearing this, Ash felt even more peculiar. What was wrong with this person? Couldn't battling other Pokémon increase battle experience?
No matter what competition it was, as long as the Pokémon became stronger, wouldn't it be the same for clearing it?
However, since the other party requested a Fighting-type Pokémon... "Return, Wartortle."
The Wartortle, who had just been released, was recalled with a bewildered look — Wartortle was confused.
"I choose you, Riolu!" Ash took out another Poké Ball from his waist and threw it.
"Riolu!" The blue and black dog appeared on the field, full of spirit.
"Is this a Fighting-type Pokémon?" Anthony asked, looking at Riolu with a puzzled expression.
"That's right, he's a Fighting-type Pokémon from the Sinnoh region," Ash nodded in confirmation.
Strictly speaking, this should be Riolu's first battle. Since recovering, Riolu had only sparred with the Pokémon in the team, and they were basically just touching lightly, with everyone going easy on Riolu.
Otherwise, if Riolu went up against the team's Pokémon, he would basically be instantly knocked out in one encounter, completely failing to achieve any sparring effect.
Therefore, this battle was Riolu's debut, and his opponent was even a same-type Pokémon two major ranks higher than Riolu.
But Ash had no intention of losing to the opponent.
"Such a small fellow, does he really have any fighting power?"
"Wouldn't you know if you try?" Facing Anthony's doubts, Ash replied noncommittally, while a faint blue light shimmered around him.
Aura is in my heart!
Riolu, who was looking at the opponent eagerly, suddenly felt a powerful force pouring into his body. He subconsciously looked at Ash behind him, and Ash smiled and nodded at Riolu.
After confirming his answer, Riolu also turned back, a look of excitement on his face.
This was the first time he felt his Trainer's power, and also the first time he felt a sense of oneness with his Trainer. This kind of amplification... he could only say that he truly lived up to being the Trainer he recognized!
"Ash has activated Aura Fusion, right?" Brock whispered after seeing Ash's appearance.
"Probably. Riolu has only just recovered, and he hasn't been training for long. The opponent's Hitmonchan doesn't seem like an ordinary opponent. If he doesn't use this move, even if Riolu is exceptionally talented, he won't be able to win," Misty analyzed.
Although she couldn't detect Hitmonchan's level in a non-battle state, Misty could guess that since the opponent was participating in that fighting competition, he naturally wouldn't be an ordinary person. His level should at least be Advanced Grade.
And Riolu's level was only Peak of Novice Grade. To defeat the opponent, it would normally be impossible.
But with Ash's power, that might not be the case.
On the battlefield, Ash and Riolu performed Aura Fusion. At this moment, Ash felt a completely different sensation compared to his other Pokémon.
While other Pokémon could also perform Aura Fusion when their bond met the criteria, the power they could utilize was actually quite limited.
According to the big shots in the group, his Aura could even contend with Divine Realm Grade Pokémon, but when applied to his own Pokémon, the biggest boost was during Charmeleon's battle, where Charmeleon was directly elevated by one major rank.
But compared to his power, it was at most a drop in the ocean.
His own Pokémon's utilization rate of his power was simply too low, but this was not the case with Riolu.
Riolu's current level was Peak of Novice Grade. Although his body had been trained, it was only so-so. How strong could a Novice Grade body be?
According to Ash's estimation, even if his bond with Riolu was extraordinary, their Aura Fusion could at most raise Riolu to the Mid-High Ordinary Grade, as the transmission of power was also linked to Riolu's physical fitness.
However, this time during the fusion, Riolu actually reached Early Advanced Grade in one go!
This kind of level increase could only be described as incredible. This was the Pokémon with the biggest boost after Ash's Aura Fusion with so many other Pokémon!
If it were just Ordinary Grade, Ash might have had to be more cautious, but at Advanced Grade, even if it was just Early Advanced Grade, Ash could fight the opponent without holding back!
"Hitmonchan, don't let your guard down just because the opponent is small. Use Mach Punch!"
"Hit!"
Anthony was the first to order Hitmonchan to attack. Hitmonchan charged forward, the distance between them closing in an instant, and its massive fists flashed out like lightning!
"Detect."
Ash gave the command unhurriedly. When Hitmonchan closed in on Riolu,
A flash of light appeared in Riolu's Crimson eyes, and then his body began to sway as if predicting the future.
The opponent's fists, as swift as lightning and as fierce as a storm, were all dodged by him!
"Low Sweep."
All of the opponent's attacks were dodged. His old strength was exhausted, and new strength had not yet risen. Ash seized this opportunity and had Riolu use Low Sweep.
Hitmonchan, a Pokémon whose fists are faster and stronger than most Fighting-type Pokémon, also has a weakness. As the saying goes, when God opens one door, he closes another.
His fists are strong, but his lower body is naturally weak!
The Pokémon corresponding to Hitmonchan is Hitmonlee, a Pokémon with a stable lower body but relatively weak fists.
Riolu's body lowered, and Hitmonchan's fists missed again. Immediately after, Riolu delivered a sweeping kick, causing Hitmonchan to lose balance and fall!
"Oh no, Hitmonchan, get up quickly!" Anthony hadn't expected that the storm of attacks would all be dodged by Riolu. Was the lasting effect of Detect that long?
But now was not the time to think about that. Hitmonchan had been kicked down, and he had to get up quickly, otherwise it would be the opponent's turn to unleash a barrage of attacks.
However, how could Ash not seize this opportunity: "Riolu, Bullet Punch!"
"Riolu!" Riolu quickly straddled Hitmonchan, his fists darting out like bullets, punch after punch, hitting Hitmonchan's body hard!
Hitmonchan could only cover its head with its hands, enduring Riolu's assault.
After an unknown number of punches, Riolu's strength began to wane, but before Hitmonchan could counterattack, Ash had already made Riolu retreat rapidly.
Riolu leaped from Hitmonchan's body into the air, and Ash then commanded: "Use Vacuum Wave!!"
"Riolu!" Riolu in the air charged his fists at his waist, then suddenly unleashed a transparent air bullet.
The speed of the transparent air bullet was not much slower than the Bullet Punch just now, and it reached Hitmonchan in the blink of an eye. Even though Hitmonchan quickly rolled, it was still hit by the Vacuum Wave.
However, Hitmonchan finally stood up, andAnthony quickly commanded: "Hitmonchan, use Bullet Punch!"
"Detect." The landing Riolu received Ash's command, and a flash of light once again flickered in his eyes.
Hitmonchan charged forward, its fists making a series of whooshing sounds in the air, but it failed to hit Riolu even once.
"Riolu, Vacuum Wave!" Ash seized the opponent's opening and had Riolu use Vacuum Wave again.
Riolu sidestepped, his hands already condensing a transparent air bullet at his waist, then he unleashed it with a fierce thrust!
Caught off guard, Hitmonchan was blasted away. Anthony anxiously called out Hitmonchan's name, while Ash already had his hands at his waist, softly exclaiming: "Riolu, Aura Sphere!!"
A brilliant blue Energy Ball rapidly formed at Riolu's waist. This move should not have been usable by Riolu in this form, but Ash could even make Pikachu use Aura Sphere, let alone Riolu, who inherently possessed Aura.
As the Aura Sphere formed, the brilliant blue orb of light shot out from Riolu's hands, flying towards the fallen Hitmonchan like an arrow from a bowstring.
UnderAnthony's anxious shouts, Hitmonchan finally regained control of its body. Then, it propped itself up with its fists on the ground, performing a backflip to try and dodge the Aura Sphere.
However, that brilliant blue Energy Ball seemed to have eyes, following Hitmonchan's figure closely even as it moved.
For Hitmonchan, who had just recovered, performing a backflip was the limit of what he could do. Facing the turning Aura Sphere, he had no means of responding.
"Boom!!"
The Aura Sphere hit, producing a violent roar. Thick smoke billowed on the field. Anthony clenched his fists, gritting his teeth, his eyes fixed on the dense smoke. He believed Hitmonchan would not fall just like that!
"Riolu, Aura Sphere!" Ash's voice rang out again, causingAnthony's face to change drastically. After all that, he was still using a move?
Never mind whether Hitmonchan had fallen or not, with such dense smoke, how could Riolu's move possibly hit Hitmonchan within the smoke?
But at Ash's command, Riolu unhesitatingly condensed an Aura Sphere, then pushed it with both hands, sending the Aura Sphere into the dense smoke.
Another loud bang echoed on the road, and the smoke where Hitmonchan was became even thicker. Riolu also showed signs of fatigue at this moment.
"Hitmonchan, good opportunity, quickly rush out of the dense smoke and deliver a fatal blow to the opponent!" Anthony shouted loudly. He believed that if Hitmonchan was only hit by the first Energy Ball, he would not fall!
Now, while the opponent was weakened, it was a good time to finish them off!
This was the consequence of blindly attacking!
However, Anthony's voice echoed on the field, but Hitmonchan showed no intention of rushing out of the smoke.
"Hitmonchan? Hitmonchan!!"
As Anthony continuously shouted, the smoke slowly dissipated, finally revealing the brown figure lying on the ground.
Hitmonchan could no longer stand up.
One Aura Sphere was indeed not enough to defeat Hitmonchan, but two, and Hitmonchan simply couldn't take it.