In the Black World —
Ash suppressed the anger in his heart and listened to Meowth explain the so-called Evolutionary Wave.
The Evolutionary Wave had been one of Team Rocket's previous projects.
Generally speaking, the Team Rocket trio hadn't been exposed to such advanced projects.
However, because Giovanni had surrendered, Team Rocket had fractured.
Apollo knew that although the Team Rocket trio appeared to be at the bottom of the organization, they were actually among Giovanni's few close confidants—just the kind who worked behind the scenes.
After Giovanni surrendered, he hadn't publicly explained anything about the trio. But in the information he left behind, those three were marked with particularly important indicators. So many of Apollo's plans and previous intelligence hadn't been hidden from them.
Therefore, it was accurate to call the Team Rocket trio the "know-it-alls" of Team Rocket.
Back to the topic—the so-called Evolutionary Wave released waves that made Pokémon extremely uncomfortable.
This kind of wave would cause Pokémon to become angry without reason, using the energy of that anger to evolve!
That's why this place was called the Lake of Rage!
This entire lake had actually been Team Rocket's experimental base. But in the end, only the Shiny Gyarados had successfully evolved.
That Gyarados had evolved from an ordinary Magikarp.
The reason it became Shiny was speculated by the organization to be because it inherited the red body color of the Magikarp.
At the same time, this Shiny Gyarados was extremely powerful!
Therefore, they had been unable to subdue it before retreating.
After Team Rocket fell apart and the local branch evacuated, the Gyarados felt inexplicable pain in its body, triggering instinctive anger!
As a result, this Lake of Rage had been listed as a nearby restricted area!
Because when this Gyarados went on a rampage, it attacked anything and everyone indiscriminately!
Anyone who approached the Lake of Rage would be attacked without mercy!
This had caused tremendous trouble for nearby residents. Today, a renowned local trainer had finally found time to take action!
That trainer's name was—Pryce!
The very trainer currently confronting Gyarados on the lake!
Ash suppressed his anger, pausing momentarily when he heard the name Pryce.
He had heard the name Pryce more than once.
The man was a trainer highly respected by Professor Oak. It was said he was an Ice-type expert whose mastery surpassed even Lorelei of the Kanto Elite Four!
He was a well-deserved Champion-level specialist in Ice-types!
Considering that Mahogany Town was nearby, seeing Pryce here wasn't particularly surprising.
But… now that he knew why this Gyarados had become like this,
Ash couldn't just stand by and do nothing!
Under normal circumstances, Pryce's approach would be correct—defeat the Pokémon directly, then try to find a way to restore it to normal. But now… he was here!
Ash, who could control the power of Aura, could directly calm Gyarados without it having to suffer further.
Ultimately, Gyarados had become like this partly because residual waves remained in its body, and partly because its genetic evolution was incomplete due to forced evolution.
The fact that it was Shiny—or had evolved into a Shiny form—was proof enough!
At times like this—you still had to rely on the power of almighty Aura!
Having made up his mind, Ash nodded to Brock and the others.
They immediately understood what Ash meant.
He wanted to take action! But that was only natural. With Ash's heart, doing nothing after hearing Gyarados's story would be out of character!
"Go, Ash!"
"Be careful, Ash!"
"Do you need my help?"
Sabrina asked thoughtfully.
Ash shook his head.
"No need. I can just use my Aura power to calm it directly. It's only at peak Gym Leader-level. Even if I let it hit me with one hand tied behind my back, it couldn't hurt me. Right, Pikachu?"
"Pika pika~"
Pikachu nodded in agreement. Then, one human and one Pokémon suddenly moved.
As the surrounding audience exclaimed, Ash stepped onto the frozen water and approached Gyarados at incredible speed!
"What does that kid think he's doing?!"
"Is he crazy?! This is a duel between the Rampaging Gyarados and Pryce of the Winter, and he just rushes in like that?!"
"To be honest, that kid is fast—he's almost reached Pryce!"
"Hiss~ Pryce noticed the kid. His face seems even colder now… That kid's definitely getting scolded!"
The onlookers murmured about Ash's actions.
They didn't know what Ash intended, but they knew… Pryce was angry!
At this moment, the battle between Gyarados and Dewgong had reached its climax.
Gyarados was trapped in the middle of the lake, surrounded by water that had frozen into ice.
Gyarados had nowhere to escape.
If it were still sane, it could dive underwater. But now… it only knew how to rage and attack the Pokémon before it.
But Dewgong could glide flexibly across the ice.
None of Gyarados's attacks could hit it. Meanwhile, Dewgong's attacks frequently struck Gyarados. By now, Gyarados was covered in wounds.
Its body should have reached its limit.
However, because its mind was still consumed with fury, Gyarados hadn't fallen—instead, it grew more violent!
Pryce's already serious white eyebrows furrowed even more tightly.
If the opponent refused to fall, don't blame him for being ruthless.
But at that moment, exclamations from the surrounding audience reached his ears. He instinctively followed the sound and spotted a boy with Pikachu approaching the battlefield across the ice!
Instantly, his expression darkened.
Whose child was this?
Didn't they know there was a battle happening here? What if they were hit by the aftermath, or attracted Gyarados's attention?
Where were the parents? Were the parents dead?!
Pryce cursed the reckless child in his heart while preparing to speed up and deal with Gyarados.
"Dewgong, maximum power Ice Beam!"
"Woo~!"
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pika—CHUU!!"
Golden electric light collided with icy blue light. The two attacks successfully canceled each other out in mid-air, exploding! A perfect stalemate!
Pryce was stunned.
Who the hell was this kid?!
Although his Dewgong wasn't his main force, it still possessed high Gym Leader-level strength. Since when could a Pikachu reach that level?
Wait… Pikachu, a boy… Could this be the Ash that Oak had mentioned?
Counting the timing, it was about time for that young man to arrive in Mahogany Town.
Oak had boasted about that kid endlessly—calling him the number one genius of Pallet Town. Even Pryce, the first-generation Champion of Kanto, supposedly couldn't compare at the same age.
Regarding that, Pryce had been half-convinced.
After all, you had to battle to know if someone truly had that strength!
But now it seemed… Oak must be right.
It wasn't about how powerful that Pikachu was, but Ash's actions that earned Pryce's approval.
Daring to walk directly onto the ice in this situation—whatever his purpose, his courage and decisiveness were definitely top-notch.
Thinking this, Pryce had Dewgong temporarily withdraw. He wanted to see what this young man intended.
"Are you Pryce?"
After reaching Pryce, Ash first bowed respectfully.
This was proper etiquette toward an elder and former Champion.
"That's right. The young trainer with Pikachu… you must be the Ash that Oak mentioned?"
"I didn't expect you to have heard of me. It's an honor to be remembered by Pryce of the Winter, the Ice Master of a generation."
Ash politely complimented Pryce, then got straight to the point at lightning speed.
"Mr. Pryce, leave this Gyarados to me… Don't misunderstand—I'm not trying to steal your chance to catch it. If you want to catch it, after I calm it down, you can have a proper match with it. How about that?"
"Calm it down? What do you intend to do with that Gyarados?"
"I want it… to return to normal!"
"Return to normal? You know a way to make this Gyarados normal?"
Pryce asked, curiosity in his voice.
Ash must have just arrived recently—after all, Mahogany Town was nearby.
If Ash had been here long, he would have come directly to Mahogany Town to find Pryce. And with his warm-hearted nature, he would have intervened in Gyarados's situation earlier!
So… he'd just figured out a way to restore Gyarados upon arriving?
"Yes! As long as you communicate with it from the heart, you can definitely make it return to normal!"
Ash said firmly.
What he meant by "communicate from the heart" was communication in the truest sense.
The power of Aura was the foundation of all living things' life force.
If he used his own Aura to gently communicate with Gyarados, comfort it properly, and simultaneously smooth out the disordered Aura caused by the Evolutionary Waves, then Gyarados would definitely return to normal!
But after Ash said this, Pryce's curious expression instantly turned cold.
He thought Ash was talking about some real method… but communicate from the heart?
Utterly useless!
"There's no way for humans and Pokémon to truly become friends, let alone communicate!"
"Humans are humans, and Pokémon are Pokémon. If you show unnecessary affection to Pokémon, you'll only end up hurt!"
"Step aside. Let me deal with that Gyarados!"
Pryce had lost all patience.
He didn't believe Ash's idea could possibly work. How could you sincerely communicate with a Pokémon? Ridiculous! Impossible!
Hadn't he once given unconditionally to his Pokémon?
What happened? Didn't that partner, whom he considered more important than his own life, abandon him in the end?
All because he lost one battle!
How pathetic! How absurd!
From that day on, he never showed a smile to any Pokémon again. He treated them with extreme harshness!
Until now, decades later!
Therefore, he could not accept Ash's idea!
Hearing Pryce's words, Ash's previously respectful expression froze. His face slowly darkened.
This old man… seemed to have some serious issues in his thinking!
With such beliefs, how had he ever become a Champion?
"I don't know where you got such ideas, Mr. Pryce. But let me tell you this—"
"Without a bond with your Pokémon, it's impossible to fully unleash their power!"
"Pokémon and humans coexist and progress together! Not because one is the other's tool! Because of our bond, Pikachu and I have been able to travel this far together, growing stronger every step of the way!"
"I originally thought that as a Champion-level trainer and the Gym Leader of Mahogany Town, you would understand such a simple, basic truth. But I was wrong about you."
Pryce remained unmoved by Ash's words.
"You're still too young. I was just like you when I was young. You still hold such naive ideas only because you've experienced too little!"
"I'll lecture you later. For now… step aside. That Gyarados is at its limit. I'm going to deliver the final blow!"
While Pryce and Ash argued,
Gyarados hadn't been idle. It continued thrashing with its wounded body, shattering the frozen lake ice around it.
At the same time, it fired Hydro Pump, Dragon Breath, and other attacks wildly in all directions. But all these attacks were blocked by Pikachu.
Pikachu didn't attack Gyarados—it merely intercepted the attacks.
If not for Pikachu, neither Ash nor Pryce could have continued their leisurely conversation.
"I'm done arguing with you. Pikachu, block Dewgong for me. I'm going in!"
After speaking, Ash turned and leaped directly toward Gyarados.
Pikachu returned to the ice, golden light flickering on the red electric sacs on its cheeks.
If Dewgong dared to move, its Thunderbolt would show no mercy!
Pryce's expression grew even darker.
Partly because he'd been refuted by a junior, partly because Ash was confronting Gyarados alone without understanding the danger!
Was this boy insane?!
Gyarados was in a state of uncontrollable rage!
Even if Dewgong had worn it down and drained most of its strength, it was still far beyond what any mere human could handle!
This was gambling with his own life—betting that a rampaging Gyarados he'd just met would be kind enough not to attack him!
Wasn't this toying with his own life?!
"Are you crazy?! Hey, that Pikachu! Don't you care about your trainer?! No matter how weakened that Gyarados is, it's still far beyond what a human can handle! One sweep of its tail, and your trainer could die!"
"Pika pika~"
Pikachu calmly shook its little paw.
You just don't understand how terrifying Ash really is~
Pryce saw that Pikachu wasn't panicked at all. Either it didn't have a good relationship with Ash, or it truly trusted what Ash was doing.
Judging from Ash and Pikachu's earlier behavior, it was obviously the latter, right?
In other words… Ash had a way to deal with Gyarados without using Pokémon?
How was that possible?!
Under Pryce's stunned gaze, and the watchful eyes of the crowd surrounding the Lake of Rage,
Ash reached Gyarados—by flying!
In full view of everyone, Ash flew into the air!
Pryce felt his worldview shrinking from the shock—that old rascal Oak hadn't told him Ash was a Psychic?!
Good grief!
No wonder Pikachu was so confident its trainer would be fine—what could possibly happen to a Psychic?!
"Gyarados… it's okay. It's all right. Those who made you irritable, angry, and in pain—they're gone now… So rest well. When you wake up, you won't hurt anymore."
Ash extended his palm and gently stroked the triple fin on Gyarados's head.
Compared to Gyarados's massive head, Ash's small palm was tiny. Yet it gave Gyarados an indescribable sense of peace.
It was incredible…
The anger within it gradually subsided under this human's palm. It slowly felt at ease. Even the turbulent energy that had been tormenting it gradually calmed.
Unseen by the surrounding onlookers, streams of blue energy continuously flowed from Ash's palm into Gyarados's body.
Ash was using his Aura to calm Gyarados's own Aura!
Simultaneously, he relied on his Aura's power to forcibly remove the chaotic energy within Gyarados's body.
It was the residual Evolutionary Waves—one of the main causes of Gyarados's current rampage!
In just one minute, before everyone's eyes, Gyarados fell asleep like a contented child!
For a moment, the surrounding crowd was stunned!
Who was this child?!
With just a touch, he had subdued the Gyarados that had been terrorizing everyone?
Now Gyarados lay quietly on the ice, no different from a peaceful baby!
Pryce felt his worldview impacted once again.
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