The group of four continued deeper into the Viridian Forest.
Ever since Ash learned that a population of Scyther lived further inside, the plan had subtly shifted. Even if it meant delaying their journey, no one really objected. The forest itself felt alive—dense greenery, layered shadows, and the constant rustling of Pokémon hidden just out of sight.
As expected, they weren't the only ones with this goal.
Along the way, they encountered several trainers heading in the same direction. Some were hopeful, some cautious, and some simply curious. One by one, Ash accepted their challenges. Not recklessly—but selectively. Every battle was a chance to sharpen his team and build the experience he needed.
"Froakie, use Quick Attack."
A blue blur shot forward like a shadow slipping across water. Froakie slammed straight into Gloom's body, sending it rolling backward before it could stabilise.
"Use Aerial Ace."
Froakie twisted midair, leg glowing with sharp energy as it delivered a clean kick straight down. Gloom collapsed instantly.
"Gloom is unable to battle. Ash is the winner," Misty announced, acting as an impromptu referee.
The young trainer opposite them stood frozen for a moment, staring at Froakie in disbelief. That speed—so fast it had completely bypassed Vine Whip and Razor Leaf—left him speechless.
"That was great," he finally said, taking Ash's hand with a genuine smile. "Thank you."
They exchanged names before parting ways. As the boy left, his gaze lingered—especially toward Yellow. Ash noticed it and felt a familiar, helpless thought rise.
'…She really is that type, huh.'
"Shall we go?" Ash said quickly, shaking his head. "I want to find a good spot to camp for tonight."
The girls agreed, and they picked up the pace.
Ash paid particular attention to Yellow as they walked. She wasn't weak, but long forest routes could wear her down faster than the others. He adjusted their speed subtly, always making sure she wasn't pushing herself too hard.
Before fatigue could set in, Ash spotted the perfect place.
A wide-open clearing stretched ahead, dotted with several camps already set up. A small river ran along one side, its water clear and fresh. The atmosphere was lively but calm—exactly the kind of place trainers gravitated toward.
As they entered, Ash ended up battling a few more trainers—including the boy from earlier, Reo.
"Hey, Ash," Reo greeted cheerfully. "Camping out here tonight?"
His eyes flicked—once again—toward Yellow.
Ash didn't say anything, but he stepped naturally between them. He wasn't dense enough to miss the intention. Yellow noticed too.
She smiled politely but stayed close to Ash's side, maintaining a gentle distance. To anyone watching, she looked like a quiet wife standing comfortably beside her partner.
"Hehe, Yellow," Misty teased lightly, "he's definitely taken a liking to you."
Yellow shook her head, glancing toward Ash, who was already preparing the cooking area.
"I already have someone I like," she replied honestly.
Misty froze for a second.
"...Just like you do," Yellow added, turning the tease back on her.
Misty's mind blanked.
"What? No!" she said quickly. "I don't think it's like that."
But even as she said it, that familiar fuzzy feeling stirred again, leaving her unsettled.
They didn't notice it then—
But trouble was already brewing deeper in the forest. They had just finished eating when it happened. A thunderous explosion echoed through the clearing. Ash, standing near the riverbank, snapped his head up instantly.
From between the trees, a massive Onix burst into view.
Its stone body was cracked with raw energy, its eyes blazing with abnormal fury. Rocks launched wildly as it rampaged forward, Rock Blast tearing through the ground and sending debris flying in all directions.
'That thing's not normal.' Ash's heart skipped when he saw where its gaze landed.
The girls.
The Onix's attention shifted toward them—toward Pikachu, who immediately reacted, blurring forward with Quick Attack.
Too slow.
Ash moved first.
He sprinted, leaping in front of the trio just as the massive shadow loomed barely two metres away.
"Free~!" Sticky Web snapped into existence, momentarily restraining Onix's movement. At the same time, Pikachu was already airborne.
"Pikachu, Iron Tail!" Ash didn't even look back. His aura sense tracked Pikachu perfectly.
The yellow blur spun midair, tail glowing like a steel cleaver as it smashed straight into Onix's head, forcing the massive Pokémon to stagger.
"Ash!" Only now did the girls fully register what had happened. Pikachu was thrown back by the recoil—but stabilized instantly, landing against Ash's foot.
"You alright, partner?" Ash asked.
"Pika—wigachu!" Pikachu looked more fired up than hurt.
Then—
A shrill, metallic sonic force slammed into Onix.
Pidgeotto streaked down like a missile, Tailwind boosting its speed, Quick Attack accelerating it further, and Iron Wing sealing the blow. The impact rang through the clearing. But Ash knew the truth instantly.
Level 38.
That Onix was far beyond what they should be facing.
The attacks had hurt it—but not nearly enough. Energy gathered in Onix's mouth, glowing with concentrated power.
"Flash Cannon," Ash muttered.
Before it could fire—
A blue, water-like sphere smashed into Onix's face, violently knocking its head aside and redirecting the attack harmlessly away. Froakie's Water Pulse.
And the battle was far from over.
The knocked-down Onix did not stay down for long.
With a furious roar, its massive body slammed against the ground, and the surrounding rocks trembled violently before lifting into the air. Jagged stones hovered for a brief, terrifying second before shooting forward under the force of [Rock Throw], screaming through the forest like cannon fire.
"Spread out!" Ash shouted.
Froakie reacted instantly. Its small body blurred as it kicked off a tree trunk, rebounding from bark to bark with nimble precision. Rocks smashed into the trees behind it, splintering wood and sending leaves raining down, but Froakie never slowed, landing lightly and springing away again.
High above, Pidgeotto took the brunt of the attack. Stones tore through the air toward him, forcing him to twist and dive sharply. With a sharp cry, he activated Aerial Ace, his body slicing cleanly through the chaos. The sharp arc of his movement didn't just evade the stones—it redirected them. Several rocks slammed back into Onix's massive body, making the rock serpent snarl in pain.
Ash's eyes widened slightly. 'He's gotten sharper… faster.'
Pikachu dashed across the forest floor, sparks flickering faintly from his cheeks as he zigzagged between falling debris, barely slowing even once.
Butterfree wasn't as fortunate.
A cluster of rocks barreled straight toward it, too fast, too close.
"Butterfree—!" Misty shouted.
Before Ash could react, a blue-and-black figure burst forward.
Riolu leapt into the air, spinning as both legs glowed with sharp energy. "[Double Kick]!"
The kicks landed in rapid succession, shattering four, then five rocks midair and sending the fragments flying harmlessly away. Butterfree fluttered back in panic before circling Riolu in relief.
"Nicely done, Riolu," Ash said firmly.
Riolu landed in a crouch, snickering proudly as Butterfree hovered near him, giving a quick, grateful flutter of its wings.
Onix snarled again, eyes locked onto them.
With a sudden burst of force, it lunged forward using 'Quick Attack.'
"Now!" Ash commanded.
Riolu, Froakie, and Pikachu all dashed at once, their movements synchronized through instinct and trust.
Above them, Pidgeotto climbed higher, wings beating hard against the air. He twisted mid-flight, riding the wind currents like a blade. Once more, Talon Wind activated, the invisible force wrapping around his body. This time, it didn't fade.
His speed surged again—third boost.
Something changed.
Instead of feeling resistance, Pidgeotto felt freedom.
He folded his wings slightly, activating Aerial Ace again, but this time, the energy didn't dissipate. It flowed. His body burned with blue light as Quick Attack instinctively layered itself atop the motion.
In that instant, clarity struck.
Pidgeotto screamed as he dove.
[Brave Bird].
Ash felt it before he saw it. He snapped his head upward just in time to catch the streak of blue tearing through the sky.
"Pidgeotto—!"
The dive was brutal. Pidgeotto slammed into Onix's upper body, the impact lifting the massive rock serpent off the ground. Onix roared, fear flashing through its eyes as it was forced backward by an attack it never anticipated.
As Onix twisted in panic, something caught Ash's attention. A faint metallic glint. "...There," Ash muttered.
Around Onix's body, nearly hidden against its rocky scales, was a collarband—its colour perfectly adapted to Onix's body. Only a small button beneath it gave it away. "Pikachu!" Ash shouted, pointing sharply.
Pikachu glanced at Ash, then followed his gaze. His eyes narrowed. "Pika!"
Pikachu leapt, kicking off a tree trunk midair to change direction. Ash's voice cut through the chaos again. "Butterfree, use Gust at Pikachu!"
Butterfree hesitated for a split second, then obeyed. A powerful gust surged forward, boosting Pikachu's speed unnaturally fast. With a sharp cry, Pikachu swung his tail.
"Iron Tail!"
The strike connected with a loud metallic clang. The hidden belt flickered violently, its surface briefly exposed in the light. Onix howled in pain, its massive body thrashing as Pikachu was flung backward by the recoil.
"Pikachu!" Yellow cried.
Misty clenched her teeth—but she couldn't turn back. At her side, a wild Pinsir was rampaging just as violently, forcing her to stay engaged.
"Froakie!" Ash shouted.
Froakie abandoned Water Pulse entirely. Using Quick Attack, it accelerated sharply, leaping upward and delivering two clean, precise kicks to Onix's head. The force snapped its head back, fully exposing the collarband.
Riolu didn't hesitate.
Its fists glowed as it concentrated its aura, compressing it tighter and tighter.
"Vacuum Wave!"
The attack shot forward like a condensed bullet, striking the collarband dead centre. The device detonated with a sharp crack.
Onix's roar cut off abruptly.
Its massive body collapsed, crashing into the ground as the unnatural fury drained from it completely. Ash didn't waste a second.
"Go, Poké Ball!"
The ball struck Onix cleanly. Given its condition, leaving it wild would be dangerous—for itself and everything around it. Even with Viridian energy, healing something that large would be costly.
Ash's attention snapped back to the battlefield.
"Pikachu, aim for the left leg joint on Pinsir!"
As he picked up the shattered device, a strange aura pulsed faintly against his senses. Using that vibration, Ash pinpointed similar devices on other Pokémon and called out instructions with calm precision.
One by one, the bands were destroyed.
The rampaging Pokémon collapsed, fury replaced by exhaustion.
Misty clenched her fists. "Those bastards." Even her normally gentle tone carried anger.
Ash said nothing. The angrier he became, the quieter he grew. Yellow watched him closely. She knew that look. She knew exactly how furious Ash was.