Pokemon: This Ash Is Too Versatile

Chapter 827 438: Pure Domination, Champion Gardevoir Crushes the Kids!

As Volkner's words fell, a young boy dressed in a blue tracksuit walked out from the edge of the field, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a delicate face and standing upright.

He nodded to Ash and the others as a greeting.

Volkner continued, "If you can't beat Ah Yi, then you don't qualify to face me."

"Of course, defeating Ah Yi will get you a Gym Badge, and if you want to continue challenging me after acquiring the badge, there's an extra reward — an item that boosts the power of Enhancement Skills by twenty percent. You'll know what it is when you beat me."

As he spoke, his gaze lightly swept over Ash, as if looking at just another ordinary challenger, without pausing for even a second.

In fact, according to Volkner, the change he made wasn't excessive, and could even be said to be within the rules.

Defeating the student meant getting the badge, which actually lowered the difficulty for challengers who came just to pursue the badge.

And for Trainers who came to challenge Volkner specifically, he gave them the choice to continue challenging him after defeating the student, and wouldn't let them challenge for nothing, but provide corresponding rewards.

By the rules, Volkner was absolutely fine, but from the Trainer's perspective...

Ash didn't respond immediately, but calmly met Volkner's gaze.

"I heard you're the strongest Gym Leader in Sinnoh, which is why I came to Sunyshore Gym to challenge you." Ash's voice was very calm, "Before I came, I was thinking, what kind of Trainer would Sinnoh's strongest be... turns out I'm a bit disappointed."

Volkner's eyes finally changed, waves rippled in his bright blue pupils.

Since arriving in Johto, no Trainer had ever spoken to him like this.

Facing the rippling Volkner, Ash didn't stop speaking, he continued.

"I once battled Cynthia, even though she's already Sinnoh Champion, she never had pretensions like you with any challenger."

"Her skill is stronger than yours, her fame bigger than yours, yet she never sent some student to dismiss challengers. Whenever she had time, she'd choose to accept challenges. Cynthia told me this because she enjoys Pokemon battles."

He paused, voice neither light nor heavy, "What I'm curious about is, Gym Leader Volkner, who is stronger, you or Cynthia? Do you... truly enjoy Pokemon battles?"

The gym fell silent for a moment.

Ah Yi's breathing noticeably tightened, his gaze involuntarily drifted to his mentor.

Volkner's expression changed, the lazy detachment peeled off his face, his gaze sharpened.

"You've battled Cynthia before?"

Ash shrugged, didn't answer, but stood on the Trainer's platform.

This gesture seemed to say—whether I've battled Cynthia, whether I have that skill, you'll see in my battle, won't you?

Volkner was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled, his smile contained an unprecedented emotion, a feeling named excitement!

"Interesting." He turned around, walked toward the referee's seat, waved to Ah Yi, "Ah Yi, get ready. Let me see this—"

He stood firmly at the referee's seat, turned around, eyes falling on Ash.

"—What's your name?"

"Pallet Town, Ash."

Ash... Volkner was taken aback, he seemed to have heard this name somewhere before?

Due to not having watched the news for too long, being the type to mind his own business, Volkner didn't have a deep impression of Ash, you could even say none.

If it weren't for Ash's fame being utterly notorious, Volkner wouldn't even have this sense of familiarity.

Even so, Volkner still couldn't recall where he'd heard Ash's name.

But thinking about it, a Trainer who's battled Cynthia isn't some unknown character, he probably heard the name somewhere.

Pokemon battles rely not on fame, but on solid power, fame alone won't suffice.

"Let me see, how formidable this Ash from Pallet Town really is."

Ah Yi took a deep breath, walked to the challenger's opposing command position, and stood firm. He took a Pokeball from his waist, holding it in hand.

Volkner stood at the referee's seat, raising his arm.

"The battle rules are three-on-three, both sides use three Pokemon each, the gym side sends first, challengers may freely switch Pokemon. The battle begins!"

Ah Yi threw the Pokeball first. Light flashed, a yellow and black figure steadily landed in the center of the field.

Electabuzz, Electric Type Pokemon.

His build was robust, covered in bright yellow fur, with some areas covered in black stripes, two conductive horn-like protrusions atop his head.

Arms strong and powerful, fists entwined with delicate electric arcs.

This Electabuzz had been cultivated quite well, its fur shiny, muscle lines distinct.

"Electabuzz, prepare for battle!" Ah Yi's voice was clear, he had already entered a focused battle state.

Even though he was a student, he wasn't an ordinary Trainer, being dispatched by Volkner to the field, he already had the capabilities of an ordinary Gym Leader, after all, he's being groomed as Volkner's successor.

Facing ordinary challengers, he would inquire beforehand about their badges and travel times, to decide what Pokemon to use.