066: Ser Lena's Expectations!
Looking at the panting Froakie on the field, the onlookers were doubtful, unable to believe that Ash would choose to continue battling. At the same time, they didn't think that if he did continue, he would still manage to win.
However, not everyone watching was concerned about Ash's stamina. While many students wished he would step down and stop playing, hoping for a break in his winning streak, there were others who hoped Ash would keep going perhaps even lose a match. This way, they would have a chance to catch up in points.
Among those hoping Ash would stay in the match and lose, the one who harbored the strongest feelings was Xiaohao, standing alongside Gary and Xiaolan. With a Magikarp practically useless in combat as his Pokémon, Xiaohao knew it was impossible for him to score in this battle assessment. He had already lost at the starting line, and now, his heart was filled with jealousy towards Ash, who seemed full of energy on the field.
Not only did Xiaohao wish Ash would lose, but he also hoped that other talented students would suffer serious injuries to their Pokémon during the battles, ensuring their scores wouldn't be as impressive. In this way, he could catch up with, and even surpass, the other students, including Ash, in later assessments that didn't require actual combat.
Of course, Xiaohao didn't want Ash to continue fighting he hoped for him to step down. But if Ash did decide to continue, Xiaohao secretly wished for someone else to win, hoping to catch some sliver of good luck in the process.
In the group of students cheering for Ash's continued fight, there were the likes of Gary, Xiaolan, and their friends. They all admired his strength, confidence, and good looks. Many of the other female students, charmed by Ash's performance in the last battle, also hoped for Ash to win a fifth match in a row.
Among those rooting for Ash, one of the most fervent supporters was the shy and timid Ser Lena. She stood quietly behind her good friend Shauna, yet within her, there was a surprisingly strong expectation for Ash's success. Even she didn't fully realize it, but there was a deep trust in Ash and a genuine wish for him to do well, one she hadn't felt for anyone else before.
"Professor, is this really a fight that a 6-year-old can participate in?" one of the researchers, responsible for scoring the summer camp students, asked in awe. Gang Ping, who was also Oak's experimental assistant, stood beside him, visibly impressed. "Now I understand why you said Ash's talent as a trainer is comparable to Mr. Lance, or even surpasses it."
Professor Oak chuckled warmly, glancing at his assistant with a knowing smile. "So, you didn't believe me earlier?" he asked, amused.
Gang Ping, who had been sighing earlier, now looked a little embarrassed under Oak's gaze. "Well, Professor... I didn't mean it like that, but it's hard to believe. A child from a common family, someone whose name isn't widely known, surpassing Lance, the Champion himself?"
Oak smiled kindly and waved his hand. "I understand, Gang Ping. Anyone would be skeptical. But Ash's talent is something I've witnessed for myself. You saw it for yourself in this battle."
He paused and turned his attention back to the battle, where Froakie was catching its breath. "Take this match, for example. Froakie, a Water-type, was up against Xunzi's Bellsprout, a Grass-type Pokémon, which has an inherent advantage. And yet, Ash, despite the type disadvantage, still managed to use Froakie's Bubble mousse in such a flexible and skillful way."
He continued with enthusiasm, his eyes lighting up with admiration. "At first, Froakie used the Bubble mousse to create a shield, blocking Bellsprout's Vine Whip attack. But that wasn't the end of it. Ash quickly noticed the situation and had Froakie apply the Bubble mousse directly onto Bellsprout's Vine Whip.
"Now, this move might look simple, but it was actually quite clever. Vine Whip, being a long-range attack, is a challenge in close combat. By covering it with Bubble mousse, Ash neutralized part of its effectiveness, and then ordered Froakie to rush in for a direct melee assault."
Oak looked at Ash, his face full of pride. "The strategic genius here is clear. If Xunzi wanted to retrieve the Vine Whip as she did earlier, the results would be the same: the Vine Whip would be stuck to Bellsprout's body, unable to resist Froakie's powerful Pound attacks."
Oak chuckled again, shaking his head in disbelief. "Ash may be young, but he's already learned how to turn the tide of battle with his unique approach, even when the odds are stacked against him. His level of thinking as a trainer is truly remarkable."
The second option was not to retract the Vine Whip, but if Xunzi chose not to do so, she would be unable to mount an effective counterattack against the rushing Froakie. Vine Whip, being a medium-to-long-range move, made it difficult for Bellsprout to respond to a close-range opponent like Froakie, especially one charging forward with such speed and precision.
By simply applying Bubble mousse to Vine Whip, Ash forced Xunzi into a dilemma. Initially, she had the advantage, with Bellsprout's Vine Whip offering long-range coverage. However, Ash's clever use of Bubble mousse neutralized that advantage, putting her on the back foot.
"From this alone, it's clear how talented Ash is as a Trainer," Oak remarked, watching from the sidelines.
[Ding, congratulations to the host, defeating LV.5 Bellsprout! Gained 50 Experience Points. Bubble Frog meets the upgrade requirements! Bubble Frog is evolving...]
[Ding, Bubble Frog's level has risen to LV.8! It has learned the skill "Quick Attack"!]
Ash couldn't help but smile upon hearing the two system notifications in his ears. "So I leveled up, and I even learned a new skill Quick Attack. Not bad at all."
He quickly checked Bubble Frog's status panel:
---
Bubble Frog
Level: LV.8 (22/88)
Type: Water
Personality: Serious
Ability: Torrent (Hidden Ability: Freedom of Change, Legendary Ability: Fetter Transform)
Stamina: 41
IVs: 56
Defense: 40
Special Attack: 62
Special Defense: 44
Speed: 71
Total: 314
Qualification: S (Peerless)
Favored by the luck of the Kalos Region, destined to play a crucial role in saving Kalos from an impending catastrophe.
Skills (proficient):
Pound (37/1000)
Bubble (36/1000)
Skills (developing):
Growl (23/500)
Liquid Sphere (1/100)
Quick Attack (0/100)
---
Looking at the status panel, Ash couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. His Pokémon was evolving rapidly. Meanwhile, Xunzi, who had just lost, recalled her Bellsprout into its Poké Ball and silently walked off the field, her face set in a firm, determined expression.
As she turned to leave, Ash watched her for a moment, then turned his gaze back to Froakie. He wasn't going to offer words of comfort to Xunzi. Having been a person in two lifetimes, Ash knew better than to indulge someone with an arrogant personality. It was important not to spoil people like that, especially someone as proud as Xunzi.
Turning his attention to Froakie, Ash asked, "Can you still fight?"
Froakie, though exhausted from the previous battles, gave a determined nod, even though it was panting heavily.
"Alright, there's just one last battle," Ash said with a satisfied smile. "Hang on just a little longer."
After a moment, Ash turned to survey the rest of the students around the dam. Winning four consecutive matches had solidified Ash's reputation, and no one could doubt his strength. But Froakie's stamina was now low, clearly worn out. The match ahead was bound to be a challenge. Despite that, Ash knew that this final battle could not only result in victory but also solidify his reputation even further.
As Ash looked around the eager students, he realized they were itching to challenge him. They had been sitting back, watching him dominate his previous matches, but now they were ready to face him themselves. Seeing his success, they were eager to jump in and prove themselves, hoping that Ash would give them a chance to battle.
Looking at the students who were now itching to get onto the battlefield, Ash spoke up, his voice carrying across the dam.
"I have something to say to everyone here..."
---
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