join patreon.com/worldoffanfiction for advanced chapters and to support the daily update
Squirtle had actually evolved, and its compatibility and bond value with Ash had also significantly increased. It had finally made its own choice: since it had chosen to follow Ash, it should see it through to the end. It formally bid farewell to its former companions, entrusting them to Officer Jenny for training. From this moment on, it had only one identity: Ash's Wartortle!
Given this, Ash naturally decided to keep Wartortle by his side. Therefore, Ash's current Pokémon were:
Pikachu: 220/255
Snorlax: 200/255
Bayleef: 200/215
Quilava: 130/200
Slowpoke: 135/185
Wartortle: 190/215
Pikachu's compatibility had long since maxed out, and its bond value was steadily increasing. Ash wasn't worried about this; he and Pikachu spent every day together, so with maxed compatibility, the bond value would simply increase gradually. Snorlax's compatibility was also maxed. Since Ash awakened the system upon arriving in Johto, he had brought Snorlax with him, and its bond value had slowly increased through daily training and feeding.
Bayleef and Quilava were both starter Pokémon from the Johto region, unexpectedly obtained by Ash, and both had completed their first evolution. Slowpoke was the "Slowpoke God" Ash caught in Azalea Town, very different from ordinary Slowpoke, possessing extremely high intelligence. Ash planned to train it for a while longer, then evolve it into a Slowking! Although the evolved Slowbro could Mega Evolve, this was of no concern to Ash, who had the Bond System. Once the evolved Slowking also reached max compatibility and bond value, it could evolve into an Ash-version Slowking! But before that, Ash planned to catch a Shellder with relatively high compatibility. Through this most complete evolution method, he aimed to ensure the evolved Slowking had the highest possible compatibility!
Overall, Ash had now accumulated powerful strength!
"Ash, lunch is ready!"
That afternoon, Ash took his Pokémon for special training, leaving Misty and Brock to set up camp in the forest and prepare lunch. It had to be said that having Brock along on their journey certainly saved a lot of trouble. Ash could also pursue his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master with fewer distractions.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Returning to camp, the aroma of food was already wafting.
"Oh, right, Ash, get the bread out!" Brock called out. The bread they had bought earlier was in Ash's backpack. Because he was going to train, he had left his backpack with Misty and Brock. However, when the trio went to retrieve the backpack, they found it was gone.
"Stolen?"
"But we were both here; we didn't see anyone come by!" Misty and Brock had a responsibility for improper supervision, but now wasn't the time to talk about that.
"Ash, did you have anything valuable in your backpack?" Brock asked.
"My Badge Case, Poké Balls, and Pokédex are all with me. There's nothing important in the backpack," Ash replied, shaking his head. However, this backpack had been with him since the very beginning of his journey; he had to get it back.
A blue light flashed around Ash as his Aura Power spread out. Soon, he found a trail of footprints on the ground. Judging by their shape, they belonged to some kind of canine Pokémon.
"Could this Pokémon have stolen your backpack, Ash? Was it not for your items, but for the bread?" Misty reasoned. Ash and Brock both nodded, finding it plausible.
"It looks like the footprints are heading towards the forest, Ash. Should we chase?"
"Of course we should!"
Ash and his companions didn't even have time to eat lunch before they packed up again and chased after it. Fortunately, Brock had planned to make sandwiches this time, so other ingredients could be packed.
"Pika!"
Following the footprints, they unknowingly arrived deep within the forest. Here, the footprints stopped. They had reached a dense patch of grass! A blue light once again flashed around Ash, but he found nothing suspicious. Their stomachs, however, began to rumble.
"Ash, I'm so hungry!"
Misty's words made Ash's eyes light up. "Brock, let's eat! We should still have some ingredients, right? Preferably meat!" Hearing this, Brock immediately understood and nodded. "Of course! I was planning to make ham sandwiches anyway!" Having made up their minds, the trio immediately set about rebuilding their tent, starting a fire, and even specifically roasting the ham until it smelled delicious!
Unknowingly, dusk had gradually fallen, and a full moon appeared in the sky. Finally, the target, unable to resist the aroma of the ham, jumped out!
"Don't think you can run now that you're here!"
In that instant, a blue light flashed in Ash's eyes, and Telekinesis erupted, aiming to capture the target. But the blue light suddenly shattered; Telekinesis actually had no effect on the target?!
"How is that possible?"
Ash, momentarily unable to react, watched helplessly as the ham vanished before his eyes.
"Damn it, it's a Dark-type Pokémon!"
Psychic-type Telekinesis was completely ineffective against Dark-types! Among the Dark-type canine Pokémon in the Johto region, Ash could already guess which Pokémon it was!
Houndour, the Dark Pokémon, Dark and Fire-type!
"Woof~" It seemed provoked by Ash's previous attack. Suddenly, crimson eyes glowed from the nearby bushes, and low growls echoed on this full moon night, sounding exceptionally terrifying.
"Brock, just protect Misty later!" Sensing the surrounding malice, Ash softly instructed Brock beside him. There were quite a few Houndour around!
"Ash!"
Misty instinctively grabbed Ash's clothes, hiding behind him.
"Don't worry, it won't be that easy to defeat me!"
At this moment, the Houndour had revealed themselves. There were four of them, surrounding Ash and his companions, their crimson eyes terrifying.
"Woof roar!"
On the hillside under the full moon, there was an even larger and stronger Houndour, looking down at Ash and his friends with an intimidating presence. That must be the Alpha of these Houndour! Ash held a Poké Ball, looking at the Houndour on the hillside. "If you want to battle, let's make it a capture battle!" Unexpectedly, that Houndour actually leaped down from the hillside, standing in front of Ash. It indeed accepted the challenge!
"I won't bully you. Quilava, it's your turn!"