With Ash's physical fitness, he just staggered his shoulder slightly without any other issue, but it was different for the other person, who ended up sitting on the ground with a thud.
"Sorry, are you okay?!" Ash hurriedly squatted down to help the person up, only to find that the dirt-colored hair on the person's head fell off during the process, revealing a shiny bald head that left both parties stunned.
In the next instant, the bald man quickly picked up his wig and put it back on, and Ash awkwardly cleared his throat: "Sorry, I didn't mean to."
"No worries, just be more careful next time." The bald man's voice was rather hoarse, sounding like he was intentionally straining his throat, but he was quite generous and didn't mind Ash bumping into him.
"Garde?"
As Ash was about to walk past the bald man and leave, Gardevoir, who was let out to stroll with him, uttered a curious sound.
"What's wrong, Gardevoir?"
"Garde."
"Do you remember this person? Maybe it's someone we passed by before," Ash nonchalantly said.
As a Psychic Type Pokemon, Gardevoir has an extraordinary memory, able to recall even passersby with perfect clarity, almost like photographic memory.
If this were to happen to a human, it would be a condition called hyperthymesia, putting an immense burden on the brain, but for a Psychic Type Pokemon, it's no big deal.
Their brains are far more developed than those of humans, making photographic memory no burden at all.
"Garde!"
"You say... it's not someone you met after you came out; you knew him while in the Poke Egg?!" Ash froze and then quickly turned to find the bald man, but upon turning around, the man was nowhere to be seen, as if the collision was just an illusion.
"Ash, didn't Gardevoir come falling from the sky when she was in a Poke Egg? If she knew the person while still in the egg, then he might be Gardevoir's original..." Misty, although unable to understand Gardevoir, heard Ash translating her words.
If that person was someone Gardevoir knew before she was born, it means he was around her during the Poke Egg period.
Ash obtaining Gardevoir was an extremely unexpected event, as she fell from the sky while still in an egg, and nothing was known about her past.
So could that person be Gardevoir's original owner?
"I'll go look for him; he shouldn't have gone far." As Ash spoke, he closed his eyes and unleashed his Aura Power, causing an explosion of Aura information in his mind! If his Aura weren't strong enough, he might have fainted from the influx.
But for Ash, this level was manageable; after all, his Aura wasn't of ordinary level.
As Ash closed his eyes to search for the bald man, Misty showed a worried expression, and Brock, seeing this, understood what she was thinking: "Are you worried that if he's Gardevoir's original owner, he might take Gardevoir back?"
Misty nodded. Ash might want to thank him, but if the person sees a Shiny Gardevoir like this, he might really want to take Gardevoir back?
"You're overthinking it; the bond between Gardevoir and Ash is unbreakable, and besides, the person just held the Poke Egg, while Ash now holds Gardevoir's Pokeball. Even if it goes to the League, Ash would have the advantage unless he foolishly decides to return Gardevoir." Brock said leisurely, without any worry.
Though Ash is straightforward and earnest, he wouldn't do something foolish like that. His love for Pokemon is unquestionable, and his bond with Gardevoir has become indestructible.
Moreover, Gardevoir wouldn't acknowledge any Trainer other than Ash.
Under these circumstances, even if Ash wanted to return Gardevoir to that person, it would be impossible.
As long as Gardevoir and Ash aren't willing, the ownership of Gardevoir is definitely Ash's, even if it goes to the League.
Hearing this, Misty relaxed a bit, relieved that her worst fears wouldn't come true.
But actually, both of them guessed wrong. The reason Ash wanted to find the bald man wasn't to thank him, nor to return Gardevoir, but to uncover Gardevoir's origin.
Nobody else knew, but besides being shiny, Gardevoir's most extraordinary trait is her six S-ranking qualities, something impossible for normal Pokemon.
Additionally, Gardevoir could learn many moves typically impossible for her kind to learn, indicating that she wasn't born from ordinary Pokemon.
Even though Ash has yet to notice any abnormalities in Gardevoir's body, with such unique traits, he must find out the reason. If something happens to Gardevoir unexpectedly, and he's unaware, that would be the most troublesome issue.
Ash has never been swayed by Gardevoir's outstanding talent.
For an ordinary Pokemon to have such talent without any cost is indeed impossible — as some experts in the group have said.
Now that there's finally a chance to trace Gardevoir's origin, it's natural for Ash to feel excited.
After scanning with Aura Power repeatedly, Ash opened his eyes, looking straight ahead: "He hasn't gone far; he's right ahead, let's go!"
Saying this, Ash took the lead, with Pikachu in front, while Gardevoir levitated behind him, and Misty and Brock, exchanging a glance, had no choice but to follow.
They didn't quite understand why Ash was so excited; wasn't it just to thank the person?
As Ash pursued, the crowd around them gradually thinned, making Ash sense something amiss, so he slowed his chase, merely locking onto the person with his Aura Power from afar.
Ten minutes later, Ash and his companions reached a very secluded place, following that person.
They initially thought the entire Cinnabar Island would be crowded, but here, there wasn't a single person, as if they had taken countless paths to reach this desolate area.
There was a small house here, which seemed to be the bald man's residence.
"Why does he live in such a remote place?" Misty looked around, and despite being on this hot island, she felt an eerie vibe.
By now, it was nearing evening, the sun was setting, and the light was gradually fading into darkness. There were no streetlights here, only that small house standing alone in the distance, creating a rather unsettling scene.
"Maybe he doesn't like noisy environments... Gardevoir, do you recognize this place?" Ash turned and asked Gardevoir.
Gardevoir looked around, then slowly shook her head.
She only had a vague consciousness while in the Poke Egg; recognizing that person was already nearly her limit. If she could be taken to where her egg originally existed, perhaps she could sense something there.
But here, there was indeed no sense of familiarity.
"Then let's go and look for that person first." Ash said, once again taking the lead, while Misty wanted to hold him back from being so reckless, but her hand only grasped the air.
"Why is Ash in such a hurry? It's not like that person can escape?" Misty mumbled and still followed along.
As they approached the small house with a dim light, a red-and-yellow figure descended from the sky, blocking their path, exuding an aura at the Elite Level!