"Sorry, Pikachu, I only just got this power, and I couldn't control my strength. How are you feeling now?" Ash apologized to the slowly waking Pikachu, his words filled with sincere regret.
He truly hadn't expected that his Aura Sphere, which he'd used with less than ten percent of his strength, would instantly knock out Pikachu!
Ash had originally planned all sorts of tactics, but it was all over before it even began!
He didn't know if Pikachu was too weak, or if he was too strong.
"Pika Pika..." Are you really human?
"What are you talking about! Of course, I'm human! A genuine human, alright! I just gained a small special ability, that's all." Ash rolled his eyes.
"Pikachu Pi!" Your special ability is too outrageous!
"Hehe, just average~ Now you can acknowledge me as your Trainer, right?"
"Pika." I'll honor my bet.
Although Pikachu was a bit unruly, he was indeed an honest and trustworthy Pokémon. Since Ash had defeated him head-on, he had nothing more to say.
And so, Ash finally officially captured his first Pokémon.
Other people's starter Pokémon could be used as soon as they got them. Only Ash needed to put on a real battle with his Pokémon to gain its approval.
"Since you're my Pokémon, come back into your Poké Ball. Everyone else's Pokémon go back into their Poké Balls." Ash held out Pikachu's Poké Ball.
"Pika Pika!" No way!
Pikachu shook his head frantically. Even without Aura, Ash could understand what Pikachu meant—he just didn't want to go into the Poké Ball!
For other Trainers, this kind of behavior was generally not allowed. It was fine to let a Pokémon out occasionally, but always carrying a Pokémon outside was quite troublesome.
But Ash was different. After hearing Pikachu's thoughts, he pondered for a moment before nodding: "Alright, if you don't like going into the Poké Ball, then don't. I'll spray some Potion on you first. Good thing Mom gave me some."
Hearing this, Pikachu's tense expression softened slightly, and his gaze towards Ash became a bit gentler.
Clearly, Ash's actions greatly increased Pikachu's favorability. After being in the human world for so long, Pikachu knew that there weren't many Trainers willing to let their Pokémon stay outside. And by chance, he met one.
It seems this Trainer isn't so difficult to accept after all. He's a monster in terms of strength, kind to him, and respects his wishes... Thinking this, Pikachu no longer felt so resistant to following Ash's commands.
After Ash took out a Potion and gently sprayed it on Pikachu, Pikachu's injuries improved significantly.
This was a special Potion made specifically for Pokémon. Although it hurt a bit at first, it was quite effective for Pokémon's recovery.
It wasn't until Pikachu had recovered much of his condition that Ash continued his journey to the next city.
On the way, Ash opened the group chat and asked what he should do next, as he had set the goal of defeating Leon, but didn't know where to start.
[Champion Ash: ...If I remember correctly, after Pallet Town should be Viridian City. You should register in Viridian City first and participate in the Pokémon League. As long as you can win the Indigo League, you'll have basic battle power.]
[Newbie Ash: Huh? I need to win the Champion title to have basic battle power? That's so strict?]
After learning how to change his name, Ash also modified his name. In this group full of experts, he chose to change his name to a new term he learned from the experts—Newbie!
It meant a pitiful, weak, and helpless newcomer.
Although Ash had gained the abilities of Aura Ash, he was still completely clueless as a Trainer. He still had many, many things to learn from the group.
[Champion Ash: Well, in my impression, the Indigo League is indeed a relatively weak league, because the Indigo League only allows Trainers who have traveled for less than two years to participate. It's like an exclusive league for newcomers.]
[Champion Ash: However, those are the rules on my side. I'm not sure if the rules on your side will change, but the League is definitely real. If you want a short-term goal, aim to be the Champion of the League. After you become the League Champion, then think about the next step.]
[Breeder Ash: If you have nothing to do, you can also learn breeding techniques! If you don't understand, ask me in the group, I can teach you!]
[Grand Festival Ash: You're really desperate to recruit newcomers...]
[Aura Ash: Heh heh, let him be. After all, there are only a few people in the entire group who can discuss breeding knowledge with him, and they often don't even show up. Now that he's finally caught a newcomer with no foundation, of course he wants to lure him under his wing.]
[Tactician Ash: But seriously, what he said about breeding is not wrong. If you want to stand at the peak, breeding is an indispensable skill. Unless you have a dedicated Breeder assisting you, otherwise you should learn some breeding knowledge.]
[Newbie Ash: I understand! Then I'll head to Viridian City first! See you all!]
[Champion Ash: Wait a moment, if you encounter wild Pokémon on the road, whether you want to catch them or not, you can fight them casually. In addition to daily breeding, Pokémon's improvement also comes from the accumulation of battle experience. The more they battle, theoretically, the faster their level will increase.]
[Champion Ash: However, battle is not everything. It only accounts for some weight. Daily feeding, breeding, companionship, and guidance are all indispensable. You should be able to learn a lot by regularly checking the group for these things.]
[Newbie Ash: I understand!]
Ash silently kept everyone's words in mind, then exited the group chat.
Ash had originally thought about using Pikachu to catch two more Pokémon before reaching Viridian City, but now it seemed he should focus on training Pikachu first.
His relationship with Pikachu could only be considered average right now, and Pikachu's level didn't seem very high. It would be better to train Pikachu first, and then go catch a second Pokémon and more.
"Let's go, Pikachu, I'll take you to level up!"
"Pikachu Pi?" Level up?
Pikachu tilted his head, looking puzzled.
In his opinion, Ash closed his eyes, then opened them, and suddenly, full of fighting spirit, said he wanted to take him to level up. It looked like he had developed multiple personalities, but considering Ash could understand what he was saying, Pikachu ultimately only chose to express his confusion.
"Level up, challenge Gyms, stand at the peak of the world! Charge!" Ash said, rushing out ahead. Pikachu showed a bewildered expression behind him, then followed closely.