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Facing Misty's question, Ash shook his head: "Those three people were so bundled up, how could I recognize them? It's just that when I passed by earlier, they gave me a… an indescribable feeling, but it was only for an instant. Maybe it was just my imagination."
"An indescribable feeling?" Misty was also a bit puzzled, but she quickly dismissed this small interlude and followed Ash to a nearby shopping mall.
Viridian City isn't actually a big city, but it has the strongest Gym Leader, so the city's facilities are quite complete. The shopping mall basically sells everything that big cities sell.
Ash bought some special food for Pikachu, some wilderness survival tools, and some simple instant canned food—he couldn't cook, so he could only eat canned food.
Misty bought a lot of insect repellent sprays, some mosquito bite ointments, and sunscreen.
After picking out their things, the two also casually strolled around Viridian City and paid a visit to the Viridian Gym.
Going to the Viridian Gym was, of course, not to challenge it, but Ash wanted to see the Viridian Gym Leader's fighting style.
Ash had only seen such a powerful Trainer, like a legend, on television before. As for whether Ash had encountered Trainers of the same level as the Viridian Gym Leader, or even stronger, the answer was yes.
That person was himself.
Many of the big shots in the group, although not explicitly labeled as Champions, were indeed Champions in terms of their Trainer level. However, Ash had never personally witnessed the fighting style of a powerful Trainer in reality, which made him very curious about Viridian Gym Leader Giovanni.
But upon arriving at the Viridian Gym, they found it was a castle-like place with only one entrance, allowing only challengers and their companions to enter. There was no way to watch, so the two could only leave in a hurry.
As they wandered, it became afternoon. Misty suggested they get a good night's sleep at the Pokemon Center and depart tomorrow. Ash hesitated for a moment and agreed to Misty's suggestion.
He wasn't staying for an extra night's rest, but for an extra meal.
The food at the Pokemon Center tasted pretty good, especially compared to instant food, it was already considered gourmet-level. And it was much more nutritious than instant food, which was Ash's main reason for staying.
"Ugh ~ I'm full and satisfied, let's go out and exercise a bit. Misty, do you have a Pokémon? Let's have a battle, I haven't battled all day, my hands are getting itchy." Ash stretched, then asked Misty.
Misty raised her chin and said somewhat arrogantly: "Of course I have Pokémon! How could I travel without Pokémon? But your Pikachu is no match for my Pokémon. To avoid giving you psychological trauma, you'd better not pick me as your opponent!"
Ash's mouth twitched. Just as he was about to say something, an alarm suddenly blared in the Pokemon Center!
"What's going on? What happened?!" Everyone in the Pokemon Center nervously looked at each other. Chansey quickly came out to calm the crowd, and Joy seemed to be on the phone.
"Someone invaded the Pokémon Center… Who would be so bold? Even some international criminal organizations wouldn't dare to invade an Pokemon Center!" Misty also looked at the flashing alarm in shock.
This was an alarm that only flashed when the Pokemon Center was invaded. Generally speaking, it was never used, because the Pokemon Center was the territory of the Joy Family, a prominent Family in the Alliance that possessed the most advanced medical Pokémon technology. Attacking an Pokemon Center—only an idiot would do such a thing.
"Since you asked so sincerely!"
"We will tell you with great mercy!"
... (Skipped here, everyone should have heard these lines before.)
"I am Jessie!"
"I am James!"
"We are Team Rockets that traverse the galaxy!"
"White hole, a white tomorrow awaits us!"
"That's right, Meowth."
Three figures reciting strange lines descended from the sky and landed in the center of the Pokemon Center.
Red alarms flashed all around, and in the very center, black smoke billowed. People nearby inadvertently inhaled a bit of the Haze and instantly felt dizzy.
"This Haze is poisonous, don't breathe it in!" Misty also inadvertently inhaled a little, then quickly covered her nose and mouth, but it was still a bit too late, her brain already felt slightly dizzy.
"Poisonous? I don't feel anything… More importantly, what is Team Rockets, and why are you invading the Pokémon Center!" Ash, in the Haze, clenched his fist, feeling his strength still abundant, completely without the poisoned sensation Misty had.
Then, he loudly questioned the Team Rocket Trio, and this shout made the Team Rocket Trio, who were about to grab Poké Balls, freeze.
Someone still hasn't been poisoned?
"Who is that kid? He's not wearing a gas mask, yet he can withstand Koffing's poisonous Haze?" James, with blue hair, said somewhat confusedly.
"No matter who he is, he's just a kid. Let's take him out and then collect the Poké Balls." Jessie, with long red hair, waved her hand and commanded the Ekans in front of her: "Go, Ekans, use Poison Sting!"
"Chabo!" The purple Ekans opened its gaping maw, and more than a dozen purple-glowing Poison Sting shot out from its mouth, aimed directly at Ash and Pikachu.
"Thunder Shock!" Ash clenched his fist, and a brilliant azure light burst from his body. The poisonous Haze surrounding him was instantly shaken away by Aura Power, disappearing without a trace. Pikachu also returned to normal in that instant, golden light flashing on its body!
"Pika—chu!!" The golden Thunder Shock collided with the Poison Sting, creating a huge explosion in mid-air!
The pervasive smoke, combined with the poisonous Haze from the Team Rocket Trio's side, obscured both sides' vision.
"Aura… in my heart!"
Ash's eyes turned deep blue, and at the same time, Pikachu's eyes did the same. Pikachu, who couldn't see anything, suddenly 'saw' Ekans's location.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
Ash's command rang out, and after less than a second of stunned, Pikachu quickly executed Ash's order.
"Pika-chu-pi!!" Pikachu's figure, dragging a white light, rushed into the smoke, and a loud collision sound came from within the smoke!
The next second, Ekans shot out from the smoke, crashing into Jessie and the others, sending them all flying. They rolled several times on the ground before finally coming to a stop!