"Guide..." Upon hearing Ash's question, the Prideful A-student couldn't immediately comprehend with her intelligence.
A Trainer who casually came over for directions and had been traveling for less than a month, managed to defeat an Elite Trainer's AI?
This is something their academy students spend years, even over a decade to achieve!
And now a newbie says he did it?
What an international joke! She absolutely refuses to acknowledge it! If what he said were true, what would that make those of them studying at this academy - a bunch of losers?
"You must be a top student from some school here for academic exchange, right? At least find a better excuse, saying you're a Trainer who's been traveling for less than a month… do you really expect me to believe that?" The A-student forced a smile, stubbornly saying.
Ash frowned slightly, speaking with some discontent: "I already said I'm a Newbie Trainer! And it was just a computer simulation battle. You can't seriously think the strategy just used could beat an Elite, do you? Taking the same lineup to challenge Karen in the real world would just get you thrashed."
A simulated battle is a simulation; reality is reality. Ash could clearly differentiate between the two. He merely used tactical tricks taught to him by Tactical Ash, and luckily managed to defeat Karen in the computer simulation.
Encountering an Elite in the real world, even with the exactly same Pokemon, he'd still be mercilessly crushed.
Surely no one really believes a Newbie Level Pokemon's Sturdy ability could withstand a move from an Elite Level Pokemon?
Surely no one thinks a Newbie Level Pokemon's Endeavor could hit an Elite Level Pokemon in the real world?
Cold data from computers simply can't be applied to the real world.
Otherwise, this set of tactics wouldn't be called a "stunt tactic" by Tactical Ash.
Because this tactic can only be used in computer simulations, where its visual effects are rather stunning. Bringing a bunch of Level 1 Pokemon to take down high-level ones; in online battles, it'd disgust your opponent to no end.
But try that in the real world, and your opponent will show you just how harsh reality can be.
Thus, despite defeating an Elite Level AI, Ash felt no pride, merely finding the battle quite fun. As Tactical Ash put it — it's primarily for self-entertainment, feel good and that's that.
However, this Prideful A-student seemed fixated on Ash's success against the Elite AI, believing him to be a top student on par with Elites... ha, if he had that ability, would he need to collect Gym Badges?
He'd go straight to the Pokemon League and challenge them.
"Simulated battles indeed aren't absolute. The real world couldn't possibly provide you with Pokemon at the same level as Elite Trainers, but since you used Level 1 Pokemon to defeat the Elite, it shows it can be done in reality too, with the same tactics."
At this point, the Prideful A-student also felt discontent, as Ash's tone seemed to belittle their school's computer simulations.
Results from computer simulations indeed aren't absolute, since the real world has level differences, but if you can defeat an opponent across levels in a simulation, you can do the same in the real world.
Ash looked helplessly at Misty and Brock, gesturing towards the A-student, whispering: "This girl is quite pretty, but seems a bit off in the head."
Brock & Misty: ...
Is it really okay to speak about others like that? Even quietly, she can still hear you!
"What did you say?! What a coarse person! I now believe you're definitely not from an Advanced Academy, as an Advanced Academy couldn't possibly produce someone so crude!"
Ash: ###
"You're the one who's persistent! I already said reality and computer simulations aren't the same, yet you insist on arguing!
"Fine, since you say so, let's settle it with actual combat! Let me show you that what's written in textbooks is absolute!"
...
At the school's open training field——
A myriad of students watched around the training field, focusing on Ash and the A-student in the center, their gazes seemed to spark with intensity.
Brock and Misty exchanged glances, not quite understanding how the situation escalated to this point. Clearly, they just came to ask for directions but suddenly found themselves confronting this school's top freshman.
However, the mindset of the students here left them quite displeased. Not to mention making light of the Cerulean Gym, even the bottom among them, Joe, speaks dismissively of it.
Heh, even if the Cerulean Gym is the weakest, it's still a Gym!
What right do you, someone at the bottom of your school, have to look down on Cerulean Gym!
With Joe like this, those higher up, including top student Prideful A, go without saying.
They appear to treat simulated battles, and all in textbooks, as ultimate truths. Having Ash battle Prideful A and knock some sense into her head would be good.
"Don't say I'm bullying a girl; I'll use my Pokemon first... it's decided, Ralts!" Ash waved a hand decisively, choosing Ralts from his side for the match.
Ralts blinked in surprise, then let out a joyous call, quickly teleporting from Ash's shoulder to the center of the field.