One of the Pokemon is the last Water Type among the Johto Three Starter, Totodile.
This Totodile is quite special, biting almost everything it sees. Team Rocket's trio once targeted this Totodile, but it ended up biting off a chunk of Jessie's hair, causing Jessie to burst into a furious rage!
The terrifying aura made even the usually brave Ash hesitate. When a woman's hair is harmed, it can unleash power comparable to that of a Legendary Beast!
Even the gods would have to give way at this moment!
Eventually, Ash captured the Totodile and then used the Power of Viridian to stimulate the growth of Jessie's hair, allowing it to grow back.
Even after her beloved hair was restored, Jessie didn't forget her original goal of capturing Pikachu, not even glancing at Totodile.
The result, as expected, was that the trio once again flew into the sky.
Later, Ash captured a shiny Noctowl in a forest!
This Noctowl was red and much smarter than ordinary Noctowl by a significant margin.
Through the Eye of Insight, Ash discovered that this color variant Noctowl possessed the Psychic Attribute, with its original Normal Type replaced.
This means that the Noctowl is a Flying and Psychic Type.
Not only did the color change, but even the attribute altered. Such a Pokemon's rarity is almost on par with ordinary Legendary Beasts.
Apart from Ash capturing new Pokemon, Serena's team also had some expansions.
She captured a Sneasel and a Mareep on the road, both having considerable talent as verified by Ash.
The evolutions of these Pokemon also hold decent combat power, and coupled with their different attributes, they enhance Serena's team's battling potential.
Furthermore, when Serena participates in Pokemon Contests in the future, the combined moves of Pokemon with different attributes will bring out even better effects.
As for Misty, she captured a Poliwag, adding another member to her team of Water-type Pokemon.
Due to these events, Ash and the group have only covered half of their journey.
Additionally, Pikachu and the other Pokemon still need training, especially Froakie, who has been part of Ash's team for almost half a month now.
During this period, Ash never sent it back to Oak's Research Institute but kept it around for training.
From being initially unfamiliar to gradually developing some teamwork, its Level has also advanced from Ordinary Peak to Advanced Peak, even completing its evolution!
It's no longer called Froakie now; it should be called Frogadier.
Frogadier's evolution was quite delayed, only occurring after reaching Advanced Level, not before the Advanced Junior Level stage.
According to Frogadier's evolution pace, to become Greninja will likely require reaching Elite Advanced Level and beyond.
Common Pokemon complete one evolution stage at Advanced Junior Level and a second at Elite Junior Level.
Quasi-God type Pokemon only complete their Final Evolution after Elite Advanced Level, as their evolution is much harder compared to ordinary Pokemon.
For ordinary Pokemon evolving this late, it's usually because of a physical problem or the accumulation of all its power, and Frogadier is evidently the latter.
Once Frogadier evolves into Greninja, there will be a qualitative change, and Ash will know what the feature known as Bond Evolution truly is.
...
Time flew by, and another week passed. After a month-long journey, Ash and company finally reached their destination, Ecruteak City!
"So this is Ecruteak City..."
Standing in the middle of the street, Serena looked around, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity.
Unlike the steel-forest modernization of Goldenrod City, every stone slab and roof tile in Ecruteak City exuded an ancient and mysterious charm.
Wooden traditional buildings lined the cobblestone roads, and at the street's end stood the red torii, as if connecting the present and legendary worlds.
People on the street walked leisurely, occasionally passing girls in kimonos, their wooden clogs clicking crisply on the stones.
"They say Ecruteak City has a history of over a thousand years." Brock flipped through his travel guide. "The Bell Tower and Burned Tower are the most famous sites in the entire Johto Region, and it's said Ho-Oh once perched atop the Bell Tower."
"Ho-Oh..." Ash gazed at the Bell Tower and Burned Tower on both sides, with a touch of indescribable emotion in his eyes.
Speaking of which, he's encountered Ecruteak City's two legends, Ho-Oh and Lugia.
He also sensed the residual aura of Ho-Oh and Lugia here. Besides the Gym challenge, he might find something else in this place.
Holding Togepi, Misty pointed to a uniquely designed building in the distance, "That should be the visiting Gym Leader, Volkner, from the Sinnoh Region, right?"
Following her direction, they saw a building modernly styled, contrasting the other traditional architectures, with its silver-gray metallic wall reflecting a cold glow under the sun.
If this Gym were in Goldenrod City, it wouldn't stand out, but here it certainly seemed out of place, given the city's ancient ambiance.
"Where should we go first?" Brock asked Ash.
They had two choices: visit Volkner's Gym or the original Ecruteak Gym.
"Let's head to the Ecruteak Gym first." Ash looked towards where the Ecruteak Gym is situated, "I feel like something over there is calling me."
"Calling you?" The group scratched their heads, puzzled, but given Ash's special powers, it wasn't surprising he sensed things others couldn't.
Since Ash suggested the Ecruteak Gym first, they decided to go there.
In no time, they stood before the Ecruteak Gym.
The Gym blended seamlessly with the city, with red wooden pillars supporting a grey-tiled roof, and the lintel carved with ancient patterns resembling some legendary Pokemon totems.
Two paper lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, casting dappled shadows.
"It feels a bit eerie..." Misty held Togepi closer to Ash instinctively.
Ash calmly said, "Ghost Type Gym, it's normal for it to be like this."
Then he pushed the Gym's doors open.
Contrasting the exterior's ancient look, the interior was modernized, more like a dojo than a Gym.
Inside, several children sat on the ground, listening to a young man, appearing to be in his twenties, wearing a purple headscarf, teaching them.
Hearing the door open, the young man turned, "A challenger? Here so early today?"
Upon seeing Ash and his group, Morty focused on Ash.
"Hello, I'm Ash from Pallet Town, here to challenge the Ecruteak Gym. Are you the Gym Leader?"
Facing the polite Ash, Morty gave a nod, "I am Morty, the Ecruteak Gym Leader. You're Ash, huh? Your name's been buzzing around; my ears are almost worn out. Finally meeting you."
"Huh? Haha, am I that famous already?" Ash scratched his head, smiling brightly.
"Half and half," Morty replied ambiguously.
"What do you mean by half and half??"
"You'll find out when you battle me; let me see... what makes the one chosen by Ho-Oh so special."
Morty's words immediately changed the expressions of Ash and his companions.
How did Morty know Ash was chosen by Ho-Oh?