Pokemon: This Ash Is Too Versatile-Chapter 679 - 364: The First Destination—Hoenn’s Gym Leader in Violet City!

Chapter 679: Chapter 364: The First Destination—Hoenn’s Gym Leader in Violet City!

If it were him, I fear he wouldn’t fare much better than Butler. But he wouldn’t become as obsessed as Butler.

"If you want to challenge the Silver Conference, the first stop is to register at New Bark Town, then you can start challenging the Gyms in the Johto League. The book I gave you has the locations of Gym Leaders in each region, you can check it out."

"Grandpa, give me one too! What does it mean to have only one? Do you think I’m not worthy to challenge those powerful Gym Leaders?" Gary said to Professor Oak with slight dissatisfaction.

This book was clearly prepared for Ash, even though he himself, as Oak’s grandson, didn’t have such treatment. How come Ash gets special treatment!

"Ahem, at first, I really thought you wouldn’t need it. But now, you might find it useful. Ash, leave the book here, I’ll make a copy for Gary." Professor Oak coughed awkwardly and frankly expressed his thoughts.

He wasn’t trying to be biased, but compared to Ash, even his grandson Gary was indeed far inferior, even now.

Despite the recent match where Gary and Ash were evenly matched, Ash still has a crucial strategy he didn’t use, a move that could directly level up a Pokemon to a higher level.

If he uses it, Gary wouldn’t stand a chance against Ash.

However, Gary’s progress is noticeable; owning an Elite Level Blastoise capable of MEGA Evolution, Gary is already qualified to challenge formidable Gym Leaders from other regions.

Give Gary some more time, and even Gym Leaders with top-tier Elite strength might not be able to beat him.

"No need, Professor Oak. Give it to Gary; I’ve already memorized everything." As Gary was rolling his eyes at Professor Oak, Ash directly handed the directory to Gary.

He had already taken the time to memorize the information inside. Since developing Aura Power, his brain has evolved to the point where he can memorize extensive Pokemon knowledge just by listening once, although application still requires some time.

For information on paper like this, memorizing it is a piece of cake for him.

"So fast? This has over twenty names of Trainers, information, and locations. You’ve memorized it all?" Professor Oak asked in surprise.

"More than memorized, I could recite it backwards! Don’t worry, Professor Oak; my memory’s great. Besides, if I forget, I could just call Gary to check for me, right?"

Gary took the directory from Ash’s hands, and with a bit of resignation, replied, "You really aren’t afraid to bother me, are you?"

"Hey, no need to be formal between us~"

...

After discussing the directory, Ash and Pikachu went back, walking with hands behind his head, pondering where his first stop should be.

He memorized the Gym Leader locations, and the first stop closest to New Bark Town should be Violet City where Norman is stationed.

The opponent, a Gym Leader from Hoenn, owns Elite Level strength, using Normal-Type Pokemon. As the first challenge opponent, it’s pretty good.

"I’ve decided, the first stop is Violet City!"

"Pika Pika?" Pikachu tilted his head in confusion.

"Mr. Norman is a Trainer from the Hoenn Region, currently in Violet City. After registering at New Bark Town, we’re headed to Violet City to find him. I remember another Gym Trainer was stationed in Violet City..." Ash scratched his head and eventually found in his memory: Falkner.

Falkner is the local Gym Trainer in Violet City, specializing in Flying-Type, but he inherited his role from his traveling father, standing in for him at the Gym, technically a rookie Gym Trainer.

Yet Falkner isn’t weak, as he uses his father’s Pokemon, possessing true Gym Level strength.

However, compared to Norman, he’s lacking. Ash set his first Gym target on Norman, just the right opportunity to experience what wonders Hoenn Region Pokemon have.

"Pika Pika~" Pikachu crossed his arms, nodded knowingly. In sum—find a strong opponent for battle!

Coincidentally, he just returned to Elite Level, needing a worthy opponent for warm-up!

Whether it’s Elite or Champion, bring it on!

"Let’s go, Pikachu, what pose are you striking?" Ash’s voice woke up the battle-ready Pikachu, who realized Ash had already walked several meters ahead while he was still imagining how to handle the unseen opponent.

"Pika Pika!" Wait for me!

...

"I’m home!"

"Pikachu~~"

Ash and Pikachu pushed open the door, finding no one coming up to greet them, seeing Serena and Misty leaning on Delia on the sofa, laughing at something, while Brock contended with Mr. Mime over cleaning duties.

"Wh...what’s going on? Mom, what are you doing?" Ash spoke as he curiously stepped forward, blushing upon seeing what Delia held!

They were his childhood photos!

If they were normal photos, it would be fine. But they included baby photos, childhood moments like wetting the bed, crying after falling—all in there!

These photos recorded the first instance of each event by Delia to document Ash’s childhood. If it were just Delia viewing, it would be fine, but showing them to Misty and Serena, what’s the deal!

"Mom! Why are you taking out these photos!"

"Hehe, what does it matter? Misty’s your girlfriend now, shouldn’t you let your girlfriend understand your childhood?"

"You call that a childhood? That’s not what my childhood was like!" Ash remarked irritably, contemplating if he should take over the album, but seeing Misty and Serena’s amused yet interested expressions, he ultimately dismissed the idea.

Oh well, let them watch. They’ve already seen it, it’s too late to reclaim now.

"This photo was taken when you went to summer camp, wasn’t it... This little girl looks so familiar..." At this moment, Delia flipped to a photo; Ash with a net and a little girl in a straw hat and dress were posing together.

The girl’s knee had a scratch, but she beamed with a radiant smile, and Ash grinned so wide his shiny teeth reflected light.

When Delia saw the little girl, she instinctively felt she had seen her somewhere before, not just in the photo, but in reality.

"Which? Oh, this one, isn’t she Serena?" Ash peeked over and recognized the person at once, sitting beside Delia right now, Serena. It was their only photo from the summer camp.

The photo was taken at the end of camp at Serena’s request, and Professor Oak printed two copies, one seemingly mailed to Serena.

Back then, he was so young, he had practically forgotten about it. But now, with Aura Power awakened, he could recall even childhood minutiae.

"Serena? Ah! So it’s Serena! I thought she looked so familiar!" Delia exclaimed, looking at Serena beside her, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Looks like this girl and Ash aren’t just travel partners. Her child has done well! Maybe this year he could have both daughters-in-law home for the holidays.