There seems to be something wrong with these Pokémon

Ma Zhishi shook his head helplessly and took back the exhausted and unconscious Raichu. From a distance, a three-in-one Magneto drifted over in parallel, and the magnet-like structure on its body seemed to be attracting something shiny.

When the three-in-one Magneto flew in front of the challenger with a faint glow, Xiao Ye subconsciously stretched out his hand, and it suddenly increased its altitude, squinted its eyes, and accelerated to the side of Ma Zhishi who was walking quickly.

"This is proof of defeating the Dead Leaf Gym, the orange badge."

Ma Zhishi spread out his right hand and placed it in front of his chest, and the three-in-one Magneto landed obediently, dropping the orange badge that had been attached to it for a long time into the hands of the gym leader.

As he handed over the badge, he glanced back at the huge pit behind him, with a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"That Psyduck... has great potential."

Xiaoye took the orange badge and put it in the badge box.

Having already obtained his third badge, he wasn't as excited as the first time he got the gray badge, but he still released the awake Psyduck with a smile on his face and celebrated by high-fiving the Pokémon who had fought hard in this gym challenge.

The two people in the stands also walked down the stairs, congratulated Xiao Ye, and then looked at Ma Zhishi together.

Xiao Gang asked as the tall man stared at him thoughtfully.

"Excuse me..."

"What does Wu Neng have to do with you?"

Xiao Gang was interrupted by Ma Zhishi before he finished speaking. He stared at his friend's face and hairstyle, which were exactly the same as his friend's.

"It's my father." Xiao Gang nodded, and after the man was stunned for a moment, he quickly asked the interrupted question, "Excuse me, are you close to my father? Why have I never heard him mention you?"

"Oh, really?" Ma Zhishi's face flashed with displeasure, and he deliberately emphasized his tone and said, "I can't say that we are very familiar with each other, but there are special ways for trainers in our gym to communicate with each other. A few years ago, in order to challenge the limits of the electric type, I often went to him, the king of the rock type, to spar with him, and after a few visits, we became quite familiar with each other."

However, after seeing the familiar hedgehog head, he quickly put aside his grudge and laughed heartily.

"Come to think of it, I held you in my arms when you were little! But you bumped into Geodude and fell unconscious, so you probably didn't notice who was holding you to the Nibe Gym. You even leaned on my shoulder and called me 'Daddy, Daddy'."

Xiao Gang blushed, took a step back, half covered his face and said in surprise, "Is there... such a thing?!"

"Of course there was!" Ma Zhishi raised his big hand and patted Xiaogang's shoulder a few times. With his teeth bared, he said, "I was so angry at that time. I had just retired from the United States and was young and strong. How could I have jumped a generation and become someone else's 'father'? Am I that old?"

Just as the two were chatting enthusiastically, a clear but not ignorable voice interrupted.

"Mr. Ma Zhishi, the leader of the Withered Leaf Gym, our purpose in looking for you is not to chat with you about some trivial matters."

Xiao Gang, who was being led astray by the nose, suddenly remembered something that made him angry. He took a step back to avoid the oppressive figure, took a deep breath, and shouted, "Yes, please apologize for 'looking down on the primary form Pokémon'!"

"You look down on... a Pokémon in its primary form?"

Ma Zhishi's dark face showed a confused expression. He looked at Xiaogang who was facing a formidable enemy and Kitazawa Lingyou who was always staring at him with indifference. He scratched his head and asked, "I... have it?"

As early as when Xiaogang first met Xiaozhi, he said that Pokémon in this tender primary form are at the cutest and most beautiful time of their lives and should be well protected.

But Shishiba's attitude towards this type of Pokémon is unforgivable for Brock, who aspires to become a Pokémon breeder.

"Didn't you laugh at the last challenger, Pikachu?" Brock recalled how Ash ran to the Pokémon Center with a wounded Pikachu in his arms, and raised his voice, "And to Xiaoye's Snake and Psyduck, and all the new trainers who have suffered setbacks here, please apologize to them!"

Ma Zhishi was stunned, but he quickly realized something, suppressed the anger in his heart and explained reluctantly.

"I think you have misunderstood something. I always call these Pokémon in their primary forms and the younger trainers 'little babies'. This is a habit I brought from the American military camp."

"What about your 'evolution theory'?" Kitazawa Lingyou looked up at the boy squatting on the ground hugging Psyduck and asked, "It is the most famous concept that makes trainers fear and retreat the most. Many trainers were attacked by Pokémon after receiving guidance from you. They were companions who trusted each other, but they parted ways and never met again because of evolution."

"This is my duty as a gym trainer!"

Ma Zhishi, who was pointed at and scolded by a group of greenhorn trainers, also became angry. He opened the coat that the flattering Shamatte younger brother had given him and roared.

"A group of Pokémon that have never been trained challenged my Vileleaf Gym. After being defeated, they just ran away crying. In less than a day, they fought again with Pokémon that have not improved at all."

"The Vermilion Leaf Gym will never welcome a trainer like this!"

Ma Zhishi, who was still furious, glanced at the frightened people and thought of a novice trainer a few years ago.

It was also the beginning of forcing him to change the challenge rules of the Vermilion Leaf Gym, causing the gym to gradually become what novice trainers called the "nightmare gym".

He was a trainer with trumpet buds who challenged gyms thirty-five times in just one month.

Yes, if it were just looking at it this way, most people would only sigh at his perseverance and admire his courage.

This is how Ma Zhishi initially viewed this stubborn novice trainer, and he even gave him many heartfelt suggestions to help him grow.

Whether it's from the perspective of the skills of the trumpet sprout, or from the perspective of catching a rock-type Pokémon, or from the perspective of correctly commanding Pokémon...

Ma Zhishi almost slapped him in the face with the badge! But the novice trainer still did what he wanted, and as soon as the Bellsprout left the Pokémon Center, he would immediately drag it to the Vermilion Gym to fight again.

Countless failures and teachings were exchanged for only his light words,

"It's okay, it's just that Bell Sprout and I were unlucky this time! Next time, next time I will definitely defeat you!"

The most important thing is that he is not the only novice trainer who has this idea.

Most novice trainers cannot accept being defeated so easily at the first gym, and they drag their newly recovered Pokémon to fight again the next morning.

Just one night's rest cannot bring about earth-shaking progress. After the second defeat, they will still blame it on bad luck and regroup and try again.

He was tired of doing useless work, and also because he didn't want to see the trumpet sprout that he almost mistook for his Pokémon.

From then on, Ma Zhishi modified the rules of the gym challenge.

Changed from unlimited challenges per person to no more than three times.

His teachings to novice trainers can be condensed into two words: "evolution".

"Since as a trainer you can't give your Pokémon the training they need but you still dream of getting the orange badge, then let your Pokémon evolve!"

Ma Zhishi pointed at Xiaogang, whose whole body was tense, and the anger in his eyes pierced him viciously.

"Just like the trainer you just mentioned who brought Pikachu. He had no tactics or abilities at all, and he actually chose to use electric skills to fight against Raichu, which was its evolved form!"

Xiaogang was dumbfounded and lowered his head silently.

Indeed, the behavior described by Ma Zhishi was indeed what Xiao Zhineng did.

Even the Rock-type gym that challenges him will rely on his 100,000 volts to move forward bravely, not to mention the Leaf Gym that goes up against the Electric-type.

"A trainer like him who has no common sense at all, if he wants to go further, he must rely on the power of Pokémon! He should let Pikachu evolve into Raichu! Use the power of the evolved Raichu to lead the incompetent trainer to victory!"

The echo of Ma Zhishi's voice echoed throughout the gym, which was enough to show how angry he was.

No one could say a word for a full minute. Xiao Ye spoke in the silence.

"I understand what you mean, but isn't this the equivalent of wiping out those novice trainers who have been working hard and trying to go against the tide? Moreover, the power of Pokémon has never been able to rely solely on evolution. As long as the trainer can train them properly, the primary form of Pokémon can also be as powerful as the highest form of Pokémon..."

"I respect all those who work hard." Ma Zhishi took a deep breath and calmed down. He waved his hand and said weakly, "You have never served as the master of the Withered Leaf Gym here, so you have no right to accuse me..."

"Is it because the novice trainer is too weak and doesn't listen to advice?"

Kitazawa Reiyuu gradually began to understand the actions of the man who turned his back on her.

"Vermilion City is a port city. Most novice trainers from all over the world will consider this place as the first stop of their journey."

"But most novice trainers who have just started out are ignorant and stubborn. Even if they receive appropriate advice from gym trainers, they may not be able to train their Pokémon correctly."

"Over time, you gave up teaching them and instead used a set of the simplest and most popular concepts to enhance the power of Pokémon. The benefit of doing this is that Pokémon can grow with their trainers, improving the trainers' strength at the fastest speed."

Improving the abilities of Pokémon through evolution can make up for the trainer's weak command.

When a Pokémon no longer obeys the trainer's commands after evolving, it will force the trainer to increase his or her level, thereby increasing the Pokémon's ability in battle.

The advantage of this approach is that it can throw the most common and correct concept to all novice trainers, and it can also screen out truly capable trainers.

If the bond with the Pokémon is deep enough, the Pokémon will not rebel even if the trainer's level is not high enough to command a higher-level Pokémon.

Just like Xiaoye who was able to command such a powerful Psyduck with only two gym badges.

But if the trainer does not have a deep bond with the Pokémon and does not have strong enough strength, he will naturally be abandoned by the stronger Pokémon.

Although it is cruel, it is indeed a procedural screening process.

Ma Zhishi turned around, his eyes fixed on Kitazawa Lingyou, who easily saw through his long-held thoughts.

Just when he was about to say something, Misty and Satoshi, who had left long ago, suddenly rushed into the gym in panic.

"Xiao Gang, you should have some medicine for your injuries, right?!"

Xiaoxia anxiously opened Xiaogang's backpack and searched for it. In her anxiety, she almost broke the zipper which she couldn't open.

"Found it! Found it!"

After finding the medicine, the girl quickly ran to Xiaozhi and gave emergency treatment to Pikachu who was sniffling.

"what happened?"

Xiaoye quickly stood up and ran to Xiaoxia's side, took out some medicine and treated Pikachu's injuries together, "Is there an accident at the Pokémon Center?"

"Well, the Pokémon Center can't provide treatment right now."

Xiaozhi looked at the furry little face of Pikachu in his arms, which was wrinkled in pain, and his heart ached. "Even all the medicines in the Vermillion Store have been sold out..."

The battery bags on Pikachu's cheeks were still emitting electricity, but it had completely lost consciousness.

"Why? Where are Miss Joy and Jigglypuff?"

"I don't know." Xiaozhi looked up blankly, "Pikachu was badly injured. When I took it to the Pokémon Center, it was already crowded with trainers. There were cries and wails everywhere. I couldn't get in at all..."

"How could this be?" Xiaoxia kept looking back and forth at the medicine in her hand, the fear in her eyes projected to her vocal cords, and she said in a trembling voice.

"The external injuries have been repaired, why is Pikachu still in such pain?"

“It’s the voltage.”

Kitazawa Lingyou took a closer look at Pikachu's battery bag which was leaking electricity and said.

"The voltage transmitted by Raichu is too strong. We need to assist it to discharge."

"Pikachu, Pikachu, ..." Xiaozhi patted Pikachu's cheeks many times, but it didn't respond. "Pikachu, release the electricity and you will recover. Pikachu..."

"Get out of the way and put Pikachu on the ground."

At this time, Ma Zhishi appeared in time to calm down these trainers who were worried and confused.

After seeing that the visitor was a trustworthy gym trainer, Xiaozhi quickly placed Pikachu gently on the ground, cushioned his body with his hands, knelt beside it and whispered.

"Please, help Pikachu..."

Ma Zhishi took a pair of rubber gloves from the Shamatte boy and walked slowly over. The people surrounding Pikachu immediately stood up to make room for him.

The man half-crouched down, holding Pikachu's head tightly with his big hands, and then stretched out his two thumbs to repeatedly rub its battery bag.

After a while, a large amount of electricity poured out of the battery bag, and in the eyes of several people, the world seemed to be dyed electrical yellow.

"Hold on a little longer, Pikachu!" Xiaozhi was affected by the electric wave released unconsciously by Pikachu, and even though his whole body was numb, he had no intention of letting go.

This action lasted for about five minutes. After Ma Zhishi could no longer see any electricity in the battery bag no matter how hard he rubbed it, he slowly stood up and took off his gloves. "The electricity has been drained out. Now we just need to wait for our strength to recover."

At this time, Pikachu lying on the ground slowly opened his eyes. The pain between his brows had disappeared without a trace, and only the weakness after excessive discharge was revealed to everyone.

"Pikachu!"

Xiaozhi picked up Pikachu and hugged it tightly in his arms.

"Great, you're awake!"

Although Pikachu, who was lying limp in Xiaozhi's arms, was completely powerless, he still slowly raised his right hand and patted Xiaozhi's face, as if in revenge for the pat he had just given him.

Seeing this, the others felt relieved and smiled.

"Mr. Ma Zhishi..."

Xiaozhi finally calmed down and stood up holding Pikachu. He wanted to find Ma Zhishi to thank him, but found that his tall figure was no longer in the gym.

"Strange, it was here just now." Xiaoxia also withdrew her right hand that was stroking Pikachu and looked around.

Xiaoye stopped applying medicine to Psyduck and smiled apologetically at the two expectant people. "After I saw that Pikachu was fine, I started to treat the injuries of Psyduck and Snake, so I didn't notice where Mr. Ma Zhishi went."

Kitazawa Lingyou sprayed the medicine on the parts of Fujito Snake's neck that looked like little wings, and shook his head to indicate that he also didn't notice where the man who left went.

"He should have gone to the Pokémon Center." As a former gym leader, Xiaogang guessed where Ma Zhishi had gone. "An accident at the Pokémon Center is a serious matter. As the gym leader of Vermilion City, he must go to understand the situation."

"Then why don't we go to the Pokémon Center as well?" Xiaoxia suggested, "Maybe we can help the Pokémon Center do something!"

"Yes!" Xiaozhi held the slowly recovering Pikachu in his arms and agreed first, "Xiaoye, do you want to go with us?"

"Of course I have to go." With the help of Kitazawa Lingyou, Xiaoye quickly treated the injuries of Psyduck and Serpentine and put them into the Poké Balls to heal them. "Something happened at the Pokémon Center. As trainers, we can't just stand by and watch."

"Okay! Let's go!"