POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

"Pika..." Pikachu bowed its head in frustration and stood beside Ash. The sky, once filled with dark clouds, had cleared up again, returning to its original blue hue. This was because the duration of the Summoning Thunder Bomb had expired.

"Okay, don't feel discouraged," Ash said, giving Pikachu a comforting smile as he patted its head. "It's great that you were able to use the Summoning Thunder Bomb. Once you improve further, maybe you'll be able to control it more easily."

"Pika..." Pikachu sighed and shook its head. It thought it had become stronger, but the fact that it couldn't yet control the inherited energy freely was a reminder of how much further it had to go.

Ahead of them, Ash's Pokémon were training diligently. Their progress had accelerated recently, as Pikachu's newfound strength had placed significant pressure on the rest of them. They knew that Pikachu was the strongest among them, but rather than being discouraged, they worked harder to close the gap.

Beedrill and Pidgeotto, in particular, had always been close to Pikachu in terms of power, but now Pikachu's strength had far surpassed theirs. They knew that if they didn't push themselves harder, they might soon be left far behind.

Misty, too, had been motivated by Pikachu's display of power. Having witnessed the force of the Thunderbolt firsthand, she realized she needed to push her Pokémon even further. Though she didn't have the same natural talent as Ash, she knew that she could still take her Pokémon to their limits and perhaps even develop their existing moves to become even more powerful.

Meanwhile, Bill had been observing zhao abilities, trying to understand what he had seen and deduce more about him. Bill knew there was a great deal to learn but had limited information to go on. All he could do was hypothesize based on his observations over the past few days.

Brock, too, had been absorbing all the knowledge Bill had shared with him. He was eager to improve as a breeder and couldn't afford to relax for a moment.

Two days later, after crossing the wilderness, the group finally reached the large city near the sea: Yangquan city

Yangquan City was expansive, rivaling the size of Cerulean City. Due to its proximity to the sea, the city was known for its affordable seafood. It was a bustling hub for tourists and locals alike.

"Everyone, let's part ways here," Bill said outside the Pokémon Center. "I need to buy a ticket for Dasha Valley."

"Don't you want to rest here for a day?" Brock asked, feeling reluctant to say goodbye. Over the past couple of days, he had learned so much from Bill, and he had come to regard him not only as a friend but also as a mentor. He hoped they could spend more time together.

Bill smiled and shook his head. "No, I've had enough rest. The two days traveling through the wilderness gave me a lot of time to think, and I also witnessed Pikachu's Summoning Thunder Bomb firsthand. It's incredible!"

Bill's words were filled with awe as he recalled the display of Pikachu's power. "The power of that move is immense, and I believe Ash and Pikachu are hiding even greater secrets."

The previous day, while they were making lunch, a Nidoking had appeared. The Nidoking, at Gym-level strength, had attacked Ash and his group, hoping to steal their food. No Pokémon in their party, even with all of them at the same level, was strong enough to stand up to a Gym-level Pokémon like Nidoking.

However, Ash and Pikachu stood their ground, and Pikachu unleashed the Summoning Thunder Bomb once again. The combination of power and the force of the law was enough to intimidate Nidoking into fleeing, even though it hadn't been seriously injured.

Bill had watched the exchange in awe. "The Thunderbolt is a move that even powerful Pokémon like Dragonite would fear."

Pikachu's attack had caused only minor damage to Nidoking, but the sheer overwhelming force was enough to make the powerful Pokémon retreat.

"I'll be heading to the harbor now," Bill added as he waved goodbye. "Take care, and I hope we meet again."

After watching Bill leave, Ash, Brock, and Misty entered the Pokémon Center. Brock and Misty went to check in for their rooms, while Ash made a phone call to his sister and Professor Oak.

Professor Oak wasn't surprised to hear that Bill was headed to Dasha Valley. "That's just how Bill is," he chuckled. "His passion for research is uncontainable."

"Thank you for your hard work, Ash," Professor Oak continued. "As for the giant Dragonite, I'll leave that to Bill. And as for the Marshadow and Ho-Oh feathers... I'll be waiting for you to return so we can discuss them further."

Ash agreed to help with the Ho-Oh feathers. "I can't promise anything about Marshadow, but the Ho-Oh feathers should be no problem."

After all, Professor Oak had been a great help to Ash in the past, and this small request seemed like a simple favor in return.

After the call ended, Ash found Brock and Misty in the lobby. They gathered their things and headed to the dormitory. After dropping off their luggage and tidying up, they went out for lunch.

In the afternoon, the trio left the Pokémon Center to explore the city. They also planned to purchase some supplies before heading to Vermilion City by boat the next day.

At a fork in the road, Brock suggested they split up. He winked at Ash and Misty. "I'll go shopping on my own. You two can go enjoy the city."

Ash didn't mind, but Misty blushed slightly at the suggestion. She made a point to meet Brock later that evening at the Pokémon Center. After Brock left, Misty looked expectantly at Ash.

"Let's go, too," Ash said with a smile, and Misty followed him, her cheeks still slightly flushed.

Although Pikachu was perched on Ash's shoulder, Misty couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. She had hoped to spend more time alone with Ash, without Pikachu as a constant presence. But she understood—it was Ash's Pokémon, after all.

Still, with Pikachu around, it didn't lessen the joy she felt in Ash's company. The two walked through Yangquan City, their laughter and conversation filling the air as they took in the sights and sounds of the bustling city.

---------------------------------------------------

Visit our Patreon for more:

patreon.com/Johnwick007