Beach lounger, parasol, and deck chair—Yang Tao made a special trip to the Resident Evil world to bring back this three-piece comfort set.
"I wonder how Conan and Ran are doing…"
As for safety, Yang Tao wasn't too worried; he'd left Seraphimon and Angewomon with Conan and Ran.
Unless the childhood sweethearts went looking for Arceus, they should last long enough to open a gate and dash back to the Overworld.
The blazing island sun made it hard to keep one's eyes open. Wearing sunglasses, he watched the Growlithe galloping across the sea wreathed in flames, took a sip of Seer Tea, and said to the Slowking on the neighboring lounger:
"Even after evolving, don't be lazy—train hard and drink more Seer Tea."
Seer Tea could boost mental power; its quality was mediocre, but quantity made up for it.
Lying on the lounger, Slowking said, "I still think the carefree old days were better…"
Before Slowking could finish, Yang Tao shot back, "That wasn't 'carefree,' that was 'clueless.' A trainer who's five seconds late awakening Future Sight simply can't command you."
Slowking sighed and unleashed Psychic; in an instant the three loungers and parasol on the beach all lifted into the air.
"Still too little training. I once saw a Slowking levitate an entire island—your Psychic can barely keep the three of us airborne for two hours before you need a break. You're weak—train more."
He wasn't bluffing; a Galarian Slowking once used overwhelming psychic power to float an isle full of Slowpoke and visit another Slowpoke colony.
Hearing this, Slowking explained, "We Slowking are King Pokémon; the more subjects we command, the stronger we grow. If a lone Slowking could lift an island, the legends would speak of us, not the others."
Oh? There's such a rule?
King Pokémon? Is there also Master Pokémon?
Just then the Growlithe came racing back from the sea, panting hard. Yang Tao quickly produced an iron basin and poured in Almond water.
"Rest a bit; this afternoon we'll head for Pewter City Gym to test your current strength."
He'd thrown every possible buff at them these past days; like Digimon, only real battles could bring true growth.
While Growlithe rested, Yang Tao flew a careful circuit around the island and found no trace of human habitation.
"This island will do—set up a Waystone first, so coming and going will be easy."
In-game, Transport Stones and Floo Bricks each had pros and cons: Floo Bricks consumed Floo Powder, required binding, and couldn't cross realms.
Transport Stones needed only one activated stone for use anywhere, realms included.
The downside was long-distance travel cost experience, but his activated stones consumed nothing… That afternoon Yang Tao rode Growlithe through Pewter City streets; the oversized Growlithe caused a sensation.
Passers-by snapped photos and uploaded them online.
"My God, that's a Growlithe? It's bigger than an Arcanine!"
"Must be a genetic mutation!"
"Honey, it's huge—I love it!"
Yang Tao, astride Growlithe, remained unfazed; feeding it the Big Bone had been partly for this very flex.
Arriving at Brock's Pewter Gym, the building looked hewn from colossal boulders—clearly a Rock-type Gym at a glance.
He rode up to the gate, dismounted, and was about to push the doors when they opened from within; Ash trudged out, cradling his injured Pikachu, head downcast.
"…"
So the kid only just reached Pewter City?
Ash walked on in silence, nearly bumping into Growlithe. He muttered upward, "There wasn't a wall when I came in… Ah—so big! What is it?!"
His yelp startled the resting Pikachu; the tiny mouse opened weary eyes, saw the gigantic Growlithe, and mirrored Ash's shock.
"Pika… Pika…" (How can a Growlithe be this huge?!)
Ash whipped out his Pokédex and aimed it at Growlithe; the familiar voice sounded: "Growlithe, the Puppy Pokémon. Diligent and friendly, it barks at foes, bites, and drives them away."
Ash scoffed, "Puppy? Where's the 'pup' in that?!"
He wasn't too worried; the Growlithe wore a collar—it clearly had a trainer.
"Huh… where's its owner?"
"Right behind you, Ash."
Head down earlier, Ash hadn't noticed Yang Tao; hearing the voice, he spun around.
"It's you!!"
"Yep, we meet again, Ash."
Ash scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "What was your name again?"
Yang Tao: "…"
"Yang Tao. I'm pretty sure you were standing right there when Professor Oak and I were talking?"
"All right. Looks like your Gym challenge failed, but don't lose heart—train hard. I won't keep you; I've got a Gym to challenge too."
With that, Yang Tao led Growlithe inside.
Ash glanced at Pikachu, then at the imposing Growlithe, hesitated, and finally decided to head for the Pokémon Center to heal Pikachu first.
Inside, the Pewter Gym was spartan—basically a converted warehouse. Brock, mid-recall of his field effect, noticed Yang Tao. "Hello, can I help you?"
[World Exploration 10.122%]
Bucket Mod Activated
Aim an empty bucket at any friendly or neutral Entity to scoop it inside.
Yang Tao read the prompt.
"Damn, that's a huge nerf! In the original version you could bucket any Entity!"
"And shouldn't the first mod be Pokémon? A bucket isn't a Poké Ball… though I guess they're kinda similar."
He looked up at Brock, the squint-eyed man opposite him.
"I'd like to challenge the Gym—test my partner's strength."
Brock is the Gym Leader of Pewter in Kanto; later he traveled with Ash to become a Pokémon Breeder.
In the end he turned into a Pokémon Doctor.
Mature, wise, and steady, he often plays big brother and caretaker, the rational voice in any dispute.
Brock eyed the colossal Growlithe, equally baffled how Yang Tao had raised it.
"All right, I accept your challenge."