Just now when Gaeric said he wanted to battle, he was already ready to jump down from Ash's shoulder at any moment.
It turned out that his Trainer took off his jacket and boldly took the stance for a human battle before the Pokemon did.
This month in the Hisui Region, what kind of strange influence has it had on Ash!
"Sorry, Mr. Gaeric."
Ash awkwardly straightened his body.
"I seem to have misunderstood."
He quickly regained his spirit and turned to look at Pikachu beside him.
"In that case, let's decide it with a Pokemon battle!"
"Pikachu!"
"Pika!"
Just as Pikachu was about to walk out from beside Ash, Gaeric suddenly raised his hand to stop them.
"Wait a moment!"
"Hmm?"
Several people looked towards Gaeric simultaneously.
Gaeric rubbed his chin and re-evaluated Ash; the fighting spirit that had disappeared suddenly emerged again.
"Since you were already ready to directly fight me just now... it's actually not impossible."
"I've been training alone recently and haven't had anyone to spar with for a long time."
This time it was Irida who couldn't help but interrupt.
"Master! What are you talking about!"
Irida quickly stepped between the two.
"Ash is still a child!"
"Besides, look at yourself, and then at his thin arms and legs, how can you two fight?"
Gaeric paused upon hearing this.
"Huh?"
He had been so focused on Ash's unwavering stance that he hadn't noticed the size difference between them.
Now reminded by Irida, he glanced over Ash once more.
Although Ash's physique at fifteen is far sturdier than his peers, when compared to Gaeric, who has been undergoing extreme training for years, covered in muscles, the difference is quite obvious.
"Seems like you're right."
Gaeric shook his head with some regret.
"Sorry, I got carried away with excitement just now."
"If I can't hold back and injure you, it would delay the governance of Avalugg."
"Let's battle with the Pokemon instead."
Ash: "..."
Thin arms and legs?
Afraid of not being able to hold back and injuring him?
Ash looked down at his arm, then up at Gaeric, and the movement he had ready to call Pikachu suddenly stopped.
This doesn't make sense!
After all, he's a Super True Newcomer, and not to mention all the mountain runs and field training he's been through countless times.
And now he also has the Power of Viridian and Aura Power.
Why is he considered to have thin arms and legs?
Ash rolled his shoulders, stretched his body slightly, and the fighting spirit on his face re-emerged.
"Mr. Gaeric, wait a moment."
"Hmm?"
"I think... I might be able to beat you."
Irida's expression froze again.
Adaman slowly turned his head.
Cynthia hugged her cold weather gear and looked at Ash, suddenly feeling like things were starting to go in a strange direction.
Gaeric was even more bewildered.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive!"
Ash took a step forward, clenched his fists again.
"Bring it on!"
Gaeric stared at him for a few seconds.
"You said it yourself."
"I might not be able to hold back when fighting."
Ash nodded without hesitation.
"Fight with everything you have!"
"Isn't it said that the way good men communicate is through their fists?"
The fighting spirit in Gaeric's eyes became more apparent.
"Alright!"
Irida: "..."
Adaman: "..."
Why did things still turn out like this?
Under the stunned gaze of those around, Ash and Gaeric decided the ensuing battle on the spot.
Real-life PK!
Cynthia, Irida, and Adaman moved to a spot farther from the iceberg.
Pikachu stayed quietly in Cynthia's arms, all eyes focusing on the two people facing off under the ice.
Ash rotated his wrists, while Gaeric lifted his leg and stretched a bit, both doing their final warm-ups.
Now it's the True Trainer warming up!
"Bring it, Ash!"
"Alrighty!"
As soon as the words were out, Ash slammed his right foot onto the ice, instantly launching forward, and even caused a few fine cracks on the hard ice beneath his feet.
Gaeric was initially a bit careless, but when Ash's silhouette breached the distance between them in a blink, his expression changed instantly.
Wait a minute...
This is not the speed a human should have, right?!
Without time to think further, Gaeric immediately crossed his arms before him.
In the next second, Ash's fist heavily collided with his arms.
"Thud!!!"
A dull impact echoed sharply, and Gaeric let out a muffled grunt, sliding backwards along the ice for several meters before barely stopping.
Behind him, a shockwave from the collision spread out and slammed into the huge iceberg.
Bang!
The surface of the iceberg didn't show any significant traces.
This massive chunk of ice formed from countless years of freezing temperatures is inherently hard as rock.
Gaeric, who trains here daily, rarely manages to cause any damage; hence, Ash's punch just now naturally wouldn't shatter the ice layer from so far away.
Whether there were marks left on the iceberg was no longer important.
Because the reactions from those observing now were increasingly remarkable.
Cynthia had long known how astonishing Ash's body capabilities were, so was only slightly worried about him failing to hold back.
But Irida and Adaman were entirely different.
The two simultaneously gaped, eyes fixated on Ash, faces completely dumbstruck.
What... what kind of being is this person?!
The speed just now and the power that sent Gaeric several meters away, can humans really achieve this?
Irida began to question life itself.
She always thought that her master's years of training in the Alabaster Icelands had rendered his body so formidable that few in the Hisui Region could compare.
Yet today, a seemingly skinny young boy suddenly emerged, punching Gaeric almost into the air?
Why?!
Adaman wiped a few drops of cold sweat off his forehead.
He silently recalled his past interactions with Ash, ensuring he hadn't offended him before feeling somewhat assured.
Luckily, he was usually a kind person.
If he had been the type that loved to court trouble constantly...
Perhaps his grave would already be three meters deep!
Meanwhile, Gaeric, having taken the punch head-on, was completely dazed.
His arms were entirely numb now.
If he hadn't been persistently training for years, with bones and muscles far surpassing those of ordinary people, that punch might have injured him.
The most incomprehensible part was, neither Ash's sprint nor the punch seemed particularly professional from Gaeric, a man who studies physical training daily.
To put it bluntly, Ash is a layman who hasn't systematically learned martial arts.
But that speed and strength could not be produced by a normal person!
Gaeric always believed that his body had been trained to the human limit.
Then today, a young punk seemingly out of nowhere claimed superiority with bodily feats alone.
This isn't scientific at all!
"Mr. Gaeric?"
Ash saw Gaeric still holding the crossed-arm position without movement and couldn't help but speak worriedly, "Are you okay?"
He had indeed controlled his power considerably.
Ash is aware of his own strength; if he had thrown that punch without reservation, Gaeric might not have stopped just a few meters back.
But judging by Gaeric's current state, even though Ash had restrained much of his power, the impact seemed a bit overwhelming for him.
"Hmm?"
Gaeric, brought back by Ash's voice, quickly dropped his numbed arms.
"I'm fine!"
"I just didn't expect your speed to be so fast and got caught accidentally!"
Gaeric spoke while lowering his body and adopting a stance again.
"Let's go again!"