Qiao Cheng had always been trying his best to revive Lavender Town.
A month earlier—
The mischievous Pancham, Beibei, whom Chen Mo encountered in Zhizang Mountain Town, had sparked plenty of online discussion.
Among those comments, one particular line—
"If Beibei ever returned to the town again, it'd probably become one of the town's local attractions."
—gave Qiao Cheng some inspiration.
With Evergreen Forest at its back, if some of the Pokémon living within the forest could gradually be introduced into town life, creating a unique settlement where humans and Pokémon coexisted together…
Wouldn't that help restore some vitality to the town?
With that idea in mind, Qiao Cheng submitted a report to Director Tang and, the very next day, eagerly rushed into the forest.
And it was on that very day—
That Qiao Cheng encountered Electabuzz training beside the Greenshade River.
At first glance—
Qiao Cheng immediately recognized it.
This Electabuzz was the very same one that had appeared in Chen Mo's livestream.
Like many viewers who had watched the stream, Qiao Cheng initially disliked Electabuzz.
But after seeing Electabuzz apologize to Chen Mo and gift him a Thunder Stone, that dislike had completely vanished, replaced instead by admiration for Electabuzz risking severe injury in order to protect other Pokémon.
After hesitating for a while, Qiao Cheng took the initiative and approached Electabuzz.
Obviously—
He made a mistake.
Qiao Cheng knew Electabuzz.
But Electabuzz didn't know him.
Wild Pokémon were naturally extremely cautious.
Even though Electabuzz no longer hated humans because of Chen Mo and Pikachu, it still maintained the vigilance it should have.
Thus—
Because of Qiao Cheng's rash decision, the situation nearly escalated into a conflict.
Fortunately, Qiao Cheng reacted quickly enough.
He hurriedly took out his phone and showed Electabuzz a photo of himself together with Chen Mo.
Only then did Electabuzz finally lower its guard and resolve the misunderstanding.
As compensation for disturbing Electabuzz's training, Qiao Cheng took out some food he had originally prepared to lure Pokémon down the mountain and shared it with Electabuzz.
However—
Electabuzz, who had little experience interacting with humans, completely misunderstood Qiao Cheng's intentions.
Electabuzz believed Qiao Cheng was offering food in exchange for its help.
Considering how physically fragile humans in this world were, along with Qiao Cheng's relationship with Chen Mo, Electabuzz decided to accept the food and temporarily act as Qiao Cheng's bodyguard for a while.
Fate truly worked in mysterious ways.
After that—
Qiao Cheng frequently visited Evergreen Forest to find Electabuzz.
Every time, he would bring simple homemade food to exchange for Electabuzz's assistance.
Although both sides eventually realized the whole thing had been another misunderstanding—
Their bond only continued growing stronger over time.
But honestly—
Qiao Cheng still had little confidence when it came to asking Electabuzz to become his Pokémon and participate in the Pikachu Cup together.
After all—
Electabuzz had once rejected even the idol he admired most.
"…Even Brother Mo got rejected by Electabuzz… Do I really have a chance to catch it…?"
Just as Qiao Cheng fell into self-doubt—
In the clearing—
Machoke and Machamp exchanged glances before each stepping backward several paces, leaving the center of the field entirely to Electabuzz.
"Bzzt…"
Facing the gigantic boulder before it—a stone towering like a small hill—Electabuzz took a deep breath.
Then, under the nervous gazes of Machoke and Machamp, it slowly closed its eyes.
"What's it doing? Training?"
Qiao Cheng frowned slightly while watching.
At that moment—
Electabuzz, which previously seemed to be meditating calmly, suddenly opened its eyes.
A sharp gleam flashed within them.
Immediately afterward—
Electabuzz stomped powerfully against the ground and shot into the sky.
In the blink of an eye, it had already reached the top of the massive boulder.
Against the backdrop of the blazing crimson sun hanging high overhead—
Electabuzz raised its right arm high.
"BZZZT!"
Accompanied by a determined roar—
Electabuzz slammed its palm down onto the top of the giant rock.
Machoke and Machamp grew even more tense.
Then—
"Crack…"
A crisp sound echoed through the silence.
Qiao Cheng's eyes widened.
Fractures spread outward from the point where Electabuzz's hand touched the stone.
Then, like a spiderweb—
The cracks rapidly expanded across the entire boulder.
"CRAAACK!"
Finally—
Unable to withstand the overwhelming force—
The gigantic stone exploded apart with a thunderous boom, shattering into countless smaller rocks.
Meanwhile—
Electabuzz performed a graceful flip and landed steadily back on the ground.
"Kuurii!" "Nighh!"
Machoke and Machamp looked delighted.
Just as the two Pokémon were about to rush over toward Electabuzz—
An untimely voice suddenly rang out the moment Electabuzz landed.
"S-So amazing!"
Unable to suppress his excitement, Qiao Cheng shouted unconsciously.
But the instant he realized he had exposed himself, he hurriedly clamped a hand over his mouth.
Unfortunately—
Machoke and Machamp had already noticed him.
Both Pokémon turned toward Qiao Cheng's hiding place with extremely wary expressions.
Watching the heavily muscled Machoke and Machamp slowly approach the bushes where he hid—
Qiao Cheng swallowed nervously and slowly stepped out with both hands raised.
"Don't attack. It's me."
"Kuurii?" "Nighh?"
Confusion appeared on Machoke and Machamp's faces, as though asking:
Why is there a human here?
The crackling electricity flickering above Electabuzz's head disappeared the instant it saw Qiao Cheng.
An utterly helpless expression appeared on its face as it slowly walked in front of Machoke and Machamp.
"Bzzt bzzt…"
While speaking, Electabuzz pointed toward Qiao Cheng.
The meaning was obvious.
It knew this human.
Although Machoke and Machamp seemed surprised that Electabuzz actually knew a human—
Because of Electabuzz's reaction, the two Pokémon completely lowered their guard.
"Bzzt?"
Electabuzz turned back toward Qiao Cheng, its expression full of confusion.
As if asking:
Why are you here again?
"Hehe."
Qiao Cheng scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly at Electabuzz.
"It's almost lunchtime."
"Want to eat together?"
"Bzzt?"
Electabuzz tilted its head.
Beside the Greenshade River—
Qiao Cheng removed his backpack, spread out a picnic mat beneath the shade of a tree, then began taking out the items inside one by one.
Homemade berry sandwiches, milk, jam, ham…
"Sorry. Conditions are limited, so this is all I could prepare this time."
Qiao Cheng handed a sandwich toward Electabuzz with a smile.
"This one's made with Cheri Berry and Oran Berry flavors. Last time, it looked like you really liked it, so I made extra today."
"Bzzt…"
Electabuzz froze for a moment.
"Go on, take it."
Knowing Electabuzz's personality well by now, Qiao Cheng forcibly stuffed the sandwich into its hands.
After hesitating briefly, Electabuzz still accepted it while speaking seriously.
"Bzzt bzzt…"
"I didn't mean it like that."
Realizing Electabuzz planned to continue acting as his bodyguard because of their earlier misunderstanding, Qiao Cheng waved his hands quickly.
He had just been about to explain—
But after glancing at the two massive Pokémon obediently standing nearby, he instinctively changed the subject.
"Machoke, Machamp—want to try some too?"
"Kuurii!" "Nighh!"
Compared to Electabuzz, Machoke and Machamp were both extremely straightforward and easygoing.
At Qiao Cheng's invitation, the two Pokémon immediately sat down beside Electabuzz without hesitation, accepted the sandwiches he handed over, and began eating enthusiastically.
"Kuurii!" "Nighh!"
Very quickly—
Machoke and Machamp were completely conquered by the sandwiches.
Seeing this, Qiao Cheng couldn't help smiling.
As Fighting-type Pokémon, both Machoke and Machamp loved highly nutritious food.
While Qiao Cheng didn't dare claim his sandwiches tasted extraordinary—
He truly spared no effort when it came to ingredients.
Not only did he use all kinds of berries—
He even added generous amounts of Sweet Honey, which was incredibly expensive on the current market.
The nutritional value was absolutely top-tier.
"Bzzt…"
Electabuzz looked helplessly at Machoke and Machamp, who had already immersed themselves in food bliss.
Unlike usual, it didn't begin eating immediately.
Its instincts told it—
Today's Qiao Cheng was acting extremely strange.
Under Electabuzz's direct and unrelenting stare, Qiao Cheng finally couldn't endure it anymore.
He understood very well.
What Electabuzz admired were trainers with unwavering conviction.
Humans who desired strength, who would strive alongside it, and continue climbing toward greater heights together.
Dragging things out and hesitating endlessly would only lower Electabuzz's opinion of him.
"There's something I want to ask of you, Electabuzz."
"Could you act as my Pokémon for a while and participate in a Pokémon battle tournament with me?"
The instant the words left his mouth—
Qiao Cheng wanted to slap himself.
Originally, he had intended to show Electabuzz his determination to become an outstanding trainer.
He wanted Electabuzz to become his Pokémon—
To battle together.
Grow together.
Challenge stronger and stronger opponents together.
Until one day—
They could stand before that person.
So why—
Why did his words end up sounding like such a humble plea?
Electabuzz definitely hated trainers like this…
"Kuurii…" "Nighh…"
Sensing the atmosphere suddenly becoming strange, Machoke and Machamp stopped eating and looked back and forth between Qiao Cheng and Electabuzz.
At that moment—
The more Qiao Cheng thought about it, the more unrealistic and laughable his dream felt.
Under Electabuzz's unwavering gaze—
His head gradually lowered unconsciously.
"BZZZT!"
Suddenly—
Electabuzz let out a loud shout.
The sound was so powerful that Qiao Cheng's body trembled involuntarily.
Then—
As he slowly raised his head—
He saw Electabuzz staring directly at him with an incomparably serious expression.
"Bzzt bzzt…"
After repeated gestures and vocalizations from Electabuzz, Qiao Cheng finally understood what it was trying to ask.
It was asking—
How many strong Pokémon would participate in this so-called battle tournament?
"Well… honestly, I'm not entirely sure."
"But there should definitely be some strong ones, right?"
Qiao Cheng had never been to Anping City.
Aside from Chen Mo's group who once visited Lavender Town, Xiao You—the trainer of Banette—and his current superior Director Tang—
He had barely met any trainers in real life.
But now thousands of trainers had already registered for the Pikachu Cup.
There were definitely powerful competitors among them.
Then suddenly—
Qiao Cheng thought of something.
Wait.
Wasn't Brother Mo participating too?
Recalling the promise once made between Electabuzz and Pikachu, Qiao Cheng hurriedly added:
"Um… Electabuzz."
"If you win this Pokémon tournament, you'll earn the right to challenge Brother Mo."
"In other words…"
"You'll finally get the chance to have a fair and official battle against Pikachu."
"BZZZT!"
The moment Electabuzz heard that—
Its expression visibly changed.
But shortly afterward—
Its face became troubled once more.
It still remembered the promise between itself and Pikachu.
When both sides had finally gained enough power to protect what they wished to protect—
They would fight each other in an all-out battle.
During this time—
Electabuzz had met many Pokémon.
With their help, it had grown steadily stronger.
But even now—
It still didn't know whether its current strength had truly reached the standard Pikachu once spoke of.
Seeing Electabuzz's hesitation, Qiao Cheng thought briefly before speaking again.
"Only the champion earns the right to challenge Brother Mo."
"In other words…"
"If you defeat all those Pokémon and become champion, then in a way, you'll have already proven your strength to Pikachu."
"Trust me."
"At that point, Pikachu will definitely acknowledge your power and battle you seriously."
Electabuzz froze.
After thinking carefully for a while—
It found Qiao Cheng's words completely reasonable.
The next second—
Electabuzz suddenly stood up from the picnic mat and nodded seriously toward Qiao Cheng.
"Bzzt bzzt!"
Understanding Electabuzz's meaning, Qiao Cheng's face instantly filled with joy as he hurriedly stood up as well.
"Don't worry, Electabuzz."
"During this time, I'll absolutely give it my all to support you."
"I won't hold you back."
"Bzzt."
Faced with Qiao Cheng's promise, Electabuzz merely nodded lightly.
Then—
It stepped out from beneath the tree shade and gazed toward the nearby grassy field.
Two months ago—
This was the exact place where it met that human trainer.
Where it battled the still-young Pichu and barely claimed victory.
Yet afterward—
Pichu rapidly grew stronger.
And during the battle against Hydreigon, it displayed power so overwhelming that Electabuzz had been utterly stunned.
From that day until now—
Electabuzz had continued training like a true ascetic, constantly tempering itself.
But now—
Besides its own desire to grow stronger—
It carried another reason it absolutely had to become stronger.
To catch up to Pikachu.
To fulfill their promise.
And now—
The time had finally come.
Feeling the surging electricity coursing through its body while gazing toward the shimmering Greenshade River in the distance—
Excitement began swelling uncontrollably within Electabuzz's heart.
Watching this scene—
Qiao Cheng suddenly fell silent.
He understood.
In truth, his attempt to capture Electabuzz had failed.
Electabuzz only agreed because of Brother Mo and Pikachu.
Just as complicated emotions filled Qiao Cheng's heart—
He suddenly felt someone gently pat his shoulder.
Turning around—
He saw Machoke and Machamp staring at him encouragingly.
"Kuurii!" "Nighh!"
"You guys…"
Qiao Cheng opened his mouth slightly.
Then he smiled helplessly and shook his head.
Seriously.
He actually needed Pokémon to remind him.
"I understand now."
Qiao Cheng gave Machoke and Machamp a thumbs-up before taking a deep breath and slowly walking to a spot a few meters behind Electabuzz.
"Hey, Electabuzz!"
Hearing Qiao Cheng call out, Electabuzz snapped out of its memories and turned around with confusion written across its face.
"Bzzt?"
"Let's make a promise too, Electabuzz."
A smile appeared on Qiao Cheng's face.
"I want to become a top-tier trainer."
"I want to help Brother Mo in the future."
"So if we can win the Pikachu Cup together…"
"Then become my Pokémon."
"How about it?"
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