Chapter 186: Gallade
"Oh, is that so? Metapod, jump up!"
Bugsy wouldn't be swayed by Ash's words; this attack of his had defeated countless challengers.
Metapod leaped high into the air and slammed down toward where Kirlia was located.
"Kirlia, dodge it, then use Draining Kiss."
"Kirlia!"
Kirlia stepped aside to dodge the attack, then gathered a pink lip mark in its hands and struck it toward Metapod.
Seeing this, Bugsy said somewhat unwillingly, "Metapod, Encore!"
"Kirlia, don't give it a chance, Fire Punch!"
Just as Metapod jumped, Kirlia flew into the air and punched it.
"Metapod is unable to battle, Kirlia wins!" the referee declared.
"Ash, you are stronger than the vast majority of challengers. It has been a long time since I've met a Trainer who could force me to use my third Pokemon," Bugsy sighed.
There was no helping it; his Metapod was too deceptive. Who would have thought that a Metapod with only the Harden move could jump so high and slam into people while hardened?
"Then, my third Pokemon is entering the field. Go, my gorgeous Bug Pokemon warrior, Scyther!"
A Scyther with a very strong presence appeared before everyone.
"Scyther, huh? That's a good opponent!"
Ash could see that Bugsy had put a lot of effort into this Scyther; its strength had already reached the early-stage pseudo-Elite level.
"Kirlia, use Psybeam!"
With Trick Room in effect, Scyther had no way to gain the right to attack first.
Kirlia fired a beam to attack.
"Scyther, Agility!"
Scyther turned into several afterimages, braved the Psybeam, and attacked Kirlia.
Relying on its agile movements, Kirlia dodged the hand blades swung by Scyther.
When Ash decided to let it evolve into Gallade, he focused on training its fighting ability, so Kirlia's Close Combat level was very high; its mastery of the elemental punches was deeply influenced by the teachings of Lucario and Annihilape.
"What is Ash waiting for? Why hasn't he let Kirlia counterattack yet?" Misty asked, somewhat anxiously.
"He's probably waiting for an opening! Bugsy's Scyther is really well-trained; its gaze is sharp, and its presence is strong," Brock guessed.
"Ash, how is it? Can you feel the pressure brought by this Bug Pokemon?" Bugsy asked.
"It's okay, but Kirlia, it's time!"
As Ash's words fell, Kirlia's whole body erupted with the light of evolution.
In the light of evolution, Kirlia's figure rapidly grew larger, its little skirt gradually disappeared, and its two thin arms lengthened and became sharp.
"E-evolved?!"
Everyone was very surprised.
Ash smiled and said, "Bugsy, the good show is just beginning. Gallade, use Close Combat to have a good spar with Scyther."
Seeing the smile on Ash's face, Bugsy realized he had been used by Ash. "So that's how it is. You planned all of this, didn't you, Ash!"
However, he wasn't angry, he just couldn't quite understand what gave Ash such confidence. Even as a Gym Leader, he couldn't be sure about something like Pokemon evolution.
"I'm not that magical. Kirlia was already on the verge of evolution, and the pressure brought by Scyther just happened to satisfy the conditions for its evolution in terms of spirit and energy," Ash explained.
On the field, Gallade used its elbow blades to clash with Scyther's blades. The evenly matched battle caused both Gallade and Scyther to abandon defense, focused solely on attacking.
It was almost an attack of trading injury for injury; after just a few moves, both Pokemon had wounds on their bodies.
"Bugsy, let's decide the winner in one move!" Ash proposed.
"Right!"
"Scyther, X-Scissor!"
"Gallade, use Psycho Cut!"
Scyther's scythes crossed like shears and slashed toward Gallade.
Gallade met it with its materialized Psycho Cut.
"Scyther and Gallade are both unable to battle. The winner of this match is Ash from Pallet Town!" the referee shouted.
Bugsy took out a round badge. "Ash, I lost to you. Here, this Insect Badge is yours!"
Ash took the badge: "Thank you, Bugsy."
"Ash, would you be willing to battle against the Bug Pokemon I raise again in the future?" Bugsy asked.
"Of course, no problem, but I might have become very strong by then!"
After the Gym challenge ended, Ash's group stayed in Azalea Town for another day before setting off on their journey again.
The reason for their stay was naturally to get the Apricorn Pokemon balls made by Mr. Kurt.
"By the way, where is the next stop?" Misty suddenly asked.
"Let me see." Brock flipped through his guidebook, and a moment later, "The next Gym is the Goldenrod Gym in Goldenrod City."
Over the next few days, the group passed through Ilex Forest, and in one town, Ash witnessed Jessie trade for a Wobbuffet from a boy.
Today, Ash's group was camping in a forest.
Ash took Pikachu and Eevee to the river to fetch water, while Brock was busy cooking.
In a bush, a Pokemon had set its sights on the three's backpacks.
After preparing the vegetables, Brock called out: "Misty, could you please get some bread from Ash's backpack?"
"Okay!"
Misty walked toward the tree roots where the backpacks were placed, and then saw that everyone's backpacks were gone. She shouted at the top of her lungs: "Ah! This is bad! Our backpacks are all gone!"
"Ah? No way?" Brock walked over, somewhat disbelieving.
After confirming they were gone, he shouted: "Ah, my data and travel guide are still inside the backpack!"
At this time, Ash walked back carrying two buckets of water, and he asked suspiciously: "What are you all shouting about?"
"Ash, you're back just in time, our backpacks have been stolen!" Misty shouted.
Her Pokemon balls were all in the backpack, and it would be a big problem if the thief took them away.
"Backpacks? I understand."
Ash checked the situation, pointed at the footprints on the ground, and said: "Look, look at the ground. Whoever took our backpacks should be some wild Pokemon. I think it must need food. As long as we follow these footprints, we will find the backpacks soon."
After the group put away the things they had taken out into their capsules, they followed the footprints and chased to the outskirts of the town.
They saw a Nurse Joy holding a ham packaging bag, looking dazed.
"Hello, Nurse Joy! Have you seen a wild canine Pokemon carrying several backpacks?" Ash asked.
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