"Roy, how is it that after not seeing it for just a moment, your bird has become even fiercer?"
Misty walked over while biting into a piece of bread, her eyes fixed on the Pidgeotto that was currently preening its feathers.
"I feel like it's grown a bit bigger, hasn't it?"
She leaned in closer to observe, forgetting to even eat the bread in her hand.
Crossing a major level threshold contains the momentum of the entire level stage.
And the higher the major level, the more powerful that momentum is.
Therefore, this final level increase often brings a significant boost to a Pokemon, which was why Misty had the illusion that it had "changed in the blink of an eye."
Pidgeotto was indeed different now.
Its body had expanded slightly, and its wingspan was broader.
The luster of its feathers was brighter, its gaze was as sharp as a blade, and its aura already carried the faint prototype of a King of Raptors.
"Can it not be fierce when it's following me?"
Roy smiled and patted Pidgeotto's head.
Pidgeotto nuzzled his hand affectionately.
"Narcissist!" Misty chuckled, naturally handing the bread she had bitten into to Roy.
"It's clearly because Pidgeotto has good potential itself."
Roy took Misty's bread and ate it as a matter of course. "That's still partly due to my training."
Misty wanted to say something more, but she suddenly realized Roy was eating the bread she had bitten, and she immediately felt a bit shy and fell silent... After a simple feeding, Roy's group of three continued forward.
Misty was still dwelling on the scene of Roy eating her bread.
She peeked at Roy's profile; he didn't seem to have any reaction at all.
Does this count as an indirect kiss?
While Misty was lost in her thoughts, Roy suddenly raised his hand.
Delia and Misty stopped in their tracks at the same time.
"What's wrong?"
Just as Misty asked, Roy had already gestured for them to be quiet.
His Aura Power sensed a Pokemon moving at high speed in the bushes ahead!
Before Delia and Misty could express their confusion, a figure rushed out from the bushes!
No, it was two figures!
A Sandshrew slammed into a Rattata, sending it flying like a bowling ball!
The Rattata traced a parabola in the air, crashed heavily onto the ground, and fainted.
The Sandshrew landed steadily, its claws scraping the ground with a "shasha" sound.
Then, a teenager holding a whip also walked out from the bushes.
He looked to be wearing a black training uniform, with over a dozen poké balls hanging at his waist.
The most eye-catching thing was the whip in his hand, made of cowhide with red cloth wrapped around the handle.
"Well done."
The teenager raised the whip and lashed it against the ground!
Crack!
The crisp sound echoed through the woods.
Hearing the whip, the Sandshrew immediately returned to his side and stood perfectly straight.
"Hey! Why are you abusing your Pokemon!"
Misty couldn't stand it anymore and rushed forward, pointing at the teenager.
She hated Trainers who treated their Pokémon with violence more than anything.
"Abuse?"
The teenager gave a disdainful smile, tapping the whip against his palm.
"Women are just short-sighted."
"This is my unique training program—the Whiplash Training Method!"
He glanced at the Sandshrew. "Every one of my Pokemon has become strong through strict whipping. Without pain, how can there be growth?"
The Sandshrew shrank its neck.
But its gaze was indeed sharp, and its muscles were well-defined, clearly having undergone high-intensity training.
At this moment, the teenager's gaze swept over Roy's group.
First, he saw the Pikachu on Roy's shoulder.
Then Misty and Delia.
Two beautiful girls and one teenage boy.
This combination... "Bringing two women, a Pikachu..."
The teenager's eyes lit up, and he pointed his whip at Roy.
"Are you that Lustful Trainer who's obsessed with women?"
The air suddenly went silent.
Misty and Delia were both stunned and looked at Roy in unison.
"When did you get that title?"
Misty blinked.
Then she burst out laughing. "Although it's quite fitting..."
She was referring to Roy secretly reading sexy magazines.
Delia also giggled behind her hand, her gaze full of meaning.
Roy facepalmed.
Since he had crushed many rookie Trainers while hosting his challenge, those who couldn't beat him could only talk trash.
And so, this inexplicable title had started to spread.
"I don't have that title."
Roy gently tapped Misty on the head. "And didn't you notice? The 'two women' he's talking about are you two."
"Huh?"
Misty realized and immediately got agitated.
"Hey! What nonsense are you talking!"
"Although Roy is a little bit perverted, he's not that perverted!"
"No, I mean he's perverted in private... no, that's not right, ugh, he's just slightly perverted, not a lustful demon!"
"He's actually quite decent, he just secretly looks at magazines of beautiful women!"
"Also, I'm not his woman, he hasn't even been perverted toward me yet!"
Delia, on the side, just smiled slightly and didn't defend herself.
She walked to Roy's side and naturally took the backpack from his hand.
The teenager's gaze became even more disdainful.
Seeing Misty making things worse the more she explained, Roy quickly grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back.
"Enough, stop talking. If you say any more, it's going to be set in stone."
"I..." Misty wanted to say more, but seeing Roy's look, she obediently shut up.
The teenager shook his head, cracking his whip in the air.
"No basic common sense, not keeping Pokemon in poké balls, and obsessed with women..."
"How can someone like this have over 200 victories?"
He sneered. "Just how weak were those opponents?"
Hearing the mockery directed at Roy, Misty immediately broke free and rushed out again.
"No, who even are you?"
She pointed angrily at the teenager.
"Roy might be perverted, but his strength is top-notch! What are you so arrogant about!"
"Hehehe..."
The teenager puffed out his chest, the whip snapping against the ground.
"Listen up!"
"I am Beast Tamer A.J.! I've already accumulated a 99-win streak!"
His gaze was full of pride.
"And they were all high-quality opponents! I wasn't padding my stats with rookies who just started their journey."
A 99-win streak.
This number was indeed impressive.
Being able to achieve such a long winning streak in the wild meant his actual combat ability was extremely strong.
Roy's eyes flickered slightly.
He carefully observed A.J's Sandshrew; the claws and shell of this Sandshrew showed obvious signs of training.
The claws were worn sharp, and there were fine scratches on the shell, marks left by high-intensity battles.
He was indeed a tough nut to crack.
"Acting so crazy over just a 99-win streak?"
Misty put her hands on her hips defiantly.
"Let me tell you, besides his winning streak, our Roy also has two Gym Badges!"
She pointed to the Badge case at Roy's waist.
"What about you? You sadist!"
"Gym Badges?"
A.J glanced at them and shook his head disdainfully.
"If someone as frivolous as you can get those Badges, then those two Gyms must be some third-rate Gyms."
His tone was certain.
"Padding stats with rookies, making up numbers with third-rate Gym Badges..."
"It's all the same routine."
"Third-rate?"
Misty almost roared, "I have to teach you a lesson today!"
As Misty spoke, she reached for a poké ball.
"What are you doing?"
A.J looked at the bristling Misty in confusion.
"I was talking about that guy, why are you so worked up?"
"I..."
Misty was at a loss for words.
Roy gently patted her arm and pulled her behind him.
"Let me be the one to educate him."
His voice was very calm.
But Misty could feel that Roy's gaze had become serious.
"Delia." With a look from Roy, Delia understandingly stepped forward and pulled Misty back.
"Go for it, Roy!"
Misty still shouted.
Then she whispered to Delia, "Sister Delia, look at that guy, he's so annoying..."
Delia nodded with a smile, but her gaze remained fixed on Roy.
In the clearing.
Roy and A.J faced each other.
"Since you're so confident."
"Then let's have a battle."
"Good!"
A.J excitedly cracked his whip, and the Sandshrew immediately entered a battle stance.
"I'll just use you as the fodder for my 100th win!"
"As the final stepping stone before I make my debut!"
He had waited for this day for too long.
A 99-win streak, only one match left.
As long as he won this match, he could complete the feat of a hundred consecutive victories and then officially set out to challenge Gyms everywhere!
Roy was the final opponent he had chosen.
Famous enough, but his strength didn't seem like much.
Bringing two women along and not keeping his Pokemon in poké balls—how strong could such a frivolous Trainer be?
A.J was already simulating the scene of his victory in his mind.
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