Pokémon: Who let him leave Pallet Town?

Chapter 174 Forget it, I can't take any hardship (1500 monthly votes)

Natsume didn't think much of it.

There are many baffling behaviors of Pokémon.

Maybe it's just that these Moltres have been acting strangely all these years.

Besides, Natsume doesn't have a firebird, so even if it concerns his divine duties, it has nothing to do with him.

Suddenly, Natsume's gaze fell on the Zapdos, which was bald.

After a long while, Natsume suddenly shook his head.

We can't just pass it on to some outsider, can we?

“Gana—”

Zapdos surveyed the surrounding Pokémon with a powerful and energetic air. Its sharp claws slowly scraped the ground, leaving several white marks. Its eyes were filled with fighting spirit, as if a flame was burning fiercely.

These Pokémon bred by humans are incredibly powerful!
Originally, Zapdos came to settle scores with the guy with the middle part.

Later, it found that the enemy was still too powerful, so it changed its mind and decided to obtain the thing called "divine authority" and then settle accounts with the man with the middle parting.

Zapdos senses that many of the Pokémon here are very powerful, and battling these Pokémon will definitely enhance its strength!
"This Zapdos really loves to fight," Misty muttered to herself.

"That's more like it! That's the right kind of spirit!"

Ash clenched his fist: "Pikachu, we can't lose!"

"Pickup!"

Just as the atmosphere at the scene was tense, the curtain was suddenly pulled open on the high platform not far away.

"Ahem, quiet down!"

A slightly aged voice suddenly rang out, resounding throughout the venue through the loudspeaker.

The scene fell silent. This was none other than Granny Orange, the so-called most old-fashioned Ghost-type Elite Four member.

No one dared to provoke the other party.

Amidst a swirling cloud of smoke, an elderly woman dressed in a formal gown, who appeared dignified and old-fashioned, emerged gracefully.

"Ahem, as everyone knows, this Fire-Passing Tournament will select several Fire-Passers from among the participating trainees."

Grandma Orange's words were concise and to the point.

"Ahem, but..." she changed the subject.

"There will be no selection this year. Our torchbearers will only run a part of the course. If you can run the whole course, you can take over the torch for the second half."

"Ahem, that's enough!"

As she spoke, Granny Orange took a blazing torch from Officer Jenny and handed it to a robust young man.

"I'm the leading torchbearer for this year's league. Players who want to participate, follow me!"

As the robust young man stepped off the stage, a path automatically formed around him, and many people looked uncomfortable.

There are only three days left until the start of the competition!

The journey to pass on the fire took a full two days.

These next two days, the torchbearer will run a lap around the entire Quartz Plateau before returning to the arena.

The Trainer's Heirloom Fireman was placed in the second half of the competition, which makes it much more difficult than in previous years!

"Okay, let's go!"

Shigeru hesitated for a moment, then Ash suddenly rushed out.

"Wait for me!"

Xiao Mao gritted his teeth and followed.

"Oh my God--"

Upon hearing that the journey would take two days, Xiaoxia's legs went weak.

"If you don't participate, you can use the power of Pokémon to accompany you in the race."

With that, Xiao Gang mounted the giant onyx and chased after it.

Around them, some trainers gritted their teeth and followed, while others shook their heads in regret and sat on their own Pokémon.

Although I cannot receive the blessing of the Moltres, such a scene is very rare and should not be missed!
"Welcome to the opening ceremony of the Quartz Conference, everyone!"

A Magneton floated across the sky.

“Mr. Natsume.” Jiaozi looked at Natsume.

I don't plan to participate.

Before he could finish speaking, Zapdos darted away.

The opponent's neck was stretched extremely long and lowered extremely low, presenting a streamlined body that was suitable for flight, and it was also surprisingly good at running.

Seeing this, Natsume raised an eyebrow slightly.

No wonder the Zapdos in the Galar region evolved into a free-range chicken-like form.

This Zapdos has only been a free-range bird for two months, and it already has this speed!
We must get first place!

Natsume was taken aback when he sensed Zapdos's will.

If someone with a middle parting had half the willpower of the other person, they would probably be invincible by now.

Nestled in the arms of a proud young man, intending to take a short nap, the man with the middle parting, who had just closed his eyes, was suddenly struck by a booming sound in his mind.
On the track, a pale blue light shone in Natsume's eyes as he leisurely followed behind Zapdos.

The opponent surged forward fiercely, even attempting to overtake the league leader several times.

Fortunately, Natsume pulled it back.

"If you keep doing this, you won't have any energy left for the second half," Natsume warned.

“Gana—”

Zapdos tilted its head, unconcerned.

Just keep coming in first place, what's the big deal about effort?

Seeing this, Natsume shook his head slightly.

This Zapdos clearly wasn't used to its trainer's presence and didn't heed some scientific advice.

In contrast, other trainers who, like Ash and Gary, planned to run long distances, were all well-prepared, taking turns breaking through the wind with their accompanying Pokémon.

This kind of cooperation can save a lot of physical energy.

"Never mind, you'll see when the time comes. Anyway, the rules of the competition must be followed. You can't run ahead of the torchbearer, understand?" Natsume said, and Zapdos nodded.

This is a matter of winning or losing, so it's very important.

As for conserving energy, Natsume was too lazy to talk to Zapdos about it.

Things teach people, and they will learn it once and for all.

There are supply points along the long run, providing water and food.

There were even Officer Jenny and Joey's accompanying medical vehicle along the way, so that anyone who couldn't hold on and collapsed could receive timely assistance.

Soon, we arrived at the second half.

The sacred flame that once belonged to the torchbearer has now been passed on to Ash.

Apart from Natsume, almost all the other contestants around him were unsteady on their feet, as if they might collapse at any moment.

A whole day has passed.
Many players have set their sights on Ash and Natsume.

What kind of monsters are these?

That guy named Xiaozhi had absolutely no long-distance running skills, yet he ran all day without even breaking a sweat.

Another one is even more outrageous: shrinking the distance to an inch, walking leisurely and slowly, one can walk several meters in an instant.

Desperate, so desperate.

They've been running around all day, but in the end, the Olympic flame might have nothing to do with them at all.

"Sir, here you go!"

Ash slowed down and handed the sacred flame to a trainer who was traveling with Machamp.

"What is this?" The trainer's eyes were already a little blurry, but he still raised his head and looked at Ash strangely.

“You guys seem to be running out of energy. If I keep carrying it, you won’t feel like you’re participating.”

"Here's what we'll do: you guys take the second half and run around in it for a while, then give it to me if you can't handle it anymore," Ash suggested.

"Kid, you!" The trainer was taken aback, then a glint of light flashed in his eyes:
"Okay, leave it to me!"

He took the torch, adjusted his breathing, and gradually increased his speed to the same level as Ash.

"What's going on? Does Ash not want Moltres's blessing anymore?!" Naruto's voice suddenly rose, and the TV station's perspective zoomed in abruptly.

"Everyone, come together!" Ash waved to the people behind him.

The remaining trainers lined up in order of their physical condition.

Meanwhile, the original trainer had burned out and was being carried by Machamp towards the accompanying medical vehicle.

The torch was passed back to Ash, who was in second place. Ash then passed it to the third-place trainer, who gradually increased his speed and took over the first position.

"So that's how it is! Ash is such a competitive player!"

“Gana.”

Natsume watched this scene from afar, and heard the faint, lifeless sound of Zapdos at his feet.

"See? If you conserve your energy from the beginning, you'll definitely be able to finish the race."

“Gana.”

Zapdos was too weak to reply.

But it felt that Natsume was right.

If it had listened to Natsume from the beginning, it wouldn't be in such a sorry state now.

No wonder the Pokémon bred by humans are so much stronger than the ones you encounter in the wild.

Human trainers' words can be quite useful sometimes.

Suddenly, Zapdos felt a lightness in its body. It looked up and gave Natsume a grateful look.

Natsume subtly lifted Zapdos with his telekinesis, almost imperceptibly.

"Gana?"

Noticing the commotion on Ash's side, Zapdos tilted its head and looked at Natsume with a puzzled expression.

Why did Sun Wukong do that?

Natsume was having a hard time keeping his composure.

What is Sun Wukong's title? Who gave him that name, Ash?
"Ga na ga na ga!"

If you keep holding onto it, won't the blessing automatically become yours?
Wouldn't that mean we've won?

Zapdos looked at Natsume with a puzzled expression.

"not like this."

Natsume shook his head.

"A winner is not necessarily a victor. If you can convince everyone, you are a winner even if you are not the winner."

In fair competition, sportsmanship comes first, winning or losing comes second.

Upon hearing this, Zapdos nodded blankly.

Based on its previous experience of conserving energy, it felt that what Natsume was saying now probably made sense, even though it didn't quite understand it.

"Huh?" Natsume was suddenly startled.

He discovered that Zapdos had broken free from his psychic lift.

“Gana—”

It requires a competitive spirit to win!
Zapdos then started running again, wobbling, leaving behind a sweaty paw print with each step.

Seeing this, Natsume couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.

The eerie blue light in his eyes disappeared, and he tried running a short distance on his own.

Ten minutes later, Natsume took flight.

Forget it, he can't handle any hardship.

Natsume's physical condition is far worse than that of the people here.

Relying solely on physical strength, he was quickly left far behind by Ash, even though Ash was in second place and let others take the lead, which slowed down his speed!

(End of this chapter)