Ash, with his invincible physical body, wants to become a Pokémon Master.

Chapter 417 The Kingdom of Miraju

The two gatekeepers obediently led Xiao Zhi and the others to board the airship.

"Hey Ash, something's obviously wrong, are we still going?"

Arriving in the backyard, looking at the airship so close by, Xiao Sheng couldn't help but ask a question.

"What does it matter? It's a good opportunity for adventure! I've never been to the Kingdom of Miraju before!" Haruka wasn't worried at all; instead, she looked on with anticipation.

"The Haruka Adventure Team is setting off again."

"Please, sister, don't assume everyone is like you, okay? Dad said that anyone who knowingly goes to a dangerous place is an idiot."

"Haha, that's generally how it is, but I'm here, aren't I?"

Max is always cautious, unlike May who loves adventure, so Ash showed off his big muscles to reassure him.

"Although this banquet invitation was a scam, it actually fooled Xiaoxia." Xiaozhi frowned slightly.

"I need to figure out whether they're really after Xiaoxia, or—they're after me!"

Of course, regardless of the type, he would make sure the other person understood why the beggar's flower was so uniquely red.

Xiaoxia chimed in, "That's right, we have to go!"

"That bastard behind all this dared to lie to me! I was so looking forward to it, thinking I'd meet someone who also loves Togepi, and all that excitement for nothing!"

Xiaoxia had already used the influence of the Cerulean Dojo to investigate thoroughly, ensuring that the entire event process was legal, compliant, and watertight.

That's why she came happily, and even invited Xiaozhi and the others, but she didn't expect the scene to turn out like this.

This enraged Xiaoxia, who transformed into a furious gyarados. She grabbed one of the slow-moving guards by the ear and threw him toward the driver's seat.

It actually threw him several meters away.

"Get the plane flying right now! If there's no free feast after we land, I won't let you off easily!"

"Oh? Yes!"

Startled by Xiaoxia's astonishing strength, the two guards immediately scrambled to start the airship.

"Xiaoxia is so cool!"

Xiaoxia's powerful display of strength immediately drew gasps of admiration from Xiaoyao and Xiaosheng.

"As expected of someone who traveled with Ash for so long, he seems quite extraordinary."

Xiaoyao was especially delighted by Xiaoxia's strong yet naturally slender white arms.

"Xiao Zhi wasn't lying to me after all. Even girls who train to Xiaoxia's level don't have exaggerated muscles on their bodies!"

Unexpectedly, Xiaoxia's arrival this time also helped Xiaoyao dispel her biggest concern about training.

Then, under the supervision of Ash and his friends, the airship quickly took off and flew straight north.

They sped along at breakneck speed and soon left the territory of the Hoenn League.

Half a day later, Mirajutsu finally appeared in the distance outside the airship window. Haruka was the first to spot it and immediately became excited.

"Hey Ash, look! The Miraju Kingdom is just ahead!"

The shape of the continent where the Hoenn region is located is strikingly similar to Kyushu Island from Ash's previous life.

Although the alliance occupies most of the continent and has achieved nominal unification, there are still many autonomous or independent kingdoms on the borders.

The Kingdom of Miraju is one of them.

The route to Miraju is far from the prosperous core of Hoenn, and passes through vast deserts along the way.

They even had to cross many sandstorm barriers that raged for years before they could reach the heart of the kingdom.

Airships are the only means by which the kingdom can reliably communicate with the outside world, but the territory of the Kingdom of Miraju is a rare oasis in this vast and desolate desert.

The entire kingdom was surrounded by forests, and its territory was lush, prosperous, and peaceful.

Seeing such a beautiful view, Xiaoyao, a fashionable young girl, naturally snatched the navigator from Xiaosheng and started taking pictures non-stop.

However, just as they were about to approach the kingdom's border, the sandstorms that were most common in this land struck again.

"Dear guests, we may not be able to land safely anytime soon."

"Hey, but we just drove right through the sandstorms we encountered earlier, why can't we do it this time?"

Xiaoxia looked at them with distrust in her eyes.

"You guys didn't try anything funny with me, did you?"

"How could we? We would never dare to lie to you!"

"It's because we forced our way through too many sandstorms that the airship's hull reached its limit—"

The two gatekeepers were also feeling very aggrieved; they had long been terrified of Xiaozhi and Xiaoxia.

All along the way, I just hoped that the airship could fly faster, and preferably teleport directly into the Kingdom of Miraju.

Once they land, their ambush will make their move and give Ash and his friends a good beating. They won't deliberately delay.

They only regretted not flying faster!

Suddenly, Ash held his breath, a flash of blue light appeared on his body, and he instantly appeared outside the airship from the cockpit.

He looked around and nodded with satisfaction.

"It seems that I can already do a pretty decent job with level five superpowers."

Then Ash casually raised his hand, and a powerful aura compressed and condensed in his palm before being released.

The massive energy waves pierced through the thick wall formed by the sandstorm, creating a large passage.

At this moment, Xiaoxia immediately understood Xiaozhi's intention and urged the two guards to follow Xiaozhi's spaceship.

The two guards were terrified again.

"Humans who can teleport?"

"It can also emit light waves?"

"That's terrifying!" ×2

They decided that once they got off the airship, they would definitely not participate in the attack on Ash. The two of them made up their minds that they must escape as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, at the airship landing field in Miraju Kingdom, the "mastermind" behind the scenes, Hanzo, the regent of the Kingdom of Miraju, who had been waiting impatiently, was yawning with his head down and shoulders down.

Suddenly, his sinister lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

"I'm telling you, are your Rockets players even any good? Why haven't they arrived yet?!"

"Have you forgotten how to properly complete a mission after following that scoundrel Sakaki for so long?"

"Don't worry, Mr. Hanzo, our Rockets team will definitely bring you the Pokerb you want."

"Just don't forget your promise to us when the time comes."

Although the other party's tone was clearly contemptuous, Higanbana, as the representative of Team Rocket for this mission, still managed to maintain her composure.

Of course, it's also related to the fact that she really doesn't care about the Rockets' reputation at all.

"Hmph, little girl, as long as I can get Togepi, I'll do whatever you want, whether it's building a branch or getting funding."

"Miraju will naturally give you plenty, but only if you fulfill my requirements!"

"That is Lord Hanzo of nature."

"snort!"

Xijiana's tone remained unchanged, which made Han Zuo look at this girl with new respect.

"He is neither arrogant nor humble in his dealings with others, and he manages his subordinates in an orderly manner. He has prestige and ability. Where did the Rockets find such a good prospect? It's such a pity."

Suddenly, the silhouette of an airship appeared in the sky and slowly descended.

"Has it finally arrived?"

Han Zuo was overjoyed and called to the guards around him to go forward.

However, the moment the hatch opened, when Higana saw the panicked expressions on the faces of the two guards who came down first, she knew that the original plan had gone awry.

She immediately and quietly pulled the surrounding Team Rocket members back, leaving Hanzo and his guards alone in front.

"Lady Shijana, Master Han Zuo——"

"Where's Togepi?"

The two rookie guards for the Rockets were clearly terrified of the dominant Hanzo.

But thinking of Ash behind them, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and get off the airship with forced smiles on their faces.

"We've successfully brought Togepi and its trainer! They're right behind us!"

"You bunch of useless trash, the mission failed! I only said to bring Togepi, not that you had to bring the whole thing along!"

"Yes, we are very sorry."

At that moment, the two of them immediately ran towards Xijiana's location without looking back, leaving Han Zuo completely dumbfounded.

"Has my authority really intimidated people to this extent?"

"Fine, whatever. Since you brought him, just get inside and snatch my Togepi!"

Hanzo, the Togepi trainer, had already seen the photo; she was just a pretty but empty-faced girl.

Han Zuo figured a little girl couldn't cause any trouble, and all he wanted to do now was get Togepi as soon as possible.

However, just as the guards rushed up the ladder onto the airship, before they even entered the door, they were immediately kicked away by a long, snow-white leg.

"So that means there won't be a banquet either!!!"

Xiaoxia strode out of the cabin, her eyes burning with rage.

I never imagined that these people went to such lengths to trick me into coming here, only to steal Togepi.

This was unbearable for Xia, who had raised Pokerby like a child, and she immediately wanted to tear all these people to pieces.

Ash smiled and followed behind Misty with a flower fan, gently fanning away her anger while glancing at the complex formation below the airship.

"The welcome gift was quite elaborate."

"Damn it, how did those two idiots bring so many people?"

At this moment, Hanzo saw the intimidating aura emanating from Ash and his friends, and like Higanbana, he quietly took a few steps back.

"What are you all standing there for? Get up there and arrest them all!"

The guards of the Kingdom of Miraju were dressed in armor resembling medieval styles and were carrying spears, yet they bravely charged forward.

Those spears were sharpened to a very fine point; an ordinary person might actually be afraid if they saw so many sharp weapons pointed at them.

Unfortunately, they were facing Ash and Misty.

Without Pikachu even lifting a finger, the two of them, one punch and one kick, easily knocked down the charging soldiers, sending them tumbling and crawling, and led May and her brother down the steps with ease.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have completed the achievement "This is a true trainer!": Strike a human 10000 times!]

[Rewards: Alliance Coins +3000; Attack +2; Special Attack +2; Item "Boxing Gloves" +1]

Boxing Gloves: Special gloves that protect your fists. Wearing them increases the power of your punches and prevents contact with your opponent when executing them.

"What?"

Seeing that his men were no good, Han Zuo immediately took out a Poké Ball.

"Go forth, Sheepshell Ninja, Iron-Faced Ninja, Sunfire!"

He released two insects that resembled both cicadas and bees, along with a yellowish-brown insect with a white crescent-shaped halo on its head.

When Xiaoxia saw the three Pokémon, she immediately trembled all over, frantically grabbed Ash's arm, and then became too scared to move.

"Ugh, bugs! I hate bugs the most!"

Under the midday sun, the intense sunlight quickly coalesced, and three blazing beams shot straight toward Xiaoxia.

"Hey, Xia, you seem to have grown a lot, but you immediately revert to your old ways when you encounter a bug."

"They really can't do without my protection," the muscular man thought to himself with a smug grin.

"What's wrong? I'm just scared!"

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

"Pikachu!"

Upon hearing the command, Pikachu immediately leaped from Ash's shoulder.

The dazzling yellow lightning and the super-powerful light wave formed by the convergence of three beams of sunlight collided violently in mid-air.

The violent shockwave from the explosion caused the nearby airship to tilt and sway, and the guards around it could barely stand.

"Such powerful force!"

As the smoke cleared, the two Iron-Faced Ninjas were blown away, covered in soot, while Pikachu landed safely back on Ash's shoulder, without even a hint of strain.

Han Zuo's face was filled with disbelief.

"This Pikachu's Thunderbolt was actually able to withstand the Solar Beam unleashed by both Ninja Mask and Shedinja together—"

"Rockets, aren't you going to help at a time like this?"

Higanbana, who was about to sneak away with her subordinates, was exposed to Ash by Hanzo's shout.

"That wretched old man, he only remembers us at times like this."

Upon seeing Higanbana's familiar coarse cloth cloak, Ash immediately grinned mischievously.

"Oh ho ho, I didn't expect to see an old friend here! I was wondering why that waveguide vibe felt so familiar."

"Hahaha, it's been a long time, Mr. Ash."

Higana gave an awkward smile; there was nothing she could do now that she'd been seen.

She had no choice but to call on her Team Rocket subordinates to come forward and help, while simultaneously unleashing her own Salamence to charge towards Ash.

"Respond to my heart, Salamence!"

In an instant, it completed its Mega Evolution. With its extreme speed, Mega Salamence opened its massive jaws, bit Ash's waist, and lifted him into the sky.

"Ash!"

Seeing her leader leave the battlefield, and the guards and Team Rocket surrounding her, May finally stopped slacking off and immediately showed her brave side.

She stepped forward and stood in front of Xia, releasing her Hunting Butterfly and Mushroom.

"Xiaoxia, I'll handle those three bugs; you can take care of the rest."

"Haruka—, um!"

As long as she doesn't face bugs, Misty is still the reliable big sister she always is, and she immediately unleashes her ace Gyarados and Milotic to wreak havoc.

At this moment, the Super Salamence, which had been flying like a meteor in the sky, finally stopped its flight path.

"Ouch, that hurts! Murder!"

"Xiao Zhi, this level of pain shouldn't bother you much, right?"

"No way! My ribs, leg bones, and joint bones are all broken! You have to pay me back."

Seeing Ash still being held in Salamence's mouth and putting on such a dramatic performance, Higanbana couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

"Stop fooling around, I have something I want to talk to you about."

But to everyone's surprise, after Ash placed the cute Pikachu with its hair all messed up on top of Flying Dragon, he immediately turned his head away.

"I have nothing to talk about with the Rockets."

"I----"

Higana was speechless for a moment.

Ash could tell that the other party had something very important to say, otherwise he wouldn't have cooperated so well and been carried away by Salamence earlier.

But Ash still wanted to annoy this mysterious girl who worked for Team Rocket.

"Hmm, I don't listen to what Team Rocket says, but if it's a beautiful girl who's willing to kiss me, that's a different story."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Xijiana's delicate face immediately turned red, and she anxiously stomped her feet.

As the leader of the Rockets' operation, she cannot be away from the battlefield for too long.

"Stop fooling around, Ash. Actually, the one who led Hanzo to target Misty for Togepi was me."

"Because I know that as long as I lure Xiaoxia to the Kingdom of Miraju, you will definitely come too."

Upon hearing this, Ash finally got serious, and slid straight out of Salamence's mouth, flying onto its back.

"So what exactly is it that you want to say?!"