Pokémon: I have no choice but to do this old thing?

Chapter 108 True New Superman

The strength test concluded with Ash's amazing performance using his "Talkative Ability".

The final result was no surprise.

Ash and his Gible won first place with an astonishing score of 20 specially made bricks, while Zhang Jianying's Sagamosa and Shinji's Ursaring tied for second place with 17 bricks each.

The audience below the stage were buzzing with discussion, and many trainers were still rubbing their eyes, wondering if they had seen things wrong.

How could that tiny gible unleash such outrageous power?

Zhang Jianying patted the Great Sword Demon, who exuded a faint air of dejection, in a comforting gesture.

"Don't worry about it, that guy can't be judged by common sense."

Recalling Ash's various outrageous achievements, in comparison, giving Gible the Guts ability to smash 20 bricks doesn't seem so unacceptable.

Yeah, you'll get used to it.

After the first round of competition, the organizers gave everyone a short break. Gym Leader Yoshihiro's booming voice rang out again over the loudspeaker: "Trains, thank you for your hard work! The first round of the strength test has concluded successfully, showcasing the amazing power of you and your Pokémon! Next, we will proceed to the second round of the competition, the 'Speed ​​Test!'"

"This competition is divided into two stages!" Ji Xian loudly explained the rules. "In the first stage, trainers and Pokémon will work together to complete a cross-country obstacle course! You will need to traverse grass, sandpits, slopes, and jungle areas, testing your teamwork and endurance!"

"After reaching the finish line of the cross-country race, the second stage begins. Change your Pokémon, cross the open lake ahead, and reach the final finish line on the other side! This stage tests the trainer's wisdom in choosing Pokémon and their speed in water!"

"Note! The same Pokémon must accompany you through both stages of the race, but you can switch to a Pokémon better suited for water movement in the second stage! The final ranking will be determined by the total time taken for both stages!"

"Alright, you have fifteen minutes to prepare! Choose your partner, get ready, the speed test is about to begin!"

The audience erupted in excitement once more. Trainers consulted with their Pokémon, assessing which partners were better suited for long-distance running and which for water travel.

Zhang Jianying released the Pokémon one by one and looked at his companions.

"Alright, everyone."

After reading the rules, he smiled and said, "Who wants to come and have some fun with me in the second round? Rankings don't matter, just have fun."

Gardevoir shook its head, its telepathic connection indicating it was better suited for Teleportation than long-distance running. Gengar chuckled mischievously, pointing its short finger to its round belly, the meaning clear: with its size, running? Forget about it.

Huhu and Erguipeng sat under the turtle tree on the earthen platform with the turtle, decisively refusing. The Salamence glanced at the arena, then reluctantly folded its wings; after all, flying seemed like a foul.

The Ice Goose and a pair of mice hopped around, showing interest, but after Gengar pointed it out, they looked at their short legs—

Hmm—this kind of competition might be a bit too difficult for them.

Xinye Miao looked left and right, then raised a fluffy little paw and meowed crisply, "Meow~!"

The other Pokémon looked at their own bodies, then exchanged somewhat awkward glances.

It seems like most of us aren't really suited for running.

"Have you decided?" Zhang Jianying asked with a smile, looking at Xin Yemiao.

"Meow!" Xin Ye Miao nimbly jumped onto his shoulder, rubbed her little head against his cheek, and her emerald eyes were full of excitement and eagerness.

"Okay, then it'll be just the two of us."

Zhang Jianying ruffled Xin Ye Miao's hair. "As for the water-based stage," he looked at the Great Sword Demon, "we'll have to trouble you again."

Greatsword Demon nodded slightly, indicating that he had received the message.

Fifteen minutes passed quickly.

Dozens of trainers and their Pokémon had already gathered at the starting line for the speed test. The atmosphere was even more intense than during the strength test, since this time the trainers had to participate in person.

Zhang Jianying stood in the starting area with his new Leafy Meow, surrounded by Ash and Pikachu, Brock and Eggicatch, Dawn and Pachirisu. At the edge of the crowd, Shinji was also quietly warming up with a Weavera, who was licking its paws and had sharp eyes.

"preparation--"

The referee raised the starting pistol.

All trainers and Pokémon got into starting positions.

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out!

"Charge, Pikachu!!"

Ash darted off like an arrow! Pikachu followed closely behind, its speed leaving a yellow afterimage in its wake!

Other trainers also started moving, and a large group of them rushed out of the starting line, raising a cloud of dust.

Zhang Jianying wasn't in a hurry. He took a deep breath, and his wave-guiding power slowly began to circulate. During the six months of special training with Master Gustav, this kind of physical and cross-country training had become commonplace.

"Let's go, Shin-chan, at your own pace."

"Meow!"

With a joyful meow, Xin Ye Miao ran forward with light, quick steps.

The agility and stamina it had honed by chasing and playing with a pair of mice in the yard were on full display at this moment. Like a green shadow, it nimbly weaved through the crowd, quickly overtaking most of the contestants.

Zhang Jianying followed behind it at a leisurely pace, his breathing steady and his steps even. The power of wave guidance allowed him to clearly perceive every undulation and obstacle in the terrain, adjusting his center of gravity and stride in advance, making running exceptionally easy.

The off-road course is designed to be quite challenging. The soft sand pits have caused many trainers and Pokémon to get stuck and struggle. The steep slopes test explosive power and endurance, while the intricate jungle trails require agility and a good sense of direction.

Most trainers and their Pokémon were already panting halfway through the race, and their speed noticeably slowed down.

But Newleaf Cat remained energetic. It even had the strength to pick up a fallen fruit with its tail as it ran through a bush, munching on it as it went.

Zhang Jianying couldn't help but smile as she looked at the little guy's energetic appearance. "Looks like he usually spends a lot of time with a pair of mice..."

The "special training" was very effective.

Just as they were passing through an uphill section, a familiar arguing sound suddenly came from ahead.

Zhang Jianying looked up and saw that Ash and Shinji were facing off again at the top of the slope for some reason.

Pikachu and Mannequin were headbutting each other, their cheeks squashed together, and their eyes were sparkling with electricity.

Ash was excitedly talking to Shinji, gesturing wildly. Shinji, however, looked indifferent and disgusted, pushing Ash away as he got too close.

Mammalian seemed to find it boring and suddenly withdrew.

Pikachu, who was charging head-on, was caught off guard and lost its balance, falling face-first to the ground with a "thud".

"Pikachu!!"

Pikachu got up and angrily complained to Manuela, who had already walked up to Shinji and then turned around to make a face and stick out her tongue.

Although Zhang Jianying was curious as to why this "bickering couple" had started arguing again during the competition, he didn't ask any further questions—the competition was on.

He ran past the two of them with New Leaf Cat, waving at them: "Hey, you two, I'm off first."

Ash panicked when he saw that Zhang Jianying and Xinye Miao had overtaken them.

"Shinji!"

He suddenly shouted, extending his hand to Shinji with an extremely serious look in his eyes, "I will not admit defeat! Let's have another match after this one!"

Shinji looked at the hand extended in front of him, remained silent for two seconds, and then his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

"boring."

He said that, but he still reached out and shook hands with Xiaozhi, "No matter how many times we compete, I will win."

"That's not necessarily true!"

Ash withdrew his hand, then suddenly grabbed the still sulking Pikachu and placed it on his shoulder.

He stretched his limbs on the spot, took a deep breath, and his eyes instantly sharpened.

"Pikachu, hold on tight!"

"Pikachu!"

The next moment, Ash shot off like an arrow released from a bow! His speed was even three times faster than when he started! The dust he kicked up even covered Shinji's face.

Shinji: "————"

He wiped his face expressionlessly, told Manuela beside him to "keep up," and started running again, but his speed was clearly no match for Ash, who had already entered serious mode.

The end of the first phase is in sight.

Zhang Jianying and Xin Yemiao maintained their steady pace, jogging slowly. Ahead, the finish line area was empty; they were the first runners to arrive.

"I didn't expect him to be even faster than the new Superman." Zhang Jianying smiled with some surprise, and looked behind him. No one else had caught up yet.

"Meow~ Meow~"

Xin Ye Miao meowed excitedly and was the first to cross the ribbon marking the end of the cross-country stage. It turned around, proudly raised its little head towards Zhang Jianying, and wagged its tail happily.

Zhang Jianying crossed the finish line, bent down, picked up the little guy, and gently wiped its dusty fur with a towel.

"Good job, little one, you did a great job."

Meow~

Xin Ye Miao comfortably squinted her big eyes, purring softly, looking completely satisfied.

Then, it nuzzled Zhang Jianying's palm, jumped back into its Poké Ball to rest, and left the water-based phase to its other companions.

Zhang Jianying put away Xinye Miao's Poké Ball and looked ahead.

A vast lake unfolds before you, its waters shimmering in the sunlight. On the opposite shore, the flag marking the finish line of the second stage is clearly visible.

Several simple docks have been prepared on the lake shore for trainers to release Water-type Pokémon or make other preparations.

A flash of red light, and the Greatsword Demon in its Emerald Green form silently appeared beside him.

Zhang Jianying patted its sturdy shell shoulder. "Buddy, we're counting on you for this round of the competition."

The Greatsword nodded silently and stepped into the lake first. The water quickly submerged its limbs, but it stood firmly and looked back at its trainer.

Zhang Jianying strode onto the Greatsword Demon's back, gripping the protrusions on its carapace with both hands. "Let's go!"

The Greatsword Demon began paddling, swimming steadily and quickly towards the opposite bank.

However, not long after they left the lake shore, a lively shout suddenly came from behind them, growing louder as it approached.

Zhang Jianying turned around in astonishment.

Ash carried Pikachu, kicking up a cloud of dust as he rushed to the lakeside.

He had no intention of changing his Water-type Pokémon. He just carried Pikachu, plunged into the lake, and began to paddle at an astonishing speed, chasing after the Greatsword at high speed!

Pikachu, wearing Ash's hat, stood firmly on Ash's wet head with its two little paws folded in front of its chest, its head held high and its eyes looking down on Ash.

Zhang Jianying: "???"

Seriously, man, you're really swimming like that?! And carrying a Pikachu?!

Even more outrageous is that this kid's swimming speed is terrifying! With each swing of his arms, water splashes everywhere, and he is actually rapidly closing the distance with the Greatsword Demon!

On the shore, another commotion caught Zhang Jianying's attention.

A little lucky egg used its two tiny hands to steadily lift Xiao Gang and carry him to the lakeside.

Little Lucky Egg, with its short legs, ran to the water's edge with a "heave-ho" sound, and then carefully put down Little Gang, who looked utterly dejected.

Zhang Jianying rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

Wow—everyone's shocked! He actually saw Eggman carrying the trainer and running the entire race?!

Do people who came out of the capital not respect basic laws?!

As Ash got closer and closer to the Greatsword, Zhang Jianying's competitive spirit was also stirred up.

Even if you were a superhuman, I don't believe you could swim faster than a Water-type Pokémon!

"Greatsword Demon!"

He gave a low shout, unleashing his Aura to its full potential. Gentle energy flowed into the Greatsword Demon's body like a warm current. "Come on, hurry up!"

The Greatsword felt the familiar aura and nodded, signaling the trainer to hold on tight.

The next moment, azure water energy surged around it.

[Water jet]!

The surging water instantly covered the Greatsword Demon's body, forming a highly efficient streamlined water film. The enormous propulsion force propelled it forward like a torpedo!

Zhang Jianying felt a powerful force coming from him, and he quickly lowered his body and gripped the carapace tightly.

After one [Water Jet] ended, the Greatsword Demon's speed slowed down slightly, but it quickly gathered a second one.

This was repeated three or four times, and the finish line on the opposite bank was now clearly visible. The enthusiastic commentary from the announcer at the finish line, broadcast through a loudspeaker, could even be heard: "We see! Zhang Jianying and his greatsword are currently sprinting towards the finish line! It seems the result of this round is already clear—wait! There's another competitor closing the gap!"

"Let's see—oh! It's Ash! He's participating in a swimming competition with a Pikachu?!"

On the big screen, the camera focused on Xiao Zhi, who was paddling hard in the lake.

He was soaking wet, but his eyes were bright, and his arms were swinging like windmills. Pikachu stood steadily on his head, its hat on, its little paws crossed over its chest, looking as proud as if it were the captain in command.

Hearing the increasingly loud splashing sound behind him, a sound so incredible it seemed impossible for a human to make, Zhang Jianying gritted his teeth.

"Greatsword Demon, unleash the maximum [Water Jet], spray!"

The Greatsword Demon roared and poured all the remaining water energy into the water around him.

The final stretch of water exploded!

Ash roared back defiantly, his arms swinging even faster!

The finish line is so close.

The two crossed the finish line buoy almost simultaneously!

"He crossed the finish line!!"

The host's voice almost cracked, "Let's take a look at the replay! Who really won this match!"

On the big screen, slow-motion replay clearly showed that at the moment of crossing the finish line buoy, the sharp, forward-curving horn of the stun dwarf led Pikachu's erect little ear tips by a mere one centimeter.

"The winners are—Zhang Jianying and Dajian Gui!!" the host announced loudly.

"Slap slap slap—!!"

The audience gave the contestants a warm round of applause.

Zhang Jianying slid off the back of the Great Sword Demon, stood in the knee-deep lake water, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Xiao Zhi wiped the water off his face, looked at Zhang Jianying, grinned, and gave him a thumbs up: "What a pity, Brother Jianying, we almost caught up with you!"

"No, you're the really amazing one—"

Zhang Jianying looked at Xiao Zhi, who wasn't even out of breath or red-faced, and could even laugh, and sighed with genuine admiration.

"Pikachu, Pikachu!"

Pikachu jumped down from Ash's head and waved its claws at the Sculptor, showing its admiration.

The Greatsword Demon silently watched the man and the rat, his eyes filled with deep confusion.

Why is it that even though it won the game, it can't be happy at all?

Is this guy really human?

When it emerged from the spacetime fragment, it lost to a trainer who was giving it their all, but it could accept it, and it was within its understanding.

But if Xiao Zhi had been there, wouldn't I have been dead?

Thank goodness—I've encountered my current trainer.

The Great Sword Demon silently accepted the medal handed to him by the staff, symbolizing his first place in the speed test. He looked down at it, then at Xiao Zhi, who was standing next to him with his arm around Zhang Jianying's shoulder, discussing the competition they had just had.

It suddenly felt that it might need to reassess the combat capabilities of the "human" race.

The Greatsword Demon's aura of dejection seemed to have intensified.

As time went on, the other runners also arrived at the finish line one after another.

Exhausted, Xiao Gang was dragged ashore by the scoundrel. He eventually swam the second half of the race with the help of the scoundrel and won third place.

Hikari and Piplup, Shinji and Gastrodon came in a little later, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

Shinji's expression remained indifferent, but there seemed to be a hint of probing in his gaze as he looked at Ash.

When the last competitor scrambled ashore in a disheveled state, the day's competition came to an end.

Gym Leader Yoshihiro ascended the platform once more, his booming voice echoing across the lake: "Everyone! Today's competition was fantastic! Thank you to all the participants and Pokémon for their hard work!"

"Tonight, we'll be having a bonfire party on the edge of the wetlands! Everyone can relax, share their thoughts, and enjoy the night view of Nohara City and the wetland scenery!"

He added seriously, "But please remember—protecting the environment is everyone's responsibility! Please do not litter, and do not disturb the wild Pokémon in the wetlands! Let's work together to protect this beautiful home!"

"Dismissed! Have a great night, everyone!"

"Ohhhhh—!!"

Amid cheers, trainers and Pokémon began to disperse in twos and threes. Some went directly to the party venue, while others returned to their lodgings to rest.

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the lake surface golden red, and a gentle breeze carried the unique moist scent of the wetlands.

Zhang Jianying put away his somewhat sullen Greatsword Demon, looked at Xiao Zhi and his group who were excitedly discussing tonight's bonfire party, and at the bonfire smoke slowly rising in the distance, and stretched comfortably.