“Pikachu, Volt Tackle!”

In a forest clearing, two young trainers were still locked in battle.

“Pika—!”

Following Ash’s command, Pikachu crouched low, blue lightning crackling wildly around its body as it charged at the Electivire ahead.

After losing two rounds in a row, Paul’s face was grim. Seizing the opportunity, he shouted:

“Electivire, use Protect!”

Volt Tackle causes recoil damage to Pikachu—and Paul was exploiting that drawback perfectly.

A green barrier shimmered around Electivire as Pikachu smashed headfirst into it.

Crack!

The barrier split with spiderweb cracks, and Pikachu dramatically flew backward.

“Pikachu!” Ash cried out anxiously.

Meanwhile—

A bicycle slowly emerged from the bushes.

🎵“Riding my beloved little motorbike, it always—”🎵

“WTF?! Where did this Pikachu come from?!”

The dashing young Trainer was startled and jumped off his bike just in time.

“Gengarr! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ”

Gengar hastily scooped up Togepi from the bike’s basket, narrowly avoiding the flying, lightning-charged Pikachu.

“Togeepiii” Togepi giggled in Gengar’s arms, wiggling its little feet happily.

Next moment, Pikachu crashed into the bicycle.

Boom!!

Lightning exploded as the bike was engulfed in a Thunderbolt. A massive bolt lit up the sky, then silence returned.

Rotom barely flew out in time, staring at the charred husk of the bicycle.

“Totally incomprehensible, Roto! Σ(°△°|||)︴”

Pikachu shook its head, glanced at the crumpled bike it landed on, then looked at Mr. Lu.

“Pika…” Pikachu scratched its head, sticking out its tongue sheepishly.

Lu Ye stared at the scene.

That… was my bike exploding?

I was just riding with Gengar, eating berries and singing—and out of nowhere, Pikachu crashes into me?!

That’s some serious f***ing insurance fraud!

As the bike exploded, Ash and Paul’s battle paused momentarily.

Both looked at Lu Ye with different expressions, and shouted:

“Mr. Lu!”

“Don’t call me Mr. Lu.”

Lu Ye clutched his chest in pain. “Pay for my bike first!”

The cute bike gift hadn’t even lasted two days—and it was already toast.

This isn’t about compensation… it’s about interest!

“Pika… (◕ᴗ◕✿)”

Lu Ye looked down at the Pikachu sitting on the ground, trying to charm its way out.

Then looked up again at the familiar kid in the blue vest behind it.

“Ash?” Lu Ye said through gritted teeth.

“Mr. Lu!”

Ash scratched his head awkwardly. “I’m really sorry. I’ll pay for the bike!”

Lu Ye felt conflicted.

In the TV series, Pikachu’s history of blowing up bikes was legendary… practically a vehicle killer.

But wasn’t that usually reserved for the female leads!?

Why blow up my bike?!

But what's done is done. Lu Ye took a deep breath and silently pulled out a notebook.

Feb 23, sunny.

Pikachu crashed my bike. One Thunderbolt and the whole thing was gone…

Super Paul, this grudge—I, Mr. Lu, won’t forget it!

“Gengarr!” Gengar crouched beside the smoking, sparking remains of the bike, exchanging a look with Rotom.

“Beep beep… Probability of repair is over 99%!” Rotom gave the damage report.

“Gengarr~” Gengar grinned, stuffed the [Damaged Bicycle] back into his bag, then helped Pikachu up from the ground.

“Pika!” Pikachu’s ears twitched.

It wasn’t over yet. The battle (or rather, performance) had to go on!

Lu Ye inhaled deeply, calming himself, then looked at the gray-haired teen who looked vaguely familiar.

“You are…”

Before Paul could speak, Lu Ye suddenly realized, “You’re Mr. Brandon’s son?”

“No.”

Paul coughed awkwardly. “My name is Paul. I’m a Trainer from Veilstone City.”

Lu Ye blinked, memories of Paul surfaced in his mind.

Paul, from the Diamond and Pearl arc of the show, was Ash’s rival—arguably the most well-developed one.

Unlike Ash, who emphasized bonds, Paul was a classic competitive player: focused on move sets, IVs, and tactical play.

In a way… kind of similar to my style.

Lu Ye was still thinking—

“Mr. Lu!”

Paul’s eyes gleamed. “I didn’t expect to meet you here!”

“You know Mr. Lu?” Ash asked, surprised.

“Don’t be stupid!”

Paul scoffed, “A true tactical Trainer—his battle switches and strategies have become textbook examples in Trainer Academies.”

“The techniques shown in his videos… do you emotionally driven fools even understand them?!”

Lu Ye and Ash both blinked, scratching their cheeks.

That… sounded like praise.

Why does it feel like he just insulted me?

Ash: “The nature… of battle?”

“Exactly.”

Paul looked intently at Lu Ye. “Because of you, I decided to make battling my specialty.”

“A powerful Trainer should never be limited to just six Pokémon. Different lineups, different tactics—that’s what makes battling beautiful!”

Lu Ye nodded slightly.

Paul was a true competitive Trainer, treating Pokémon as tools to win.

Like Silver, Blue, or even Hop from the past…

There were many like him in the Pokémon world.

Honestly, lots of players think this way too.

As a veteran competitive battler, Lu Ye never questioned these Trainers’ rights to battle as they chose.

However—

Now that I’m in the real Pokémon world…

With these vivid, living creatures…

Lu Ye preferred to believe what the cute one had once said: that this was about life meeting life.

Like Pryce’s Swinub, or Giovanni’s Beedrill…

Between bonds and battle.

Battle may not be Lu Ye’s specialty.

But in today’s world, few could surpass him.

“Paul.”

Lu Ye cleared his throat. “I appreciate your admiration… but I think you misunderstood my true meaning.”

“That’s impossible.”

Paul’s expression darkened. “In strategy and battling, you… are clearly the strongest Trainer in the world!”

You… have always been the one I looked up to!

He bit his lip, unable to say the words aloud.

“Mr. Lu would never treat Pokémon as tools.”

Ash said seriously, “What matters more is the connection between Trainer and Pokémon!”

Lu Ye gave Ash a sideways glance.

Bro, not only did you blow up my bike—you’re stealing my lines now!?

“You don’t get it!”

Paul suddenly yelled, “I locked myself in my room and watched every one of Mr. Lu’s tactical videos at least ten times… What gives you the right to say that?!”

“Because I’m Mr. Lu’s student.”

Aura Guardian, Rainbow Hero, Top 32 at the Indigo League… Ash looked at Paul and declared.

“You… are…”

Paul’s voice turned dry. He looked around, then after a long silence, muttered:

“This battle isn’t over. Let’s continue!”

“Electivire, use Thunderbolt!”

“Pikachu, use Thunderbolt too!”

“Pika!” Pikachu tapped its cheeks and leapt up, unleashing a dazzling Thunderbolt.

Boom!!

As the smoke cleared, Electivire lay on the ground, eyes spinning.

“Tch.”

Paul clenched his teeth and recalled the fainted Electivire. Hands in his pockets, he started to walk away.

“Paul!” Lu Ye suddenly called out.

The gray-haired boy turned back, looking at the teacher he respected. He took a deep breath and asked:

“Yes?”

Lu Ye stepped forward, tidied Paul’s messy collar, and patted him on the shoulder.

“Maybe right now, you don’t yet understand what bonds and emotion mean…”

“Tch.” Paul bit his lip again.

Lu Ye continued, “But… what if your Pokémon doesn’t want to follow your orders?”

“What?” Paul looked up.

“Bonds and battle were never separate. Hang in there, dodge it, keep fighting…”

Lu Ye coughed. “Not that I like using those kinds of commands.”

“But those words only work when Trainer and Pokémon are truly in sync.”

“If… you want to keep walking the path of a battler.”

“Try listening to your Pokémon’s feelings. You might become even stronger.”

Paul stood frozen, lost.

If anyone else had given him this lecture, he would’ve scoffed.

But standing before him was one of the greatest battlers in the world.

Someone who even battled Leon in Wyndon…

Paul took a deep breath. “I understand.”

He turned to Ash. “I’ll beat you… and earn his recognition!”

Lu Ye: ???

“Only the strong deserve to be Mr. Lu’s student.”

Paul, one hand in his pocket, gave Ash a cold look.

“I’ll show you that childish ideals like yours will never take you further!”

Ash adjusted his cap with a grin, eyes full of determination.

“I’m always ready!”

Lu Ye looked on in surprise at these two Sinnoh rivals.

Ash had matured through his solo journey and countless events.

And Paul… he wasn’t just a competitive player. He had a powerful heart.

Lu Ye thought of Silver from the Special Manga.

Even the Totodile he stole from the lab had finally evolved.

Its moves had changed from Frustration—stronger with less affection—to Return.

Even a “cold” battler like Paul…

His Electivire still believed in him.

Looking at the gray-haired boy’s fading silhouette—

Lu Ye smiled faintly.

Different Trainers, different beliefs…

Maybe that’s the true charm of the Pokémon world.

“WTF, where did Ash go?! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ”

“He still hasn’t paid for my bike… D*** you, Aura Hero!”

…

Deep in the forest—

“Go on.”

Paul looked down at Chimchar. “I don’t need weak Pokémon.”

To earn Mr. Lu’s recognition… I have to get stronger!

Chimchar looked up at him timidly. As it slowly walked away down the path, it turned back to glance at Paul.

But Paul had both hands in his pockets and disappeared at the path’s end.

Chimchar wiped its eyes with its arm and stayed in place.

Then, a hand reached out.

“Your name’s Chimchar, right?”

Ash, carrying Pikachu on his shoulder, smiled brightly. “Would you like to join my team?”

Chimchar paused, then shook its head, drooping its shoulders sadly.

I’m too weak.

I don’t want to be abandoned again…

“It’s okay!”

Ash grinned wide. “A Trainer and Pokémon respond to each other!”

“So if you just believe in me.”

Ash’s gaze was firm as he held out his hand to Chimchar:

“We can become the greatest Pokémon Masters together!”

Chimchar stared for a long time, then burst into tears and hugged Ash tightly.

A beam of red light sucked it into the Poké Ball.

Beep—

Perfect capture.

Yet for some reason, Ash’s eyes dimmed a little. He seemed somewhat down.

“Pika—chuu!!”

Suddenly, Pikachu’s Thunderbolt zapped Ash into a sooty mess.

“Pika~ꉂꉂ(ᵔᗜᵔ*)” Pikachu giggled.

“Alright!”

Ash coughed out black smoke, straightened up, struck his signature pose and shouted:

“I’ve caught Chimchar!”

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read