Ash didn't answer right away.
He gently soothed the Pikachu in his arms, which was already close to exploding with anger, then slowly reached up and removed the mask covering his face. Step by step, he walked toward the tattooed, burly man blocking the passage.
When he stopped in front of the mountain-like figure, Ash tilted his head up slightly and looked at him calmly.
"Uncle," Ash asked flatly,
"do you really think you're funny?"
"Uh—"
The burly man—Harlan—was momentarily choked by Ash's words.
"The 'little brat' you were talking about just now… were you referring to me?"
Ash smiled faintly, mockery flickering in his eyes.
"Then what should I call you? An old ghost?"
"What did you just say, you little punk?!"
Harlan roared, veins bulging as rage surged through him.
"Didn't hear me?" Ash replied calmly.
"Then you really are getting old. Calling you an old ghost is actually quite accurate."
"Also," Ash continued, shaking his head in disappointment,
"why are you so eager for me to forfeit? Are you afraid that once we step onto the battlefield… you won't be able to beat me?"
"Uncle, you're really weak."
"Damn it, you little brat—what did you say?!"
Being mocked by a kid who didn't even reach his knees made Harlan's blood rush to his head. His thick, meaty face flushed crimson.
"What I said wasn't clear?" Ash asked, blinking innocently.
"Uncle, are your ears really that bad? Do I need to shout as loudly as you do for you to hear me properly?"
"Honestly," Ash went on, clicking his tongue,
"you've trained such a big body and yell so loudly—do you think that makes you manly?"
"Why do I feel like you're… exploding with femininity instead?"
"I'm guessing you're wearing pink underwear down there. The kind with strawberries or Hello Kitty printed on it."
Ash tilted his head.
"Why don't you take your pants off and let everyone have a look?"
He spared no effort in his verbal assault, as if completely oblivious to the fact that Harlan was already on the verge of going berserk.
Or rather—
Ash saw it clearly. He just didn't care.
"Uncle," Ash added casually,
"are you planning to hit a six-year-old kid like me?"
"Tsk tsk…"
"You must've spent a lot of money building those muscles. Ran out of cash to train your Pokémon, huh?"
"Tsk… tsk…"
Ash shook his head again, sighing in exaggerated pity.
"Move aside," he said indifferently.
"You're blocking the way."
"And I'll return your words to you—
a weakling like you really doesn't belong in the City Battle Arena."
With that, Ash extended his small, pale hand.
He activated his Aura Power (LV.17) and placed his palm against the side of Harlan's knee—
Then pushed.
"—Kgh!!"
"Crash—!!"
The burly man, who had been towering over Ash with a sneer just moments earlier, suddenly felt an overwhelming force slam into his knee.
His massive body collapsed like a landslide.
He smashed through several chairs—and even flattened one of the friends who had been laughing along with him earlier.
Amid the chaos and uproar, Ash calmly carried Pikachu and walked toward the exit of the waiting hall, as if nothing had happened.
Just before stepping out, Ash suddenly stopped.
He turned around, smiling brightly at Harlan, who had just been hauled back to his feet by others.
"Oh right, Uncle," Ash said cheerfully.
"Let me give you one more piece of advice."
"I think you've got a problem… right here."
Ash tapped his own temple lightly.
"The money you usually spend on protein powder, creatine, and other gym supplements—why not set aside a little of it to buy some DHA-rich milk powder for middle-aged and elderly people?"
"Do you know what DHA is?"
"It's what people call brain gold—great for nourishing the brain and promoting intelligence."
"You really need it."
"And if you think elderly milk powder doesn't match your age group," Ash continued with an innocent grin,
"I suggest you buy some infant formula too and mix the two together when you drink it."
Harlan roared in fury.
"You sharp-tongued little bastard! Once we're on the battlefield, I'll beat you until you kneel and beg for mercy!"
"Haha…"
Ash laughed lightly.
"Uncle, you're too weak. I don't think you can manage it."
"Anyway, stop stalling. Hurry up and get on the field."
"After I beat you," Ash added casually,
"I still want to go to the amusement park for the carousel and the roller coaster."
"Just not sure how much prize money I'll get after defeating you—
will it even be enough to buy a full-day amusement park pass?"
"After all," Ash shrugged,
"your strength is really… that weak."
"Heehee~"
After delivering his final round of mockery, Ash carried Pikachu and walked out of the waiting hall. Just across from it was the entrance tunnel leading to the battle arena.
"You damn little brat!"
Harlan shoved aside the friends trying to hold him back and strode angrily toward the exit as well.
"I'll make you kneel and cry in a moment!"
Behind them, the waiting hall erupted into noisy discussion.
"Damn… how did that kid have so much strength? He actually knocked Harlan over."
"Harlan was careless. Otherwise there's no way a kid could push him."
"Careless? Are you dreaming? Harlan was braced low with his weight centered. With his size, even careless—how could a six-year-old push him over?"
"What are you implying? That the kid could actually beat Harlan in the match?"
"Wait… what was that kid's name again?"
"Uh… didn't hear clearly. I think it was… Ash?"
"Ash?!"
"Hiss—!!
Under ten years old, officially registered with the League, legally owning Pokémon…"
"That kid—could he be that Ash from the Summer Camp a while back?"
"Yeah! I remember—he's from Pallet Town near Viridian City. And he's a psychic."
"If he could knock over someone as big as Harlan just now, it's probably him."
"Then Harlan's in trouble. That kid's a League-recognized prodigy—and a psychic to boot. This match might not be so one-sided."
"Don't boost others' morale and kill our own confidence. He's just a kid who's had Pokémon for barely a month."
"No matter how talented he is, turning talent into real strength takes time."
"Exactly. I bet the highest-level Pokémon he has isn't even above LV.15."
"Right. A six-year-old genius or not, he's only had Pokémon for about a month."
"Harlan's Geodude already evolved into Graveler and reached LV.26. He's a solid Intermediate-tier Trainer."
"There's no way that kid's Pokémon are higher level than that."
LV.01–15: Beginner Tier
LV.16–30: Intermediate Tier
LV.31–40: Advanced Tier
Even after recognizing Ash's identity, and feeling a flicker of surprise—
They were still convinced of one thing.
Ash Ketchum—
Was no match for Harlan.
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T/N:
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