[Pokemon] Sycamore

"Well......"

There are some gloomy skies, as if dark clouds have accumulated all year round...

What Xiao Dan saw when he opened his eyes was this very familiar scene. It was so familiar that it took him a while after waking up, and his head was still a little dizzy before he realized that something seemed wrong.

.....By the way, am I...still sailing on the sea...?

The thoughts that started to circulate slowly came back, and scenes of "tragedies" that had just happened to him not long ago were gradually remembered.

He was deliberately caught by the poaching group and put on the boat...and then! ?

"brush----!"

Xiao Dan suddenly started to look left and right, and as expected, Xiao Dan saw the cable car in operation and the temporary resting cabin where he was...

How did you...how did you return to Naipuru Island? !

"Yo~ You're awake."

A familiar voice came from behind him, which for some reason made him tremble in his heart. He stiffly turned his head and saw a girl sitting on the stairs.

On this snowy mountaintop, I was actually wearing a white shirt with the cuffs rolled up to the elbows. I didn't wear any warm jacket or clothing. The thin vest covered with it seemed to have no thermal effect at all, but it didn't have any effect at all. She was shivering from the cold. If she didn't know better, she would have thought that the girl was on a mild summer beach.

But compared to the blonde girl, what frightened Xiao Dan the most was the one next to her...

"Fortunately, I only fainted for more than an hour. Otherwise, Xiaotong, I don't know how long it would take for your challenge to begin."

The kind-hearted Dawu smiling at Xiaotong at this moment was undoubtedly a devil's smile in Xiaodan's eyes.

Now he completely recalled everything that had happened before!At that time, the man in front of him was wearing such a smile while commanding Metagross to ignore his presence and sink the ship brutally!

Looking at Xiao Dan's stiff movements, Xiao Tong didn't pay much attention. He stood up and walked up to him and explained: "We have confirmed your identity with Miss Joy."

"I'm Xiaotong. The purpose of this time is to challenge the Naipuru Gym. Can you accept my challenge, Xiaodan Gym Leader?"

While Xiaotong introduced herself, Xiaodan recognized that the overly delicate girl in front of him was the other one who was with the man, and the complicated feelings in his heart spread instantly.

However, with his usual optimistic spirit, Xiao Dan still responded.

"It turns out you are a lovely challenger, so let me call you Xiaotongtong...ssss!?." He habitually expressed his welcome in a colorful way, but before Xiao Dan could complete the sentence After saying this, he felt that his life safety was being severely tested from the piercing sight behind Xiaotong, and he even couldn't help but take a breath with a chill down his spine.

"Ah...well...of course I am happy to accept your challenge, but there is a small problem now." Xiao Dan, who had calmed down a lot, quickly changed his words, and after scratching his face, he also revealed He looked a little troubled.

"According to the challenge rules of my Neplu Gym, the challenger must climb the mountain where he is now alone without relying on the ability of Pokémon to continue. And the current situation..."

"It's done."

Before Xiao Dan could say his verdict, Xiao Tong immediately responded decisively.

"If you need evidence, there is evidence, here it is~"

Looking at the power-on video recorder in Xiaotong's hand, Xiaodan took it blankly and then started playback at Xiaotong's urging.

[It says that the challenger must climb the mountain on his own without relying on external forces, Daigo, so what should I do?How about you take Mr. Xiao Dan on the cable car over there first? 】

【I....】

[There is nothing I can do about it. Of course I have no problem with it myself, but it is still a bit troublesome to take a grown man up the mountain, so I can only leave it to you, Daigo. 】

【.....good. 】

Looking at the slightly shaking image combined with his somewhat sore and numb neck, Xiao Dan vaguely guessed how he was carried all the way up the mountain...

But what surprised him was yet to come.

The video continued to play, and as the cable car ascended, the figures in the image never left the camera.

Note that there is no intention to leave the camera. Isn’t it the fact that the speed of the girl climbing the mountain in the film is about the same as the speed of the cable car! ?This is a rugged and steep hillside!No matter how slow the cable car's ascent speed is, it is simply impossible for a human being who is fighting against gravity to maintain such a speed.

What's more, the young girl looks relaxed and comfortable. People who don't know better think she is here for an outing...

Xiao Dan, who had been numbed by the continuous frights, handed back the video camera that had finished playing with an expressionless face, and then said with some difficulty:

"... I have confirmed that the trainer has not violated the rules. According to the regulations, the competition can begin. Please come with me, both of you."

Seeing Xiao Dan's figure "floating~" in front of him with a bit of weakness in his steps, Xiao Tong shrugged inexplicably, and Dai Wu followed Xiao Dan to the next destination.

......

"boom--!!!"

Pillars of hot springs spraying into the sky appeared in the field of vision of the three people. The hot geysers added warmth to the mountain top that was originally covered with snow. The roaring sound echoed in the ears and never stopped. It seemed that there was an intermittent pause in front of them. The low-lying area with the densest springs is the goal of this trip. ?

"Did you see it?" Xiao Dan, who took off his backpack, gestured to Xiao Tong to look at the two hot springs that were closest to them and had the closest eruption level.

"The first competition is to freeze the hot spring in front of you. Whoever moves faster is the winner. It's very simple and clear, right?"

As he spoke, Xiao Dan, who had begun to fulfill his responsibilities as a gym leader, released the eager Nidoqueen and signaled with his eyes to Xiao Tong to quickly send out the contestants.

Extremely Freezing Ray, it seems that we can only send that guy out.

Xiaotong weighed the light baby ball in her hand and suddenly threw it upward!

"Gyarados has been very active since the trip to the Orange Islands began."

"Roar--!!!"

As if to agree with Xiaotong, Gyarados roared with great momentum as soon as the baby ball came out. It was obviously very happy about this, and the huge tail fin that swung was so powerful that it almost knocked over Ni, who was standing aside. After a while, he was slapped away. If Xiao Dan hadn't reacted quickly, I'm afraid the competition would have been suspended before it even started.

On the other side, Xiao Dan, whose eyes couldn't help but twitch, felt more and more uneasy after Gyarados appeared.

"Gudong...then, the moment the geyser erupts, that's when the game begins."

"Always ready!"

The moment Xiao Dan finished speaking, there was a clear and measurable vibration coming from the ground.

The competition is about to begin!