Pokémon: Start with an Admiral Crab!

"It's now--!"

Wang Yao has already sensed the latent energy beneath the water.

With a spiral of water jetting backwards around its body, the cowardly bug rushed out of the water with great momentum and crashed into the fire dinosaur beside the pool.

"Don't even think about it - spray fire!"

Taiyi felt that his opponent was just making a last-ditch effort.

“Gah-ho!”

A thick flame spurted out.

The high-temperature flames wrapped the cowardly worm inside, and at the moment of contact, most of the water flow around the cowardly worm exploded into a large amount of water mist.

Bang-!

The coward's aim was deflected by the jet of flame, and his body covered with water vapor flew over the Fire Dinosaur and hit the deck.

"Again! Use Jet Fire!"

Taiyi has already secured victory. As long as he wins this game, he can enter the finals.

If he wins all the games in the finals, the mysterious grand prize will be his!

"No matter how hard you try, you can never defeat my Charmeleon!"

Taiyi mocked unceremoniously.

"You fart-!"

"I can even disperse this weak flame with a punch!"

Wang Yao cursed back without any hesitation.

"Coward - where are your fists?!"

"Guji..."

The cowardly bug lowered its head and looked at its pair of sharp claws sticking out from its shell.

Yeah...where's its fist?

Not just fists... Cowards often fantasize about having a pair of powerful claws like a giant crab...

...How majestic that would be!

"Humph! This is hilarious—Charmer! Spraying flames!"

Taiyi was stunned by Wang Yao's vulgar remarks, but he quickly came to his senses.

——He wants to turn the coward into a roasted cockroach!

“Gah-ho!”

The Fire Dinosaur also looked at the little bugs on the ground with disdain.

boom--!

A flame even thicker than before attacked the cowardly insect that had escaped from the water.

"Punch!"

The trainer's shout was right beside my ears.

The cowardly bug stretched out one of its claws in a trance.

The high temperature flame is just around the corner!

"Gooji!"

There was a hint of determination in the eyes of the cowardly bug. Its habitual thinking told it that the trainer's instructions could not be wrong!

“Gu-ji-ji!”

The cowardly insect stood up its shell, exposing its vulnerable abdomen to the flames...

Then—the coward bravely punched the flames!

At this moment, Wang Yao and Cowardly Bug outside the field united their minds and threw a perfect uppercut together.

White light enveloped the body of the cowardly bug.

The insect claws that were swung out were covered by thick armor... growing and extending...

Boom——the jet of flame was easily defeated!

“Ji Ka—!”

The coward felt that his new body was full of power.

The flames shattered, revealing a burly figure over two meters tall.

Wearing solid and heavy armor, with its powerful forelimbs still posing as if punching the sky...

For the rest of the match—it will attack in the form of an armored warrior!

"Beep——!"

"The armored warrior is disqualified from the competition - the Charmeleon wins!"

The boatswain blew his whistle to announce the result.

Whether judging by height or weight - armored warriors do not meet the competition requirements!

"Ji-ka?"

The evolved cowardly bug froze in place.

Because Wang Yao has issued an order to win...

It's still thinking about defeating Charmeleon for its trainer!

“Ji Ka…”

The armored warrior turned his head and looked at Wang Yao with an innocent face.

"Let's let them go today - let's go! Coward!"

Wang Yao chuckled, turned around, waved his hand and told the armored warriors to leave.

The armored warrior followed Wang Yao and left the top deck as before.

Under the gaze of the audience, Wang Yao and Cowardly Bug gradually disappeared behind the stairs.

Taiyi, who was closest to them, vaguely heard the conversation between Wang Yao and the armored warrior when they left.

"You've grown taller... you coward!"

"Ji Ka?"

"——So eat more for dinner!"

"Ji Ka~"

……

Under Master Hu's precise control of points, the top three... were really just three players who qualified for the finals with nine consecutive wins.

As a result of such obvious manipulation, Taichi's Charmeleon lost the last game to the terrifyingly powerful Marillil and missed the finals.

As expected, the final winner of the lightweight challenge was the little girl who commanded the cursed doll.

The high level cultivated by relying on the long life of ghost-type Pokémon... has surpassed the strongest combat power that most trainers can cultivate.

As for the mysterious grand prize...it's a huge pearl from the deep sea.

The top three will receive a free luxury ticket on the Ink Sea Horse (luxury ticket allows buffet dining in paid restaurants).

This is just a small activity to entertain passengers, so naturally there won't be any rare prizes.

But the value of that pearl is expensive enough... at least it is worth several luxury ship tickets.

……

"Thank you for aboard the Ink Sea Horse - please continue to choose us for your subsequent journeys!"

The ship docked at five in the morning of the fourth day, and many passengers were still sleeping.

Because the Ink Seahorse will resupply and rest in Dead Leaf Harbor for a few days, most passengers do not want their early morning sleep disturbed.

Therefore, the public broadcast at the bow was not used, and the first mate and the boatswain stood on the side of the ship to see off the passengers who disembarked on time.

"Finally here - I wonder if Joey is awake~"

Wang Yao walked down the gangway, followed by an armored warrior carrying a bag.

The evolved timid bug has six arms...it is truly the most suitable tool bug for carrying bags.

The Pokémon Center was not far from the port, and Wang Yao quickly arrived at the door.

Most of the other travelers who were in a hurry to get up early were going home, so Wang Yao was the only one who came to the Pokémon Center at this time.

I took a few steps closer and the sensor door of the Pokémon Center opened automatically.

"...Gaou...Ga?!"

The Pokémon on duty at the front desk woke up from his light sleep when he sensed someone was visiting.

"Big-billed Gull? Why are you on duty?!"

Wang Yao looked at the large-billed gull wearing a white nurse's hat with a strange expression.

"Gaou~"

When the Toucan saw the trainer he hadn't seen for a long time, he flapped his wings and flew up from behind the counter and flew into Wang Yao's arms.

"Okay, okay, big-mouthed gull!"

Wang Yao hugged the toucan with some difficulty.

"Very good! Your injury has completely healed~"

Wang Yao used his fingers to comb the feathers of the gull. The newly grown beautiful flight feathers had replaced the burnt feathers.

The entire gull's feathers looked shiny and glossy, and it was obviously well taken care of by Joey.

"Well then - Nurse Gull, please help us get a guest room first!"

Wang Yao touched the bird's head, handed it over a gift ticket and said with a smile.

"Gaou~"

The toucan gull skillfully picked up the invitation ticket and put it away, then handed the door card of Room 007 to Wang Yao.

The operation was smooth and flowing, and it was obvious that it was very skilled in the business of the Pokémon Center.

"Gaou?"

After doing all this, the toucan looked curiously at the bag-carrying thug behind Wang Yao.

Is this the new Pokémon that the trainer has captured? It looks quite capable.

"Oh - this is the coward! It has evolved too!"

Wang Yao patted the Cowardly Bug's arm armor and introduced him to the Big-mouthed Gull.

"Ji Ka~"

The cowardly bug greeted the gull cordially.

When it and Wang Yao were camping in the wild, its favorite place to stay was... under the wings of the toucan!

"Gah?"

The toucan jumped in front of the coward, stretched out a wing to indicate the height difference... his face was full of disbelief.