Pokemon: This Ash Is Too Versatile

At this moment, the nearest Croagunk’s hand was already glowing with a purple poison attribute, pressing step by step towards the woman’s position.

The woman tried to drag her injured leg, but as soon as her ankle moved, the intense pain made her gasp for air, and she had to let go again.

She had twisted her ankle while evading the Croagunk earlier, and now she couldn’t stand up by her own strength.

"Ursaluna, use Mud Shot!"

Ash’s voice echoed in the forest.

Several dark mud blobs flew out continuously in front of Ursaluna, accurately striking several Croagunk.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The ground attribute Mud Shot was highly effective against Croagunk.

Five figures were consecutively knocked back, landing on the nearby grass and tree trunks.

The red-haired woman quickly ducked down and barely avoided being hit by the Croagunk that flew overhead.

"Hello, are you alright?"

When she raised her head again, Ash and Cynthia had already gotten off Ursaluna’s back and approached her quickly.

The red-haired woman looked at the two of them first, and then her gaze fell on Ursaluna beside her.

"This is the Ursaluna that Grandma Calaba is responsible for taking care of. How could it be with you? Are you the siblings from overseas who recently subdued Kleavor?"

Ash and Cynthia exchanged glances.

Though the term "siblings from overseas" was a bit odd, it was at least better than some unknown nicknames.

"If you mean the people who subdued Kleavor, then that should be us. But why are you here alone, surrounded by so many Croagunk?"

Ash looked at the woman’s injured ankle, with a clearly puzzled expression on his face.

Cynthia did not immediately inquire.

She first observed the woman’s clothes, then looked at the woven basket filled with herbs and poison containers next to her, and quickly guessed the woman’s identity.

"You must be Warden Arezu?"

"Warden Arezu?"

Ash somewhat belatedly turned his head toward Cynthia.

He didn’t expect the target they had been searching for so long would appear before them in this manner.

"Yes, I am Arezu...but the young man obviously doesn’t recognize me. How did you guess?"

Arezu looked at Cynthia with confusion while rubbing her aching ankle.

"I guessed based on your Diamond Clan attire and the herbs beside you."

Cynthia had noticed that the Croagunk hit by Mud Shot were gradually getting up from the ground.

She removed an Ancient Pokeball from her waist and turned to Ash: "You first get Warden Arezu onto Ursaluna’s back, leave these Croagunk to me."

"Alright."

Ash walked to Arezu’s side, first offering a reminder: "Miss Arezu, I’ll get you onto Ursaluna’s back. You seem to have twisted your ankle?"

"I accidentally stepped into a mud pit while avoiding the Croagunk chase earlier. Now, this foot is completely powerless. I originally thought the defensive tools I prepared were enough to handle Wild Pokemon, but it turns out I was too careless this time."

Arezu’s expression showed some helplessness.

Ash bent down and lifted Arezu from the ground in a princess carry.

As her body suddenly left the ground, Arezu instinctively grabbed Ash’s shirt, her expression momentarily awkward.

But the pain from her ankle quickly made her overlook this.

"Didn’t you bring your own Pokemon?"

Ash carried Arezu towards Ursaluna, with some confusion in his heart.

After all, Arezu is responsible for taking care of the Queen, venturing alone into the depths of Crimson Mirelands seemed too dangerous.

"Our Diamond Clan is not like your Team Galactic. We typically don’t use Pokeballs, it’s not easy to have Pokemon always accompany us."

Arezu gently shook her head.

The Diamond Clan and Pearl Clan always felt that housing Pokemon in Pokeballs was a way to bind their freedom.

Because of this, most members of the two clans wouldn’t use Pokeballs.

After listening, Ash showed a slightly disapproving expression.

"I think Pokeballs aren’t a tool that binds Pokemon."

"After all, Pokeballs can’t force a Pokemon to genuinely become a human’s partner. The true decision of whether a Pokemon wants to follow a trainer always lies in the bond between them."

Ash had Ursaluna lower its body, then carefully placed Arezu onto its broad back.

"For me, Pokeballs just let Pokemon who have already become partners stay more conveniently by our side. Pokemon enter Pokeballs because they trust their trainers, not because the Pokeball robs them of their freedom."

Seated on Ursaluna’s back, Arezu’s eyes also showed signs of contemplation.

Ash’s view clearly differed from the long-standing beliefs held by the Diamond Clan.

But upon careful thought, Ash and Cynthia also use Pokeballs, yet their Pokemon don’t show signs of being bound or forced.

Both Pikachu and Samurott have relationships with them that far exceed normal partnerships.

Especially Pikachu, which seemed to have an extraordinary bond with Ash, although it did not appear to be housed within a Pokeball.

However, the Diamond Clan’s aversion to Pokeballs had persisted for too long.

Even if Arezu felt Ash’s words held some truth, it was impossible to change everyone’s mind based solely on this conversation.