Pokémon: Starting with Ash's Mom

Kazuki's eyes widened as he stared at that enormous black silhouette.

It was a colossal Tangrowth, easily ten meters tall, with thick vines as massive as giant pythons, all knotted together like a moving, gray-green fortress.

Kazuki studied it for a moment, then couldn't help but exclaim in shock, "Quasi-Elite level!"

"Holy crap!" Kazuki laughed, bursting out with a curse.

"In the middle of this remote mountain, there's actually a Pokémon this high-level?"

A trace of excitement flashed in Kazuki's eyes.

"Old witch, didn't think you were hiding a trump card like this!"

"Fine, fine, fine — a head-on fight with a Quasi-Elite! I've been dying to try!"

Since he'd be up against something two full tiers above, Kazuki decided not to hold back. He suddenly flicked his wrist, pulling five Poké Balls from his belt and tossing them all into the air.

"Come on out! Pidgeot! Bulbasaur! Wartortle! Primeape! Dratini!"

"Pidgeot!"

"Bulba!"

"Wartortle!"

"Primeape!"

"Dratini!"

With five brilliant flashes of light, Pidgeot, Bulbasaur, Wartortle, Primeape, and Dratini all appeared in front of Kazuki, glaring fiercely at the gigantic Tangrowth.

"Charizard, keep burning — clear the area so your teammates can show off their skills!"

Charizard roared in response, flying to the front of the formation, its jaws opening wide as scorching flames gathered in its mouth.

With a thunderous dragon cry, the surrounding bushes were incinerated in an instant.

"Everyone, all together! Gang up on it!"

At Kazuki's command, all six Pokémon charged straight for the enormous Tangrowth.

"Charizard, Flamethrower!"

"Pidgeot, Air Slash!"

"Bulbasaur, Razor Leaf!"

"Wartortle, Water Gun!"

"Primeape, Cross Chop!"

"Dratini, Dragon Rage!"

Thanks to his Minor Champion Aura from before, Kazuki had long since trained himself to give coordinated commands in a tight timeframe.

So even with six Pokémon acting at once, everything ran smoothly.

Six moves fired off simultaneously, flames, slicing wind, leaves, water jets, raging fists, and dragon breath weaving together, instantly engulfing Tangrowth.

BOOM—!

The tremendous explosion shook the entire forest, smoke surging up, sparks flying everywhere — like the end of the world.

But as the smoke cleared, Kazuki's pupils suddenly contracted.

"What?!"

The massive Tangrowth, though scorched in spots, was still standing tall, its vines whipping about, having blocked every single attack!

"No way?!" Kazuki laughed in disbelief. "Its defense is insane!"

Must've dumped every stat into defense because it hates pain, huh?

Cassandra's grandmother gave a cold laugh. "Little brat, did you really think your bunch of little ones could defeat my Tangrowth? Dream on!"

"Counterattack! Tangrowth!"

Just as Kazuki had predicted, this Tangrowth was pure low-attack, high-defense.

Even though it was Quasi-Elite level, it couldn't one-shot a high-level Dratini — but it could still wear them down with relentless moves.

And it was exactly these steady, draining moves that let it slowly wear down its opponents.

But that also meant it had to use Giga Drain sooner or later!

"Okay! Primeape, go for it — finish with Rage Fist!"

Primeape roared, grabbing its Focus Band from its head! Its whole body's muscles clenched tight, energy surging into its fists, and it smashed straight into Tangrowth.

BOOM!

That punch landed squarely on Tangrowth's massive frame, sending shockwaves rippling through it, vines shattering and flying in all directions.

"It worked!" A glint of joy flashed in Kazuki's eyes.

But before he could celebrate, the falling leaves parted to reveal Tangrowth had stabilized again.

Its broken vines quickly twisted back together, restoring themselves.

Then Tangrowth swung its massive vines hard, smashing Primeape away, slamming it brutally into the ground and knocking it out.

"Primeape!"

With Rage Fist used up, Primeape was done for, so Kazuki recalled it back into its Poké Ball.

"Damn it, this Tangrowth's recovery is ridiculous!"

"If you're going to go all-out, don't force me to go all-out too!"

Kazuki began tuning his Aura Power into a special frequency, and at the same time drew out the shining talisman from his chest.

Seeing the battle nearing its end, Cassandra's grandmother finally prepared to lecture him.

"Little brat, you—!"

"For a rookie trainer to have so many strong Pokémon, I'm truly surprised! You—"

"Charizard, keep up the Flamethrower!" Kazuki had zero interest in listening to the old witch's moral sermon, continuing to bark orders.

"Pidgeot, Hurricane! Hold it down!"

"Bulbasaur, Vine Whip, wrap up those vines! Wartortle, provide water support! Dratini, Dragon Rage!"

The five Pokémon launched another coordinated wave of attacks, fire, slicing wind, vines, water jets, and dragon breath all crashing down on the same target.

BOOM!

The forest once again descended into chaos.

Kazuki reached out, grabbing a burning tree branch, ready to light the shining talisman.

But just then, Gastly's Poké Ball began shaking violently.

"Hm?" Kazuki frowned, noticing the sudden movement. "Gastly?"

He released Gastly.

Heh heh heh! Heh heh heh!

Gastly looked at the raging battlefield with wild excitement gleaming in its eyes.

"What is it, Gastly? You got a move that can handle this boss?"

Heh heh heh! Heh heh heh!

Kazuki saw that excited glint in Gastly's eyes — it was signaling that it could evolve, and after evolving, it could use Millennium Dark Pulse one more time!

Maybe it really could help defeat Tangrowth!

Kazuki glanced up at the now visibly exhausted Tangrowth and hesitated for a moment.

If we can beat a Quasi-Elite-level Pokémon together, that'll be a huge boost to their battle experience!

"All right! Give it a shot!"

Gastly nodded, releasing the power it had been suppressing all along. A flash of white light enveloped it, and Gastly swiftly completed its evolution.

[Lv28 Gastly → Lv28 Haunter]

Just as Haunter finished evolving, Pidgeot and Charizard were slammed to the ground by Tangrowth's whipping vines.

Seeing Kazuki's main battle force fall, Cassandra's grandmother nodded slightly, satisfied.

"Kid, I have to admit — you really are something!"

"It seems you really don't have anything to do with Agatha. This extraordinary Gastly truly was raised by you!"

"You're a strong one in your own right! Your Gastly's future may not be any weaker than Agatha's Gengar!"

As Cassandra's grandmother stepped calmly through the smoke, she suddenly noticed Haunter releasing a surge of purple smoke.

"What's going on!" Her face froze in shock.

"You have ghost type?"

"Kid, are you trying to become a Ghost-type Elite Four too?"

"What are you doing with so many Ghost-types?"

"No — wait!"

"That's the same Gastly! It evolved!"

"And after a move like that, it still has power left to go again?"

Cassandra's grandmother was stunned. She couldn't believe it could unleash such a move twice — and even if it could, there should have been a massive cost.

"Stop, kid! I believe you! You really have no ties to Agatha, I…"

She wanted to step forward to stop him, but it was too late.

"Millennium Dark Pulse!"

With a low growl, Haunter unleashed the move.

The Millennium Dark Pulse erupted like a furious storm, its purple smoke swirling with endless resentment and terror, instantly enveloping Tangrowth's entire body.

Tangrowth's huge frame actually began to tremble under that power, falling into a state of terror and unable to attack.

But in the chaos, even Bulbasaur and Dratini were swept up by the fear effect.

Kazuki quickly recalled all his Pokémon.

As he was recalling Haunter, it also pulled its power back into its Poké Ball.

Around Haunter's body, the purple smoke still swirled violently.

Kazuki tried to connect with Haunter's aura, but its spiritual waves were like a candle in a hurricane — flickering wildly, impossible to steady.

"Crap, Haunter still hasn't fully mastered the evolved Millennium Dark Pulse!"

Just as he was about to burn the shining talisman to summon Millennium Gastly for help, Cassandra's grandmother suddenly flashed over and blocked him with her cane.

"Old witch! What are you trying to do!"

Kazuki barked, countering her witchcraft with his Psychic Power.

Cassandra's grandmother sensed Kazuki's anger and quickly softened her tone.

"Kid, I already believe you have nothing to do with Agatha!"

"Just now, I only wanted to test your strength after hiding away for so many years!"

"But now your Haunter's state is dangerous!"

"Are you going to just stand there and watch it waste all that potential?"

"Leave it to me — I know how to stabilize it!"

Kazuki's aura really could no longer connect with Haunter's unstable mind.

Considering that the old witch was only hostile to Agatha and had no other ulterior motives, he decided to trust her once more.

"Old witch, if you dare pull any tricks, I won't hold back — even for Cassandra's sake!" Kazuki warned coldly, a fierce glint in his eyes.

Cassandra's grandmother said no more, quickly moving to Haunter's side.

She took out a strange pill from her sleeve — it was a deep purple color, faintly glowing.

She held the pill to Haunter's mouth and spoke gently, "Little one, take this…"

Haunter, even in its chaotic state, seemed to have an instinctive desire for the pill, and swallowed it in one gulp.

Moments later, the purple smoke around it began to slowly fade, and its spiritual waves gradually stabilized.

Its once-wild eyes grew clear again, and its body lightened, floating calmly in the air with a cheerful grin, returning to Kazuki's side.

Kazuki immediately extended his aura, reconnecting.

Through their spiritual link, he could sense that Haunter was now completely steady, and even stronger than before.

"Haunter, how do you feel?" Kazuki asked with concern.

Haunter wobbled happily, clearly confident it could fully master the Millennium Dark Pulse.

"Oh? Just a single pill could do that?" Kazuki looked over at Cassandra's grandmother, eyes full of surprise and suspicion.

"Kid, if you have more questions, follow me up ahead."

"Don't stand there in my witchcraft array."

She waved her cane, and a path instantly opened through the forest ahead. She took the lead, walking forward.