Chapter 264: Long Live Master Asher, God of Pokémon Breeding! (Membership Extra - )

Chapter 264: Long Live Master Asher, God of Pokémon Breeding! (Membership Extra Chapter)

The video continued playing.

Time moved forward once again.

Hina had grown from the tiny little girl who could only hide behind the counter into an eight-year-old.

She had gotten much taller, and her long light-blue hair was tied into two small buns at the back of her head that bobbed whenever she ran.

Quaxly had also evolved into Quaxwell.

Its appearance and size had both changed after evolving.

The only thing that hadn’t changed was its expression—

It still had "I am a reliable duck" written all over its face.

That morning, Hina was brushing the fur of a Vulpix staying at the Day Care when a loud, energetic declaration suddenly came from the living room.

"No problem, no problem! The Champion of this year’s Kanto Grand Festival will definitely be me—Dawn!"

Dawn charged from the living room into the incubation room, scooped Hina up, and spun her around three times before putting her back down.

"Hina! Mommy’s going to Kanto for the Grand Festival!"

"Lots of Top Coordinators are entering this time! How about our whole family goes together?"

After being forcibly spun around three times, Hina was still in a slightly dazed state.

But seeing how happy her mother looked, she didn’t complain.

She simply nodded obediently.

"Okay, Mom."

"Wifey, I’ve already packed your clothes."

Asher walked over just then.

"I even packed the hair clip you forgot in the bathroom last time."

"Hubby, you’re the best!"

Dawn kissed Asher on the cheek, then rushed back toward the bedroom like a gust of wind.

"Just wait a little longer! There are still a few things I haven’t checked yet!"

"Hina."

Asher watched Dawn disappear into the bedroom, then reached out and ruffled Hina’s hair.

"First time traveling this far from home. Nervous?"

Hina gave a tiny nod.

"A-A little..."

"But Ducky will be with me."

Quaxwell immediately puffed out its chest and firmly patted its fluffy front with one wing.

"Quax, quax, quax!"

The corners of Asher’s lips lifted slightly.

"That’s good."

"Oh, right. Once we reach Viridian City, Ash and Brock will come pick us up."

"So you’d better prepare yourself mentally."

Hina tilted her head.

"Why?"

"Aren’t Uncle Ash and Uncle Brock Mom’s old traveling companions?"

"You’ll understand when we get there."

...

The scene changed.

Viridian City, Kanto.

By the time Asher, Dawn, and Hina reached the Pokémon Center, Ash was already waiting outside.

"Dawn! Asher! Long time no see!"

Ash strode over to greet them.

Pikachu jumped down from his shoulder and ran over to Hina, rubbing against her ankle.

"Pika pika!"

Hina crouched down and gently stroked one of Pikachu’s ears with her finger.

"Pikachu... hello."

Pikachu narrowed its eyes contentedly.

"Pika~"

"Even after becoming Champion, Ash hasn’t changed at all."

Dawn planted her hands on her hips and looked him up and down.

Then she glanced around.

"By the way, where’s Brock? Isn’t he here yet?"

Ash’s expression immediately became strange.

He looked almost embarrassed to explain as he pointed behind himself.

"Uh..."

"He’s over there."

Everyone followed the direction of his finger.

At some point, a makeshift shrine built entirely out of cardboard boxes had appeared in the plaza.

A crooked cardboard sign had been covered in huge red letters:

"LONG LIVE MASTER ASHER, GOD OF POKéMON BREEDING!"

Brock was kneeling in front of the cardboard shrine with both hands clasped together, muttering solemnly under his breath.

"The great Master Asher, God of Pokémon Breeding, will soon descend upon this humble land..."

"May the Master show mercy and bestow upon this lowly disciple even a fraction of his divine wisdom..."

"BROCK!!!"

Ash cupped both hands around his mouth and shouted at him.

"STOP ALREADY!!!"

Without even turning around, Brock replied,

"Do not disturb me, Ash."

"I am performing the sacred ritual to welcome Master Asher."

"But they’re already here!"

"They’re standing right behind you!"

Brock’s head snapped around.

Asher, Dawn, and Hina were standing less than five meters away, all staring at him with very different expressions.

Dawn had one hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Hina had buried her entire face in Quaxwell’s feathers, leaving only the bright-red tips of her ears visible.

"MASTER ASHER!"

Brock shot to his feet and rushed over, grabbing Asher’s hand with both of his and shaking it vigorously.

"It’s been far too long!"

"I have waited THREE WHOLE MONTHS for this reunion!"

"That new food formula you recently developed specifically for Grass-type Pokémon is absolutely unprecedented!"

"I’ve tried recreating it three times, but every attempt was just slightly off!"

"Please, Master Asher, you must find some time to give me guidance!"

"Ahem."

Asher pulled his hand free.

"If you have questions, you’re welcome to visit my Day Care anytime."

"But I didn’t create that new formula."

Brock froze.

"You didn’t?"

"Then who did?"

"My daughter."

"Hina."

Upon hearing that—

Brock’s gaze slowly shifted toward Hina.

And at that exact moment—

Those eyes of his, which were almost always closed, suddenly snapped wide open.

Hina shrank back under the force of his newly ignited, fanatical stare.

She immediately hid behind Quaxwell.

Quaxwell spread both wings protectively in front of Hina.

Its eyes instantly sharpened.

"Niece Hina——!!!"

Brock threw both arms wide and charged toward her in an absurdly dramatic pose.

"PLEASE TAKE ME AS YOUR DISCIPLE!!! I can—"

Before he could finish—

Quaxwell twisted sideways.

Its right leg shot out.

BAM!

The kick landed squarely on Brock’s face.

The impact sent his entire body flipping twice through the air before he crashed heavily onto the ground.

Quaxwell calmly lowered its leg.

Then it brushed some nonexistent dust from its wings and stepped back in front of Hina.

"QUAX!"

The meaning couldn’t have been clearer—

Take one more step, and the next kick won’t be aimed at your face.

Hina cautiously poked half her head out from behind Quaxwell.

"Uncle Brock..."

"I’m sorry..."

"Ducky isn’t usually like this..."

"It’s fine!"

Brock struggled to lift his head from the ground.

A bright-red duck-foot print was stamped across his face, yet his smile remained radiant.

"After all these years of being rejected by beautiful ladies, my face has already become practically indestructible!"

"An attack like this doesn’t even count as a flesh wound!"

Pikachu ran over and poked the duck-foot print on Brock’s face with one paw.

The mark was already swelling visibly.

"Pika pika..." (Are you sure that doesn’t count as a serious injury...?)

[VIP Chat Group]

[Brock]: Damn it! Parallel-world me is already calling her "Niece Hina"! And I even get to visit Dawsher House all the time to study! Why does real-world me have to sit here watching everything through a screen?! I refuse to accept this! I want to become Asher’s disciple too! I want to learn Pokémon breeding AND romance techniques!

[Misty]: That second part is the real reason, isn’t it?

[Croagunk]: Croag. (Poison Jab charging.)

[Brock]: Croagunk, wait! This time it’s really different! Pokémon breeding and romance are both lifelong pursuits of mine! You have to understand my dreams!

[May]: How is that different at all? Aren’t you exactly like this every time the conversation turns in this direction?

[Max]: Agreed. Croagunk, go for it.

[Brock]: Heh. Even if my body goes numb, my convictions will never be numbed! Master Asher, I shall forever carry on your will— (jabbed in the side) Numb... numb...

[Steven]: I never imagined there was someone else in this world whose admiration for Brother Asher could reach such heights besides me! Truly admirable! Brock, you have earned the recognition of Steven Stone!