Why is my Pokémon girl a bit strange?

"Enemy attack!"

"Blizzard??? No... Powder Snow???"

"What is that pink thing???"

The poachers descended into chaos, but a leader quickly emerged.

"Quiet! Don't panic yourselves! You, you, you, and you, go check the grass! Everyone else, get ready to board the trucks!"

With their leader's command, the poachers quickly restored order. However, just as they were about to enter the grass to investigate, the ground suddenly began to shake—

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A massive Aggron burst out of the grass, sending several Pokémon that had come to check the situation flying.

Not only that, but the colossal monster didn't stop. It charged towards a poacher's car like an armored vehicle, then shoved it with both hands, actually crushing the car into a deformed wreck.

"League reinforcements! Everyone stay put!"

Qiao Ran, holding Vulpix, leaped out of the grass, shouting the League's slogan.

"League members...? You know about our operation?!"

The poachers' leader's face darkened. Their operation was supposed to be top secret; how could anyone have known?

"Of course, because I predicted your actions."

Qiao Ran used Vulpix as a turret. Having broken through to level 31, she was more than capable of dealing with ordinary fodder.

Moreover, Aggron was there to cause destruction, and the research team had also begun to fight back.

At this moment—Qiao Ran wasn't fighting alone!

"I have a search warrant from the League, so you'd best surrender!"

However, after hearing Qiao Ran's words and seeing the search warrant he held out, the poachers' leader revealed a knowing smile.

"Oh? Is that so? The League only sent a child like you? You think one Aggron and a Vulpix can solve this? Even with some strength, it can't make up for numbers!"

"That's fine, come out—you don't need to hide anymore!"

At his command, a horde of poachers on motorcycles began to emerge from another path.

"This..."

Qiao Ran's forehead broke out in a cold sweat as he looked at the sudden appearance of so many people.

"Didn't expect this, did you! I actually predicted your prediction of our actions!"

The poachers' leader wore a triumphant grin, as if everything was under his control.

"I knew it! I knew the League would set up an ambush on the road! So! I calculated the research team's return time and the arrival time of reinforcements from Jinling in advance, and set up ambushes in similar locations... Didn't expect this! Hahahaha!!!"

"Attack with everything you've got! We must succeed in this operation this time!!!"

"Roar roar roar roar roar roar!"

Lights flashed as countless Pokémon were released from their Poké Balls. Seeing the endless sea of Pokémon—Qiao Ran actually smiled.

Surrounded, Qiao Ran wasn't panicked at all; instead, a smile spread across his face.

"Everyone's here now? Then it's about time for us too."

"Come out, my executioners... no, reinforcements!"

He raised a finger and made a special gesture, pointing towards the sky. Vulpix followed his movement, firing a small snowball into the sky.

Suddenly, the sides of the road seemed to experience an earthquake, and even the trees began to shake.

—Several colossal steel beasts charged out, scattering the poachers to the sides of the road. Riding them was Iron Maiden, wielding a steel shovel and taking down one person after another.

"Didn't expect this!"

Qiao Ran burst into laughter.

"Actually, we also predicted your prediction of our prediction of your actions!!"

Section 64 063 [Melee!]

"D-damn it!"

The poachers' leader's face turned ashen as he looked at the sudden appearance of so many Steel-type Pokémon.

Especially when he saw Iron Maiden riding another Aggron, he let out a cry.

Those silver-gray long hairs... that proud figure... and the shovel glinting with cold light...

"This guy... could it be Iron Maiden, the Steel-type Gym Leader of Jinling Gym?!"

The poachers' leader had heard of Iron Maiden's reputation. Although her strength hadn't reached Elite Four level, and she was still some distance from being a Quasi-Elite Four, she was considered one of the stronger Gym Leaders in the League. She was even known as "the most unprovocable woman in the League," a title closely related to her immense strength.

Legend had it that when Iron Maiden was still an elementary school student, as a novice Pokémon trainer, she had personally torn apart an opponent's Rattata and even beaten the opponent's Caterpie until it evolved into a pupa. It was precisely because of this incident that the League issued a ban the following year on "trainers entering the field to battle, especially elementary school students."

Although the Pokémon defeated by Iron Maiden's bare hands were not strong, fighting Pokémon with a human body was already a heroic feat unimaginable for an ordinary person. Moreover, Iron Maiden was just an elementary school student at the time, her body not even fully developed.

"Who... are you calling Iron Maiden?"

Hearing the poachers' leader's voice, a cloud of dark energy erupted from Iron Maiden. She hated it most when people called her name directly, especially when it was used with that word.

"Stick your neck out and die!"

The heavy shovel swung through the air in her hands, becoming a terrifying deterrent weapon. Except for certain strong Pokémon, other poachers would quickly retreat upon seeing the shovel, fearing it might suddenly smash onto their heads.

"How can I let you get over here! Tyranitar! Block her for me!"

The poacher leader's forehead was covered in cold sweat. Was this person even human? Could humans ride Pokémon and act as cavalry???

On the other side, Qiao Ran was also sweating for Iron Maiden. Looking at Iron Maiden, who was wielding a shovel, riding an Aggron, and fighting fiercely with two Tyranitar, his heart was pounding.

Having stayed at the Jinling Gym for so long, he was quite familiar with Iron Maiden's physical capabilities.

It was true that Iron Maiden's body was stronger than that of an average person, but this strength had its limits. She might be able to hold on for a while, but over time, her disadvantage as a human would become apparent.

She didn't have the recovery abilities of a Pokémon, and besides her basic shovel attacks, she had no skills. She couldn't even spew energy blasts from her mouth.

"Vulpix! Powder Snow! Dianxi! Earth Power!"

With that thought, Qiao Ran released Dianxi and had her join the fray. Now was not the time to hold back; he would deal with the trash on the fringes. Of course, besides him, Iron Maiden's main Pokémon were actually the ones displaying the most combat power on the current battlefield. Especially that blue Empoleon, which took the lead and charged towards the research team's truck, attacking the poachers who were trying to get in.

"Po—na!"

Its body was suddenly enveloped by water currents, and its originally clumsy form began to move rapidly towards its opponent. Under its attack, the poachers' Pokémon fell to the ground one after another.

Qiao Ran took out his Rotom and took a look. This guy's level had actually reached 47, just three levels away from crossing the 50-level threshold and entering the entry line for Pokémon of the Elite Four level!

As expected of the Gym Leader's ace, it was indeed very powerful.

Qiao Ran couldn't help but sigh, but he also thought of some things.

Although its level was said to be three levels away from 50, sometimes these three levels were like a chasm, unattainable no matter how much one tried.

As levels get higher, they become more difficult to increase. Although the level difference from 1 to 2 and from 49 to 50 is both 1 level, the difficulty increases exponentially. At such levels, it not only requires accumulating experience but also the Pokémon's own talent. Some Pokémon without talent would never reach level 40 in their entire lives, or even...

They couldn't even break through level 30, let alone the unimaginable level 50.

Of course, these problems were not problems for Qiao Ran. All he needed to do was battle, battle, keep battling, and keep winning—as long as he kept winning, experience would continue to accumulate.

"Dianxi, continue with Earth Power!"

"Tee—!"

Following Qiao Ran's command, the earth's energy erupted. Dianxi was like an elegant conductor, precisely striking down the poachers.

"It seems I'll gain quite a bit of experience this time."

Looking at the pile of defeated Pokémon in their twenties, Qiao Ran nodded with satisfaction. These Pokémon, whether in terms of training received or their own levels, were far inferior to Iron Maiden's Pokémon, making it quite comfortable for Dianxi to deal with them.

With Dianxi here, it was like a wolf entering a flock of sheep. Except for some relatively strong Pokémon, almost no one could resist her attacks.

Unknowingly, her strength had become very, very great.

Meanwhile, inside the truck.

"Dr. Lilia, what's happening outside? Should we go out now?"

Mei held her Poké Ball, ready for battle at any moment, but she was still seeking Lilia's opinion.

If Lilia didn't agree, she would absolutely not go out.

"It's about time. Let's go out and provide support."

Dr. Lilia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

After calming her emotions, she took out her communicator and issued instructions to all members of the research team.

"Everyone, get out of the vehicle! Counterattack the attackers! Don't panic, our support is already fighting the poachers! This time, we must capture them all!"

"Yes!"

"Roger!"

Hearing the replies from the communicator, Lilia nodded with satisfaction and took the lead, preparing to open the truck's cargo door.

"Let's go out too, Mei."

"Okay!"

Mei nodded, clenched her small fists, and a smile of excitement appeared on her face.

After being silent for so long, she actually longed for Pokémon battles.

Opening the cargo door, she stepped outside the truck.

"Come out! Serperior!"

With her delicate shout, a long, serpentine Pokémon appeared on the ground—it had red eyes and golden patterns on its body, but its head was always held high, appearing incredibly proud and noble.

"Let them witness the brilliant and colorful power of grass!"

Mei issued her first command to her partner.

"Serperior—"

"Bloom! Leaf! Storm!"

Section 65 064 [You have failed!]

"Hiss—"

Under Mei's command, Serperior raised its head high and spun its tail. Instantly, a strong gust of wind pressure surged around it, whipping up countless emerald leaves.

This was one of the ultimate Grass-type techniques, a terrifying skill with a power level of 130.

—Leaf Storm!

"…!"

The poachers surrounding the truck were startled and quickly sent out their Pokémon to resist. However, they had ultimately underestimated this Serperior, and underestimated the strength of this young girl who looked to be not much older.

The emerald storm, like a giant snake… no, like a dragon, charged forward—in just one second, the ever-growing Leaf Storm swallowed all of the poachers' Pokémon.

Some Pokémon that weren't strong enough couldn't withstand the immense power and soon fell. After the gale, which was raging with leaves, had passed, only a handful of Pokémon remained standing. The rest had collapsed onto the ground, their eyes spinning.

"This…!"

"Who is this person?"

The poachers were all stunned. They, who were close to the truck, were not mere fodder from the outer perimeter. To defeat them so thoroughly in one move would require at least a Gym Leader… no, it would require the strength of a top-tier Gym Leader!

But was the person who appeared before them a Gym Leader? —Undoubtedly not!

Not only was it not, but it was also a girl who looked quite young, perhaps not even an adult!

When did such a person appear in this world?! She reached top-tier strength right after starting her journey???

The poachers were so shocked they froze in place. If Qiao Ran were present and could see this Serperior's level, he would likely have a similar expression.

—Level 42.

That's right, Mei's Pokémon had actually broken through the 40-level barrier, reaching level 42.

As a girl with special talent, Mei's level had been rising smoothly ever since she began her journey. Without taking too much time, she had stepped into a realm that others might never reach in their lifetime.

Of course, this was also related to the fact that in the Pokémon world, people start their journeys at a relatively young age. Although the Unova region where Mei was locat