Su Hao: "..."
Good, good, good!
Zapdos, you did well!
Though he was cheering inwardly, Su Hao kept a straight face and asked with feigned concern, "Are the injuries serious?"
Ash replied from the other end, "The doctor said I need to rest in bed for about a week."
Tsk.
Su Hao clicked his tongue inwardly. Humans in the Pokémon world always seemed to demonstrate their absurd durability at the most unnecessary times.
"Fine. Remember to come to the Kalos region in a week. Little Soft said it would send Greninja to your former traveling companions in Lumiose City then."
Having failed to get the answer he wanted, Su Hao simply changed the subject.
Ash's voice grew even more excited. "Clemont and Bonnie? Got it!"
"Mm." Su Hao nodded slightly. "I checked the time. There are only a little over two months left before this season ends, so you need to raise your ranking quickly. It wouldn't be very fun if the first-ever champion of the Alola region failed to make the Masters Eight."
"Uh... I'll work hard."
Ash replied listlessly, somewhat unconvinced.
He had already beaten Bea twice after she came looking to challenge Lucario, and his ranking had risen into the eight hundreds of the Great Ball Tier. That was already fast!
As though he had guessed Ash's thoughts, Su Hao dealt the final blow expressionlessly. "By the way, I've already risen to 199th in the Great Ball Tier. Next week, I'll be battling Gym Leader Opal, who's ranked 98th in the Ultra Ball Tier in the Galar region."
"Ah—!?" Ash's smug mood was instantly shattered. Almost desperately, he asked, "Big Brother Su Hao, how did you do it...?"
But all he received in response was the merciless sound of the call disconnecting.
Ash stared blankly at the