Compared to Shirō, however, the gap was obvious. Back when Shirō was still a disciple, he already had three or four Pokémon at the quasi-Elite Four level. That alone showed how important talent was for a trainer.
"The Pokémon I will use is Machoke," Chuck said as he threw a Poké Ball.
A Machoke appeared on the battlefield, its light blue skin and powerful arms radiating raw strength.
"Then I will use this one," Ash replied calmly, tossing his own Poké Ball.
A flash of white light passed, and Grovyle appeared opposite Machoke. After evolving from Treecko and undergoing Ash's training, Grovyle had grown significantly stronger.
"Leaf Blade," Ash ordered.
At once, the leaves on Grovyle's arm extended and merged into a sharp, glowing green blade as it dashed forward toward Machoke.
"Machoke, use Revenge," Chuck responded immediately.
He knew dodging at this distance was impossible, so he chose to endure the hit and counterattack. Revenge would double its power after taking damage.
Boom!
"Machoke!"
Machoke's body was covered in a red glow as it took the hit head-on. It cried out in pain but remained standing. Fighting-type Pokémon were known for their endurance, and this was only the beginning of the match.
"Now, Low Kick!" Chuck seized the moment.
Machoke's leg glowed white as it swept toward Grovyle's lower body.
"Jump and dodge," Ash said without hesitation.
Since Revenge had already activated, the damage from Low Kick would be amplified. Ash had no intention of letting that connect.
"Grov!"
Grovyle leapt into the air with incredible agility, easily avoiding the attack. Its jumping ability was among the best.
"What speed and jumping power," Chuck said, impressed. "Even at that distance, you avoided it. Machoke, use Bulk Up."
Machoke immediately flexed, its muscles tightening as its attack and defense increased. This was a staple move for many Fighting-type Pokémon.
"You know you are at a disadvantage, so you are trying to stack power with counterattacks," Ash said calmly, folding his arms. "Not a bad idea, but it only works if you can land a hit."
"Use Forest Trap."
"Grov!"
At Ash's command, thick tree trunks suddenly burst from the ground around Machoke, binding its limbs tightly. No matter how hard it struggled, it could not break free.
"It is over. Energy Ball."
A green sphere of energy quickly formed in Grovyle's mouth before being fired at the immobilized Machoke at high speed.
Boom!
"Machoke!"
The explosion sent Machoke crashing to the ground, completely losing its ability to fight. The power of the attack was overwhelming, far beyond what it could endure.
"Machoke, are you alright?" Chuck asked, concern evident in his voice as he rushed forward.
"Machoke is unable to battle. Grovyle wins. The challenger from Pallet Town, Ash, takes the victory," the referee announced, raising a flag.
For Ash, this was one of the easiest Gym battles he had fought so far.
"Congratulations. You have won this match. This Storm Badge is yours," Chuck said.
After confirming that Machoke was not seriously injured, he recalled it into its Poké Ball and handed the badge to Ash.
"Thanks," Ash replied as he accepted it.
With the Gym battle over, there was no reason to stay. Ash and Sabrina soon said their goodbyes and left the Cianwood Gym. Without any special opportunities or breakthroughs, Chuck's strength would likely remain at the quasi-Elite Four level for a long time.
After leaving Cianwood City, Ash and Sabrina boarded a ship and headed toward the largest port city of the Whirl Islands, Blue Rock Island, where Kuga City was located.
At first glance, the entire city was bustling with activity. It felt more like a festival than an ordinary day.
"Ash, this does not seem to be the Gym city we are heading to. Why did we come here?" Sabrina asked, glancing at the map with a hint of confusion.
"This is Kuga City on Blue Rock Island," Ash explained. "Right now, it is hosting the Whirl Cup. This region does not belong to Johto, Kanto, or even the Orange Islands. It is an independent group of four islands."
"These islands were once said to be a single landmass, protected by Lugia for generations. For some unknown reason, it was later split into four separate islands."
"They are Blue Rock Island, Yellow Rock Island, Red Rock Island, and Silver Rock Island. The main competition takes place on Red Rock Island, but registration is held here on Blue Rock Island."
"My real goal is the prize of this competition, the Mystic Water."
Sabrina listened quietly as Ash explained.
Mystic Water was an extremely rare item. It allowed its holder to maintain a calm mind while resonating with the power of the sea. When carried by a Water-type Pokémon, it significantly enhanced the strength of Water-type moves.
The Whirl Cup was held once every three years, and the rewards changed each time. Among all the possible prizes, Mystic Water was the one that interested Ash the most.
In this world, there were many items that could boost a Pokémon's abilities, but most of them were incredibly rare. Mystic Water was one of them, and no one truly knew how it was formed. People only knew that it contained a mysterious and powerful energy.
Because of this, a large number of trainers had gathered for this year's Whirl Cup, many of them highly skilled competitors.
(End of Chapter)
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