Professor Oak said this last part in a low voice, so Delia didn't hear it, but that didn't stop her from cheering for Ash.
However, Delia's cheers were drowned out by the many murmurs and Ash didn't notice.
All his attention was on Gary now.
"Are we going all out from the start, Pikachu?"
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu nodded, with a lingering trace of anger on his face, he wanted to take down that turtle right before him!
Although it wasn't the turtle who taunted him, its trainer did, and the turtle shares the blame!
"Alright then, Gary, it's like you've awakened a sleeping lion!"
Gary: ???
What on earth are you talking about? A sleeping lion, surely you're not talking about your Pikachu?
You call this thing a lion?
Ash took off the cap on his head and tossed it onto the field, Pikachu leaped up and caught the cap steadily, it seemed to fit onto Pikachu's little head as if magnetically attached.
In an instant, power surged through him, and Pikachu's entire state transformed completely!
"What is that? Battling with a hat? Could it be some sort of held item?" Gary squinted, carefully observing the cap on Pikachu's head.
There are many mysterious held items in the Pokemon world, a simple sash might contain all kinds of magical powers, like ensuring a Pokemon retains a sliver of physical strength after taking a strong hit at full power, or boosting Fighting Type damage...
In addition to sashes, there are vests, scarves, and other amplifying items, and the cap Ash put on Pikachu might very well be one of these items.
But after Gary took a closer look, his face immediately turned black.
"That cap should be one of those limited edition ones sent by mail to the League and randomly distributed, right?"
"That's right, why?"
"Come on! I thought it was some kind of Pokemon held item, why are you letting Pikachu wear a cap in a battle? To add flair? This isn't a Pokemon Contest."
"What's a Pokemon Contest?"
"...Doesn't matter, I'll tell you after I beat you! Wartortle, since the opponent is wearing a cap, let's knock it off with Water Gun!"
Gary couldn't be bothered answering Ash's question anymore and directly commanded Wartortle to attack Pikachu.
After receiving the command, Wartortle shot a stream of water as thick as an arm out of its mouth, aimed directly at the cap on Pikachu's head.
"Thunderbolt!" Seeing Wartortle's attack, Ash quickly got into the zone, waving his hand for Pikachu to counter with Thunderbolt.
Golden currents surged from Pikachu's body, clashing directly with the Water Gun!
Upon the first contact, the Water Gun was obliterated, and the sparkling electricity surged along the water flow towards Wartortle.
"Dodge it!"
"Warto!" Wartortle stopped the Water Gun and then rolled to the side to avoid the Thunderbolt attack.
The Thunderbolt hit the ground, scorching that patch of earth black.
Gary's expression became serious, his mind alert, realizing that Ash's Pikachu was stronger than he had imagined. This kind of Thunder Shock isn't something ordinary Pokemon can use.
Perhaps Wartortle's level isn't as high as Pikachu's.
Having reached this conclusion, Gary was initially in disbelief. Even though he's captured many Pokemon and trained them evenly, Wartortle, as his Starter Pokemon, has received his full cultivation.
Reaching Advanced Peak within a month is something 99% of Newbie Trainers can't achieve.
Yet Ash's Pikachu's level was higher than his Wartortle's? Is that reasonable?!
But Gary quickly set aside this thought, trusting his judgment in battle. No matter how unreasonable it seemed, since it already happened, he had to face and solve it.
Now, with Wartortle at a disadvantage in level and attribute, the situation was quite unfavorable, and he needed a plan to turn the tide.
"Wartortle, use Water Pulse!"
Wartortle took a deep breath, puffed its cheeks, and then spat out a turbulent stream of water!
The roiling water formed waves of Water Pulse, surging towards Pikachu!
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Pika—Chu!"
Pikachu's tail was coated with a metallic sheen, then it leaped towards the waves, twisting its body in mid-air and smashing its tail down hard!
In a flash of white light, Gary saw the surging waves of Water Pulse get forcibly split in two!
"Damn! What is this?!" Gary lost his temper and cursed out loud.
Of course, he knew about Iron Tail. When used by Steel Type Pokemon, it could be quite effective. However, this time it was being used by Pikachu.
This skill isn't a same-type move, not to mention Pikachu is so small, how strong could it be?
Then Pikachu showed him just how strong it could be.
Its blade cleaved through the waves, cutting the tidal water in half!
This is really a roadside stray Pikachu?
"Whoa, that's Pikachu?!"
"Such a cool Pikachu! Pikachu looks so awesome with a cap on!"
"Is it possible that it wasn't the cap that looked awesome, but the fact that he sliced the waves with one strike?"
"Who is this young man? How could he train Pikachu to this level?"
"..."
Pikachu's move of splitting the Water Pulse left the crowd buzzing with conversation.
To train a common mascot Pikachu to this level, could such a Trainer be an unknown figure?
Ash wasn't exactly without fame; although the news of him defeating Lt. Surge for his third badge hadn't yet spread, people knew he was a two-badge holder and his journey with Gary was already known to some.
The world is never short of those all-knowing people, always able to gather information from various channels.
Upon learning that Ash was also a Newbie Trainer, the surrounding people were even more amazed.
Today saw the first encounter between two Newbie Trainers, and now their strengths couldn't be underestimated.
...
"So what now? Still think my Pikachu is a stray dog from the roadside?" Ash raised his head slightly, boasting proudly.
On the other side, Gary's expression wasn't too happy either. Before the journey began, he had always outperformed Ash, but today Ash was actually turning the tables, which was something Master Gary couldn't accept.
However, he remained calm during the battle.
"Wartortle, Withdraw." Following the order, Wartortle instantly retracted into its shell, boosting its Defense.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" The withdrawal improves its physical Defense; here, just use a Special Attack move to attack the opponent.
The knowledge learned from the top Trainers wasn't remembered in vain!
"Pika—Chu!!"
"Wartortle, Rapid Spin and Hydro Pump!"
Wartortle's shell began to rapidly spin, and at the same time, it unleashed raging torrents from the openings in its shell!
The strong water currents released seemed capable of slicing through the air, producing a sharp whistling sound.
Due to the Rapid Spin, Wartortle even created a water barrier around itself!
Golden currents surged from Pikachu's body, the fist-thick electricity striking towards Wartortle, but it was directly deflected by Wartortle's Hydro Pump combined with Rapid Spin!
This was a combo made of three moves including fiercely strong Hydro Pump as a prime Water Type attack; even with a level disadvantage, it could deflect Thunderbolt!
"Good, now charge at it!" Gary's lips curled into a smile as he commanded loudly, feeling victory's goddess was beginning to smile upon him!
"Pikachu, Zippy Zap to dodge!"
"Pika!!" Pikachu landed on all fours and then forcefully pushed off, a golden arc flashed across the field, and Pikachu instantly vanished.
Upon seeing this, the smile on Gary's face froze suddenly.
Zippy Zap? What's this move? How could it be so fast? He couldn't even see a shadow!
"Bam!!"
"Sizzle!"
While Gary's eyes widened, searching for Pikachu, a dull thud and the sound of electricity hitting something echoed in the field.
The Wartortle that was using Hydro Pump while spinning rapidly let out a miserable cry, forcibly knocked out of its Rapid Spin, its shell rolling over a dozen times across the ground before finally coming to a stop.
And Pikachu reappeared on the field, even in the exact same spot as before, as if he had never moved.
However, the bottom of Wartortle's shell was scorched black, indicating that Pikachu had attacked Wartortle, while Gary saw nothing!