Chapter 32: Lt. Surge and the Retro-Style Showdown
Walking through the main hall of the Vermilion Gym, the group arrived at the gym's second training arena.
Inside the standard-sized field, two soldiers in camouflage work pants were supervising an Electabuzz and a Pikachu doing strength training.
Watching that Pikachu lift a 50kg dumbbell with its tail, Ash's Pikachu couldn't help but wipe a bead of cold sweat.
That's… a bit intense, buddy!
"Visquez! Steve! Get to work!" Tony shouted loudly.
"Yes, sir!"
A muscular man and woman stepped up to Tony, standing straight with hands behind their backs.
"What's the problem? Tony, you called for me just now?"
Rubbing his golden hair, wearing a dog-tag necklace and dressed in a green military uniform, a towering man walked out from the inner hallway.
"Gym Leader, we have a challenger. I was just about to start the assessment." Tony reported.
"Oh~ boy… so you're the challenger?"
Lt. Surge lowered his head. At one meter ninety, he towered over Ash like a wall.
"Aaah…"
Verity swallowed nervously and took a step back.
Sorrel's face also tightened. Mostly because Lt. Surge's face looked like the exact kind of person who beats you up for breathing wrong…
Ash, without flinching, raised his chin.
"That's right. I'm Ash from Pallet Town. Please conduct a Gym battle with me."
He lightly opened his jacket to reveal two shiny badges.
The message was clear: I'm not an easy target.
"Oh~ the Boulder Badge and Cascade Badge."
Lt. Surge cracked his neck and glanced at Ash's Pikachu. "You earned them using that one?"
"Of course. Pikachu is my partner." Ash nodded firmly.
"Hahahaha, interesting."
Lt. Surge's eyes lit with fire.
Back in the day, he wouldn't even spare a glance at such a "baby Pokémon."
But… a certain trainer once taught him a painful lesson with a Pikachu.
So when he saw Ash's partner—and that faintly familiar look between Pikachu and its trainer—Lt. Surge's hands began itching…
"Since you already have two badges, and since I'm in a good mood today, forget the test."
Lt. Surge grinned and waved a hand.
"Tony! Open the main battle arena. I'll play with him personally!"
"Yes, sir!"
Tony saluted sharply and jogged toward the central stage.
"Hey~ that big guy looked fierce, but maybe he's actually pretty nice?"
Verity said in surprise.
Ash glanced at the main field and twitched the corner of his mouth.
"I hope you'll still think so later."
"Hehe, boy! Let me see if you're a real man. Come on!"
Lt. Surge crooked a finger, then looked toward his two deputies:
"Visquez, Steve—come observe the match, and prepare the first aid kit."
"Yes!"
Both deputy captains jogged after him.
"Ash, something feels off. Maybe think twice?" Sorrel urged.
"A man can't back down once he's said he'll do it. Besides, the arrow's already on the string—too late to regret."
Ash smiled. "I can't let Lt. Surge mock me for not being a man."
After calming the two down, Ash walked toward the main arena first.
Verity and Sorrel hurried after him.
Under the spotlights, the main arena was surrounded by soft ring ropes like a boxing ring.
The shiny metallic floor gleamed silver.
Just as Verity and Sorrel tried to step forward, Visquez blocked them.
"Spectators, stay behind the yellow line."
Sorrel looked at the strange battlefield setup and couldn't help frowning.
"Alright, Ash-boy, take the challenger's position."
Lt. Surge shrugged off his jacket, revealing a tank top and sharply defined muscles.
Ash stepped onto the ring, testing the floor with a soft tap of his foot before smiling.
Once both sides were in position, Tony, acting as referee, announced:
"Next is the official battle of the Vermilion Gym. Each side may use two Pokémon. Only the challenger may switch Pokémon.
When either a Pokémon or a trainer loses the ability to continue, the battle ends."
"Huh?! The trainer?!"
Verity and Sorrel both jolted in shock.
"Turn on the switch!"
Lt. Surge roared.
Steve immediately slammed down a lever.
Crackle!!
The soft ring ropes burst with electricity, arcs flickering along their lengths.
Even the air lightly hummed with current.
At the same time, Ash felt a faint numbness under his feet.
"Hehehe! A real man doesn't let his Pokémon take all the damage alone!"
Lt. Surge thumped his chest.
"In my Vermilion Gym, whenever your Pokémon is hit, the trainer receives an electric shock too!
Well, boy—still want to challenge me?"
"What—? Even the trainer?!"
Verity paled.
"Ash, this is too dangerous! Don't do it!"
Sorrel shouted nervously.
"Relax."
Ash waved them off. "It's just a little shock. I actually have some experience with electrical attacks."
"Very good. Excellent!"
Lt. Surge's eyes burned with excitement.
"Nowadays trainers are too soft! No spirit!
Back in my day, Pokémon attacks could be aimed directly at the trainer!
The current rules are way too efferminate! Ash, you're good. Let's see if your bones are as hard as your mouth!"
Ash nodded confidently.
"I don't believe anyone's head can be harder than mine. Battle time!"
Tony raised his hand.
"Battle begin!"
"Raichu, go!"
Lt. Surge's first choice was Pikachu's evolved form.
"Rai~ rai!"
Nearly twice Pikachu's size, bulkier in both limbs and tail, Raichu curled a finger, taunting Pikachu from across the field.
Ash didn't hesitate.
"Pikachu, I choose you!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu leaped into the arena, facing off against Raichu.
"Begin!" Tony declared.
"Raichu—Thunderbolt!"
Lt. Surge clenched his fist, grinning wildly.
Opening strike: Thunderbolt. Let's see how you dodge this, boy!
Ash relied on Pikachu's biggest advantage—speed.
"Quick Attack to evade!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu sprinted at full speed, leaving afterimages streaking across the field.
Boom!!
A thunderbolt cracked down—Pikachu dodged with ease.
"It missed?!"
Lt. Surge spat angrily.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack again!"
Ash immediately countered.
From below the ring, Visquez nodded.
"As expected of a two-badge trainer. Not bad."
Steve chuckled softly.
"But still too naïve."
Pikachu twisted its body and burst into a white streak of light.
Lt. Surge sneered.
"Raichu, Discharge!"
BOOM!!
A burst of blinding golden electricity exploded from Raichu, sweeping across the entire arena.
"Pika—!!"
Pikachu was blown back, though as another Electric-type, the effect was reduced.
Under Ash's feet, the sparking current surged again.
Oh boy~ here it comes.
CRACKLE!!
Electricity shot up Ash's legs, engulfing his entire body in flashing gold.
"Ash!!"
Verity tried to rush forward, but Sorrel grabbed her tightly.
"He's still fighting. Don't interfere."
Sorrel said firmly. "We have to believe in Ash."
A puff of smoke rose from Ash's clothes before the current faded.
Everyone stared, waiting for his reaction.
Ash rolled his neck with a crack, rubbed his wrist, then looked up.
"That shock… is way weaker than Pikachu's."
"Whoa~"
Steve whistled in surprise.
Bisquith even gave Ash a thumbs-up.
"A real man."
Lt. Surge burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! Subarashii! Ash, you're amazing! Keep fighting!"
Ash grinned through clenched teeth.
"Pikachu! Don't let them look down on you! Quick Attack—again!"
"Pika!!"
Pikachu sprang like a bullet—
BAM!
So fast that Raichu didn't even react before being knocked over.
CRACKLE!!
Lt. Surge was instantly swallowed by electricity. Luckily, his vest and gloves were clearly made of anti-electric material.
Though glowing gold, he wasn't affected much at all.
"Che—"
Ash clicked his tongue.
"If you're gonna play like that, then I won't hold back either."
Lt. Surge chuckled.
"This is my personal gear. If you win, I'll give you a pair of anti-electric gloves."
Ash finally nodded in satisfaction.
The battle continued!
To be continued…
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〔TL〕
CAP CHAPTER.
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〔TL〕
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