Chapter 33: The Vermilion Badge and the Move Electro Ball
The battle between Ash and Lt. Surge, wagering the Vermilion Gym Badge, continued fiercely inside the Vermilion Gym.
"Raichu, Body Slam!"
Lt. Surge's attacks were wide and aggressive.
Ash and Pikachu could only keep dodging again and again, searching for an opening.
"Pikachu, hurry and dodge!"
A faint layer of sweat appeared on Ash's forehead.
He had improved as a trainer, but he overlooked one thing: Pikachu, at the moment, still couldn't completely ignore level gaps and fight across tiers.
"Pika!!"
Caught partially by Raichu's Body Slam, Pikachu let out a cry and was flung toward the edge of the arena.
Crackle!!
The numbing electricity surged across Ash's entire body.
Gritting his teeth, he leapt forward and caught Pikachu tightly in his arms.
"Pika…"
Pikachu looked at Ash apologetically.
"It's fine. I know you're doing your best."
Ash smiled gently. "But the battle isn't over yet."
"Pika pika!!"
Pikachu nodded hard, steadied its breathing, and locked eyes on its opponent once more.
Seeing Ash desperately diving to rescue his Pikachu, Lt. Surge smirked.
"What's wrong? Running out of tricks? Raichu, Thunder!"
Ash's mind spun rapidly.
Lt. Surge seemed fixated on defeating Pikachu through overwhelming electric attacks.
Even though it had failed multiple times, he still continued attempting high-power electric moves.
A flaw!
A sharp light flashed through Ash's eyes.
After all, he had specifically charged Pikachu in Pewter City to increase its electricity storage capacity.
Without that specialized training, Pikachu likely would have overloaded and blown itself up long ago.
"Pikachu, remember our special training in Pewter City? Charge up now!"
Ash shouted.
"Pika!!"
Pikachu nodded firmly, raised its tail sharply, clenched its small fists at its chest, and lowered its head in concentration.
Bzzt—
Electricity formed a glowing orb around Pikachu, the current flowing steadily into Pikachu's body through its electric sacs.
"Piii…"
As Raichu's voltage increased, Pikachu's face twisted in pain.
"Tch…"
With Pikachu continuously taking damage, the shock hit Ash as well.
Ash and Pikachu exchanged a look—both nodding silently.
Now was the test of endurance.
If they wanted a complete reversal, they had to endure—no matter what.
"Pika… pika… pikaaaa—!"
As Pikachu's electric aura grew stronger and stronger, Lt. Surge finally sensed something was wrong.
"Raichu! Stop, now!"
"It's too late!!"
Ash, already electric shocked to one knee, roared with all his strength:
"Pikachu—release all that power at once—Quick Attack!"
FWOOM!!
A blinding golden beam shot straight upward.
Pikachu—wrapped entirely in erupting electrical plasma—launched forward like a lightning missile.
Rumble!!
With thunder swirling behind it like a cloak, Pikachu's eyes sharpened into razor-like focus as it charged Raichu head-on.
BOOM!!
The two collided—exploding into a massive blast of lightning!
The battlefield was instantly swallowed in thick black smoke.
No one could see a thing.
Ash stared fiercely into the haze.
Sorrel and Verity watched Ash's back anxiously, while Visquez and Steve looked toward their Gym Leader nervously.
Fwooo—
As the Gym's ventilation system pulled the smoke away, the scene on the ring gradually became clear.
"Pika!!"
Pikachu—battered, injured, wobbling—was standing on Raichu's back!
Raichu lay flat on the ground, completely unable to battle.
"Unbelievable!!"
Visquez exclaimed, stunned.
It was truly hard to believe—
Raichu had actually lost to Pikachu.
"Pika~"
Pikachu gave Ash a sweet smile before collapsing.
Ash caught him instantly, holding him securely in his arms.
"You did beautifully, Pikachu."
Ash pressed his forehead against Pikachu's gently.
"Rest well. Your teammates will take it from here."
"Pika pika~"
Pikachu nodded weakly as Ash handed him to Verity for safekeeping.
Once everything was settled, Ash stepped back onto the ring.
Seeing Ash's face covered in soot and his hair exploded upwards from the shocks, Lt. Surge couldn't help nodding.
"Ash-boy, you're a real tough guy."
"Hehe~ less talking. Our battle isn't over yet, right?"
Ash wiped the corner of his mouth and grinned wide.
"Very good!"
Lt. Surge's blood boiled with excitement.
"Next, I'll bring out my strongest fighter!"
He ripped off his anti-electric vest and went bare-chested.
"Electabuzz, you're up!"
Fortunately, this was Ash's first challenge.
Had it been his second, Lt. Surge might have brought out Electivire.
And according to intel, Lt. Surge once caught a Zapdos and used it to power the Vermilion maglev trains.
Even if those were exaggerated rumors, who knew if the man, when pushed, would suddenly throw out a Zapdos…
At that moment, Ash lifted a Poké Ball with a confident smile.
"Sorry, but I'm going to bring out a big upgrade."
"Gengar! I choose you!"
Ash pulled down his cap brim and hurled the ball.
"Gengaaa~!"
Gengar floated in midair, red eyes grinning wide, phasing in and out—its aura overwhelming Electabuzz.
"Tch. Bringing out something troublesome, huh?"
Lt. Surge clicked his tongue.
Ash flashed the same wicked grin as Gengar.
"I told you—this time, I'm crushing my opponents with a different style."
"Oh! With Gengar here, this is in the bag!"
Verity waved excitedly.
"But Gengar and Ash haven't really synced yet… I wonder how their coordination will be."
Sorrel said worriedly.
"Battle, begin!"
Tony announced.
"Electabuzz, Thunderbolt!"
Lt. Surge led with his classic electric opener.
"Gengar, get moving!"
Ash commanded confidently.
"Gengaaa!"
Gengar's body vanished into rapid motion, afterimages overlapping across the air!
With Gengar's ghostly movements, every bolt from Electabuzz missed completely.
Cold sweat beaded on Lt. Surge's forehead.
What kind of movement speed was that?
That shouldn't even be legal!
"Gengaaa~"
A terrifying face popped up in front of Electabuzz.
Startled, Lt. Surge barked:
"Electabuzz, Thunder Punch!"
"Ele!!"
Electabuzz's right fist glowed with fierce electric light as it swung toward the massive ghostly face.
Ash called out without hesitation:
"Gengar—Ice Punch!"
Whoosh!
Gengar's body instantly blurred.
Electabuzz punched nothing but air.
Gengar then slipped behind it, clenching its right fist—icy blue light bursting forth—
and slammed Electabuzz in the back of the head!
BAM!!
Electabuzz dropped to the ground face-first.
Gengar stretched its cheeks wide, making a grotesque scary face.
"Gengaaa… ga-ga-ga…"
Crackle!!
Lt. Surge took the shock, dropping to one knee.
"Tss—motherf—!! Electabuzz, use Thunder!!"
"Gengar—Psychic!"
Ash swung his arm sharply.
"Gennn… GAA!!"
Gengar crossed its arms, then thrust them outward.
Blue light flared in its eyes as waves of purple psychic energy blasted toward Electabuzz like a crashing tide.
BOOM!!
Electabuzz's body lifted uncontrollably off the ground—
then shot backward like a cannonball—
It smashed right through the electrified ring ropes and was thrown out of the arena entirely!
Ash and Gengar high-fived excitedly.
"We won!!"
"Gengaa~!"
Gengar stuck out its giant tongue and whipped Ash playfully with it.
"Tch… guess I lost."
Lt. Surge muttered, recalling Electabuzz and putting his jacket back on.
"The Vermilion Gym match is over.
The victor is Ash from Pallet Town."
Tony declared professionally.
"Yeah!! Ash won! Gengar was amazing!!"
Verity punched Sorrel's shoulder in excitement.
Sorrel nodded with a warm smile.
"That's Ash for you. He always manages to shock me."
Visquez looked conflicted as she turned to retrieve the badge.
Steve shut off the electricity, signaling everyone it was safe to approach.
Lt. Surge took the badge from Bisquith and shoved it into Ash's hand.
"Take it—the proof you beat me.
And this TM might be useful for you."
Ash accepted the TM disc with delight.
He hadn't expected extra loot again.
After all, TMs weren't cheap or common rewards, and many Gym Leaders didn't give them out unless they really acknowledged the challenger.
The TM Lt. Surge gave him was Electro Ball—
the faster the user compared to the opponent, the greater the damage.
A perfect match for Pikachu's speed-based fighting style.
Naturally, Ash accepted it gratefully.
After shaking hands with Lt. Surge and the two deputy captains, Ash's Vermilion Gym challenge came to a perfect close.
As they were about to leave, Visquez called out:
"As a fellow Pikachu trainer—one day, I'll definitely challenge you."
Ash held Pikachu in his arms and smiled brightly.
"Yeah. One day, we'll have a match."
To be continued…
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〔TL〕
Every 100 powerstones = 2 bonus ch.
Every 2 review after 100 ps = 1 bonus ch.