The Golden Gyarados's scarlet pupils abruptly contracted to pinpoints, and the battle-scarred golden scales covering its body emitted a piercing screech like grinding metal.
—Die!
—Little bro!
It violently threw back its hideous, massive head, and the ball of dangerously unstable orange-red destructive energy within its maw collapsed and boiled at an unprecedented speed.
"Roaargh—!!!"
It was no longer a breath attack.
It was no longer a pulse.
It was a crimson torrent condensed from raw power.
Hyper Beam!
Fire!
Like a punishing spear hurled by a magma titan, it instantly tore through the humid air.
Wherever it passed, moisture evaporated and light twisted; carrying immense authority, it brazenly bombarded the Blue Gyarados, which stood stiff and immobile in place due to the aftereffects of Giga Impact.
Time seemed to be stretched and frozen by this single strike.
Misty's orange hair was pulled straight back by the violent shockwave.
She watched helplessly as that crimson death beam closed in inch by inch on her partner, the red glow reflecting in her pupils.
Theoretically speaking, she could use a Poké Ball to recall her Pokémon and surrender immediately.
But by the time Misty realized she wanted to do this, it was already too late.
Beam moves are the fastest attacks.
Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
The ending she had long anticipated had now truly arrived, yet it was still heavy enough to stop her heart.
BOOM——————————
The crimson pillar of light completely swallowed the Blue Gyarados's massive frame.
The terrifying energy explosion instantly vaporized a large portion of the pool water, and scalding white steam mixed with the shockwave blasted outward in a ring, slamming viciously against the surrounding energy barriers and emitting a tooth-aching sound of fracturing.
The entire arena trembled violently, the overhead lights flickering uncertainly.
Once the blinding light and steam slowly dissipated.
The Blue Gyarados had already collapsed in the center of the pool, which had become shallow and murky.
Its huge body was covered in large patches of charred black marks, its scarlet dragon eyes shut tight, having completely lost consciousness.
Only the ripples slowly spreading beneath it bore witness to that earth-shattering strike just now.
Most Pokémon possess very tenacious vitality.
Especially since this Blue Gyarados was specially trained by the Gym, its abilities in all aspects were quite excellent.
Although it was beaten into a heavy injury.
It wasn't that easy to kill.
This Blue Gyarados was painstakingly selected by Misty, and was about the same level as Ash's Golden Gyarados... perhaps even slightly stronger.
Dead silence.
There was only the tapping sound of water drops falling from the damaged ceiling, and the heavy panting of the Golden Gyarados after its excessive exertion.
The Golden Gyarados was, after all, just a rookie.
To be able to achieve this degree was already the result of its exceptional talent combined with immense effort.
Of course, a little bit of System help was also indispensable.
After all, the System brought an inconspicuous, yet extremely awesome ability—Once Attained, Forever Retained.
For Ash's Pokémon, they would never regress.
Growth was growth; they would not become weaker due to a lack of practice.
"..." Misty stood rooted to the spot, motionless.
She looked at her partner who had lost the ability to battle, then slowly raised her head to look at the boy across from her, who was also panting but still stood with his back straight in the commander's position.
After a long while.
She finally let out a soft breath.
Her voice carried a trace of imperceptible trembling, and a subtle complaint she hadn't even realized herself:
"...You guy..."
"Couldn't you just... go easy on me a little?"
The moment the words left her mouth, Misty herself was stunned for a second, then immediately averted her gaze unnaturally, her cheeks slightly burning.
She wasn't the type of character to say such things.
She didn't expect to actually speak to Ash in this tone?
—I actually whined and complained unconsciously?
Misty felt extremely embarrassed right now.
At this moment, Misty thought of her three sisters.
She knew those three sisters' thoughts all too well—recruiting a live-in son-in-law.
And when she thought about how she and Ash were currently only 10 years old...
No way!
This kind of thing is absolutely out of the question!
Misty began to zone out, feeling that this sort of thing should at least wait until adulthood to discuss.
Even if not waiting for adulthood, 10 years old is too early.
At least wait until past 14!
When that time comes, there can definitely be a sweet, lovey-dovey romance~~
Just as Misty was indulging in her wild fantasies.
Ash raised his hand and pulled down the brim of his hat with force, obscuring the emotions churning in his eyes.
He stepped forward across the messy field, standing water splashing into tiny droplets beneath his feet.
Ash walked up to Misty and stopped.
Then he slowly raised his head; the gaze from beneath the brim was more serious than ever before, even carrying a scorching heat, looking straight into Misty's eyes, which still held lingering unwillingness and complex emotions.
"Go easy?"
Ash's voice was somewhat low; now was the time to use his Talk-no-Jutsu.
"How could I possibly commit such an insulting act as 'going easy' on you!"
"You are standing here only because you staked your pride as a Gym Trainer and your past fears!"
"If I were to show mercy at this moment, that would be the greatest blasphemy to you, to your Gyarados, and to this resolve!"
Ash's decisive words cleaved through the remaining hesitation and subtle atmosphere in the air.
"To crush everything you've shown me with all my might!"
"That is exactly the highest praise I offer—to the Trainer named Misty!"
"It is my... sincere treatment of a companion!"
Only in the aspect of eloquence would Ash absolutely not admit defeat.
He absolutely did not want to encounter a scene where he [couldn't out-talk them, and couldn't out-fight them]!
The moment his voice fell, Misty was abruptly stunned.
She looked at Ash's eyes, which held no haze and burned with pure conviction, and looked at the golden giant beast behind him that, despite being scarred, still radiated an unquestionable dominance.
That trace of inexplicable grievance and complaint from earlier vanished without a trace like morning fog pierced by sunlight.
Replacing it was a hotter, more surging emotion that slammed into her heart.
Her cheeks flushed red uncontrollably; she subconsciously wanted to retort, her lips moving, but ultimately she said nothing.
She just gave a slight hmph and turned her head away again.
Only those quietly reddened earlobes exposed their owner's unquiet heart.
With such a serious Ash saying such serious words, Misty was truly extremely shy.
Does this count as a confession?
The girl began to let her thoughts wander.
Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the dome, falling precisely between the two of them, illuminating the floating dust like fragmented gold.
Pikachu had jumped onto Ash's shoulder at some point, looking at Ash, then at Misty, scratching its face with a small paw.
"Pika..."
Pikachu sighed—it really didn't understand humans...
"Hmph~" Misty's ears were as red as branding irons.
"Since you've put it that way, I'll accept it out of great benevolence."
"Here!"
"This is the Cerulean Gym's Cascade Badge."
"This is the Badge I'm giving you, so make sure to keep it safe. If you lose it, I won't forgive you."
That's what she said... but it's really good to meet such a reliable companion.
"Hahahaha! Don't worry!" Ash took the Cascade Badge and held it up. "Our future will shine eternally like this Badge!"
Under the indoor lights, this gem-like blue badge sparkled with light.
[Cerulean Gym · Cascade Badge]
[Effect: Slight increase in Trainer's Water-type affinity (Energy perception/resistance), slight reinforcement of basic physical fitness.]
____
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