The air in Vermilion City carried the unique scent of a harbor, a mixture of salty humidity and motor oil. Towering cranes and the whistles of cargo ships coming and going painted an industrial picture, starkly different from Cerulean City.
Compared to the obviously industrial Vermilion City, Cerulean City felt more like a tourist town.
Right, and Pewter City is actually a mining city... it produces many different kinds of ore.
Ash, Misty, and Brock made their way through the bustling streets until they finally saw the familiar red-roofed building—the Vermilion City Pokémon Center.
However, the scene before them stopped them in their tracks.
A long line had formed at the entrance of the Pokémon Center. Anxiety was written all over the Trainers' faces. Many of them held or stood beside listless, bandaged Pokémon.
Through the gap as the glass doors slid open and shut, they could hear the sound of footsteps, much more hurried than usual, and the occasional suppressed whimper of pain from a Pokémon.
"What... what's going on?" Misty asked in surprise, looking around. "Is the Pokémon Center in Vermilion City always this... busy?"
Brock's brow furrowed, his expression turning serious. "Usually not."
"From what I know, while the Vermilion Gym is stricter, they don't normally take things this far."
After all, most of the Gym's subordinate Trainers are just part-timers. For a few hundred a month, why would you put your life on the line?
Who knows if one of the trainers you deliberately mess with will grow up to be someone powerful and come back looking for trouble? Just test the challengers at a normal level; it's not like you have to fight to the death.
So... this must be Lt. Surge's own doing.
But as a Gym Leader, Lt. Surge has no need to test low-level trainers.
...So... what happened to make Lt. Surge act so abnormally?
This was the conclusion Brock reached after a quick brainstorm. He felt it was almost certainly the case.
Just as he was thinking this, the Pokémon Center's doors slid open again.
A Nurse Joy emerged, briskly pushing a cart laden with medical supplies. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and her usual gentle smile was replaced by tightly pressed lips.
Joy was practically jogging toward the treatment room, not even noticing Ash, Misty, and Brock at the entrance.
Ash instinctively took a step forward. "Nurse Joy, excuse me..."
Nurse Joy paused, recognizing Ash's face and seeing Brock and Misty behind him. She sighed wearily. "Are you new challengers? Ugh... here to challenge Mr. Surge, I suppose?"
She rubbed the bridge of her nose, her tone laced with clear helplessness and a hint of barely concealed complaint. "Mr. Surge has been incredibly motivated recently... he's taken over the 'assessment' for the vast majority of the Gym challenges..."
"I know a Gym Leader's duty is to screen challengers, but... ugh, his Raichu is just too heavy-handed."
"Those with lighter injuries, just have them wait in line outside."
"The more serious ones can't be left with lasting damage, so I have to deal with them quickly."
"While it's not life-threatening, the nerve paralysis and muscle tears caused by Electric-type moves require a long time to recover... this is the seventeenth one sent in today."
"If you're all planning to challenge him, please... be mentally prepared."
With that, she pushed her cart and hurried away.
Nurse Joy was running off her feet, completely worked to the bone.
Misty gasped. "The seventeenth? Has Lt. Surge... gone mad?"
Misty had been a Gym Trainer herself. She had turned away plenty of challengers during their assessments at the Cerulean Gym.
But she would also let some challengers pass and get their Badge. And generally, she wouldn't battle too harshly.
Some challengers' Pokémon just needed a Potion or some light treatment at the Cerulean Gym, without even needing to be sent to the Pokémon Center.
And since there was a line of seriously injured Pokémon at the Center, that meant many more with less severe injuries had likely already received minor treatment at the Vermilion Gym and left.
Has Lt. Surge... become some kind of super workaholic?
But this pass rate is way too low.
Misty figured that if these trainers had passed their assessment, they wouldn't look so dejected even if they were injured. So, judging by the atmosphere, it was clear they had been seriously injured and failed to get the Badge.
Yes.
Both Brock and Misty had the professional instincts of a Trainer. They could gather clues from their surroundings to piece together the truth.
Ash said gravely, "It seems Meowth's intel was correct. This Gym Leader, it seems, has no patience for 'weakness.'"
Just then, a commotion broke out at the back of the line.
"Let me through! Excuse me, please let me through!" a panicked voice cried out.
Tamer A.J. appeared, sweating profusely as he pushed through the crowd, cradling his Sandshrew in his arms.
The Sandshrew had none of the spirit it showed a few days ago. Large patches of scorched black marks covered its body, its tough scales were shattered in multiple places, and its limbs were still twitching unconsciously, with faint white foam bubbling from its mouth and nose.
"Sandshrew! Hang in there!" A.J.'s voice trembled as he was about to push to the front of the line.
"A.J.?" Ash recognized him immediately.
A.J. looked up at the sound of his name and saw Ash's group. A complex expression flashed across his face before being replaced by panic. "It's you... Sorry, no time to catch up, my Sandshrew..."
Brock immediately stepped forward. "Nurse Joy just went into the emergency room. Let me take a look!"
He knelt down and expertly examined Sandshrew's injuries, his brow wrinkling tighter and tighter. "A penetrating electrical wound... its scales' defenses were almost completely shattered."
"What a brutal electric shock!"
"To do this much damage despite the type disadvantage..."
Brock had already reached a conclusion that infuriated him—it was a complete level-stomp.
This was outrageous. What kind of Gym Trainer uses a high-level Pokémon to crush rookies?
Do you have any intention of upholding the duties of a Gym Trainer?
A Gym Trainer's duty is to nurture new trainers, to help them understand their own shortcomings and weaknesses. And then, based on which number badge they're challenging for, to use appropriately leveled Pokémon.
The duty of a Gym Trainer is to screen out unqualified trainers and let the qualified ones pass.
And Tamer A.J. If he was a new trainer just starting his journey, then he shouldn't have lost. The first Gym Badge shouldn't be this difficult to obtain.
A.J. gritted his teeth, his fists clenched white. "It was Lt. Surge's Raichu... with just one move... Thunderbolt."
"My Sandshrew couldn't even touch it... Harden and Rollout were like a joke in the face of that kind of power."
His voice was filled with bitterness and lingering fear, as well as a daze that came from being utterly crushed.
He had finally achieved 100 consecutive wins, all to prepare for his journey. How did he get beaten this badly in his very first Gym match?
Seeing Sandshrew's miserable state, Misty couldn't help but say, "This is too much! A Gym battle isn't a fight to the death!"
Misty didn't know how to console him. From her perspective, A.J.'s morale was clearly shattered.
If someone who doesn't try fails, it's generally easier for them to accept. But for someone like A.J., who clearly works very hard, to get no reward for that effort—the mental pressure can be immense.
If effort yields no results, then why try at all? This is what most people would think.
A.J. lowered his head, defeated. "He said... 'Trash that can't even withstand a little electricity doesn't deserve a Badge.'"
Several other trainers in line chimed in, their faces a mixture of indignation and helplessness.
Lt. Surge really did have a nasty mouth.
"My Combusken was knocked out in one hit too!"
"My Ivysaur barely held on for two hits, and it's still unconscious in there..."
"He called it a 'necessary trial'... Damn it, what kind of trial is this?!"
For a moment, the entrance to the Pokémon Center was thick with an atmosphere of frustration and complaint.
____
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