Chapter 272: Just Now, the Viridian Gym Exploded
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
After defeating the Viridian Gym and obtaining the Earth Badge, Ash recalled his Cranidos. Grabbing Pikachu by the scruff with one hand, he ran towards the main entrance, his face flushed with excitement.
He was eager to find his two best friends and share this joyous news with them—that would be truly triple the happiness.
But when he ran out of the main entrance, the two of them were already nowhere in sight.
"Are you talking about that pretty girl and the foreign friend?"
"They went back to the Pokemon Center to play cards."
Nearby, two Spartan-like guards at the Viridian Gym's entrance offered a helpful tip.
Hearing this, Ash's brow furrowed deeply. *Those good-for-nothing friends*, he thought. Normally, he'd have already lost his temper.
But today, he had to hold it in. Soon, he was once again rushing off in the direction of the Pokemon Center.
Terrible friends or not, he had just obtained eight Badges and officially qualified to challenge the Indigo League. He was so excited he could have roared on the spot, but he had to hold it in a little longer.
An audience! I need an audience that will clap and cheer for me!
"Pikachu, let's go!"
Ash grabbed Pikachu by the scruff of his neck and took off at a run.
Inside the Viridian Gym.
The acting Gym Leaders, the Team Rocket trio, had already departed with Rayquaza. The boss, Giovanni, had set off for the Johto Region, and Matori, after organizing her materials, was also rushing to Johto to rendezvous with him. For a time, there was no one left in charge of the Viridian Gym.
"Strange."
In a certain laboratory, a syringe needle floated through the air on its own—a truly bizarre sight. A low voice echoed intermittently, and on the floor lay two unconscious Team Rocket Grunts.
At the very center, a Humanoid Pokemon covered in steel armor remained motionless. Strangely, however, it had been turned over, and its backside was bright red, as if it had been stung by a swarm of bees.
Even the tip of the syringe needle was bent.
"Strange. I've jabbed its rear 30 times, to the point the needle is bent, and there's still no reaction?"
The veteran Mewtwo was naturally unaware that the buttocks are the fleshiest part of the body, with very few nerve endings.
That's why shots in the rear don't hurt much.
"Forget it. Time for a physical awakening."
Red's veteran Mewtwo then tossed the needle aside. With its powerful Telekinesis, it materialized a large blue hand out of thin air and brutally tore off the steel helmet covering the 'Ordinary' Mewtwo's head, revealing the wires and electric currents within it.
Freed from the helmet, the Ordinary Mewtwo's sleeping face looked as innocent and pure as a child's, completely devoid of the violent expression it had worn in the Battle Arena.
"But I despise children."
The veteran Mewtwo controlled the telekinetic hand and unleashed a merciless Double Slap upon it.
Smack, smack, smack, smack.
This was a Psychic-Type Double Slap of immense power. As the impacts echoed, they created visible ripples in the air, causing the entire Viridian Gym to tremble.
But even so, despite its white face being slapped until it was as red as a pig's, the Ordinary Mewtwo continued to sleep like a log, showing not the slightest reaction.
"Team Rocket's Sedatives are not to be underestimated..."
Even a Mighty One like the veteran Mewtwo was at a loss. It silently cursed Team Rocket's Black Technology; if it were careless enough to be hit by it, it might also be taken down.
They had already enlightened this newborn Mewtwo's Soul, establishing a Bond with it. The next step was for it to travel the World's regions alone, strengthening its power and broadening its horizons, and becoming a truly powerful Legendary Pokemon.
It shouldn't remain shackled by Team Rocket, serving as their lackey.
The veteran Mewtwo tried to invade the other's inner self with its soul energy once more, but the newborn's Soul Space was now firmly sealed and protected, allowing for no intervention whatsoever.
"Hm?"
Just as the veteran Mewtwo was getting a headache, it heard an inspiring shout from outside the Viridian Gym, originating from the southeastern corner of Viridian City.
It was a human voice, one that shouldn't have been able to travel such a distance, yet the veteran Mewtwo heard it clearly.
Likewise, the Ordinary Mewtwo heard it too.
As the sound reached its ears, its brow twitched.
The content of the voice, however, made its brow furrow tightly. Its expression grew conflicted, and its body began to convulse as if trapped in a Nightmare.
A powerful and violent energy once again materialized around its body.
"Is this a Bond that pierces the very depths of the Soul? How terrifying..."
Even the veteran Mewtwo had to admire Red's experienced foresight.
Inside the Pokemon Center.
Ash found his two best friends. They were in the middle of a lively card game with Viridian City's Nurse Joy, laughing and having a great time.
Ash who? Never heard of him.
"My good friends, the God of War has returned!!"
He boomed the second he walked through the door, his voice so loud it startled the three of them into dropping their cards.
Beaming with joy, Ash tossed out two Poké Balls, and a flash of red light revealed the heroes of the day: his Pink Butterfree and Cranidos. Although both Pokemon's Stamina was still in the Yellow HP Stage, they had recovered enough to move around.
Next, he fished an exquisite, green, leaf-like badge from his pocket and held it smugly before the three of them, as if signaling for the flattery to begin.
"Wow, it really is the Earth Badge."
"With Butterfree and Cranidos? Was it a Water-Type Gym or something? Even more of a pushover than our Cerulean Gym?" Misty quipped, taking a shot at her own Gym just to land a hit on him.
Butterfree rarely battled and was mostly for show, while Cranidos had only recently hatched. One could say they were the two weakest Pokémon on Ash's team, so defeating the eighth Gym with them was truly unbelievable.
"What are you talking about! They both worked really hard this time, okay! They have great Future Potential!"
Ash was instantly displeased and jumped to his Pokemon's defense.
He then carefully pinned this eighth Badge, placing it alongside the others. All eight were arranged in two neat rows on the inner lining of his jacket, shimmering with a faint luster.
The eight Badges, combined with his high-spirited and now slightly more mature expression, showed just how much he had grown on his journey.
Hoooo...
Ash took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and then roared at the top of his lungs, his voice a mix of a solemn oath and self-encouragement.
"I've collected all 8 Badges!!"
"No, this is just the first step!!"
"I, Ash from Pallet Town, will win the League Championship and become a Pokémon Master!!"
Ash's expression was full of heroic spirit. After shouting, his chest burned with passion, as if a fire blazed within his heart.
Good news is meant to be shouted out loud. As long as you aren't the one feeling awkward, someone else will be.
Of course, Brock and Misty didn't find it awkward in the slightest. Because that was just Ash. If he *didn't* say such things, *that* would have been awkward for them.
Having watched him grow from a clueless novice into a Trainer who had earned eight Badges, they understood better than anyone the weight behind his words.
Even Red, in the Soul Space, gave a subtle nod; though his expression was unchanged, his body rocked gently in the Grand Master's Chair.
BOOOOM!!
But the words had barely left Ash's lips when a world-shaking explosion suddenly erupted from the north. A deafening roar assaulted their ears, their vision blurred, and the ground shook violently beneath them. The entire Viridian City trembled as if a terrible disaster had struck.
Once the roar of the explosion had subsided slightly, the four of them, looking utterly bewildered, ran out of the Pokemon Center and stared in the direction of the blast.
A thick plume of black smoke now filled the sky in that direction. The fire department and police were already scrambling, rushing to the scene to provide aid.
Judging by its location, it seemed to be coming from the direction of the Viridian Gym.
"Hello? Ah... oh..."
After a moment of communication on her official walkie-talkie, Nurse Joy quickly grasped the situation. Looking at the three dumbfounded trainers, she could only slowly report:
"Just now... the Viridian Gym exploded."
The trio: "?"
(end of chapter)