[Trait: Thunder God (Red).]
[Awakening Progress: 15%.]
[Base Effect: Become the ruler of thunder. All Electric-type moves gain a massive base power boost, stackable with other bonuses.]
[Pikachu can actively draw upon natural lightning, attracting stray electricity from the environment to rapidly restore stamina or temporarily enhance the power of its next Electric-type move. (This effect is further boosted during thunderstorms.)]
…
Even though Ash had mentally prepared himself, he couldn't help but be shocked as the system panel appeared before his eyes.
A massive boost to Electric-type move power—paired with a lightning-drawing ability that seemed to plunder the very might of nature itself…
It was only 15% awakened, and it was already this terrifying?!
Who knew just how monstrous it would become in future adventures.
No wonder even Arceus would have to brace itself for a shock.
Thanks to the pure Electric-type battle just now, Pikachu's Thunder God awakening had been triggered early.
And right now…
It was time to end this match.
It was time to collect Paul's Trainer trait.
"Come on."
Ash's gaze swept past the wrecked battlefield and locked onto the hollow figure standing on the other side.
Paul looked as if his spine had been ripped out, his eyes empty.
The arrogance and scheming from earlier had completely vanished, leaving only the dazed emptiness of a shattered belief.
"Send out your last Pokémon."
Ash's voice was calm.
However—
What answered him wasn't the light of a Poké Ball opening.
It was another system notification.
[Ding! Target Paul has completely lost the will to fight, his mental defenses utterly collapsed!]
[Judgment: Host has achieved a total victory over target 'Paul'!]
[Plundering target's highest-grade trait…]
[Ding! Plunder complete!!]
[Congratulations! Host has obtained character 'Paul''s trait: Supreme Efficiency (Gold)!]
[Supreme Efficiency (Gold): Efficiency is truth. Training and raising Pokémon takes far less time. Experience gained from battles increases. Egg hatching time decreases. Chance of encountering rare or exceptional Pokémon rises.]
[Additional Effect: MAX item conversion rate. Items such as Evolution Stones, elemental gems, and enhancement tools have slightly boosted effects. Increases the success rate of Pokémon learning Hidden Machine moves.]
…
At the same moment Ash absorbed Paul's golden trait, Paul's body trembled violently at the side of the field.
An indescribable emptiness and tearing sensation washed over him.
He felt a sharp pain in his chest.
Then…
The brooding boy slowly raised his hand.
The movement was stiff, like a rusted puppet.
In a weak voice, he told the referee:
"I… surrender."
Paul no longer had the will to send out his third Pokémon.
He knew…
There was no way he could beat Ash.
No angry roar, no last desperate struggle.
The words of surrender fell lightly, carrying no weight—only resignation.
Even Electivire cast him a look of disappointment.
This battle…
The scar it left in his heart was deeper than the "Champion's Shadow."
More than Cynthia's Garchomp crushing him, what destroyed him was the complete collapse of his core beliefs.
Paul didn't look at anyone.
He ignored all voices.
Like a walking corpse, he mechanically recalled his injured Electivire.
Then, silently, step by step, he walked off the stage.
His figure stretched long in the light spilling from the arena exit, looking painfully lonely and desolate.
In the end, he vanished into the outside light.
No one knew where he would go.
Perhaps… not even he knew.
…
Sorrow belongs to the defeated.
And the glory of victory belongs to the one in the spotlight.
The Trainers present didn't dwell on Paul.
Now—All eyes were on Ash.
After a brief silence, the cheers came back even louder than before—"He gave up!! Ash won! He actually beat him in this arena battle!!"
"Can you believe it? A rookie Trainer beat an Elite-level one! And not just any Elite—a top prodigy of Sinnoh!!"
"Unbelievable! Ash is amazing! Reforging Kanto's honor!!"
"I'm so moved… that final man-to-man duel between Pikachu and Electivire… I have to post this online!!"
Everyone knew—What happened today would sweep through Viridian City like a hurricane.
It would be the hottest topic in the Trainer world for a long, long time to come—No exceptions!!
As for Ash himself—He stood in the battle arena, under the gaze of the entire crowd.
Grandpa looked at him with kindly eyes full of approval.
"My boy…"
His steady, heartfelt voice pierced through the noise, ringing clear:
"You truly make this old man feel his life was not in vain."
"Seeing your talent, and Pikachu's unyielding will…"
"It's as if I'm looking at the limitless future of the Pokémon world."
With that, the weathered old man gave a solemn nod to the assistant beside him, who was holding a special insulated case.
The assistant carefully stepped forward.
He gently set the case on the central display stand of the field.
The protective cover slowly lifted, revealing the egg inside.
In an instant—All noise in the arena seemed to freeze.
Every gaze, every breath—Was fixed on that egg.
Speculation immediately spread through the crowd.
"It's finally here—the reward for this arena battle…"
"With someone like Grandpa Yanagi, a near–Elite Four–level Trainer, just what kind of Pokémon egg will he choose to give?"
[End of Chapter]