Onix's self-destruction was something none of the three had seen coming.
Ash had been bracing himself, watching the rocks form, already planning how Pikachu could dodge once Rock Slide came crashing down. In the Aura Fusion state, Pikachu's speed and reflexes were boosted so much that dodging still looked possible, even with the smoke only just clearing.
But then...bang.
Onix's Rock Slide came crashing down on itself.
The heavy boulders slammed into its own rocky coils, and the mighty Rock Snake let out a pained roar before collapsing in a heap. That last self-inflicted blow had drained the last of its stamina.
Ash and Pikachu both twitched their faces in disbelief. This… this wasn't how they expected to win.
Ash raised a hesitant finger toward the fainted Onix. "Uh… I guess that means I win?"
Brock stood frozen for a moment, then silently recalled Onix into its Poké Ball. At last, he gave Ash a small nod.
"Yes. Onix is unable to battle. The winner of this Gym battle is… Ash."
With that, the Sandstorm faded, leaving the arena calm again. Brock walked across the field, his expression softening. He reached into his pocket and held out a shining badge shaped like a chunk of rock.
"Congratulations, Ash. This is the Boulder Badge of the Pewter Gym. It's yours."
Ash's eyes lit up as he accepted it. "This is… a Gym Badge… My first Gym Badge! Pikachu, we did it!!"
"Pika-Pika-chu~~!" Pikachu cheered, leaping onto Ash's shoulder, both Trainer and Pokémon grinning ear to ear.
Brock gave a wry smile. "I'll admit, I didn't expect you to follow up Sleep Powder with Confusion. For a Rookie Trainer, you've got some serious tactical instincts. But honestly… your strategy is kind of… well, disgusting."
He chuckled despite himself. Most Trainers tested strength first, trading blows before using tricks or tactics. Sleep Powder right at the start, then Supersonic the moment the first plan was countered, Brock had barely been able to play the match at all.
"Disgusting" or not, it was undeniably effective. For a so-called rookie, Ash had commanded Butterfree like a pro.
Ash scratched his head with an awkward laugh. "Heh… what else could I do? Most of your Pokémon counter mine completely! If I wanted to win with the team I've got, this was the only way."
"Still," Brock said warmly, "to earn a Gym Badge in less than ten days as a Trainer… that's no small feat. Honestly, Ash, I feel like I'm watching the rise of a future top Trainer."
Ash's grin stretched wider, his nose practically pointing at the ceiling in pride.
Behind him, Misty jabbed him in the back with a finger. "Hey, cut it out! Don't get a big head just because Brock is buttering you up. And you, Brock, stop praising him! If you keep it up, his head won't even fit through the door."
"Heh, what does it matter? I haven't seen a Rookie of this caliber in a long time," Brock admitted with a chuckle. "The last Rookie I battled was Gary. He was strong, sure, but most of his victory came from relying on type advantages. To be honest, in terms of tactics and even training, Ash, you're slightly ahead of him."
That indirect praise lit Ash up even more than Brock's earlier compliments.
Gary. His eternal rival. Ever since childhood, Ash had lived in that guy's shadow. Before setting off on his journey, Gary always seemed one step ahead, always cooler, always more confident. Even now, Gary's speed on the road was faster… but Ash suddenly realized he might have the edge in training Pokémon!
Next time they met, he had to battle Gary, no, he would battle Gary, and show him once and for all who was truly Pallet Town's number one!
"Hey, Ash, don't get too full of yourself," Misty said, narrowing her eyes at his proud grin.
Ash was great in many ways, but when he got smug, it was unbearable. Still, she knew from experience his smugness usually vanished overnight… whether truly gone or just buried deep down, who could say.
"Don't worry," Ash replied with a laugh, waving a hand. "I know this is only the starting line. I have to stand on the final stage ahead of Gary, that's my real goal!" His smile shifted, carrying not just pride but a burning determination.
For any Pokémon Trainer, that "final stage" could only mean one thing, the Pokémon League. More specifically, the dream stage of the Eight Masters Tournament!
Defeating Pewter Gym was only step one of a long journey. And besides, every night in the chat group, Ash had been beaten down by the advice and scolding of seasoned experts. Being a little proud right now wasn't going to kill him.
"The final stage, huh… You mean the Indigo League finals?" Brock asked curiously.
Ash shook his head. "No. I'm aiming for the Eight Masters Tournament. But I know I'm still a long way off."
"The Eight Masters… that's an ambitious dream," Brock said, impressed. Then, as if remembering something, he reached into his jacket. "Oh, right. Take this, Ash."
He pulled out a small, worn notebook and handed it over.
Ash blinked, taking it without thinking. "Huh? What's this…? Wait, these are Pokémon food recipes? There's so many!"
Misty immediately leaned over his shoulder, her eyes wide with surprise. "No way! These don't look like the kind of recipes you find at Poké Marts."
Indeed, the notebook was filled with detailed formulas. Beside each recipe were notes: some dishes helped boost a Pokémon's stats with long-term use, others promoted faster growth, while some sped up recovery after tough training sessions.
If this notebook was the real deal, its value was beyond imagination.