With Pikachu going all out, he could now hold his own even against Professional-level Pokémon. The rest of Ash's team wasn't slacking either, everyone was improving day by day.
Ralts in particular was on the verge of evolving. Her level had already reached the peak of the Normal tier. Just one more push, and she would become a Kirlia.
Ash sometimes felt reluctant when he thought about it. Once she evolved, Ralts wouldn't be able to perch on his shoulder anymore like she always did. Still, she couldn't remain a Ralts forever. And honestly, Ralts herself wouldn't want to. After being influenced by Ash, she dreamed of dominating battlefields, not sitting on the sidelines.
Squirtle's level hadn't changed much, but Bulbasaur and Charmander had each gained a stage, Bulbasaur now sat at the peak of Normal, while Charmander had climbed to high Normal.
For Bulbasaur, it was a steady rise. He had been lingering at high Normal for a while, and once Ash improved his nutrition and training regimen, he quickly crossed into the next tier.
But Charmander was another story. He had only just advanced from beginner to mid-Normal, and in just four days he jumped another whole level. Even Brock was amazed. The last time he had seen such explosive growth was with Ralts.
As a Gym Leader, Brock had seen more Pokémon than he could count. Yet in his memory, only two stood out as being this abnormal, both were on Ash's team. Rare species, top-tier talent… was this really just luck? Or was it something closer to destiny?
Meanwhile, Pidgeotto had also advanced, reaching mid-Advanced. But in his case it wasn't shocking, he had been stuck at early Advanced for a long time, so the progress was more natural.
All in all, Ash's team had grown tremendously. By the time they finally reached Vermilion City, he was eager to face his third Gym battle.
The journey had been long, but they arrived on the afternoon of the third day, still early enough to challenge the Gym right away. Ash was practically bouncing with anticipation.
But Brock suggested otherwise. "We should rest first and gather some info about the Gym. From what I've heard, the Leader's a retired soldier. He won't be an easy opponent."
Ash frowned, but after a moment, he nodded. "Makes sense…"
So their first stop was the Vermilion City Pokémon Center. Ash gave his partners a well-earned rest, and all three of them freshened up. Getting lost so often on the way meant they rarely had the chance for a proper bath.
Ash and Brock could tough it out, but Misty had been at her limit. Her usual fresh, flowery scent had long vanished, and she couldn't stand the idea of being smelly for even another day. Honestly, the fact she had lasted this long was already beyond normal human endurance.
After washing up, the three regrouped in the Pokémon Center lobby.
"It's strange, Ash," Brock said, glancing around. "There are way more injured Pokémon here than anywhere else we've been."
Ash looked too, noticing the rows of bandaged Pokémon and their worried Trainers. He frowned. "Yeah… the number here is almost the same as all the others we've seen combined."
"These were all caused by the Vermilion City Gym Leader."
The voice was gentle, but the words heavy. All three turned and saw the speaker, Nurse Joy.
Brock immediately flushed red, his thoughts about the injured Pokémon scattering into the void. After all, he had no resistance to big sisters like Joy.
"The Vermilion City Gym Leader? Don't Gym Leaders usually battle challengers to test them? Even if they win, they don't go so far as to cripple the other side's Pokémon." Misty frowned, arms folded.
All around them in the Pokémon Center lobby were injured Pokémon, some lightly scratched, others wrapped head to toe in bandages. Their Trainers sat beside them with weary expressions, frustration and sadness mixed in their eyes.
If all of this was caused by the Gym Leader, then it was far beyond acceptable.
"The Vermilion City Gym Leader is Lt. Surge," Nurse Joy explained, her tone heavy. "He's a retired soldier, and his battle style is merciless. The way he fought in the military, he now brings into Gym battles."
She sighed. "When facing challengers, he always raises the difficulty by a full level. Beginner matches become intermediate, intermediate matches become advanced… He calls it a 'test,' saying only Trainers who can overcome such battles have the potential to become Elites or Champions."
"That's outrageous!" Ash slammed a fist on the counter. "That's not a test, it's crushing rookies before they even start!"
He thought back to his first Gym battle. 'If Brock had fought me at higher difficulty, I never would've won that Boulder Badge…'
Pokémon at the intermediate level were at least peak Advanced, maybe even Elite-level. For a beginner Trainer, that was an impossible wall to climb. If a Gym Leader didn't want to hand out badges, they could just refuse challengers. Why torment them like this?
"There's nothing we can do," Nurse Joy said helplessly. "League rules let each Gym Leader decide the challenge level. If you don't like it, you don't have to battle. You can always skip Vermilion and move on to another Gym."
Brock, who had just managed to calm down from his blush at Joy's presence, frowned in thought. "But why would he do that? Isn't a Gym Leader's duty to help challengers grow and prepare for the League? Why scare them off?"
Joy folded her hands, her brows creasing. "Maybe he doesn't want to waste time with weak Trainers. By building such a brutal reputation, only the strong dare challenge him, which gives him the thrilling battles he wants. Remember, he's a soldier. In the army, there's no such thing as mercy. You either survive training or you don't. Surge simply doesn't know another way to battle. If it weren't for League regulations, he'd probably fight everyone at full strength from the start."
Misty bit her lip and turned to Ash. "This is going to be tough… Ash, do you still want to challenge him?"
She had thought Vermilion would be no harder than Cerulean Gym. But after hearing this, it was obvious Surge's Gym would be a different kind of battlefield altogether. It could very well become Ash's first defeat, maybe even a blow to his confidence.
"Of course I'm going!" Ash clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination. "Not because I care about his tough-guy act, but because he's hurting Pokémon! Look at this place, Pokémon shouldn't be left like this just from a Gym battle! That's not strength, that's cruelty!"
Everyone in the Pokémon Center could hear the conviction in his voice.
Ash's love for Pokémon wasn't about glory or winning battles. He was the kind of Trainer who would throw himself in harm's way to protect his partners. He trained with them, pushed himself harder than any of them, massaged their muscles after practice, and even experimented with Brock on recipes to make sure his team ate food that was both delicious and full of nutrients.
So when he saw Pokémon mistreated, whether abandoned or left near death, he couldn't forgive it. To him, this was even more unforgivable than abandonment.
Lt. Surge's actions had already lit a fire in Ash's heart. His challenge wasn't just about a Thunder Badge. It was about teaching Surge a lesson and proving that Trainers could be strong without treating Pokémon like disposable weapons.
He didn't know if he could win. But he did know one thing: if he didn't try, nothing would ever change.
And if he did succeed… maybe future challengers wouldn't have to suffer the same pain as the Trainers in this Pokémon Center.
"This opponent won't hold back, Ash. He might even hit hard. Are you really sure about this?" Brock frowned, concern written across his face.
Most Gym Leaders, even when they saw Ash already had two badges, would still go easy on him once they learned he'd only been on the road for about a month.
But Lt. Surge wasn't "most Gym Leaders." Brock knew Ash's team well. If Surge chose intermediate difficulty, Ash still had a solid chance.
But if Surge pushed the battle to maximum difficulty… then even with Ash's current progress, it might be too much.
Ash nodded firmly, then turned to Nurse Joy. "Nurse Joy, do you know what Surge's strongest Pokémon is?"
"His ace is Raichu," Joy replied after a moment's thought. "It's been with him since his army days. Its strength is said to be at the Professional Level."
"Professional Level, huh… Got it. Thanks, Nurse Joy. Let's go, Brock, Misty." Ash's voice was calm, but his eyes burned with determination as he strode out of the Pokémon Center with Pikachu and Ralts at his side.
Misty and Brock exchanged uneasy glances before hurrying after him. Misty had already made up her mind: if that Gym Leader dared to brutalize Ash's Pokémon like the others they'd seen in the Center, she would step in to stop the battle herself!
She knew how deeply Ash cared for his partners. If they ended up battered like the injured Pokémon here, it would break him.
On the way to the Vermilion Gym, Ash walked at the front. Misty and Brock trailed behind, not noticing that Ash had closed his eyes…
[Newbie Ash: Guys, help me out here. If Pikachu goes all out, can we really take down a Professional-level Raichu?]
A few seconds later, the group chat flickered to life.
[Tactician Ash: If you had Aura Fusion or Partner Form unlocked, it'd be 99% in your favor. I'd have 99 different ways to crush him.]
[Newbie Ash: What about me?]
[Tactician Ash: Depends. Is he Elite tier? Which stage of Professional are we talking about?]
[Newbie Ash: No, it's Lt. Surge. His Raichu is Professional-level, but I don't know how high.]
[Tactician Ash: Oh, Surge, huh? Then as long as Raichu isn't high-Professional, you've got at least a seventy percent chance. He's not exactly a genius. Just apply the strategies I taught you and you shouldn't lose. And if you do lose, don't say I was your teacher.]
[Newbie Ash: Don't worry, even if I win, I wouldn't dare say you taught me. Anyway, I'm heading in now!]
When the chat faded, Ash opened his eyes, brimming with confidence.
If even Tactician Ash gave him a seventy percent chance, that meant at least eighty in reality. Tactician Ash never exaggerated, his estimates were always conservative.
That was enough for Ash. If he was going to change Lt. Surge's ways, then he had to face his strongest Pokémon head-on.
This time, his target was Surge's ace: Raichu!
The trio soon arrived at the towering doors of the Vermilion Gym. At Ash's declaration of challenge, the heavy metal gates creaked open.
Inside stood a massive, muscular man with spiky blond hair, arms crossed and a grin that was equal parts cocky and careless.
"Well, well! So you're the challengers? Heh! Cute bunch you got here."
His eyes slid straight to Misty.
Then, without warning, he lunged forward as if to greet her with a hug.
"Wha..!" Misty yelped, stepping back in shock. But the man's frame was so broad he was nearly twice her size, she couldn't dodge in time.
Just then, Ash stepped in front of her, one hand raised.
His palm pressed firmly against Surge's chest, and despite the man's massive bulk, he froze in place, unable to advance even an inch.
Surge blinked in confusion. He glanced at Ash's skinny, unmuscled arm, then back at the floor where his own boots had skidded across the tiles.
How…?
How had this scrawny kid shoved him back ten steps with one hand?
His face twisted with disbelief. No way. No way some twig-armed rookie could push him, Lt. Surge, around like that. It wasn't reasonable!
"Please don't harass my friend. And for the record, I'm the one challenging the Gym," Ash said firmly, his voice sharp and cold.
He had already been disgusted by the state of the Pokémon in the Center. Now, to walk in and see Misty harassed on top of that? His opinion of the Vermilion Gym had plummeted straight through the floor.
For a beat, the Gym was silent. Then Lt. Surge threw his head back and roared with laughter.
"BWAAAHAHAHA! You? Little boy, are you kidding me? You dragged a Pikachu in here to challenge my Gym? This ain't no kiddie playground kid."
...
Stones Plzz
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