Crackling bursts of electricity echoed through Vermilion Gym.
"So strong! That Thunderbolt's even scarier than Pikachu's!"
On the sidelines, Ash blurted after watching the surge of power.
"Ash, that's a Gym Leader's ace. Of course it's stronger than your Pikachu."
Misty sounded matter-of-fact.
Not every Gym Leader was like her three sisters.
Lt. Surge specialized in Electric types—of course he'd raise them better than a rookie like Ash.
"Misty, whose side are you even on?"
Ash puffed his cheeks, wanting an explanation.
"Alright, you two," Brock stepped in as the peacekeeper. "She's just saying you should stay humble. Eyes on the match."
"Hmph~"
Arms folded, Ash turned his head away and fixed on the field.
Breloom bounced and skipped, dodging the lashing Thunderbolt.
Boom!
A bolt hammered the floor, kicking up chips of stone.
Residual arcs crawled out; lines of current leapt across the ground,
drawn by the electrodes on Electabuzz's head, jumping toward Breloom.
If that hit, paralysis was a given.
"Not bad, Lt. Surge—using your Pokémon's body features as a funnel."
Grey smiled. "But those stray arcs are easy enough for Breloom to avoid."
"Bre!"
Breloom slipped to one side; the slit on its cap puffed and spat another Leech Seed!
The tiny seed arced high—
and sent a shiver down Electabuzz's spine. The memory of those choking vines surged up; its throat bobbed as it waited for orders.
"Electabuzz—Shock Wave!"
"Biri!"
Electabuzz crossed its hands; thunder snapped and flashed.
In a blink of gold light, a needle of electricity lanced out—
and picked the Leech Seed out of the air.
At the same time, arcs from the missed Thunderbolt knitted into a ring, a corral of crackling current around Breloom!
"Hoh~"
Grey's brow rose. He hadn't expected Shock Wave to play that trick.
Note taken—seeding pressure can be broken on reaction.
"In that case—Mach Punch!"
Fwoosh!
Breloom kicked off—faster even than Shock Wave.
A white flare trailed behind it; Electabuzz's already purpled face darkened further.
"Electabuzz! Spin and throw Fire Punch!"
Seeing Grey press in, Lt. Surge actually relaxed. Attacking was his comfort zone.
If he could force his sequence through, even a slippery Breloom had to yield—
or eat a Fire Punch.
"Biri!"
Electabuzz threw its arms wide and spun in place.
Flame wrapped the rotation.
A miniature fire-whirl sprang up from nothing.
Firestorm ahead; arc-net behind.
Two different attacks pinched in together, closing hard on Breloom!
Whooo—
The burning whirlwind screamed forward.
Heat blasted over the floor.
The moment Grey saw it coming, he went for a breaker. "Fine—Mach Punch into the ground!"
Breloom skidded, cheeks flushing.
Before Electabuzz closed, it drove its fist down!
Rrrrmmble!
Waves of force rippled out from Breloom's fist.
The arena bucked; even the bystanders wobbled on their feet.
Electabuzz's spinning charge stuttered to a halt!
Even the arc-ring shattered.
Glug-glug—
The poison ticked up; Electabuzz looked rough.
One or two more turns and it might drop on the spot.
"Who taught you to battle like this?"
Lt. Surge ground his teeth, clearly sick of Grey's stall-and-grind tactics.
If he'd been beaten head-on, fine.
But Grey refused to brawl straight up!
No trading blows, just pure aggravation!
"Self-taught."
Grey's sunny smile barely changed as he snapped his fingers. "Mach Punch to finish."
Breloom blurred and drove a fist into Electabuzz's gut!
The shock detonated in its midriff; Electabuzz shot off like an arrow—
Thud!
It hit the wall and slumped, out cold.
With a faint smile of relief at the corner of its mouth.
"Lt. Surge, do you want to continue?"
Grey asked politely.
"Continue! Why wouldn't I? Your Toxic gimmick won't work on this one!"
Lt. Surge tugged another ball from his belt and threw.
[Pokémon: Magneton]
[Type: Electric/Steel]
[Level: 30]
[Ability: Sturdy]
"True, it won't."
Grey nodded and kept Breloom in.
Toxic was only one line.
He had another ready for Lt. Surge.
"Magneton—Electric Terrain!"
Right out of the gate, to block Spore, Lt. Surge laid the field.
Under Electric Terrain, grounded Pokémon can't fall asleep.
But…
Did Magneton count as "on the ground"?
The thought flickered through Grey's mind.
Turns out—yes, it did.
So he opened fast. "Mach Punch!"
No Static this time; he could swing freely.
Breloom vanished with a staccato of light steps—
Sparks burst.
A surge of lightning erupted under Magneton and rolled outward!
In an instant, Vermilion Gym wore a glaring yellow filter; currents sprang up across the floor.
Breloom's Mach Punch landed a heartbeat later—
the white-hot fist cracking against Magneton's steel shell, only to be braced and held by cold iron mass.
"That's it! Give it that zappy numbness—Electroweb!"
To stop any slick evasions, Lt. Surge leaned on coverage—
skipping Thunderbolt for big area denial.
A huge golden orb condensed—
then burst, a lattice of arcs weaving into a massive net!
Under Electric Terrain, the power spiked!
Face-to-face, Breloom was swallowed by the net; electricity chattered through its body.
On the sideline, everyone held their breath.
Even newbie Ash could feel how nasty Electroweb was here.
"Good punch."
Grey dipped his chin—then called, "Force Palm!"
"Bre!"
Inside the net, Breloom's red arm suddenly stretched—
and slapped onto Magneton's hull!
Power surged, beyond the League's 'typical' chart—
Ability: Technician.
"?!"
Lt. Surge sensed it was bad—
Too late.
Zzzzt—
Gold current flashed again—
but this time it rode Force Palm.
BOOM!!!
Magneton flew even faster than Electabuzz—
and nearly punched through the wall when it hit.
All told, less than three seconds.
Magneton was done.
Lt. Surge stood there, stunned.
"He one-shot the Magneton?!"
Ash's gaze tracked the arc Magneton carved in the air—
and for a second he saw Lt. Surge the way Gary once had.
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