Onix's self-destruction was something none of the three present had anticipated.
Ash was originally watching Onix use Rock Slide, wondering if Onix had temporarily lifted or even completely overcome its confusion. At that moment, he was still thinking about how to dodge the Rock Slide.
In the state of Aura Fusion, not only could Pikachu use Aura Sphere, but its ability values also saw a considerable boost. So, even when the smoke cleared and the Rock Slide was discovered, Pikachu still had a good chance of dodging it.
But what Ash, Brock, and Misty didn't expect was that although Onix did use Rock Slide, it ended up hitting itself...
The Rock Slide was the last straw for Onix. Under the self-inflicted attack, Onix lost the last bit of its physical strength and fell to the ground, unable to stand.
Ash and Pikachu, who had been tense, began to twitch their faces. This victory was a bit inexplicable.
"Does this... count as my win?" Ash pointed at the fallen Onix and asked.
Brock was silent for a moment, then recalled Onix and nodded at Ash: "Yes, Onix has lost its ability to fight. This Gym battle is your victory."
"Congratulations, Ash. This is the Rock Badge from the Pewter Gym. Take it," Brock said as he walked up to Ash.
With the battle's end, the Sandstorm on the field had also subsided, so Brock walked directly across the middle of the arena.
He approached Ash, reached into his pocket, and took out a Rock Badge that seemed to be made of a special metal and handed it to Ash.
Ash took the badge, with a gleam of excitement in his eyes: "This is a Gym Badge... I got my first Gym Badge! That's great, Pikachu!!"
"Pika Pika~~" Pikachu also congratulated Ash with a broad smile.
"But I didn't expect that after breaking Sleep Powder, you would use confusion to interfere. For a newbie Trainer, this tactical application is really strong, but to be honest... this tactic is a bit annoying." Brock smiled bitterly, admiring Ash while also expressing his dislike for Ash's tactics.
Most people might find this kind of battle annoying. Although adding abnormal states is indeed a battle tactic, general battles involve a few rounds of head-on clashes before starting to deploy tactics.
First comparing strength, then strategies. This is basic operation.
However, Ash... started with Sleep Powder, and after that was cracked, it was Supersonic next. What kind of disgusting tactic is that!
It doesn't seem like something a newbie Trainer would use. Aren't newbie Trainers supposed to charge straight ahead?
If they understand attribute advantages, that's already impressive. Using abnormal states, strengthening, swapping, and weather tactics are advanced moves for seasoned Trainers, not even general Gym Trainers use them well. But Ash used them quite skillfully.
Could it be that there's someone highly knowledgeable guiding him?
Brock silently glanced at Misty in the distance. If he remembered correctly, this girl seemed to be from the Cerulean Gym...
"I also think this tactic is kinda mean, haha~ but there's no choice. After all, Brock, your Pokémon have the perfect counter to mine, so the only way to win with the ones I have is to use this method." Ash said, scratching his head and laughing after putting the Rock Badge into his jacket.
"Anyway, congratulations. Getting a Gym Badge in less than ten days as a Trainer, this is an outstanding and even top-tier achievement for a newbie Trainer. It seems like I'm witnessing a top-tier Trainer rising." Brock complimented.
This statement almost made Ash's nose point to the sky. Being praised like this by a Gym Trainer is indeed something to be proud of.
Misty, standing behind Ash, poked his back and said, "Alright, alright, don't get too full of yourself, Ash. Brock, stop praising him, or his nose will be pointing to the sky."
"Haha, what's the harm? I haven't encountered a newbie at this level in a long time. The last newbie I battled, Gary, was truly strong, but he mostly relied on attribute advantages to beat me. To be honest, whether it's tactics or Pokémon level, Ash is slightly better than him."
Brock recalled the last battle with a newbie and once again indirectly praised Ash.
This compliment excited and delighted Ash even more than the direct one before.
For him, Gary is a kind of rival. Before embarking on his journey, that guy always outdid him. Now, although Ash's travel speed is still slightly slower, it seems he's slightly better in Pokémon training!
Next time they meet, he definitely wants to battle Gary and completely crush him, letting him know who is truly Pallet Town's NO.1!
"Hey, hey, Ash, don't get too carried away," Misty reminded as she looked at Ash's happy demeanor.
Ash is great in every way; it's just that he occasionally gets a bit complacent. However, by the next morning, his complacency would vanish without a trace. It's unclear if it truly disappears or just hides deep within him.
"Don't worry, I won't stay complacent for long. This is just the starting line. I have to be the first, ahead of Gary, to stand on the final stage!" Ash's proud expression slightly subsided, and his words contained a sense of longing and aspiration.
Speaking of the ultimate stage for Trainers, it must be the Pokémon League's Eight Great Masters Tournament! It's a stage all Trainers dream of standing on!
Defeating the Pewter Gym is just the start of the journey. Besides, every night when he enters the chat group to learn, he's always being crushed by the masters in the group to the point of no return. So what's wrong with being a little proud now?
"The final stage... is it the finals of the Quartz Conference?" Brock asked curiously.
"No, it's the Eight Great Masters Tournament, but I'm still a long way off from that competition." Ash said with a laugh, his hands resting behind his head.
"The Eight Great Masters, huh? That's a lofty goal. Oh, right, take this, Ash." Brock pulled a notebook from the inside of his jacket and handed it to Ash.
Ash instinctively took it, flipping it open while asking: "What's this... Huh? A Pokémon food recipe? So many formulas!"
Hearing this, Misty also leaned over Ash's shoulder in surprise, peeking at the notebook in Ash's hand.
Sure enough, it was filled with various Pokémon food recipes, and they didn't seem to be the standard ones commonly circulated.
The recipes also mentioned the effects of different meals. Some could increase ability values over time, some could accelerate Pokémon's growth, and others could quicken recovery speed after training.
If these recipes are genuine, then this little notebook would be worth a fortune!