Chapter 52: A Scheduled Battle with Erika
At the Celadon University training grounds, Ash and Bigunthut now stood face-to-face.
Unable to stomach the way this girl belittled others with her arrogance, Ash decided it was time to teach her a meaningful lesson.
"Go, President!"
"You've got this, Senpai!"
Behind Bigunthut, her usual entourage of male students lined up and chanted in perfect unison, cheering her on like die-hard fans.
"Ash! You better win!!" Verity's voice echoed like thunder.
"Ugh… Seiko, your voice is really loud…" Ash rubbed his ears, grinning.
"Of course! With me here, how can I let those losers cheer louder than me?" Seiko stood hands on hips. "I can't stand her holier-than-thou attitude. So give her a real beating! Got confidence?"
Ash chuckled, then his face hardened. "Obviously! Battles aren't about who has more people shouting."
"Hmph. Enough useless chatter. Let's begin." Bigunthot snorted coldly.
Ash shook his head. "Figures—no referee. Fine."
Clap!
Bigunthut snapped her fingers. A young man dressed like a butler pushed forward a trolley.
Four neat rows of Poké Balls sat on it.
"Let me think… I'll use this one to teach you a lesson." She selected a Poké Ball, already acting as if victory was guaranteed.
Ash wasn't intimidated in the least. He even had the mood to joke: "Wow, must be nice being rich—moving Poké Balls with a trolley."
Bigunthut tossed her Poké Ball. "Exeggutor!"
"Exegguuuutor!"
A stout, barrel-thick, palm-topped tree Pokémon appeared, expression full of mischief.
Ash's fist clenched. This thing already annoyed him.
"Charmeleon, you're up!" Ash lowered his cap and threw his own ball.
"Roooaaar!"
The fierce Charmeleon landed with a roar.
"Oh ho ho ~ And here I thought you might have something special. But it's just basic type advantage." Bigunthut covered her mouth mockingly.
Ash's forehead twitched. "Say that again if you dare! So what if it's type advantage? You know how hard I worked to memorize all that?!"
"Tch. Low-level trainer. I'll even let you have the first move." Sundai lifted her chin proudly, as if granting him mercy. "Don't waste the opportunity."
Ash laughed in fury. This woman was truly begging for a beating.
"Charmeleon—Flamethrower!"
"RRAAAH!"
Already burning with anger, Charmeleon inhaled deeply—then unleashed a blazing torrent of fire!
BOOM!
The concentrated flames roared toward Exeggutor.
Bigunthut twirled her hair, unbothered. "Such a simple attack. Exeggutor, Psychic!"
"Exeggutor!"
Blue psychic energy wrapped around the Pokémon, sending a wave of psychic force pulsing outward.
ZZZTTT—BOOM!
Flamethrower and Psychic collided and exploded.
"It didn't break through?" Sundai blinked in surprise, then quickly countered: "Exeggutor, Psyshock!"
"Exeggutor!"
A glowing psychic ring shot from its head, ripping a trench in the ground as it raced toward Charmeleon.
Ash's eyes sharpened.
This move was for Psychic experts… didn't expect to use it here.
"Charmeleon! Charge in—Crunch!"
"RRAAH!"
Charmeleon sprinted forward, claws poised open.
Dark energy surged, forming huge spectral fangs in the air.
With a snap—Charmeleon's claws clamped shut, triggering the dark jaws to violently bite down!
CRACK!
The psychic ring shattered instantly, and the dark fangs exploded against Exeggutor.
BOOM!
Exeggutor staggered back in pain.
"H-how—wait—"
Bigunthut froze. She was too used to slow, turn-by-turn academy battling and couldn't keep up.
Ash wasn't interested in mercy.
"Charmeleon! Again—Flamethrower!"
"ROAR!!"
The dragon spat another torrent of scorching flames.
WHOOSH—BOOOOM!
Wrapped in fire, Exeggutor became a burning tree, sprinting around in flames before collapsing with a heavy thud.
Exeggutor was unconscious.
Bigunthut never managed a proper counterattack.
Ash and Charmeleon stood side by side and shrugged, the message clear:
Go on, brag some more. Why stop now?
"You—!" Bigunthut's face burned red. "I wasn't ready just now! That one doesn't count!"
"What? Are you shameless? Losing and refusing to admit it?!" Verity exploded from the sidelines.
"Hmph! I was caught off guard! If we battled again seriously, I would never lose!" Bigunthut insisted stubbornly.
"Exactly! The President was just careless!"
"If you're scared of a rematch, then scram!"
"Watch your mouth! Don't get cocky!"
The male followers resumed chirping to defend her.
Ash stared coldly at the noisy crowd, hand already touching Primeape's Poké Ball.
A pack of barking dogs…
He didn't feel like arguing. Primeape's fists could handle it.
But just then—
"Silence! You're embarrassing yourselves!"
Everyone stiffened.
Harissa—the girl who fled earlier—had returned, bringing with her a refined-looking woman wearing a sunflower headband and a traditional kimono-style furisode.
"Miss Erika…"
The boys instantly shrank like scolded quails.
Ash finally smiled.
So Harissa wasn't scared of him—she went to get a teacher.
Not bad. His intervention wasn't for nothing.
Erika stepped into the arena and bowed slightly to Ash.
"Sorry—my students caused you trouble. It's my failure as their teacher."
Ash waved a hand. "It's fine. Just a bit of training."
His gracious tone made Erika nod gratefully. She turned on Bigunthut:
"Bigunthut. Is this how you run the Student Council?
Bullying your classmates. Forming factions. And after losing, refusing to admit defeat.
You disappoint me."
"Miss Erika, no—he provoked me first!" Bigunthut protested pitifully.
"I have already learned the full sequence of events. I also watched your entire battle.
Since you refuse to acknowledge the result, I will acknowledge it for you." Erika then bowed to Ash again. "We lost. Please forgive her behavior for my sake."
Ash was about to respond when another familiar voice sounded:
"I was wondering who'd be bold enough to challenge the Student Council in Celadon University.
Of course it's you, Ash!"
"Sorrel!" Ash and Seiko beamed.
Sorrel stepped forward. "I've been doing research here, and Miss Erika has been very helpful. So I also ask—let's not escalate things."
Ash glanced at the now-humbled Bigunthut and spoke gently:
"Don't look down on others again.
Whether academy-trained or a traveler—
trainers prove themselves with strength.
Do you understand?"
Face burning red, Bigunthut nodded in a mosquito's whisper.
"I—I understand."
Ash smiled, satisfied. "Good. Then this ends here."
"Thank you for your understanding," Erika said with another graceful nod.
After ordering Bigunthut and her sycophants to return and write formal apologies, Erika prepared to leave.
Ash then added, "By the way—I actually came to Celadon to challenge the Gym."
Erika smiled warmly. "I have classes today, but tomorrow I'm free in the afternoon. You're welcome to come challenge anytime."
"Great. It's a promise. I'll definitely be there." Ash agreed readily.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow."
With her gentle smile, Erika departed.
Ash, Verity, and Sorrel left the academy together.
"To celebrate Sorrel's return—hot pot tonight!"
"Agreed!"
Sorrel chuckled indulgently. "Just a reminder—hot pot is great, but I'm the one paying."
Ash and Verity immediately grabbed him by both arms.
"Charge! Tonight we eat Sorrel into bankruptcy!"
Sorrel laughed helplessly. "No need to be that harsh—hahaha…"
To be continued…