CLANG—BAM!!
The unyielding Iron Tail slammed squarely across Raichu's face.
Raichu was instantly sent reeling, as if it had been struck from the side by a metal club, its massive body toppling sideways.
At the same time, Pikachu swiftly adjusted its posture amid the shattered terrain and sprang back up.
Whoosh—whoosh—!
Its small body flipped and spun midair, and its zigzag tail once again glowed with a chilling silver sheen.
"Chu—PIKA!!"
Iron Tail!
Air and dust rippled outward like shockwaves, spreading across the battlefield.
CLANG—BAM!!
The metallic tail chopped straight down onto Raichu's forehead.
The follow-up impact was so powerful that Raichu's eyes rolled white on the spot—its mind short-circuited, consciousness completely cut off.
"…Chu."
Raichu collapsed at Pikachu's feet.
The Fan Club Chairman stood frozen for several seconds before snapping out of it and hastily declaring:
"Raichu is unable to battle!
The Vermilion Gym Challenge is won by Ash and Pikachu!"
An evolved Pokémon falling before its unevolved form—
It was an oddly surreal sight.
And yet, somehow… it felt inevitable.
"We did it!! Pikachu!"
Ash shouted a beat late, barely catching up to reality.
Pikachu blinked as well, then bounced several times across the ruined battlefield and leapt in front of Ash.
Smack!
Trainer and Pokémon high-fived midair.
Defeating an evolved Raichu—this was a huge achievement.
Sure, Steel wasn't especially effective against Electric, but maybe they'd triggered some kind of hidden crit buff?!
Ash didn't question it. He happily rubbed Pikachu's head.
"Great job, Pikachu! I'll take you out to eat everything later!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu nodded enthusiastically.
For some reason, Ash's voice sounded especially pleasant today.
After the battle, Lt. Surge finally snapped out of his daze and recalled Raichu with a bitter smile.
"…Did that hit a nerve under the jaw?"
What absurd luck.
Walking up to Ash, Lt. Surge tossed over the orange badge.
"Well done, Ash. Your Pikachu is impressive.
Maybe I really did neglect Pikachu training… I was too obsessed with rushing its evolution into Raichu."
He reached down and scratched Pikachu under the chin.
Pikachu's eyes half-closed in bliss.
Clearly, this burly man really did know how to handle Electric Mouse Pokémon.
A fellow true fan.
Lt. Surge then let out a sigh and began explaining:
"Honestly… I originally planned to raise my Pikachu properly too. I wasn't in a hurry to evolve it."
Brock and Misty instantly perked up.
Drama detected.
They stepped closer, puzzled by the nostalgia on this tough guy's face.
Hadn't he just said earlier that early evolution was better?
"I still remember it clearly," Lt. Surge said slowly, his expression weathered—he was just short of holding a cigarette.
"It was autumn. I'd just retired from the army and came back to Vermilion City, planning to take over the Gym with my newly caught Pikachu."
"When I arrived, I saw a huge banner hanging on the city's biggest billboard."
[Official Vermilion City Data Analysis]
Top 10 Pokémon That Should Be Evolved Immediately!
Early evolution, early enjoyment!
Trust science—those who know, know!
"Below that were endless comparisons listing the advantages of evolution. Too many words—I didn't read it all. But I was tempted."
Lt. Surge sighed.
Ash, Brock, and Misty all frowned.
They could already guess what came next.
"You're right. Raichu ranked Top 3 on that 'must-evolve' list.
And Vermilion City's official account was even running a discount raffle."
"I got lucky—bought a Thunder Stone at 90% off."
…Which, after the discount, cost the same as full price.
"I evolved Pikachu immediately. Its power really did increase. At the time, I didn't notice anything wrong."
But evolving before fully unlocking Pikachu's potential had consequences.
"Gradually, I realized Vermilion City's media was getting… strange. Completely unlike normal news outlets."
Lt. Surge's face darkened.
Clickbait. Shock headlines. Trend manipulation. Infernal outrage farming.
Not a single normal article.
"And sure enough, three months later, the official account released another big-data ranking."
Top 10 Pokémon That Make You Want to De-Evolve After Evolving
Raichu was still ranked third.
Lt. Surge nearly passed out on the spot.
Ash, Brock, Misty: "…"
After hearing Lt. Surge's confession, the three left the Gym.
Inside the Gym—
Still replaying the battle in his mind, Lt. Surge released a Poké Ball.
Raichu.
Though it had been knocked out earlier, it had already recovered some HP.
"Raichu… I've decided. Tomorrow, I'm going to Viridian Forest to catch another Pikachu and start over. A fresh start."
Raichu immediately protested, waving its little fists furiously.
So love really does disappear, huh, Trainer?
"Calm down," Lt. Surge said.
"I'm also planning to take you out for some real combat."
Theory only goes so far—
Those 'positions' needed real-world testing.
Raichu had complained for ages that its Trainer only talked theory and never practiced.
"Raichu—Raichu!"
Raichu immediately beamed, cheeks flushing slightly.
Trainer… maybe when we get there, you should just release me.
The Vermilion Gym filled with cheerful laughter.
Before leaving, Lt. Surge motioned backward.
"Pix, the Gym's yours while I'm gone. I'll be out training for a while."
"Yes, sir!"
A muscular woman wearing a tank top—her hair tied into a plug-shaped ponytail—nodded crisply.
Pix hesitated, then asked:
"Boss… how should we reply to that letter?"
"Tell them I was out training and didn't see it."
Despite saying that, unease crept into Lt. Surge's heart.
The letter had been sitting there for days.
"Team Rocket… recruiting Gym Leaders across Kanto?"
"What are they planning…?"
He clicked his tongue.
Whatever. I'm out.
Ash and the others, of course, had no idea what happened afterward.
They were too busy discussing their third Gym Badge.
With Vermilion Gym cleared, their business in the city was technically done.
Ash was eager to head to the next Gym immediately.
"Wait, Ash—aren't you forgetting something?"
"We're still supposed to board the S.S. Anne and live like the elite!"
Brock and Misty reminded him quickly.
The Gym was fun, sure—but this was what they'd been waiting for.
"Oh right! We still need to handle the paranormal incident at Professor Cerise's Laboratory, get paid, and use the ticket to live it up!"
Ash smacked his forehead.
As a kid from Pallet Town, he dreamed of indulging in luxury at least once.
The S.S. Anne would set sail the day after tomorrow.
That meant they only had two days.
Not much time.
Ash rubbed Pikachu's head apologetically.
"Sorry, Pikachu. No feast today—next time for sure."
Pikachu: "?"
How many times have you said next time already?!
On the way, Ash pulled out his Pokédex and opened the map.
"Let's see… Professor Cerise's lab is on the other side of Vermilion City.
This direction, right?"
"gkd, gkd!"
Brock and Misty urged him on impatiently.
Just as the three locked onto their route and prepared to head out—
Ash noticed a small icon on the Pokédex screen.
2H.
Yesterday, it had still said SR, meaning "mass-produced Trainer."
…He leveled up?
2H?
Did that mean he was level 2 now?
"Ahem—Pokédex," Ash asked excitedly.
"Did my Trainer level go up? Is Level 2 strong? I mean, I've got three Gym Badges now."
"Beep.
After capturing six Pokémon and obtaining three Gym Badges, Trainer Ash has advanced from the lowest tier: SR—Street."
Ash cut it off immediately.
"Skip the creation myth. Just tell me what 2H means."
"Beep.
2H: Two Rockets.
Indicates the Trainer possesses combat power equal to two Team Rocket units."
Ash: "?"
"Beep.
Due to incomplete system calibration, encountered opponent strength is used as a benchmark."
"Big-data analysis confirms that Team Rocket's trio best represents the universal baseline of strength—
aligned with cosmic macro- and micro-laws, containing traces of the world's governing principles."
"They are therefore designated as the base combat unit, indivisible and irreducible."
"Beep.
In simple terms—
Trainer Ash, Level: Two Rockets."
Ash: "?"
So… he could now solo two Team Rocket trios?
Why did that somehow sound worse?
This level-up brought him no joy.
It was like ranking last in a school exam—
You feel bad, but at least you're number one from the bottom.
But ranking second-to-last?
Then you're just bad.
(There will be another chapter tonight.)
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