"Faster! A little faster!"
Flint stared intently at Pikachu inside the insulated area and shouted toward the outside. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
Inside the wooden cabin, the yellow light radiating from the Electric Stone grew brighter and brighter. The internal current patterns almost merged into one continuous flow, emitting a faint, high-pitched "zzz" sound.
The amplification effect was far stronger than Flint had anticipated.
Between the two metal electrodes, visible pale golden sparks began to jump and flicker wildly.
Pikachu stood firm between them, its fur standing slightly on end. The electric sacs on its cheeks glowed brighter than usual as powerful currents surged through its body from the electrodes.
It gritted its teeth and clenched its small paws tightly, refusing to flinch.
Because it could feel the abundant electricity already inside its body becoming more active and more condensed under the intense external stimulation.
"Very good! Keep going!"
Seeing Pikachu's determined expression, Flint breathed a temporary sigh of relief and adjusted the generator's output. The current intensity rose another notch.
Outside the cabin, Yuuto pedaled the power-generating bike at a steady rhythm. A fine layer of sweat glistened on his bare upper body under the sunlight. His muscles contracted and relaxed in perfect rhythm with each push, showcasing the clean, powerful aesthetics of strength.
Delia and Misty stood nearby, watching.
Both girls' gazes kept drifting toward Yuuto.
Delia felt her heart race. She quietly swallowed, and memories of their heated moments in the tent flashed through her mind—the scorching heat, the overwhelming pleasure… She shook her head violently, her face burning.
*I can't think about that right now! If I keep going, my underwear is going to be ruined again~*
Misty, on the other hand, secretly compared herself while watching him.
*This guy's stamina… is really impressive. He can keep going for so long…*
Inside the cabin, the Electric Stone's yellow light had become dazzling. The sparks jumping between the electrodes shifted from pale gold to a scorching white.
"This… this electric power amplification…" Flint wiped the sweat from his forehead, eyes wide with shock. *This Pikachu is unusual! The capacity of its electric sacs far exceeds that of any ordinary Pikachu!*
Just as the thought crossed his mind—
"Pika—CHUUU!!!"
Pikachu suddenly let out a long, powerful cry. The sound carried both strain and explosive release.
Its entire body erupted with dazzling golden electric light that shot straight upward, completely shattering the constraints of the insulated area.
The old light bulb on the ceiling exploded first.
Then, the few rudimentary electrical devices in the room let out a collective wail of overload.
Flint's expression changed drastically.
"Oh no—the power's overloaded! Stop quickly!"
He roared toward the outside, but it was already too late.
The electricity within Pikachu, fueled by both the external overload and its own awakened potential, had reached a critical point.
And then—it broke through.
"PI—KA—CHUUU!!!"
An unprecedentedly thick column of golden electricity erupted from Pikachu.
**Thunderbolt!**
Pikachu had mastered Thunderbolt ahead of its normal level.
Moreover, it was a super-charged version—amplified by the Electric Stone and then compressed to the limit by Pikachu's own electric sacs!
**BOOM!!!!**
A deafening explosion rocked the area.
The entire roof of the wooden cabin was blasted straight off. Wood fragments, tiles, and debris flew violently into the air from the shockwave. The walls were torn apart like paper by the terrifying electric discharge. Charred pieces of wood scattered everywhere as thick smoke billowed upward.
The old generator gave one final shriek before exploding completely. The Electric Stone inside, having expended the last of its amplifying energy, lost all its luster and turned into a dull, gray, ordinary rock—completely drained.
Everything happened in just two or three seconds.
Outside, Yuuto stopped pedaling. He had already sensed the massive energy surge from Pikachu through his Aura.
The small wooden cabin that had been standing moments ago was now nothing but a pile of smoking, charred ruins. Even the water wheel had been toppled, its blades broken.
"Th-this is…" Misty stammered, staring in disbelief. "Pikachu… did this?"
She simply couldn't believe her eyes. She knew Yuuto's Pikachu was strong, but one move destroying an entire house? That was on another level.
The smoke and dust slowly cleared.
In the center of the ruins, Pikachu stood panting slightly, looking exhausted but brimming with excitement. It raised one small paw, and with a sharp *crack*, a wisp of golden electricity—far more condensed and powerful than before—danced at its fingertip.
The power was completely different now.
On the other side of the ruins, Flint stumbled out from behind a pile of debris. His face and clothes were covered in black soot, his hat askew. He looked utterly miserable.
He stared blankly at what used to be his home, then at the excited Pikachu standing proudly amid the wreckage.
His mouth opened, but no words came out for a long time.
*Wait… what just happened?*
*One Thunderbolt… demolished my house?*
*Isn't that just an electric mouse? How can a single Pikachu be this destructive?*
Flint's mind was reeling. His original plan had only been to give the motivated young Trainer some encouragement and use the training as an excuse to face his past again. He thought that no matter how intense the session, a Pikachu's power would still be limited. At most, its Thunder Shock would get a little stronger. He never imagined it would cause real damage.
That was why he had confidently used his own small cabin as the training ground.
He never expected… *what kind of monster Pikachu is this?!*
Its electric power was almost on the level of fully evolved Electric-types!
Flint stood there, completely stunned.
Yuuto walked over to Pikachu, squatted down, and gently rubbed its head.
"Well done."
"Pika!" Pikachu nuzzled happily against his hand.
Yuuto then glanced at the destroyed generator and the now-lifeless Electric Stone inside it. He picked Pikachu up and walked over to the still-dazed Flint.
He stopped in front of him and spoke with sincere gratitude.
"Thank you, Uncle. I didn't expect you to be so generous—helping boost Pikachu's power even at the cost of your whole house."
Flint: "...?"
He opened his mouth, but Yuuto's words left him speechless.
Misty stepped closer as well, looking at Flint with an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry, Uncle. I thought you were the type who only cared about small benefits earlier, but now I see you're genuinely generous. You were even willing to sacrifice your own house just to help Pikachu train. I misjudged you before."
Flint: "...???"
His eyelids twitched violently. Inside, he was screaming:
*I never intended to sacrifice my house for this yellow rodent!!!*
*I just wanted to encourage a rookie!!!*
*What kind of Pikachu is this?! How did it drain my precious Electric Stone and blow up my house?!*
But seeing Yuuto's grateful eyes and Misty's earnest apology, Flint forced himself to swallow his complaints. He took a deep breath and managed a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"It's… nothing," he said in a deliberately profound tone, patting Yuuto's shoulder. "Just a house… it's nothing. I was once a Pokémon Trainer too!"
He looked up at the sky, trying to appear weathered yet passionate.
"The passion you and Pikachu showed today… has deeply moved me, young man. If you can truly defeat the Pewter Gym… then I have also decided… to face my failed life once more."
As he spoke those words, Flint's heart was bleeding.
*My house… my Electric Stone… my life savings accumulated over so many years… all gone…*
But on the surface, he maintained the dignified image of a senior Trainer.
Yuuto watched Flint struggling to keep up appearances and chuckled inwardly. The moment Pikachu had erupted, he had used Aura to communicate with it and deliberately directed the blast toward the roof and walls. His goal was to destroy Flint's last "safe haven"—to leave him with no path of retreat and force him to finally face his past, the Gym, and his children.
It seemed the effect had been quite successful.
After the electric power special training, Yuuto let Pikachu rest and recover by the river until it had fully adapted to its new strength and was back in peak condition.
Then, they headed straight for the Pewter Gym.
Uncle Flint had no choice but to follow Yuuto and the two girls toward the Gym as well. Along the way, he kept glancing back at the smoking ruins that used to be his home, his eyes filled with complex emotions. In the end, he could only sigh and keep walking.
The Pewter Gym was located near the foot of the mountain. Its architecture was unmistakably Rock-type—rugged gray-black walls shaped like a giant cave. There wasn't even a proper sign at the entrance, only a simple stone slab carved with the Gym's emblem.
"Is anyone here?"
The energetic Misty was the first to push open the heavy stone door and call out into the dark interior. Her voice echoed through the spacious Gym.
She waited a few seconds. No reply.
Misty pouted. "Making a Gym look like a cave… their taste is really strange."
Having grown up in the bright, beautifully decorated Cerulean Gym filled with flowing water and lights, she naturally couldn't appreciate this dark, cold, rock-heavy style.
The moment she finished speaking—
*Snap.*
The lights inside the Gym suddenly flickered on one by one. They weren't bright white, but dim, yellowish light reminiscent of torches, illuminating the entire interior.
The Gym's interior was vast. The floor was solid rock, and the walls were carved to look like rough stone faces. At the far end stood a raised platform with a simple stone chair.
On that chair sat a figure with spiky hair and squinting eyes, wearing a simple short-sleeved shirt and long pants. His hands rested on his knees as he leaned slightly forward. Even without exaggerated movements, he radiated the calm, mountain-like composure of a true Gym Leader.
Brock.
His gaze slowly swept over the four people who had entered. It paused for a fraction of a second on Flint before moving on, as if he were just an ordinary bystander. Finally, his eyes settled on Yuuto… and the Pikachu perched on his shoulder.
"Hello," Yuuto stepped forward, his tone calm. "I'm here for a Gym Challenge match."
Brock looked at him, then at Pikachu.
He shook his head slowly, his deep voice carrying the weight of a senior advising a junior.
"Bringing a Pikachu to challenge a Rock-type Gym… another reckless rookie Trainer."
He rose from the stone chair.
"It is the Gym's duty not to refuse a challenge. Consider this… a guidance match."
"Please step forward."
Brock walked to the edge of the platform and pressed a switch on the wall.
*Rumble.*
A dull mechanical sound rose from the floor as a massive, jagged rock battlefield slowly emerged from the ground—a standard Rock-type arena.
At the same time, excited chattering erupted from the spectator stands on the second floor.
"Brother! Brother! Is there another Gym battle starting?"
"Go, Brother!"
"What kind of Pokémon is it this time?"
A group of small children—about eight or nine of them, ranging from three or four to around ten years old—poured out from a side door and crowded against the railing, peering down with sparkling eyes. They wore simple but clean clothes, clearly thrilled to watch their big brother battle.
When Flint saw the children, his body stiffened. He quickly pulled down the brim of his hat, hiding his face deeper in shadow. His fingers nervously tugged at his clothes and pinched his cheek as fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Yuuto glanced at him but said nothing.
His attention returned to the arena.
The rock field had fully risen. Brock stepped down from the platform and took his position in the Trainer's Command Area.
He cleared his throat and began explaining the rules.
"The challenge format for the Pewter Gym is 2-on-2. Both sides will use two Pokémon. The battle will take place on this rock field prepared by the Gym Leader."
"During the match, the Gym Leader may only switch Pokémon after one is defeated. The Challenger, however, may switch at any time."
Brock spoke slowly and clearly, as if afraid the "reckless rookie" wouldn't understand. He deliberately emphasized:
"Remember—this is a Rock-type Gym. I use Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon. Electric-type moves… have very little effect on them."
He glanced meaningfully at the Pikachu on Yuuto's shoulder.
After finishing the explanation, Brock took a Poké Ball from his waist. Following his philosophy of educating and guiding young Trainers, he decided to start with a gentler approach.
"My first Pokémon is this one."
He threw the ball.
In a flash of white light, a round Pokémon with two stone arms appeared on the field.
[Pokémon: Geodude]
[Level: Novice (Lv15)]
Yuuto quickly assessed Geodude's level, then patted Pikachu on the shoulder.
"The first battle is yours."
"Pika!"
Pikachu leaped nimbly from his shoulder and landed lightly on the rocky battlefield.
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