After getting lost again and again, Ash and his companions finally arrived at Vermilion City.
The journey had been exhausting. Even the usually composed Brock had a sparkle in his eyes when he saw the city sign.
"Let's not talk about anything else—the Pokémon Center solves everything."
First priority: heal their Pokémon.
After all, Pokémon Centers even offered lodging. It was extremely convenient—basically handling everything for both Trainers and Pokémon in one place.
Brock blushed slightly as he watched Nurse Joy register their information.
"Your Pokémon will be ready in two and a half hours," Nurse Joy said as she accepted the Poké Balls and handed them to a nearby Chansey.
Just as the check-in process finished, Chansey suddenly pushed out a hospital bed.
On it lay a charred Rattata.
"…Did I see that right?" Brock widened his eyes. "Was that a completely blackened Rattata?"
He even wondered if he had seen wrong—weren't Rattata supposed to be light purple?
"You didn't see wrong," Nurse Joy sighed.
"That's the fifteenth Rattata this month that's been shocked like that."
"Our hospital beds are almost full."
Another electric maniac…
Brock and Misty both turned to look at Ash.
"Why are you two looking at me like that?" Ash said awkwardly. "Those times were just accidents!"
"Those Pokémon were defeated by Lt. Surge, the Vermilion Gym Leader," Nurse Joy explained.
"And after beating challengers, he mocks their Pokémon by calling them babies."
"Has no one defeated him?" Misty asked.
"A few," Nurse Joy replied, "but not many."
"Lt. Surge's Raichu is too strong for most Trainers."
Before Nurse Joy could continue, Misty nudged Ash with her shoulder and grinned mischievously.
"Ash, do you think you can beat him?"
Raichu, huh?
I'll just beat it with Pikachu.
System Mission
[ New Mission Triggered: Pikachu's Electric Battle]
Mission Description:
Defeat Lt. Surge's Raichu using Pikachu, and thoroughly mock Lt. Surge afterward.
Mission Rewards:
Speed Enhancer ×1(Increases a Pokémon's base Speed stat by 10 points)
Basic Rare Candy ×5
"I should be able to win," Ash said modestly.
He didn't want to sound overconfident—otherwise Misty would definitely tease him.
After chatting a bit more about the Vermilion Gym, the group washed up and prepared for the upcoming Gym challenge.
"Pika-pi!"
Ash spotted Pikachu happily eating bread with ketchup.
It looked delicious.
The Pokémon Center truly lived up to its reputation—they even knew what flavors each Pokémon liked.
"Your Pokémon have fully recovered," Nurse Joy said, bringing out a metal tray holding their Poké Balls.
Pikachu jumped onto the counter, waiting for Ash.
"Let's go, Pikachu."
Ash collected the Poké Balls and led the group toward the Vermilion Gym.
Lt. Surge needed a proper lesson.
Unlike other Gym Leaders, he didn't adjust his Pokémon based on the challenger's strength.
He simply used Raichu to crush challengers and humiliate them.
He had completely forgotten the responsibility of being a Gym Leader.
Both Brock and Misty had served as Gym Leaders themselves.
They always used Pokémon appropriate for the challenger's level.
Bullying Trainers like this was unacceptable.
"Ash, Pikachu, it's up to you," Misty said seriously.
They needed to give Lt. Surge a taste of his own medicine.
Brock felt the same anger.
And seeing Nurse Joy constantly treating injured Pokémon made it even worse.
If possible, he would've liked to battle Surge himself.
"Pika-pika!"
Pikachu nodded confidently.
"Yeah," Ash said. "I'll let Pikachu handle it. Raichu won't stand a chance."
So what if it evolved?
It would still get beaten by Pikachu.
Vermilion Gym
Before long, Ash and his companions arrived at the Vermilion Gym.
Brock and Misty exchanged a glance.
Without a word—
They both lifted their feet and kicked the gym doors open.
BANG!
The massive doors burst open as dust flew into the air.
The noise immediately caught the attention of the Gym staff.
"Boss, another victim has arrived," one of them sneered.
"But this one looks pretty angry."
The two assistants—a man and a woman—looked at Ash arrogantly.
"You'll be crying soon enough."
"Let me see this challenger."
A deep voice rang out.
Lt. Surge stood up from his chair, his movements decisive and powerful.
He stared at the challenger with interest.
He was enormous.
His open shirt revealed massive chest muscles, and his towering height created an overwhelming sense of pressure.
"Welcome to Vermilion City," Surge said, stepping forward.
He instinctively reached out as if to pat their heads.
"Pika-pika!"
(You think you can touch Ash's head?!)
Pikachu's electric sacs crackled with energy, stopping Surge in his tracks.
"You're the challenger, kid?" Surge sneered.
When he saw Pikachu, the contempt in his eyes grew even stronger.
"So you're using a baby Pokémon that hasn't even evolved into Raichu?"
"A baby Pokémon raised by a baby Trainer."
Surge looked down on Pikachu sitting on Ash's shoulder.
"1-on-1 Gym Battle. And don't cry if you lose."
He returned to the battlefield and released his Pokémon.
Raichu.
[Pokémon: Raichu – Lv. 30]
"Pikachu, you're up."
Even though Raichu was twice its size, Pikachu showed no fear.
After being intimidated by Gyarados so many times, Pikachu had developed resistance to large opponents.
"A baby Electric mouse," Surge scoffed.
He didn't take Pikachu seriously at all.
To him, this was just another challenger coming to lose.
"Let me show you what a real Electric-type Pokémon looks like!"
Surge crossed his arms casually.
"Raichu—Thunderbolt!"
"A direct contest of Thunderbolt?" Ash grinned.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Two golden bolts of electricity collided midair.
The crackling energy illuminated the battlefield.
Then—
Pikachu's Thunderbolt overpowered Raichu's.
"What?!"
Surge's assistants rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
Raichu was actually being suppressed by Pikachu.
"Hmph. Not bad for a baby Pikachu," Surge muttered coldly.
"Raichu, dodge!"
Raichu was slightly slower than Pikachu.
It barely avoided the overpowering Thunderbolt—
But in the next instant, the yellow mouse had already dashed forward.
"Pikachu!" Ash shouted.
"Give that Raichu baby an Iron Tail!"
Ash deliberately extended the battle.
Using Thunderbolt forced Raichu to dodge—
Creating the perfect opening.
With Quick Attack and Iron Tail, Pikachu closed the distance instantly.
Ash smirked.
"Now let's see whose Pokémon is the real baby."
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