Tuesday, December 30th.
The azure port of Vermilion City welcomed a salty sea breeze.
Quoting Professor Oak's treatise: "Vermilion represents the golden hue of twilight."
The setting sun cast its afterglow across the ocean, bathing the entire city in an amber radiance.
This was how Vermilion's "Orange Badge" got its name.
Docked at Vermilion Port was a luxurious cruise ship named "S.S. Aqua."
And the captain of "S.S. Aqua" was none other than the man known as "The Lightning Bruiser" - Lt. Surge.
Natsume stared at Vermilion Gym's massive sign with mixed emotions.
Are Gym Leader salaries really that terrible?
Not only does Brock have to work as a security guard, but even Lt. Surge needs to moonlight as a sailor...
"Gengar!" The Gengar levitated midair, observing the sign while nodding with a mischievous grin.
This new little buddy was really getting the hang of things!
Didn't even need reminding - came to challenge the Gym all on his own!
"Badge or not, can't let the kid wander off..."
Natsume shook his head and quickened his pace to follow Ash.
...
Inside the Vermilion Gym.
Blond, Burly Man, wearing a camouflage vest and overalls, with his legs resting on the table, shaking his head with headphones on.
As a former major of Unova, Lt. Surge is also a loyal fan of tarp.
It is said that he once recorded and released a hip-hop album by himself...but the sales were quite dismal.
"Leader!"
The noise broke Lt. Surge's leisure time.
He took off his headphones and said with a dissatisfied look: "What happened again?"
"There is a Challenger."
Lt. Surge team member, sausage-mouthed Tony said dryly: "Vice Captain Visquez has already fought with the Challenger!"
"Oh." Lt. Surge said lazily: "Then let Visquez solve it directly."
"But the problem is..." Tony whispered, "That Challenger seems to be your Trainer who has won before!"
Lt. Surge was slightly startled, and a fierce smile appeared on his face.
When dealing with a Trainer who challenges for the second time, the Gym Leader will naturally show his true level.
"Victory me before?"
Lt. Surge stood up, turned his neck, and whispered.
"Let's go and see which Challenger it is!"
...
"Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
By the time Natsume stepped into Vermilion Gym, Ash was already in the middle of his second challenge.
The tough-as-nails Visquez commanded her Raichu, countering relentlessly.
In the end, Ash's Pikachu was sent flying by Raichu's Volt Tackle, spiraling into unconsciousness with swirls in its eyes.
"This is already your second match?" Natsume muttered blankly. "You work fast…"
Ash cradled Pikachu in one arm, scratching his head with a grin. "Well, can't let any chance to get stronger slip by, y'know?"
"But didn't you already get the Orange Badge?"
Ash nodded seriously. "Yeah, but I still wanna learn Electric-type battle techniques from Lt. Surge!"
If there was one difference between DP Ash and his original self, it was his mentality.
The old Ash had been stubborn, even a little arrogant…
But under the guidance of Blue Oak, Natsume-sensei, and others, he'd clearly started walking the path of constant growth.
Natsume rubbed his chin.
Logically speaking, there was no way Lt. Surge—at his level—could lose to a rookie like Ash.
The only explanation? He'd gone easy on him. Really easy.
Even so, Lt. Surge was technically the first Gym Leader Ash had ever defeated.
Lt. Surge… how embarrassing.
"Hey, kid, what do you take Lt. Surge for?!" Visquez scowled. "He doesn't have time to waste on you two!"
"Two?"
Natsume glanced around, then pointed at himself.
"What're you looking at?" Visquez snapped. "If you wanna challenge the Leader, you gotta get through me first!"
Natsume's heart leapt.
Wait, seriously? This is perfect!
"Nah, it's fine. You go ahead with your business."
With a cheerful wave, Natsume turned to drag Ash away—
—only for Pikachu to stir weakly in Ash's arms.
"Pikachu…" It weakly insisted it could still fight.
"Pikachu, let's get you healed up first," Ash reassured. "We'll challenge them again next time!"
"Pikachu…"
Just then—
Whoosh!
The back doors swung open dramatically.
"Hold it right there, boy!"
Lt. Surge stood there, punk sunglasses on, clad in camo gear, arms crossed with effortless cool.
Behind him, Tony—his lips comically swollen—held up a boombox, blasting an intense BGM.
Natsume blinked.
This guy… has his own theme music?!
Lt. Surge glanced at Ash and gave a curt nod.
Tony immediately set the boombox down and handed Ash a spray bottle.
"Vermilion Gym's special Potion. Works wonders on electric burns."
Tony mumbled through his puffy lips, "Don't let the Captain's act fool ya… He's actually pretty nice to challengers."
Ash accepted the Potion with a bright smile. "Thanks, Lt. Surge!"
Lt. Surge huffed, arms still crossed, then bent down to turn off the music.
Tch. Just Ash again?
Whatever. Not worth bullying a kid. Might as well go back to gaming—
Then his gaze landed on Natsume.
His brow furrowed.
Wait a sec…
This guy's almost—no, definitely—handsomer than me.
Lt. Surge stroked his chin with a gloved hand, deep in thought.
Why does he look so familiar…?
"C'mon, we can challenge them another time," Natsume said to Ash.
"Yeah!" Ash waved. "See you next time, Lt. Surge!"
"Hold it!" Lt. Surge barked.
He marched up to Natsume, circled him twice, then let out an impressed whistle.
Natsume's eye twitched.
What's with this guy…?
Don't tell me he's gonna hand me a Badge like Giovanni did!?
Lt. Surge stopped, his rugged face breaking into a grin.
"You. Let's battle."
Natsume: ???
Vice Captain Visquez paled. "But Captain, he hasn't even—"
"Stay back."
Lt. Surge held out an arm, blocking her. His smirk never left Natsume.
"This one's way outta your league."
Visquez froze. She'd never seen the Captain so… serious before.
But that pretty-boy didn't look tough at all!
Ash tilted his head, glancing between the nearly two-meter-tall Lt. Surge and the 183 cm Natsume-sensei.
"Natsume-sensei… do you two know each other?"
Lt. Surge laughed, slinging an arm around Natsume's shoulders. "We met playing video games once!"
Then, under his breath: "Right… Mentor?"
Natsume wasn't surprised Lt. Surge recognized him.
Like Sabrina, Lt. Surge had once been one of Team Rocket's Three Executives.
After Team Rocket disbanded, he'd stayed on as Vermilion's Gym Leader, aiding Red and others in major crises.
In short, he was a soldier with a sharp mind, a dry sense of humor, and zero regard for formalities.
On paper, he might seem like a brute with middling strength—
But his true expertise lay in life-or-death Wild Battles. He'd even pushed Red to the brink once.
These days, though, as a Gym Leader, he found exhibition matches boring. Hence the half-hearted performances.
"No wonder he lost to Ash…" Natsume mused, amused.
Well, too bad. Not fighting you, so quit staring!
"An honor to meet you, Lt. Surge."
Lt. Surge's eyes narrowed.
No reaction to being called out? Interesting.
Seeing Natsume-sensei wasn't taking the bait, Ash blinked. "Uh… we'll get going then?"
Lt. Surge crossed his arms, silent for a long moment.
Rumors about the Mentor flickered through his mind.
Maybe he had changed Team Rocket. Maybe Sabrina—even Lord Giovanni—had acknowledged him.
But for him to accept this guy?
Not without a test.
"My offer stands."
Lt. Surge flashed a sharp grin, eyes glinting.
"What do you say, Natsume-sensei? Let's have a no-holds-barred match!"
[Ding! New Mission Unlocked!]
[Objective: Defeat Lt. Surge in a No-Holds-Barred Battle]
[Reward: Wacan Berry ×1, Insulated Gloves (Upgraded) ×1!]
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