I have added this story to my Patreon. You can support me and read the 40 latest and advanced chapters there. It also fed and motivate me to write more chapters!
Free Members will get 10 Chapters Ahead of the schedule on Patreon!!!
Link: Patreon.com/AVRKingsTL
—------------------—
To look down on the opponent in words, but to take them seriously in tactics—this was Gary's consistent policy.
As long as he angered his opponent, the battle would be much easier. Facing a Trainer and a Pokémon who had lost their rationality, with his Gary's commanding ability, winning would be as easy as pie, a piece of cake!
This time, facing Ash, he was still executing this tactic.
Why did he know that Ash's starter Pokémon was Pikachu? Because he had asked his grandfather, Professor Oak!
He cared about Ash's situation more than anyone else. Even if he didn't say it, he admitted in his heart that Ash was his rival!
So, even though he hadn't seen Ash since they started their journey, Gary still had some understanding of Ash's situation.
Based on what he knew about Ash's Pokémon, Ash should send out Pikachu in this battle without him even needing to say it, as it had a restraining effect on Wartortle and was also Ash's starter Pokémon.
So, he might as well strike first, mock him, and then talk!
However, after the mockery, Ash not only didn't retort but also showed a strange expression on his face. His Pikachu, on the other hand, angrily said "Pika Pika," but Gary couldn't understand what it was saying.
What did this mean? He mocked Ash's Pikachu, and Ash remained indifferent? This was his starter Pokémon. When a starter Pokémon was mocked like this, shouldn't Ash, with his personality, be furious? Just like the Pikachu at his feet… For a moment, an ominous feeling suddenly rose in Gary's heart. He felt that his mockery just now might have been off.
"Then, as you said, Gary, let's have a battle between our starter Pokémon! I choose you, Pikachu!"
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu jumped onto the arena, filled with anger and fighting spirit.
This outdoor arena was usually for Trainers to use freely, but today it was requisitioned by the Lampuruge Resort officials. Simple barriers were set up around the arena to prevent people from crossing into it and being accidentally injured by Pokémon battles.
The ground was made of hard concrete, and it would not be thoroughly damaged by battles unless the Pokémon were Professional Level or above.
However, if Professional Level Pokémon were to compete, the damage to the venue would be quite severe. Therefore, a sign was placed at the entrance of the arena: "Professional Level and above Pokémon are not permitted to battle in this outdoor arena."
But generally, Professional Level Trainers wouldn't be bored enough to come to such a place to battle.
As Ash sent out Pikachu, the surrounding onlookers began to discuss amongst themselves.
"That challenger is the recently emerging Rookie Trainer, Gary, right?"
"I've heard of him. They say he's already obtained three Gym Badges in just over a month of traveling!"
"Three Badges in just over a month? That's too fierce!"
"Who is that person battling him? They seem very familiar with each other."
"Don't know… But using a Pikachu to battle, what kind of impressive Trainer could that be? He probably just knows Gary, that's all."
"That's right. Pokémon like Pikachu generally have no future and no combat ability. Any Trainer who knows a little bit wouldn't bother to train them."
"…"
The sounds of discussion reached Misty and the others. Misty turned to look at the chattering crowd next to her, a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes.
They knew Gary but not Ash? What kind of logic was that? Ash was also a Trainer who had obtained three Badges!
And one of those Badges was won by battling a Professional Level Raichu, using the very Pikachu they looked down upon!
It seemed that everyone still had a prejudice against Pikachu. However, Pikachu did indeed leave many stereotypical impressions in Kanto. Only Ash's Pikachu had refreshed her worldview; otherwise, she wouldn't have thought highly of Pikachu either.
However, the one standing on the field now was Ash's Pikachu. She was just waiting to see the stunned faces of these passersby, with their jaws dropped.
On the other side, Delia also looked surprised when she saw Ash enter the field. After arriving at the resort, she had looked for Ash but couldn't find him, so she simply came here with Professor Oak to watch Gary's performance.
She didn't expect Ash to have found his way here too, but he didn't seem to have noticed them.
"Ash is here too. Speaking of which, this seems to be the first time they've met since they started their journey. I didn't expect them to start battling as soon as they met. Sure enough, for Trainers, as soon as their eyes meet, it's a signal for battle to begin," Professor Oak said with a faint smile and a nod.
After a month of traveling, this was Gary and Ash's first meeting, and they started battling right away. This was the allure of the Trainer's spirit!
"I wonder if Ash can defeat Gary, Professor? What do you think?" Delia tapped her chin with her finger, looking at the two confronting each other on the field, and asked Professor Oak.
If Ash had heard Delia's address, he would have been greatly surprised. When did Delia become Professor Oak's student?
Professor Oak heard this and, after a moment of thought, replied, "It's not certain, it depends on their maneuvers. But on paper, Ash is stronger. That Pikachu is indeed extraordinary; it's already at Elite Level…"
Professor Oak said the latter part very softly, and Delia didn't hear it, but this didn't stop Delia from cheering for Ash.
However, Delia's cheers were drowned out by the many discussions, and Ash didn't notice.
All of Ash's attention was now on Gary.
"Are we going all out from the start, Pikachu?"
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu nodded, still with some anger on his face. He was going to smash this turtle!
Although the turtle didn't mock him, his Trainer did, so the turtle was equally guilty!
"Alright, Gary, you've awakened a sleeping lion!"
Gary: ???
What on earth are you talking about? What in the world is a sleeping lion? You're not talking about your Pikachu, are you?
Do you call this thing a lion?
Ash took off his hat and flung it onto the field. Pikachu leaped up and caught the hat steadily. The hat seemed to have a magnetic attraction, directly embedding itself onto Pikachu's small head.
Suddenly, power surged, and Pikachu's entire state became completely different!
"What is that? Battling with a hat? Is it some kind of held item?" Gary narrowed his eyes, carefully observing the hat on Pikachu's head.
In the Pokémon World, there are many miraculous held items. A simple sash might contain various magical powers, such as ensuring a Pokémon retains a sliver of health after taking a powerful attack while at full health, or increasing Fighting-type damage... Besides sashes, there are also vests, bandanas, and other boosting items. The hat Ash put on Pikachu might also be one such item.
But when Gary examined it closely, his face immediately darkened.
"That hat of yours should be one of those limited-edition Pokémon hats that you write a letter to the League for and the League randomly distributes, right?"
"That's right, what about it?"
"Hmph! I thought it was some kind of Pokémon held item. Why are you having Pikachu wear a hat to battle? To increase its style? This isn't a Contest."
"What's a Contest?"
"…It's not important. I'll tell you after I defeat you! Wartortle, since the opponent is wearing a hat, let's knock his hat off! Use Water Gun!"
Gary didn't bother to continue answering Ash's question. He directly commanded Wartortle to start attacking Pikachu.
Upon receiving the command, Wartortle spewed a stream of water, as thick as an arm, from its mouth, aiming directly at the hat on Pikachu's head.
"Thunderbolt!" Seeing Wartortle attack, Ash quickly got into position. He waved his hand, telling Pikachu to counter with Thunderbolt.
Golden electricity surged from Pikachu's body, directly colliding head-on with the Water Gun!
Upon initial contact, the Water Gun was instantly destroyed, and the dazzling electric current surged along the water towards Wartortle.
"Dodge!"
"Kame!" Wartortle cut off the Water Gun, then rolled to dodge the Thunderbolt attack.
The Thunderbolt hit the ground, scorching that area black.
Gary's expression tensed, and alarm bells rang in his heart. Ash's Pikachu was stronger than he had imagined. This kind of Thunder Shock was not something an ordinary Pokémon could use.
Wartortle's level might not be as high as Pikachu's.
After coming to this conclusion, Gary was initially somewhat incredulous. Even though he had caught many Pokémon and trained them balancedly, Wartortle, as his starter Pokémon, had received his full cultivation.
Reaching the Advanced Peak in just over a month was definitely something 99% of Rookie Trainers couldn't achieve.
Yet, Ash's Pikachu was even higher level than his Wartortle? Was this reasonable?!
However, Gary quickly suppressed this thought. In battle, he had to trust his judgment. No matter how unreasonable it was, since it had happened, he had to face it and solve it.
Now, Wartortle's level was at a disadvantage, and its type was also at a disadvantage. The situation could be said to be quite unfavorable; he needed to find a way to turn the tide of the battle.
"Wartortle, use Water Pulse!"
Wartortle took a deep breath, its cheeks puffed out, and then it forcefully spat out a violent stream of water!
The churning water turned into a wave, surging towards Pikachu!
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"
"Chu—Pika!"
Pikachu's tail was coated with a metallic sheen. Then, he leaped into the wave, his body flipping in the air, and his tail chopped down fiercely!
With a flash of white light, Gary saw that the surging Water Pulse wave was forcefully cut in half!
"Crap! What the heck?!" Gary couldn't hold back and cursed out loud.
He, of course, knew Iron Tail. Steel-type Pokémon using it might achieve quite good results, but this time, the one using Iron Tail was Pikachu.
Not only was this not a same-type move, but Pikachu was so small, how strong could its force be?
Then Pikachu showed him just how strong its force could be.
Slicing through the wave, the water was directly cut in half!
Is this really a stray dog Pikachu?
"Whoa, is that a Pikachu?!"
"What a cool Pikachu! So Pikachu looks so cool with a hat on!"
"Is there a possibility that it's not the hat that makes him cool, but him cutting the wave in half that makes him cool?"
"Who is that young man? How can he train a Pikachu to this extent?"
"…"
Pikachu's move to cut the Water Pulse also caused the surrounding people to discuss animatedly.
Could a Trainer who could train a common mascot Pikachu to this extent be an unknown person?
Ash was indeed not entirely unknown. Although the news of defeating Lt Surge and obtaining the third Badge hadn't spread yet, some people knew that Ash possessed two Badges and was traveling just like Gary.
The world always has no shortage of know-it-alls who can always get information through various channels.
Upon learning that Ash was also a Rookie Trainer, the exclamations of the surrounding people grew even louder.
Today, there were two Rookie Trainers clashing, and their strengths were not to be underestimated… "How about it? Still calling my Pikachu a stray dog?" Ash raised his head slightly, saying smugly.
On the other side, Gary's face wasn't looking so good. Before embarking on his journey, he had always been one step ahead of Ash, but today he was suppressed by Ash in return. This was completely unacceptable for young master Gary.
However, he remained very calm during the battle.
"Wartortle, Withdraw." Upon receiving the command, Wartortle instantly retracted into its shell, increasing its defense.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Withdraw increases physical defense. Here, we just need to use special attack moves to attack the opponent.
All the knowledge I've learned from the big shots during this time wasn't for nothing!
"Pika—chu!!"
"Wartortle, High Speed Spin plus Hydro Pump!"
Wartortle's shell instantly began to spin at high speed. At the same time, violent streams of water suddenly burst out from several openings in its shell!
It released powerful streams of water that seemed to cut through the air, emitting sharp whistling sounds.
At the same time, due to the High Speed Spin, Wartortle even constructed a barrier of water around itself, forming a wall of water!
Golden electricity surged from Pikachu's body. A fist-thick bolt of lightning struck towards Wartortle, but it was directly deflected by Wartortle's High Speed Spin and Hydro Pump!
This was a combination of three moves, and with Hydro Pump being a Water-type signature move, even if it didn't have a level advantage, it could still deflect Thunderbolt!
"Excellent, crash into it just like that!" Gary's lips curled into a smile as he commanded loudly. The goddess of victory was already smiling upon him!
"Pikachu, Electric Terrain to dodge!"
"Pika!!" Pikachu landed on all fours, then pushed off forcefully. A golden electric arc flashed across the field, and Pikachu instantly vanished.
Seeing this, the smile on Gary's face immediately froze.
Electric Terrain? What kind of move is that? How can it be so fast? He couldn't even see a shadow!
"Bang!!"
"Screech!"
While Gary was wide-eyed, searching for Pikachu's trace, a dull thud and the sound of lightning hitting something echoed on the field.
Wartortle, which was in High Speed Spin and using Hydro Pump, let out a cry of pain and was directly knocked out of its High Speed Spin state. Its shell tumbled across the ground for a dozen circles before finally coming to a stop.
Pikachu reappeared on the field, even in its original spot, as if it had never moved.
However, the bottom of Wartortle's shell was scorched black, meaning Wartortle had been attacked by Pikachu just now, and Gary hadn't seen anything!