"Roar—!!!"
The deafening roar did not announce a rebirth, but the beginning of destruction.
The giant beast, cast in gold, had little room to maneuver within the stream.
Ash Ketchum had chosen this spot specifically to guard against the Gyarados losing control after evolution.
Its crimson eyes were devoid of reason; only pure violence and a desire for destruction seethed within.
As the Atrocious Pokémon.
The Magikarp phase and the Gyarados phase could almost be described as two different entities.
Compared to the obedient and dopey nature of the Magikarp phase.
The Gyarados phase was the complete reverse.
Its thick body twisted violently; its tail, covered in heavy golden armor, struck the riverbank like a siege hammer, accompanied by a shrieking sound that tore through the air.
"Boom—Crackle!!!"
Gravel, mud, and broken logs as thick as bowls shot out in all directions like cannonballs.
The shore was a mess, and the stream water was whipped up into turbid waves several meters high by the berserk force.
Gyarados's strength was great.
Gyarados's strength was very great.
If a weak Pokémon were struck by Gyarados's tail, it would be flattened instantly.
This is the power of body size and weight.
This is data independent of Base Stats, Effort Values, and Individual Values.
This is an innate species gap.
"Look out!" Misty screamed, holding her head and diving to the ground; a piece of shattered rock the size of a washbasin flew past, grazing her scalp, and smashed into a tree trunk behind her, leaving a deep indentation.
Her face was pale, her voice carrying a sob and unprecedented panic:
"Ash Ketchum!"
"Recall it, quickly!"
"When Gyarados first evolves, its brain structure reorganizes, and it goes completely out of control!"
"It's just a destruction machine right now!"
Misty was already afraid of Gyarados, and seeing this Golden Gyarados so manic right in front of her made her even more terrified.
One must remember, Misty was only ten years old.
Yet even so, Misty placed her hand on the Poké Ball on her person.
If Ash Ketchum couldn't handle the Gyarados, then she would have to step in.
"Recall it?" Ash Ketchum's voice, however, was abnormally calm, even carrying a trace of scorching fighting spirit.
"Misty!"
"Fear and dread are no way to connect your heart with a Pokémon!"
"This is... the road to the Champion!"
Ash Ketchum stared fixedly at the golden giant beast twisting madly in the stream.
Retreat?
Not a single step!
"Partner!"
Ash Ketchum shouted sternly, his arm swinging down like a blade, pointing at the source of destruction.
"It's time to prove our strength!"
"Target: Golden Gyarados!"
"Battle start!"
Ash Ketchum could say with certainty that Pikachu was stronger than the Golden Gyarados.
Partner Pikachu holding a Light Ball, plus the super move Zippy Zap?
How could he back down?
This is the true Pika-God!
Don't look at how Zippy Zap's power is only 50 in the game; this is a super-fast opening move with +2 priority, practically zero wind-up.
To explain it in game terms—
1: An incredibly swift electric shock, guaranteed to be a priority attack, hitting the opponent's critical point.
You have to realize, the Golden Gyarados was in the water right now.
And while this stream was indeed deep enough for a Magikarp, it was too shallow for a Golden Gyarados.
Gyarados was currently restricted in its movement space... having just evolved, it hadn't adapted to its new body.
"Pika!" Pikachu's small body instantly tensed like a bow; golden lightning ran wild beneath its fur, and its gaze was sharp as a needle, without a shred of its usual affection.
"Listen up!" Ash Ketchum's speech speed was as fast as a bullet, every command decisive, piercing through the howling wind and Gyarados's roar.
"The opponent is massive, with overwhelming power!"
"Use your absolute speed, keep your distance the whole time!"
"Evade with Quick Attack, wear it down with Thunder Shock, look for an opening!"
He took a deep breath, a look of finality bursting from his eyes: "Finally, use Volt Tackle—take it down in one hit!"
According to Ash Ketchum's estimation: the violent dragon in front of him was at least 7 meters long and weighed at least three tons.
Such a huge monster... if Pikachu were hit in close combat... if not dead, it would be a case of serious injury.
Gyarados tail strike force—
Tail accounts for 1/3 body weight (approx 1040 kg), swinging at 30 km/h: Impact force ≈ 50 kN (equivalent to a large crocodile's tail attack, enough to shatter a small boat).
Hydro Pump as a Water-type signature move, reference high-pressure water gun:
Mouth diameter 0.5m, jet speed 200 km/h:
Pressure ≈ 500 kPa (about 5 times a fire hose, can tear through steel plates).
Defense: Scale thickness approx 5 cm, can withstand small-caliber bullets completely unharmed (similar to crocodile skin).
Ash Ketchum's mind recalled the data of a standard Gyarados.
The Pokémon schools in this world were actually useful.
You don't go to school for nothing; they couldn't just teach the basics from the games.
How long does it take to memorize the type chart in the game?
Do others go to school for years just to learn that?
Would anyone believe that?
If his identity weren't Ash Ketchum, and he were just an ordinary person, then going to school would actually be the best choice.
You have to have a sufficient understanding of the world to be a qualified Trainer.
"Pika—Chu!!!" Pikachu turned into a blazing golden streak.
The Lightning Rod ability is more practical than the Static ability in that it can reduce the damage of lightning to oneself.
Pikachu's discharge relies on the electrical sacs on its cheeks, right at the red spots.
If the electricity accumulated in the electrical sacs exceeds the body's load, it will cause damage to Pikachu itself.
A Pikachu with the Static ability has a more stable lower limit for electricity and can carry more electricity on the surface of its body.
A Pikachu with the Lightning Rod ability has stronger body conductivity and can endure a higher electrical load on itself.
Er... after all, this isn't a game; it's impossible for the Lightning Rod ability to take zero damage from lightning.
It's the same issue; because it's not a game, some things have changed.
Information from the game is a very important reference, but it also needs practical verification.
Pikachu didn't rush directly at Gyarados but ran back and forth along the bank at high speed, leaving trails of scorching afterimages.
Fast!
Under the cover of the electric light, it was so fast the naked eye could barely catch its real body.
"Roar!" Gyarados's scarlet dragon eyes locked onto this provoking golden light. Its massive head swung violently, and an incredibly thick Hyper Beam, mixed with violent water currents, shot out like a spear of judgment!
Wherever it passed, the air distorted and water vapor evaporated!
Just evolved, and this Golden Gyarados had already learned Hyper Beam.
However, it looked like its level was clearly insufficient.
Forcing the use of Hyper Beam would place a greater burden on the body than for a high-level Gyarados, and the power wasn't as strong as a proper Hyper Beam.
"Quick Attack!" Ash Ketchum said subconsciously.
It was like their minds were connected, arriving at the same thought simultaneously.
"Zzzzt!" Pikachu's figure, while the Hyper Beam was charging, anticipated the attack trajectory.
How did that saying go?
I don't need to be faster than your bullet; I just need to be faster than your hand.
A Pikachu with a brain is stronger than a Gyarados without one!
In the split second Gyarados fired the Hyper Beam, Pikachu performed a weird right-angle turn, changing its direction of movement.
The golden trajectory traced a thrilling acute angle in the air. The torrent of berserk energy grazed its afterimage and blasted into the forest, blowing open a charred crater several meters in diameter as giant trees collapsed with a crash.
"Thunder Shock! Maximum power!" Ash Ketchum's command didn't pause for a second.
Gyarados had no brain anyway, so he wasn't afraid of it understanding him.
"Pika—!!!" Pikachu twisted its body forcibly during the high-speed movement, the electrical sacs on its cheeks erupting with blinding light.
No longer tiny arcs, but several electric snakes as thick as bowls, carrying terrifying crackling explosions of berserk gold.
Go down, you!
_____
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