An elite mid-level Raichu and Ivysaur were not easy opponents.
If Sam was careless, even he could capsize.
"It's up to you—Scyther."
As Scyther entered the battlefield, it immediately sensed that this duel was different from any it had fought before. The atmosphere was oppressive.
The moment it landed, it began rubbing its scythes together, sparks flying as it deliberately released pressure toward its opponent.
"Not bad, kid."
As the Lt. Surge, his eye for strength was sharp. The instant Scyther appeared, he realized Sam was nothing like the challengers he had crushed before.
The contempt on his face vanished, replaced by a serious, dangerous expression.
He couldn't afford to be humiliated after all the big words he had spoken.
This battle had to be won—no matter what.
"Raichu, use Thunder."
Without waiting for a referee's signal, Lt. Surge launched the attack directly.
Shameless.
As a Gym Leader, he had initiated a sneak attack before the battle had officially begun.
Sam's anger flared instantly.
Aside from raw strength, Lt. Surge was unworthy of the title "Gym Leader" in every possible way. He belonged on the streets, not in a Gym.
Seeing the fury on Sam's face only delighted Lt. Surge.
He enjoyed watching challengers burn with hatred, powerless to act.
Sam might be strong—but Lt. Surge was convinced the outcome wouldn't change.
Victory would still belong to him.
Raichu completed its charge, and violent bolts of lightning exploded outward, flooding the battlefield in an indiscriminate electric storm.
There was no blind spot.
Lt. Surge didn't believe Scyther could possibly avoid it.
If Sam knew what Lt. Surge was thinking, he would have laughed out loud.
Avoid it?
He had never planned to.
"Scyther—Fury Cutter."
Scyther didn't dodge.
It raised its twin blades and charged straight toward Raichu.
The lightning that struck toward it was sliced apart midair, shredded by its scythes as if it were nothing more than paper.
With every step forward, the power of Fury Cutter stacked higher and higher.
By the time Scyther finished cutting through the thunder, its momentum had reached its peak.
Raichu's legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
Fear crept in.
If not for its terror of Lt. Surge, it might have already surrendered.
Between Scyther and its Trainer, Raichu knew exactly which fate was worse.
Gritting its teeth, Raichu forced itself to continue charging, attempting to defeat Scyther before the attack reached it.
But that hope was nothing more than a delusion.
Without the lightning slowing it down, Scyther's speed surged even further.
In the blink of an eye—
It was already in front of Raichu.
Raichu was still condensing energy.
Panic flashed across its face.
"What?! Dodge, Raichu!!!" Lt. Surge shouted.
Too late.
"It's over," Sam said coldly.
"Finish it."
Emerald-green energy wrapped around Scyther's blades.
The scythes swung.
The sound of air being torn apart echoed through the arena.
Raichu had no time to react.
The instant the blade connected, Raichu was sent flying like a cannonball, smashing into the wall before finally collapsing to the ground.
Sam and Scyther deliberately held back.
Otherwise, Raichu wouldn't have escaped with mere surface injuries.
Sam's reason was simple.
Nurse Joy had asked him to teach Lt. Surge a lesson, not to become another monster like him.
If he crippled Lt. Surge's Pokémon out of spite, he would be no different from the man he despised.
Unfortunately, Lt. Surge didn't appreciate that mercy.
His eyes burned with rage, as if he wanted to tear Sam and Scyther apart on the spot.
Grinding his teeth, he snarled,
"Very good, brat. Very good. You dare hurt my Pokémon? I'll make you regret ever stepping into Vermilion Gym."
Sam laughed.
He genuinely laughed.
"I'm sorry—I just couldn't stand it anymore," Sam said calmly.
"What right does a scumbag like you—someone who routinely cripples challengers' Pokémon—have to say something like that to me?"
"You should be thanking me for my restraint."
"Understand?"
"Trash."
Lt. Surge's aura exploded.
Violent. Twisted. Terrifying.
"You think you can scare me?" Sam sneered.
"You're still decades too early."
Now that all pretenses were gone, Sam no longer held back an ounce of mercy.
------------Author---------------
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