Chapter 37: Ash, Level: 2H
CLANG!!
The incredibly tough Iron Tail swept across Raichu's face.
The latter was instantly sent toppling to the side, as if it had been struck by an iron rod from the flank.
Just then, Pikachu quickly adjusted its stance amidst the cracked terrain and launched itself up again.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Its small body tumbled and spun in mid-air, its tail once again glowing with an intimidating, silvery light.
"Pika-chu!!"
Iron Tail!!
Air currents and dust spread across the entire field like ripples.
CLANG!!
The metal tail slammed down vertically on Raichu's forehead. The immense force that followed instantly caused its eyes to turn white as its brain shut down and it lost consciousness.
"Rai..."
Raichu collapsed in front of Pikachu.
The President stared blankly for a good while before composing himself and quickly making the call:
"Raichu is Unable to Battle! The winner of the Vermilion Gym Challenge Match is the participant Ash and his Pikachu!"
An Evolved Form falling before its unevolved counterpart was truly a bizarre sight.
But for some reason, it also felt completely natural, a sense of déjà vu.
"You did great!! Pikachu!"
Ash exclaimed loudly, his reaction delayed.
Pikachu was also stunned for a moment before hopping several times on the ruined field and leaping in front of Ash.
Smack!
The boy and the mouse high-fived in mid-air.
Defeating an Evolution Form like Raichu was a major Battle Record.
Although Steel Type moves aren't very effective against Electric-types, it seemed like some kind of buff had triggered a critical hit?!
Ash didn't dwell on it, rubbing Pikachu's head cheerfully as he said:
"Great job, Pikachu! I'll treat you to a huge feast later!"
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded. Ash's voice sounded especially pleasant today.
After the match, a recovered Lt. Surge wore a wry smile as he helplessly recalled his Raichu.
Did it hit a nerve in Raichu's jaw?
What incredible luck.
Walking up to Ash, Lt. Surge tossed him the Thunder Badge.
"Nicely done, Ash. Your Pikachu is strong. Perhaps I really did pay too little attention to it as a Pikachu, being too obsessed with rushing its evolution into a Raichu."
He reached out and scratched Pikachu's chin. Its eyes narrowed in enjoyment.
Clearly, this big guy also had a knack for handling Electric Mouse Pokémon.
They were both old fans of Electric Mice.
Just then, Lt. Surge sighed and began to explain slowly, "Sigh... Actually, back then, I also wanted to raise my Pikachu properly. I wasn't in a hurry to evolve it..."
Sensing some juicy gossip, Brock and Misty immediately gathered closer.
They were a bit puzzled by the big man's deeply emotional expression.
Weren't you the one who just said you should evolve them early to gain immense Strength?
"I still remember, it was an autumn. I had just returned from my military service and, with my newly caught Pikachu, I intended to take over as the Vermilion Gym Leader."
Lt. Surge spoke very slowly, a world-weary look on his face. All he was missing was a cigarette dangling from his lips.
"I had just arrived in Vermilion City when I saw a banner hanging on the biggest billboard here."
"According to big data analysis from the official Vermilion City blog: 'Top Ten Pokémon You Should Evolve Immediately After Catching! Evolve early, enjoy early. If you know, you know. Please believe in science!'"
"Below that were all sorts of detailed comparisons of the advantages of evolving. There were a lot of words, so I didn't read it all, but I was tempted."
Lt. Surge said with a sigh.
The three of them frowned, vaguely guessing what happened next.
"You guessed it. Raichu was ranked in the top three on that list of 'must-evolve' Pokémon. Plus, the official Vermilion City blog was running a discount lottery event. I got really lucky and bought a Thunder Stone for 90% off."
Although, the price after the discount was no different from the original price.
"I was so excited, I immediately had my Pikachu evolve. Its Power did indeed grow stronger, and I didn't notice anything amiss."
But evolving it into a Raichu before its Potential as a Pikachu was fully tapped, that ultimately left a hidden problem.
"But gradually, I discovered that the media in Vermilion City was getting stranger and stranger. It wasn't like a normal news outlet at all. I started to panic."
Lt. Surge's face suddenly darkened, as if he had recalled something unpleasant.
Clickbait titles, shock headlines, rabble-rousers, vicious trolls... Anyway, there wasn't a single normal piece of news.
"Sure enough, three months later, the official Vermilion City blog released another big data ranking."
"'Top Ten Pokémon You'll Wish You Could De-Evolve After Evolving Them'"
And Raichu... was still ranked third.
Lt. Surge nearly fainted on the spot.
The three of them: "..."
Soon after, having heard Lt. Surge's tale, the trio left the Gym.
Meanwhile, inside the Gym.
Still thinking back on the Battle, Lt. Surge gently tossed out a Poké Ball.
Raichu.
The Pokémon, which had been Unable to Battle just moments ago, had already recovered some of its Hit Points.
"Raichu, I've decided! Tomorrow, I'm going to Viridian Forest to catch another Pikachu and start training it from scratch! I'm turning over a new leaf!"
Hearing this, Raichu was immediately displeased, waving its little fists to show its dissatisfaction.
So love... can it just disappear? Master?
"Don't be anxious yet, Raichu. I'm also planning to take you out for a round of real battles."
Knowledge from paper is always shallow. Things like positioning have to be learned through practice. It's time to take you out and show you the World... Besides, Raichu's always complaining I only know theory.
"Raichu! Raichu!"
Hearing this, Raichu instantly smiled, its old face blushing red.
Master, how about when you get there... you just release me?
The Vermilion Gym was instantly filled with a happy and joyous atmosphere.
Before leaving, Lt. Surge beckoned to someone behind him and instructed, "Pix, I'm leaving the Gym in your hands for a while. I'm going out for a period of Training."
"Yes, sir!"
A muscular girl in a tank top, with her hair tied up to resemble an electrical plug, nodded.
Then, Pix remembered something and asked, "Boss, what about that letter? How should I reply?"
"Just say I went out to train and didn't see the letter."
He said that, but a sense of unease still stirred in Lt. Surge's heart.
That letter had been stuck with him for several days now. It was difficult to give a direct response.
"Hmph, Team Rocket... trying to recruit the Gym Leaders of the Kanto Region? What on earth are they planning...?"
Then Lt. Surge gritted his teeth.
*Forget it. I'm getting out of here first, anyway.*
After leaving the Gym, Ash and his group were naturally unaware of these subsequent developments.
They were currently discussing the third Badge they had just obtained.
Now that the Vermilion Gym had been conquered, their mission in Vermilion City was also over.
Ash planned to hurry to the next Gym and continue his challenges!
"Wait, Ash, did you forget something?"
"We still have to go live the high life on the S.S. Anne cruise ship!" Brock and Misty quickly reminded him.
The Gym was just for fun; they had been waiting for this for a long time.
"Oh, right! We still have to solve the paranormal incident at Professor Cerise's Laboratory, then get the Cruise Tickets as a reward and go live the high life."
Ash slapped his forehead, finally remembering.
As a country boy from Pallet Town, he also yearned to be extravagant for once.
The luxury cruise ship, the S.S. Anne, would set sail the day after tomorrow. That meant they only had today and tomorrow to solve the case.
That's not much time.
Ash quickly rubbed Pikachu's head.
"Pikachu, we're out of time. Your big feast will have to be next time for sure."
Pikachu: "?"
*You've said 'next time for sure' so many times with those pretty words, can't it just be 'this time for sure' for once?!*
On the way, Ash took out his Pokedex and pulled up the Map interface.
"Let's see, the Cerise Laboratory is on the other side of Vermilion City... Hmm, this way?"
"Hurry up, hurry up!" Brock and Misty urged him on from the side, afraid they wouldn't complete the mission in time.
Just as the three of them locked onto their direction and prepared to head straight for the Cerise Laboratory, Ash suddenly noticed a small text icon on the Pokedex screen.
2H.
He remembered that when he looked yesterday, it was still SR, indicating he was a common, run-of-the-mill Trainer.
*I leveled up? 2H? Does that mean I'm already Level 2?*
"Hey, Pokedex, did my Trainer Level go up? Is Level 2 really strong? After all, I'm now a man who has three Badges," Ash asked excitedly.
"Pokedex Beep. Having completed the Catch of 6 Pokemon and obtained 3 Badges, Trainer Ash has advanced from the lowest rank, SR-Street—"
Ash quickly cut it off, shouting, "You might as well start from when the Deity created the World! Just tell me what rank 2H is!"
"Pokedex Beep. 2H: 2 Team Rocket Units, indicating that the Trainer now possesses a level equivalent to two times that of Team Rocket," the Pokedex answered seriously.
Ash: "?"
"Pokedex Beep. Due to the System's level ranking being incomplete, it can only use the levels of opponents the Trainer has already encountered as a benchmark."
"After big data analysis, the Strength of the Team Rocket trio has been determined to be the most fitting with the macroscopic and microscopic development of the universe. It contains the will of heaven, represents the laws of the World, and is the greatest common denominator for all Trainer levels."
"It has therefore been established as the base Combat Power unit of this System. It is an atomic unit and is indivisible."
"Pokedex Beep. Simple translation: Trainer Ash, Level."
"2 Team Rocket Units."
Ash: "?"
*Does this mean I can now take on two Team Rocket trios by myself?*
*Why does it sound like my Level has actually gotten lower?*
This level up did not make Ash happy.
For example, in school exams, if you score dead last in the entire school, besides feeling like an idiot, you also feel a strange sense of pride.
After all, last place is still first place in its own way.
But if you improve to second-to-last, then you're just an idiot—
(There will be another chapter tonight.)
(.)