Onix's self-destruction was something none of the three onlookers had expected.
Ash had seen Onix unleash Rock Slide and assumed it had snapped out of confusion—or at least shaken it off temporarily. He'd already been planning how Pikachu should dodge.
With Aura Fusion, Pikachu didn't just gain access to Aura Sphere—his overall stats soared. Even if he only noticed the Rock Slide after the smoke cleared, Pikachu still had a solid chance of dodging.
But none of them—Ash, Brock, or Misty—had anticipated that Onix would indeed use Rock Slide… only to hit itself.
That single attack became the final straw. The self-inflicted Rock Slide drained the last of Onix's HP, and the massive Pokémon collapsed, defeated.
Ash and Pikachu, who'd been tensed for a hard fight, twitched at the corners of their mouths. This victory felt way too random.
"Uh… I guess that means I win?" Ash pointed at the fallen Onix.
Brock was silent for a moment, then recalled Onix and nodded. "Yeah. Onix is unable to battle. This Gym match is your victory."
"Congratulations, Ash. This is the Boulder Badge—take it." Brock walked toward Ash as the sandstorm finally faded with the battle's end.
Reaching the center of the field, he pulled a gleaming Boulder Badge from his pocket and handed it over.
Ash accepted it, eyes shining with excitement. "So this is a Gym Badge… I got my first Gym Badge! We did it, Pikachu!!"
"Pika pi~ka!" Pikachu cheered, beaming up at him.
"I'll admit, I didn't expect you to counter Sleep Powder with confusion tactics. For a Beginner Trainer, that kind of strategy is impressive. But honestly… your style's kind of nasty." Brock chuckled wryly. He admired Ash, but his distaste for those tactics was clear.
Most Trainers would've found that battle disgusting. Status moves were a valid tactic, sure, but usually Trainers traded a few straightforward blows first before layering on strategy.
Strength first, strategy later—that was the usual rhythm.
But Ash? He opened with Sleep Powder. When that failed, he followed with Supersonic. Who fought like that?!
No Beginner did, that was for sure. Beginners usually just charged in headfirst, relying on type advantage if they even knew it existed. Status moves, buffs, switches, weather tactics—those were tools of seasoned Trainers. Even most Gym Leaders didn't pull them off well. Ash, though, had used them fluently.
Does he have some expert guiding him behind the scenes? Brock's eyes drifted to Misty in the background. If he remembered right, she was from the Cerulean Gym…
"I agree, that strategy's kind of cheap, haha. But I didn't have a choice, Brock. Your team's a hard counter to mine. If I wanted to win with the Pokémon I've got, this was the only way." Ash laughed, scratching the back of his head as he tucked the Boulder Badge into his jacket.
"Either way, congratulations. Earning a Gym Badge in less than ten days since becoming a Trainer… that's extraordinary. For a Beginner, your record is top-notch. I feel like I'm watching the rise of a future top Trainer." Brock's praise was sincere.
Ash's grin nearly split his face. Getting recognition from a Gym Leader like this—it was worth bragging about.
Behind him, Misty poked his back with a huff. "Alright, alright, don't get cocky. And Brock, quit flattering him. His nose is gonna point straight at the sky."
Brock chuckled. "What's the harm? I haven't seen a rookie this good in ages. The last Beginner I battled—Gary Oak—was strong, sure, but he leaned on type advantage to beat me. Honestly, in both tactics and Pokémon training, Ash edges him out."
Hearing that sent Ash over the moon.
Gary was his lifelong rival, always one step ahead. Before their journeys began, Ash had been overshadowed by him in every way. Now, even if he was traveling slower, in raising Pokémon he seemed to be ahead.
Next time I see Gary, I'll battle him for sure. I'll crush him, prove once and for all who's Pallet Town's true number one!
"Hey, don't get carried away," Misty said, watching his giddy face.
Ash's biggest flaw was his pride. Still, his smugness never lasted more than a day. Whether it disappeared or just went deeper inside, Misty could never tell.
"Relax, I won't stay cocky long. This is just the starting line. I've got to stand on the final stage before Gary does!" Ash's grin softened into something more wistful, eyes shining with ambition.
The final stage for a Trainer—that could only mean the World Coronation Series, the Masters Eight. The dream stage for every Trainer alive.
Beating the Pewter Gym was only the beginning. Besides, every night when Ash logged into the Chat Group to study, the veterans there beat him down without mercy. So what if he got to enjoy this win a little?
"The final stage… you mean the Indigo Plateau Conference?" Brock asked curiously.
"Nope, the Masters Eight. But I'm still a long way off from that," Ash said with a carefree smile, hands behind his head.
"The Masters Eight, huh? Quite the lofty dream. Oh—here, take this." Brock pulled a notebook from his inner pocket and handed it over.
Ash blinked and instinctively flipped it open. "What's this…? Recipes for Pokémon food? There's so many!"
Misty leaned over his shoulder, equally surprised.
The notebook was packed with detailed recipes. Not the standard formulas sold in shops, but something far more refined. Each entry listed effects—some boosted stats with long-term use, some accelerated growth, others sped up recovery after training.
If these recipes were real, the notebook in Ash's hands was worth its weight in gold.