"Tsk tsk, using a Pikachu to challenge the Gym Leader's Raichu… I can only say this kid has never been properly beaten before!"
"That's right. Facing a fully evolved Raichu, the Gym Leader will definitely use his full strength to teach this rookie a harsh lesson!"
Before the battle even began, two Gym staff members—a man and a woman—stood by the arena, chatting and laughing confidently about what was about to unfold.
They had seen countless young challengers come and go during this period.
Every one of them was crushed by their leader's Raichu until their spirits were broken.
Now, this boy dared to use a Pikachu of all things to challenge him?
In their minds, they had already pictured the scene—Ash crying while holding his beaten, bruised Pikachu in his arms.
However, Misty and Serena, who stood at the sidelines, could barely hold back their laughter when they heard the staff's remarks.
Teach Pikachu a lesson?
Never been beaten before?
Were they rehearsing their own last words?
If it had been before the battle with the super ancient Dragonite, the two girls might have shared the same doubts as everyone else.
After all, Pikachu was always Ash's trump card, but neither of them truly knew how strong he really was.
But after seeing Pikachu's fight with that colossal Dragonite, they now understood one thing clearly.
Pikachu wasn't just strong. He was a monster hidden under the skin of a small yellow mouse.
Even if Ash said Pikachu was a mythical beast pretending to be a rodent for fun, they might have actually believed it.
"What are you laughing at?"
The two Gym staff members noticed Misty and Serena covering their mouths, trying to stifle their giggles, and frowned.
"Is something funny? We're talking about your friend's battle!"
"No, no, we didn't mean to laugh at you!"
"Yeah, not at all~"
"You're obviously laughing at me!"
"Really not," Misty replied awkwardly, waving her hands. "It's just… we thought of something happy!"
"Oh? What's so happy?"
"Well, we just remembered that Ash's Pikachu defeated a super powerful Dragonite not long ago!"
"..."
Both staff members stared blankly, their faces twitching.
Pikachu… defeated Dragonite?
Those were words they understood individually, but strung together, they made no sense at all!
How could a Pikachu and a Dragonite even be mentioned in the same sentence?
Of course, what Misty and Serena said wasn't entirely accurate.
It wasn't exactly a complete victory—it had been a fierce battle where both sides stood evenly matched.
But the staff didn't need to know that.
They were still processing what sounded to them like a bad joke.
At that moment, the referee raised his flag.
The battle was about to begin!
...
"A baby is still a baby. He even put decorative trinkets on his Pikachu. How ridiculous."
Lt. Surge crossed his arms and smirked.
"Raichu, show him the difference between a child and an adult. Use Megaton Punch!"
Pikachu's mouth twitched slightly.
What do you mean decorative trinkets? These weight bands I'm wearing weigh hundreds of pounds!
Each of these cuffs was heavier than ten Pikachus combined!
As Raichu charged in, his huge fist glowing white, Pikachu didn't move.
He simply raised one paw.
"Bang!!"
A deep, heavy sound echoed through the arena.
Raichu's Megaton Punch slammed straight into Pikachu's paw.
In that instant, Raichu was sure that Pikachu's arm would shatter and send him flying into the wall.
However… Pikachu didn't even flinch.
He stood there as steady as a rock, unmoving, calm, and completely unharmed.
That cute face even carried a mocking smile, as if to say—that all you got?
"How… how is this possible?!"
"No way! That was a full-powered hit! Even the Gym Leader's Raichu couldn't make that Pikachu take a single step back?!"
The two staff members gaped in disbelief.
Even Lt. Surge himself looked like he'd just seen a ghost.
What was going on here?
Wasn't this supposed to be an easy sweep? The baby-tier challenger? The warm-up battle before lunch?
Why did it suddenly feel like the script had been reversed?
Not only had Pikachu caught Raichu's punch barehanded, but he had done so effortlessly—without moving a single inch.
That kind of reaction only happened when there was an overwhelming difference in power between two Pokémon.
But this was just a Pikachu!
How could that be possible?!
His Raichu wasn't just any Raichu—it was an Elite peak-level Pokémon!
Even a professional-tier Pikachu wouldn't be able to take that punch head-on!
"Why stop now, Lt. Surge? Keep attacking. Or is this all your Raichu can do?"
Ash's calm voice echoed through the arena, completely steady, with no hint of mockery.
He simply raised a hand, beckoning the Gym Leader to continue.
But that small gesture and the confidence in his tone were enough to ignite Lt. Surge's temper.
"You arrogant brat! You think you can mock me? Raichu, show him our true strength!"
"Raichu, use Thunder!!"
"Rai—Chuuu!!"
Raichu's body flared with electricity, golden sparks bursting from his fur as he unleashed his full power at point-blank range.
The brilliant surge of lightning engulfed Pikachu, filling the entire arena with dazzling golden light.
The shockwaves rippled outward, causing even the spectators to shield their eyes.
But when the light began to fade, what they saw stunned them completely.
Pikachu stood there, yawning, completely unharmed.
He didn't even look fazed by the electric attack.
The Thor Entry granted Pikachu total immunity to electric power of the same level.
It didn't matter if it was Raichu or even the god of thunder himself.
If they were on the same level, they couldn't harm him—not even a little.
Lt. Surge stared blankly.
Raichu's smirk had completely vanished.
The staff were speechless, their mouths open but no words coming out.
Even the electric arcs dancing across Raichu's body began to fade until nothing was left.
At this point, Raichu had completely lost the will to fight.
Even a fool could see that the Pikachu standing before him was no ordinary Pokémon.
In front of this Pikachu, he was the baby.
"Are you done?" Ash's voice rang clearly across the arena. "Then it's our turn. Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Pikachu!!"
If Raichu's Thunder was a spark, then Pikachu's Thunderbolt was the sun itself bursting through the clouds.
The arena was instantly swallowed by golden light.
Everyone instinctively closed their eyes, blinded by the intensity.
When they opened them again, the battle was already over.
Raichu lay flat on the ground, smoking slightly, completely charred black from head to toe.
Ash looked toward Lt. Surge, his tone calm and firm.
"I win, Gym Leader Lt. Surge."
As the referee announced the result, a faint chime sounded in Ash's system.
He had received his reward for the victory—
Red Entry [Spark Flint]!
(End of Chapter 47)
***
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