Ash, as a Newbie Trainer who has been traveling for less than half a month, might not know a lot, but he does know one thing, which is that a Gym Badge shouldn't be something that is easily obtainable.
Like when facing Brock, on the surface it seemed he coped very easily, almost overpowering Brock with no resistance and defeating him effortlessly, but in reality, he was only dealing with Brock's lowest level of challenge difficulty.
Moreover, Ash was influenced by Tactical Ash, allowing him to come up with such a strategy. Tactical Ash, being a Tactical Master, is enough to give even a Champion Trainer a headache. Isn't it normal for him to overwhelm a Gym Leader tactically?
In summary, a Gym Badge isn't something that can be easily obtained. It requires the Gym Leader to determine if the challenger has the qualification, and after providing sufficient tests, it can be given as a token.
If other Gyms were to hand out Gym Badges as freely as Cerulean Gym, wouldn't the entire Kanto League, or even the Pokemon League, fall into chaos?
Therefore, even Ash doesn't quite understand the actions of Violet and Penny.
"The Gym Badge is just the result. Isn't the important thing the process of challenging the Gym? If you just give me the Gym Badge, I gain nothing. What's the difference between that and not getting a badge at all?" Ash said with a slight frown, somewhat displeased.
Challenging Gyms, the path to self-improvement, was the simplest and most direct method to enhance oneself outlined by the big shots for him. As the number of badges increases, the difficulty of challenging Gyms will also become greater.
This gradual challenge also allows Ash to receive corresponding tests at different stages and improve himself as he overcomes them.
After defeating Brock, Butterfree's level immediately increased, and Pikachu also advanced to an intermediate level and quickly stabilized within just one day.
This is the benefit of challenging a Gym that matches one's level of strength, ensuring that he neither misses out on experience points by being too weak nor gets thrashed by being too strong.
But what about this Cerulean Gym situation? They just handed him the badge, making him a two-badge Trainer, and when he faces the third Gym, the difficulty will likely become chaotic.
He needs experience! Battle experience!!
However, after Ash barked out, looking at the innocent-looking beautiful faces of the three people in front of him, he also suddenly thought that even if he were to battle these three, he wouldn't gain any experience.
With Trainers of this level, even if he were to defeat them, how would he improve? That definitely wouldn't work.
Thinking of this, Ash felt somewhat weary for a moment. In hindsight, he should have listened to Misty and not come to Cerulean Gym. Although there weren't the fierce and evil women Misty mentioned, this place is indeed quite unfit as a Gym for training.
"Since you said it that way, I'll accept your challenge then. The challenge rule is one-on-one, and I only have left..." Just as Sayo helplessly tried to respond to Ash's challenge, the tightly closed backstage door suddenly swung open, and a crisp voice rang out behind him.
"Your challenge to the Cerulean Gym will be accepted by me, the true Gym Leader of Cerulean Gym!"
Ash turned to look, and standing at the doorway, issuing this stern proclamation, was none other than Misty, who had previously left the group.
Instantly, Ash's expression turned incredibly odd. He glanced at the Three Sisters of Cerulean and then at Misty, hesitating to speak, and his fingers pointed back and forth between the sisters and Misty, looking thoroughly confused.
The big shots in the group had mentioned in passing that Misty was the Gym Leader of Cerulean Gym. At the time, Ash didn't pay much attention, he just thought it was a bit unscientific for Misty, who was about his age, to already be a Gym Leader.
But considering Misty's outstanding knowledge and her powerful Pokemon, it didn't seem impossible.
However, Misty kept belittling Cerulean Gym afterwards, even saying things like the Gym Leader of Cerulean Gym is a fierce person, causing Ash to dismiss the idea of Misty being the Cerulean Gym Leader.
The development in a parallel world varies greatly. In other worlds, Misty might be the Cerulean Gym Leader, but not necessarily in his world.
Upon arriving at Cerulean Gym and seeing the Three Sisters of Cerulean, Ash was initially confident in his judgment.
But then, Misty suddenly coming out and claiming herself to be the Cerulean Gym Leader threw him into disarray.
What do you mean, if you're the Cerulean Gym Leader, why do you keep belittling your own Gym? And constantly bad-mouthing it! Is this how you're supposed to play?
Misty, seeing Ash so confused, couldn't help but show a hint of apology on her pretty face. She then briefly introduced her identity— the rightful Gym Leader of Cerulean Gym and the youngest of the Four Sisters of Cerulean.
"You... no wonder you didn't want me to come to Cerulean Gym, you didn't want me coming to your turf!"
"What do you mean my turf, that's a bit unpleasant, isn't it? I kept you from coming to Cerulean Gym because I told my sisters I wouldn't come back until I became a powerful Trainer. But since you, this stubborn mule, insisted, I had no choice but to come back with you!" Misty rolled her eyes and said.
It was because she had a spat with her three sisters earlier that she didn't dare come back to Cerulean Gym.
The result now is that after making such a big declaration, she ended up returning in less than a month, which somewhat caused her to lose face in front of her sisters.
But there's no other way, losing face in front of her sisters is better than having Cerulean Gym lose face in front of Ash!
Anyone else might underestimate Cerulean Gym, but Ash can't! Misty isn't sure why, but she simply doesn't want Ash to look down on Cerulean Gym, so even if it meant losing face, she still stood up.
"Misty, you still know how to come back, huh!"
"Didn't you previously declare that you wouldn't come back until you became a Water Type Pokemon Master? How come you returned so quickly?"
As Misty expected, her sisters immediately started berating her upon seeing her.
Yet, as soon as Violet and Penny finished one sentence, Sayo blocked them with her fair little hand, stopping them from continuing their criticism.
"Alright, Misty's coming back to help us. Honestly, when it comes to battles, we're nowhere near Misty's level, you both felt it too, didn't you? How tough it is to serve as the Gym Leader during this time?" Sayo's words made the other two silently swallow back the words they were about to speak.
After Misty left, the three of them took turns being the Gym Leader, and in turn, got thoroughly trounced.
This made them realize how excessive their previous criticisms of Misty were. They sweated in water ballet performances to earn money, but Misty guarding the Gym was equally arduous, if not more so.
Their earlier criticism of Misty was just an instinctive behavior, after all, they had long been accustomed to squabbling with her.
"Misty, do take care of Cerulean Gym once more." Sayo handed Misty the Water Drop Badge.
"Elder Sister Sayo… don't worry, I will safeguard the glory of Cerulean Gym! Ash, let's battle!" Misty took the Water Drop Badge from Sayo's hand and then, with high spirits, said to Ash.
"I've been looking forward to this! Finally, I get to battle you, Misty!!"
...
A moment later, the two arrived at the battle site in Cerulean Gym. As a Water Type Gym, Cerulean Gym naturally used a water attribute field. Misty and Ash each stood at one end of the field, and the former began to explain the rules to Ash.
"The rules for this match are a bit special. Ash, you can send out three Pokemon, while I'll only use one. But, I'll use my strongest Pokemon to battle you. What do you say, do you accept this rule?"