Upon hearing these words, Rei was immediately displeased.
Good grief, an overseas yokel who doesn't even have a Pokeball, dares to boast in front of him?
"Hey, don't underestimate me!"
Rei gritted his teeth and took the initiative to issue a command.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!!"
His Pikachu, upon receiving the order, turned into a faint white light and rushed toward Ash's Pikachu.
That speed, in Rei's eyes, was already considered quite fast.
But in the eyes of Ash and Pikachu... it was more like a snail on a stroll.
Ash didn't even bother to call out a command.
He just gave his Pikachu a look, and Pikachu understood immediately.
The next moment, that small yellow figure suddenly vanished from its original position.
"Huh? Where is it?"
Rei's eyes widened; he hadn't even seen Ash's Pikachu move.
"Swoosh."
A gentle sound came from behind his Pikachu.
Ash's Pikachu had silently circled behind the opponent, reached out a small paw, and symbolically patted the back of the opponent's head.
The force was so light that it couldn't be any lighter; it was purely in jest.
Rei's Pikachu was completely bewildered.
It turned its head blankly, looking at the fellow that had somehow appeared behind it, mind completely blank.
Just now... What just happened?
Why did it not notice anything at all?
"How... How is this possible?!"
Rei was utterly dumbfounded, his face turning bright red.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Quick, electrify!"
He panicked, promptly instructing his Pikachu to use its ultimate move.
Rei's Pikachu's cheek pouches lit up, a golden electric current shot toward Ash's Pikachu.
The power of that electric current, at this time, was enough to heavily injure ordinary people.
But facing this attack, Ash's Pikachu couldn't even be bothered to dodge.
It stood steadily where it was, allowing the Thunderbolt to hit it squarely.
"Boom!"
The electricity exploded on Pikachu's body.
Rei's eyes lit up, thinking he had succeeded with this hit.
But when the electricity dissipated, he was completely stunned.
Ash's Pikachu stood unharmed in place, not even a single hair singed.
It even reached out a paw to scratch its ear, with a speechless expression saying, "Is that amount of electricity even itching?"
Electric Type Moves are naturally weak against Electric Type Pokemon.
Moreover, that pitiful amount of electricity was nothing compared to Ash's Pikachu, like a firefly competing with the moon.
It couldn't even cause damage, let alone fill the gap between Ash's Pikachu's teeth.
"How can this be... My Thunderbolt is completely useless?!"
Rei's voice started to tremble.
His Pikachu's proud signature move, in the face of the opponent, seemed like a trivial joke.
Professor Laventon, watching from the sidelines, was also dumbfounded.
He had known Ash was extraordinary, but seeing this firsthand still shocked him.
That Pikachu withstood Rei's Thunderbolt at full strength, yet its skin wasn't even broken?
This had already far exceeded his range of understanding.
"Ash... is this the strength of overseas trainers?"
Professor Laventon murmured to himself.
Cynthia helplessly shook her head, Rei's Pikachu's strength was at most Advanced Level, while Ash's Pikachu was Champion Level!
You could say, even if Rei's Pikachu exhausted itself on the field, Ash's Pikachu wouldn't suffer any damage.
This is the absolute gap in strength.
On the field, Ash looked at the completely panicked Rei and slowly raised his hand.
"Alright, it's our turn now." He grinned, "Pikachu, show him what a real Thunderbolt looks like."
"Be mindful of your power, don't go and damage their Pikachu."
"Pika—!"
Pikachu nodded, its cheek pouches suddenly bursting with dazzling light.
The next moment, a golden current far thicker and more brilliant than Rei's surged towards the opposing Pikachu gently...
Uh... no, it should be fiercely sweeping over.
"Boom—!!"
The golden current struck Rei's Pikachu solidly.
With a "screech," Rei's Pikachu convulsed from the electricity and fell to the ground with white eyes, unable to rise again.
"Pikachu, unable to battle!"
Professor Laventon was stunned for a long time before reacting and announcing the result.
Rei was completely flabbergasted.
He clearly heard Ash instruct Pikachu to be "gentle."
Is this what they call gentle?
Even when gentle, that strike's power exceeded his Pikachu several times!
What kind of deity is this overseas trainer?!
"Pikachu!"
Rei yelled worriedly, quickly rushing from his position.
He hugged the fallen Pikachu, and upon careful inspection, found Pikachu had merely fainted; only then did he exhale a long breath, relaxing completely.
That scream from Pikachu earlier had momentarily made him think his Pikachu was done for.
Fortunately, Pikachu had only suffered minor injuries and fainted.
"So, with my strength, can I go suppress that boss now?"
Ash picked up his Pikachu, smiling as he asked.