Chapter 20 Obtain the Dark Gray Badge
"Is this the Pewter Gym? It doesn't look as bad as the rumors say!"
Misty looked at the exquisite stone gate of the Pewter Gym, her face full of confusion.
"On the outside, it certainly looks grand, but inside, it might be a different story."
Ash smiled slightly.
The Gym's facade wasn't made by Flint and Brock; these were the works of the first Gym Leader.
"Pika~" (Ash, I want to battle in the first Gym Challenge!)
"Qilu!" (Me too!)
Before even entering, Pikachu and Kirlia eagerly volunteered to battle.
"Alright, since you two want to fight, I'll leave it to you later."
Ash readily agreed to the requests of these two little ones.
"Ash, isn't it too rash to decide the lineup like this? The Pewter Gym is a Rock Gym, and Pikachu and Kirlia don't have a type advantage." Misty said with some concern.
She knew that winning a reverse-type battle was very difficult, especially when facing a Gym Leader.
"Misty, don't worry, I'll definitely win."
Saying this, Ash gripped the doorknob and pushed open the large door.
Beyond the door was a pitch-black passage, the door itself like a boundary between light and darkness.
The corridor was not only incredibly dark but also devoid of any signs of life, like a path to the underworld.
Just as Ash's group entered the Gym, a sneaky figure followed closely behind them.
"It's so dark! This Gym's corridor doesn't even have windows, and they're too stingy to turn on the lights!"
Misty said, feeling a bit Flail.
She had never seen such an odd Gym; the environment was terrible.
"Hello, I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and I'm here to challenge the Gym Leader."
Ash shouted towards a certain direction.
As soon as his voice fell, with a "clatter," the lights in the venue suddenly brightened.
"Trainer, it seems this is your first Gym Challenge. As the Gym Leader, I must remind you that a Gym Challenge is not a street brawl. Every Gym has its unique rules, and the entire process of a Gym Challenge will be recorded.
So, Trainer Ash, are you ready now?"
Brock sat upright, feigning seriousness, and asked Ash.
"Yes, we've been ready for a long time!"
"In that case, our battle will proceed according to Gym regulations: only two Pokemon can be used, and as the challenger, you may switch Pokemon. Do you have any objections?" Brock looked at Ash again.
"Before the battle begins, I'd like to ask, Brock, are the Pokemon you're using provided by the Pokémon League, or are they your own main team that you've trained?"
Ash posed a question.
Regardless of the region, any Gym recognized by the Pokémon League will be equipped by the League with some capable Pokemon based on the Gym's characteristics, for the Gym Leader to handle challengers who might show up at any time. These equipped Pokemon are between the Elite and Gym Beginner levels in strength.
As for the Gym Leader's main team, their combat power is definitely far superior to these equipped Pokemon.
For Pikachu and Kirlia to battle opponents at the late Gym level would align with Ash's expectations.
"This…"
Brock found it a bit hard to speak. When he took over as Gym Leader, the League did send people with several Pokemon, but he refused them. The reason, of course, was that they couldn't afford the expenses; it was already difficult for him to support his ten younger siblings, and adding a few more mouths would make it impossible to maintain the Gym.
"I understand."
Seeing this, Ash also understood the situation.
"Ash, thank you for your understanding. James, you'll be the referee for this match."
As soon as Brock finished speaking, a miniature version of Brock appeared at the edge of the battle arena.
The Pewter Gym's battle arena was a Rock type field, and the entire area was large, with various hard-textured, oddly shaped Rocks inside. At first glance, the field looked very complex.
"The Pewter City Gym Challenge, featuring Rookie Trainer Ash from Pallet Town against Gym Leader Brock! I declare the match begun, the challenger will make the first move!"
As soon as referee voice fell, Brock pulled a Poké Ball from his waist and threw it out.
The Poké Ball landed, and a very well-trained Geodude appeared on the field.
Pokémon: Geodude (Brock)
Gender: Male
Level: 33
Ability: Sturdy
Aptitude: Gym
Skills: Tackle, Defense Curl, Rock Polish...
After glancing at Geodude's information, Ash said without hesitation: "Kirlia, this battle is up to you."
"Qilu!"
Kirlia was full of energy, appearing on the field with a Teleport.
"A Psychic-type and Fairy type Kirlia?! And it's Shinny, is this really a Rookie Trainer?"
Brock looked at Ash in disbelief upon seeing the Pokemon Ash sent out.
"Psybeam!"
Kirlia gathered energy in her hands and unleashed a powerful energy wave.
"Geodude, Rock Blast!"
As soon as Brock finished speaking, Geodude fired three hard Rocks to meet the Psybeam.
Boom!
The clash of the two moves kicked up a cloud of dust, obscuring the view.
It was at this moment that a blue light flashed in Ash's pupils.
Immediately after, a figure flew out from the dust.
Geodude slammed heavily into a thick Rock pillar, its eyes spinning in circles.
"What happened?"
This scene stunned Brock.
He had seen Geodude block Kirlia's attack, but now Geodude was defeated.
Ash, possessing Aura, was like he had activated a transparent cheat; the dust blocked Brock's vision, but not his.
So, Ash decisively used the cover of the smoke to have Kirlia Teleport closer, then knocked out Geodude with an Ice Punch.
Geodude and Kirlia had a five-level difference, and Geodude was double weak to Ice, so being hit in the face with an Ice Punch meant he was tough enough not to have his Rock head flattened.
"Your Kirlia actually learned Ice Punch?"
Brock saw the marks on Geodude's body and understood everything.
After Ash called Kirlia back, he praised Brock, saying, "Brock, what keen eyesight you have."
Forrest, as the referee, despite his reluctance, could only accept the reality of his brother's defeat. He raised a small flag and announced, "Brock's Pokemon is unable to battle. This round's challenger, Ash, wins. Gym Leader, please send out your next Pokemon."
"It seems you are not an ordinary Rookie Trainer. Perhaps I can't defeat you, but due to my responsibility, I won't easily hand over the gym badge to you. Go, Onix!"
Brock threw a Poké Ball.
A robust Onix stood on the field.
["Pokemon: Onix (Brock)"]
["Gender: Male"]
["Level: 37"]
["Ability: Sturdy"]
["Aptitude: Elite"]
["Skills: Tackle, Screech, Bind, Rock Throw....."]
"As expected of the nightmare for Rookie Trainers in the Kanto region in the future, an Elite-aptitude Onix, and he's been raised so excellently."
Ash silently mourned for the Rookie Trainers of the Kanto region for the next few decades. As long as this Onix doesn't encounter any mishaps, becoming an Elite is certain, and then with Mega Evolution...
He looked at Pikachu and said confidently, "It's decided, Pikachu!"
"Pika Pika!"
Pikachu raised a paw, indicating he'd take it.
Then, he jumped onto the battle arena.
"Pikachu?"
Ash's choice of a disadvantageous type left Brock puzzled.
From the previous battle, he could tell that Ash was definitely not someone who didn't understand type advantages and disadvantages.
However, he couldn't help but remind him, "Ash, an Electric-type Pikachu battling a Ground and Rock-type Onix is very disadvantageous."
"Pikachu is my starter Pokemon, and this is my first Gym Challenge. I believe Pikachu can win this battle."
"Battle start!" James waved the flag.
"Pikachu, Rain Dance!"
Regular Electric-type moves indeed have little effect on Rock and Ground types, but Ash, being a cheat, had already taught Pikachu all the moves he could learn.
Water plus electricity, this elemental reaction is not as simple as one plus one equals two.
"..."
Brock was speechless. What kind of Rookie Trainer was this? He was simply an old trickster playing with people's minds. Last time he was ambushed by Ice Punch, this time he sent an Electric-type out and immediately seized the weather.
"Onix, Stone Edge!"
Brock quickly gave the command, attempting to interrupt Pikachu's Rain Dance.
Unfortunately, it was too late. Dark clouds already covered the entire battle arena, and fine rain began to fall.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack to dodge by using the terrain."
Pikachu was extremely fast, and Onix's attacks could barely touch him.
Onix, being 4x weak to Water, was extremely uncomfortable in the rainy environment, with both its movement speed and defense decreasing.
Feeling the time was right, Ash gave another command, "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt to finish him!"
"Pika Chuuu~~"
Pikachu used the terrain to leap above Onix, unleashing a powerful bolt of lightning.
"Onix, hold on!"
Brock's face grew tense.
Water conducts electricity, and Electric-type moves, which were originally almost ineffective against Ground-types, were now like having a cheat enabled. He couldn't easily predict the outcome of this battle either.
"Yan!"
Onix, enveloped by Thunderbolt, let out a painful wail.
It hurt, it hurt so much.
This was different from the Electric-type Pokemon it had battled before.
At this moment, Onix even suspected that those previous Electric-type Pokemon were faking it, otherwise, why could a common yellow rat shock him into doubting his life?
A few more seconds passed, and after a "Boom!" sound, Onix lay flat on the ground with swirly eyes.
"Onix is unable to battle, Pikachu wins. Since challenger Ash still has two Pokemon remaining, the winner of this match is Ash from Pallet Town!"
Forrest announced the match result with a tone of disappointment.
In the audience, Misty, who had been watching the show, came to Ash's side with a shocked expression, "Ash, congratulations on clearing Pewter Gym!"
Ash picked up the two little ones and said happily, "This is all thanks to Pikachu and Kirlia."
"Ash, this is the proof of your victory in challenging Pewter Gym—the gym badge. Now it belongs to you."
At this moment, Brock walked over and handed Ash a gray gym badge.
"I got the gym badge!"
After receiving the gym badge, Ash excitedly struck a pose.
"Ash, I hope you can continue to maintain your current drive, go to the Indigo Plateau Conference arena, defeat all opponents, and lift the honor that belongs to you...."
"Brock, actually, you also long for the outside world, don't you? You and your Onix shouldn't be confined to such a small place," Ash said.
"I....."
Brock was moved.
"If you don't know how to choose, then calm down and ask your own heart, and your Pokemon. They are your family, aren't they?"
After speaking, Ash took Misty and walked out of the Gym.
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