As the barrier shattered, the remaining energy poured unimpeded onto Electivire.
Nine purple Dragon Pulses and nine blue Aura Spheres exploded simultaneously, engulfing the entire field in an ever-expanding purple-blue sphere of light.
The transparent protective shield issued by the League emitted a strained wail the moment it touched the shockwave. Web-like cracks spread frantically from the center in all directions, and in the next second, it shattered explosively, turning into countless light fragments scattered through the air.
"Oh no!!" Ah Yi's face turned pale instantly, and Misty and others in the audience also had a change in expression.
However, at the very moment the barrier shattered, an even more solid and profound blue barrier appeared out of nowhere, sealing the entire battlefield tightly once more.
The violent shockwaves crashed against this new barrier, only causing slight ripples before being silently dissolved.
Mewtwo—forever divine!
Ah Yi's attention was briefly captivated by the appearance of the barrier, but he quickly returned his focus to the field.
"Crack----"
The Gym's floor could no longer withstand such destruction. From the explosion point, the entire field sank nearly half a meter. Web-like cracks extended to the edges of the field but were ultimately tightly restricted by the barrier, preventing further cracking outward.
The dense dust hung like a gray curtain, obscuring everything on the battlefield.
As the smoke finally began to clear slowly, the outline that first emerged from the smoke was the deepest pit in the center of the field.
Electivire lay at the bottom of the pit, limbs spread wide, covered in shocking wounds.
Those strong and powerful arms hung limply at its sides, with its body still harboring the last faint arc of electricity, flickering like a candle in the wind before extinguishing completely.
Even until the end, Electivire did not give up resistance. While releasing Light Screen, it also used its most powerful Electric Type Move as a defense.
However, in front of the terrifying Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl, its Thunder was like an ant trying to stop a chariot and was shattered without any room for resistance!
The final result was—its combat ability was lost.
Not far from the pit, there was a half-kneeling figure.
Lucario supported itself on the ground, panting heavily, its body trembling slightly. Traces of Aura Energy lingered around it, and its chest heaved so violently that each breath made its body shake.
The cost of Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl was enormous; maintaining nine Dragon Pulses and nine Aura Spheres simultaneously, and precisely directing them to strike the target at the same time, caused a terrifying drain on both Spiritual Power and Physical Strength.
This move virtually exhausted its stamina. If the opponent hadn't fallen, Lucario would have had no room for resistance.
This move could only be used as a trump card skill and must be deployed when physically strong.
That is to say, for Lucario now, this move could only be used as a one-for-one skill. If the opponent hadn't fallen, then it would be the one going down.
Even if the opponent fell, it still lacked the ability to continue battling, though it would, in terms of determining the battle, be judged as conscious and hence victorious, much like now.
"Electivire has lost its combat ability, Lucario wins. Because all of the Gym Leader's three Pokemon have lost their combat ability, the victory of this battle goes to—Ash!!"
"Yeah!!" When Ah Yi announced Ash's win, Misty and others jumped up joyfully.
Serena even hugged Misty, their pretty faces beaming with joyous smiles.
This battle may not have pressured Ash much, but for the two spectators, it was tense.
Reflecting carefully as an outsider, one should recall that Ash hadn't even used his third Pokemon, so even if Lucario failed to defeat the opponent, Ash could send out a third Pokemon to finish the job.
But winning directly was also good, avoiding further risks, as in Pokemon battles, one never knows who will win or lose until the very end.
Volkner also recalled Electivire. He looked at the Pokeball in his hand, remaining silent for quite a while.
Ah Yi stood at the referee's seat, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately nothing came out.
He had been with Volkner for so long and had never seen the Gym Leader wear such an expression—a complex, indescribable look.
Volkner raised his head, placed the Pokeball back at his waist, and then walked towards Ash, extending his hand when he reached Ash.
"I concede." Volkner said softly, a relieved smile appearing on his face.
Ash shook his hand, grinning widely. The boy's smile was always carefree and innocent.
"Senior Volkner is really strong too. The pressure from that Electivire was no joke."
Volkner shook his head. He wasn't being modest; he genuinely didn't believe he was that strong. Or perhaps, before today, he thought he was already very strong—the strongest Gym Leader in Sinnoh, undefeated in Sunyshore.
However, today's Ash genuinely taught him a lesson—a deeply memorable lesson!
"Today's battle gave me a long-lost sense of excitement. It's been so long since I've had such an exhilarating match; I don't even remember the last time I felt this thrilled." Volkner released his hand with a look of reflection on his face.
Ash listened without interrupting.
"Do you know why I let Ah Yi battle on my behalf?" Volkner recalled the root of his past decision.
"When I was in Sunyshore Town, many people challenged me, but none could really excite me."
"Initially, I still participated in the battles myself, but I found that no matter who came, my Pokémon could end the fight with a single move. Over time, battles became mere formalities, and the gym turned into a tourist spot for checking in."
"When I came to Johto, I still held a bit of expectation. After all, the Silver Conference was such a big deal; surely, there would be some decent opponents, right? But it was still the same."
He paused, looking at Ash: "I know I've lost the ambition of being a Trainer. I also know that if this continues, I'll slowly fall into decline, but... I still can't muster interest in battles, and I've even put my enthusiasm into the construction of the gym's mechanisms."
Ash exchanged a look with Pikachu, hearing the helplessness and regret in Volkner's words. After thinking for a moment, Ash spoke up: "But Mr. Volkner, you haven't reached your strongest level yet, have you?"
Volkner was taken aback.
"Your Electivire is strong, Jolteon's speed is very quick, and Manectric's combat skills are very seasoned, but they all still have room for growth," Ash said, looking intently at Volkner, "If you stop moving forward, they will also come to a standstill. If even a trainer doesn't know where to go, then what should the Pokémon following you do?"
"Moreover, Pokémon battles are not just about winning or losing. Losing makes you feel unwilling, winning makes you feel happy, and when evenly matched, your palms sweat!!"
"These things are the most precious between a trainer and their Pokémon; if you lose them, no matter how many battles you win, you won't become stronger."
Volkner remained silent for a long time before he let out a breath, as if expelling something that had been weighing on his heart for a long time.
He looked up at the bright lights on the ceiling and chuckled after a moment: "You're only fifteen, yet you speak like such a seasoned veteran."
"Because every Gym Leader I've met has taught me these lessons," Ash replied, clasping his hands behind his head and smiling brightly.
Volkner stood up straight and took out a badge from his pocket.
A silver base engraved with a lighthouse relief, reflecting tiny fragments of light under the lamp. The Beacon Badge—a symbol of defeating the Sunyshore Gym.
"This is for you, a proof of defeating the Sunyshore Gym, the Beacon Badge."
Ash exchanged a glance with Pikachu on his shoulder and the recently withdrawn Lucario nearby, then struck a pose together.
"I got the Beacon Badge!"
"Pika Pika!"
"Woah!!"
This sudden action startled Volkner, and even Ah Yi watched in bewilderment from afar.
It was only then that they felt it—Ash truly was a fifteen-year-old boy. The earlier battle, and Ash's grand wisdom, made them completely forget Ash's youthful age.
Volkner took out two more items from his waist bag: a dark gray, flat, round magnet with a metallic sheen, and a palm-sized device with a few tiny electrode chips embedded in its shell.
"A Magnet for Electric Pokémon to hold, can increase Electric-type moves' power by 20%. This is an Electirizer needed for Electabuzz to evolve into Electivire. You might find it useful."
Ash was momentarily stunned: "Isn't there only supposed to be items to enhance moves? How come there's an evolution item too?"
"Consider it a reward for reigniting my passion for battle. Take it." Volkner placed the items in front of Ash, gesturing for him to accept them.
Ash took the items and nodded at Volkner. "Thanks, Mr. Volkner."
"I gained a lot from today's match." Volkner's voice echoed in the wide gym. "Your Snorlax, though seemingly clumsy, was trained by you to be so agile, its speed almost on par with agile Pokémon."
"Lucario's move, Dragon Dance, I still can't fathom how you trained it. It's an almost monstrous move, far surpassing the normal range of Pokémon skills; even Explosion probably can't compare to your Dragon Dance."
"But what moved me the most wasn't any of that. It was when I was commanding Electivire that I finally felt that blood-boiling sensation again. I thought I'd never experience that again in this lifetime."
Volkner's face was filled with nostalgia; even now, he was reminiscing about the boiling excitement he had felt during the battle.
He didn't know how long it had been since he last felt that way.
"There are many trainers stronger than me in this world," Ash said, as if stating the most ordinary fact, "Since I could bring that feeling to you, Mr. Volkner, then other trainers can too. So, Mr. Volkner, you could go out and see the world outside."
Volkner nodded: "I've been thinking about that. In the end, I've been bound by this gym... Ah Yi, I'll be leaving this gym to you from now on."
Ah Yi: ...
Well, from substitute Gym Leader to Gym Leader after just one battle? Is this a promotion?
Misty watched this scene, feeling an inexplicable sense of deja vu. This... why does it remind her of the scene when she handed over the gym to her own sisters?
...
When they walked out of the gym, the sky had already started to turn a bit westward. The orange light cast down from the distant mountain ridge, dyeing the ancient cobblestone streets of Ecruteak City with a warm hue.
The red roof of the distant Pokemon Center was now in sight. Ecruteak City's dusk arrived earlier and was quieter than that of Goldenrod City.
Ash walked into the Pokemon Center's entrance and handed two Pokeballs to Miss Joy behind the counter. Miss Joy received them with a smile and turned to the treatment room.
Ash then headed to the familiar phone and dialed the number for Oak's Research Institute.
After a few rings, the screen lit up. Professor Oak appeared on the screen, wearing his usual white coat, though his expression seemed a bit off. However, Ash didn't notice, presenting the Beacon Badge with a beaming smile.
"Professor Oak, I won!"
"Is that you, Ash? This is the Sunyshore Gym badge, isn't it? Looks like you've defeated Volkner."
"Yeah, Mr. Volkner was really strong. His Electivire is champion level, and Jolteon's speed was insanely fast; Snorlax almost couldn't withstand it."
Ash was full of emotions. For this battle, he had actually planned to use Lucario as his trump card, with the Pokémon sent over from Professor Oak being Snorlax and Pidgeot (Sorry guys, Pidgeot's comeback failed).
The reason for sending the latter was his intention to face off with the opposing type, relying on Pidgeot's speed advantage and the MEGA Evolution Stone he received, hoping to match even mid-tier Elite level Pokémon in a contest.
Yet, Jolteon's elite advanced level spoke volumes about the final Pokémon's level, so Ash straightforwardly brought out Lucario.
He knocked out Volkner's Jolteon first to boost morale and prepare for the battle against Electivire.
Thus, Pidgeot missed the chance for a temporary comeback.
Ash animatedly recounted the detailed intricacies of the battle to Professor Oak; clearly, the match had been thoroughly enjoyable for him.
However, midway through Ash's recount, Professor Oak suddenly interrupted: "Ash... something's happened in Pallet Town."
This one sentence immediately froze Ash's excited expression.
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