"Karp—!!!"
Using the recoil from churning the muddy water, the golden Magikarp burst out of the mud pit!
A Level 9 Splash really can hop.
It jumped so high, so fiercely, that its golden scales erupted with a dazzling halo under the sunlight.
Under everyone's astonished gaze, it traced a brief yet brilliant golden parabola, and then—
"Thud!!!"
A loud, dull thud that set one's teeth on edge!
Magikarp's heavy body, covered in hard scales, smashed with pinpoint precision onto the back of the still-dazed Nidoran.
"Nido—!!!"
Nidoran let out a scream so shrill it distorted, its petite body ruthlessly slammed to the ground by this brute force, limbs twitching, foaming at the mouth, purple fur instantly covered in mud, losing consciousness immediately.
Being smashed by such weight, one could say half its life was already gone.
"Nidoran!" Akemi's face changed dramatically.
"Pikachu! Don't give it a chance! Zippy Zap!" Ash Ketchum's command came without pause, like a sudden storm!
Ash Ketchum was serious this time.
Zippy Zap was the strongest move Pikachu currently mastered.
It wasn't that the destructive power was immense, but rather the speed was exceptionally fast.
Of course, with the Light Ball enhancement now, its power was actually quite impressive too.
"Pika—!!!"
Pikachu, who had been cruising on the flank, was already poised to strike!
Its small body instantly erupted with blinding golden light; it was no longer the afterimage of a Quick Attack, but transformed into a golden bolt of lightning in the truest sense.
"Zzzzt—Boom!!"
The explosive sound of the air being instantly ionized stung people's eardrums!
Pikachu's figure seemed to vanish into thin air.
The next moment.
It had already crashed with powerful impact into Raticate, who had been distracted for a split second by Nidoran's scream.
"Squeak—Gaa!!!"
Raticate's robust body was like it had been hit by a siege ram, unable to even let out a complete scream before being swept up by that violent golden electric light, flying backward like a cannonball, smashing heavily into a distant large tree, shaking leaves down in a rustle.
It slid to the ground, scorched black all over, fur standing on end, blood seeping from its mouth and nose, completely losing the ability to battle.
Zippy Zap, terrifying as such.
The battle ended.
The forest clearing fell into a dead silence, leaving only the "flap-flap" sound of Magikarp feebly flopping by the mud pit, and the "zzzzt" sound of tiny currents escaping from Pikachu's cheek pouches as it panted slightly.
"!!!" Akemi stared blankly at her two Pokémon that were instantly defeated, then looked at the goldfish struggling in the mud, then at the yellow rat whose electric light hadn't yet fully dissipated; her mouth opened, but she couldn't say a single word.
What move was that?
Zippy Zap?
How come I've never heard of it!
A modified version of Quick Attack?
Is this something a rookie Trainer can do?
The Trainers from Pallet Town this year are terrifying!
"!!!" Misty covered her mouth, eyes wide round, looking at Ash Ketchum, then at Magikarp, as if knowing them for the first time.
[Achievement: First Battle Victory · Accomplished!]
[Reward Obtained: One-time Color Change Coating]
[Effect: Can permanently change the appearance color of a specified Pokémon (One-time consumable)]
In the corner of Ash Ketchum's vision, a pale blue system notification box popped up silently.
The seriousness on his face instantly vanished, replaced by an extreme excitement.
Is the reward generation influenced by my thoughts?
If so, that's great.
Ash Ketchum had been thinking before about solidifying the golden Magikarp's gold color forever.
For a golden Magikarp to evolve into a red Gyarados or something... that would really hurt.
He completely ignored Akemi's reaction, didn't care to comfort the Magikarp that had just performed a "miracle," and didn't even spare a second glance at Pikachu!
His entire mind was firmly captivated by the system reward!
Color Change Coating!
Permanently change color!
Golden Gyarados!
My Golden Gyarados!!!
Ash Ketchum practically lunged to Magikarp's side, ignoring the mud covering it.
"???" Magikarp's dull fish eyes blankly watched its suddenly overly excited Trainer.
"Hahahaha!"
"You did well! You did so well!"
Saying this, Ash Ketchum operated the system interface in his mind.
Items in the system couldn't be taken out.
For example, the Light Ball could only be placed directly onto Pikachu through the system.
[Confirm placement of One-time Color Change Coating on Pokémon: Magikarp]
[Select to use?]
[Yes/No]
Did this even need a choice?
Of course it's No!
Something like this definitely had to wait until Magikarp evolved into Gyarados to be used.
"It's done! Hahaha! It's done!" Ash Ketchum hugged the dirty Magikarp, unable to help laughing aloud.
Originally, he thought if it evolved into a red Gyarados, he'd barely accept it.
But now that it can evolve into a golden one, that's just perfect.
"Pika?" Pikachu tilted its head, watching its Trainer who was excited to the point of madness, then looking at the fish in his arms that seemed to have no change, its small head filled with big question marks.
It was just winning a battle, what was he so excited about?
Misty finally recovered from her petrified state, watching Ash Ketchum laughing wildly while hugging a dirty fish, the corner of her mouth twitching frantically:
"Hey! Ash Ketchum!"
"Are... are you okay?"
"Winning is a good thing, but... that fish... and the money! 200 Poke! Don't forget!"
She pointed at Akemi, who was still in a daze.
"...Friend, are you okay?" Akemi woke up as if from a dream, looking at Ash Ketchum's ecstatic appearance of "hugging a lump of gold," then thinking about her two Pokémon that were instantly one-shotted, an indescribable sense of frustration and absurdity welled up in her heart.
How could I lose to this kind of person?!
She silently took out two hundred bills and placed them on a clean stone nearby.
Hurriedly taking Potions out of her backpack to use on her Pokémon.
Then she recalled the unconscious Raticate and Nidoran, turned and walked away without a word, her retreating figure revealing a deep sense of desolation and existential doubt.
I actually lost to this kind of person?!
Better go back to the Pokémon Center to heal first.
The profession of Trainer is quite money-consuming.
Although the Pokémon Center provides free treatment for professional Trainers, injured Pokémon also need the Trainer to apply medicine before rushing them to the Pokémon Center.
"Goodbye friend! This was truly a pleasant battle!" Ash Ketchum only then noticed the money, immediately put down Magikarp, dashed over to grab the bills, held them up to the sunlight to check, and happily stuffed them into his pocket:
"Heheh, 200! Pikachu, Pidgeotto, extra food tonight!"
He turned back, looking with burning gaze at the golden Magikarp still flopping by the mud pit:
"Just wait, partner! Soon, very soon you will let everyone witness your true form!"
"The Golden... Dragon King!"
Just thinking about Gyarados's massive physique turning gold.
Ash Ketchum felt he was incredibly high on excitement.
"Are you going to keep fishing here next?" Misty asked, somewhat bored.
"No, let's go... we head for Viridian City." Ash Ketchum felt Magikarp was leveling up fast too.
Hope it can evolve into Gyarados at Level 20.
Viridian City is Team Rocket's old nest after all, thinking about it carefully... it's better not to evolve yet.
Although golden Magikarp and red Gyarados are rare, out of respect for Professor Oak, Team Rocket members other than the idiot trio wouldn't make a move.
But a golden Gyarados, that's hard to say.
_____
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