"Astonishing speed... astonishing penetrating power..." Brock's voice was somewhat low.
This is the true strength of the person Professor Oak entrusted... Not bad.
"That Pikachu..."
It is definitely not an ordinary Pokémon!
This Pikachu's natural talent is simply beyond imagination.
Because of the combination of moves, it is absolutely not something a rookie Trainer could access or train.
Judging by the timeline... it could only be that this Pikachu did it by itself.
Brock slowly raised his hand, a second Poké Ball appearing in his palm.
"You are strong!"
"You are definitely going to win this Gym battle."
"But the will of rock will not crumble due to a single setback!"
"Go!"
"Graveler!"
Red light flashed!
A sturdy-bodied Pokémon landed with a heavy crash.
Graveler gave a low roar, its thick rock arms smashing into the ground. Instinctively, it was about to launch its best tactic—stacking defense with Harden, then transforming into a chariot of destruction with Rollout.
This is a coordinated tactic from Pokémon training, a cultivated habit.
Just like how Ash Ketchum would discuss tactics with Gyarados before a battle, this Graveler had also discussed tactics before the battle, all to save time after entering the field.
However.
Its rocky feet had just touched the ground.
"Slip—!"
The slippery rock, covered in a thin film of water, caused Graveler's sturdy, heavy lower body to instantly lose its balance.
It stumbled, sliding forward half a step. The glow of "Harden," ready to unleash, flickered chaotically on its body surface just as it lit up, almost interrupted by its own clumsy movement.
Brock's narrowed eyes grew even more powerless.
This was the reason he said he would definitely lose.
He had already seen his defeat.
Water.
It was that water.
The water Gyarados had poured out with all its might earlier had now become Graveler's greatest nightmare.
The slippery ground was like it was coated in a layer of invisible grease, completely destroying the foundation Graveler relied on to stand and exert force.
Its strongest Rollout charge, on this water-soaked "rock core," became a clumsy and ridiculous joke.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu already knew what to do, and Ash already knew what to do; he just spoke the words aloud.
"Thunder Shock! Target—under its feet!"
"Pika—chuuu!!!"
Pikachu understood instantly. Even before Ash's command fully left his mouth, the electricity that had long been accumulating roared out.
This time, it wasn't a condensed lightning spear.
It was several golden electric snakes, as thick as the mouth of a bowl, carrying a terrifying tearing sensation. Like wildly dancing golden whips, they lashed viciously at the water-logged rock depression by Graveler's feet.
"Boom! Crash—!!!"
Electric light and water current collided violently, instantly vaporizing and exploding.
Blinding white light accompanied a deafening explosion.
Scalding steam mixed with pulverized gravel, like a scorching shotgun barrage, blasted onto the nearby Graveler.
"Groooo!!!"
Graveler let out a roar of pain. Battered and disoriented by this sudden, all-encompassing impact of scorching water vapor, its body—covered in a rock shell—was instantly wrapped in boiling steam. The "Harden" light on its surface, which had just stabilized, flickered violently and almost dissipated.
The steam being scalding wasn't the problem; Rock-type Pokémon have decent temperature adaptability.
But what was fatal was that the steam, mixed with dust, conducted electricity.
Fine, dense golden electric snakes frantically scurried and jumped within the steam. Like maggots attached to bone, they drilled viciously along the gaps in the steam toward Graveler's relatively fragile joint connections and shell crevices.
Paralysis!
Burning pain!
Vision obscured!
Graveler fell completely into chaos and agony!
"Now!" Ash's voice was decisive, carrying the will to terminate!
"Zippy Zap—"
"End it!"
"Pika—!!!"
Pikachu's figure once again turned into a blazing golden streak of lightning!
The target was straight at—
That rock core, struggling painfully amidst the scalding steam and golden electric snakes, with unsteady footing and defense wide open.
The golden light flashed and vanished.
"Thump!!!"
A loud noise, muffled enough to make one's heart stop.
The golden light penetrated the pervasive steam and slammed viciously into the exact center of Graveler's round, heavy-shell-covered chest.
Time seemed to freeze for an instant.
The expression of painful roaring on Graveler's rocky face went stiff.
Its massive, heavy body was forcibly knocked off the ground into the air by that dual impact force of kinetic and electrical energy, condensed to the extreme.
Especially since the electrification generated a magnetic field.
This would lower the recoil force Pikachu received significantly.
But the lightning damage it dealt would not be any less.
Immediately after—
"Boom!!!"
As if hit head-on by a dump truck moving at full speed, Graveler's massive body flew backward, smashing viciously against a rough rock pillar at the edge of the field!
"Crack!"
The hard rock pillar was smashed, spiderweb-like cracks spreading across it.
Graveler slid slowly down the pillar like a discarded heavy stone ball and slumped paralyzed on the ground.
On the rock shell covering its whole body, a shocking scorched black crack spread out from the point of impact, with tiny golden electric arcs still jumping unwillingly within it.
Its eyes rolled back, wisps of burnt-smelling white smoke spilled from its mouth and nose, and it completely lost consciousness.
One-shot!
Another one-shot!
However, compared to the damage Onix received earlier, the damage Graveler received was much lighter.
The damage of Zippy Zap was still not as strong as Volt Tackle.
The referee's flag finally fell, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor:
"Gra... Graveler is unable to battle!"
"Gym Trainer Brock, both Pokémon are unable to battle!"
"Winner—Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!"
Dead silence.
A deeper, more shocking dead silence than before shrouded the entire rock core arena.
Only the muddy water droplets falling from the damaged dome hit the rubble, making a monotonous and clear "tick-tock" sound.
Smoke and steam slowly settled.
In the center of the field, Pikachu panted slightly, the electric arcs jumping on its body gradually subsiding.
It raised its small head, its black, bright eyes looking at its Trainer—we won!
Ash looked at Pikachu as well.
At this moment, silence spoke louder than words—we won! Partner!
Ash stood in place, slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air.
He raised his hand, gently pressing down the brim of his hat, hiding the fierce emotions surging in his eyes, revealing only the corner of his mouth with a sharp curve.
Can't laugh, must hold it in~
Ash was trying hard to purse his lips.
At the tunnel entrance.
Misty's hand was still covering her mouth, her eyes staring wide.
Pikachu and Ash's performance had shocked Misty once again.
Brock stood silently for a short while.
He slowly walked to the collapsed Graveler, squatted down, and brushed his fingers over the scorched rock cracks on its body, feeling the lingering heat that made one's heart palpitate.
Rock-type Pokémon mostly have inorganic bodies; they are more resilient than organic Pokémon.
At least there was no need to worry about flesh burns and the like.
As long as they weren't beaten to death on the spot, eating more rocks to patch up would bring them back.
Brock stood up, his gaze piercing through the dispersing smoke and steam, locking firmly onto Ash.
At first, he was expressionless like a rock, keeping a stony face.
Then, he slowly broke into a somewhat complicated smile.
In that smile, there was shock, scrutiny, approval, expectation... just like a pie chart?
Brock felt that the four people from Pallet Town this year all performed well so far.
And the Ash before him, Brock was willing to call him the strongest of the four.
Compared to Professor Oak's grandson who brought a group of beautiful girl cheerleaders, he looked much more reliable...
=_= Brock thought: Better to give them to me.
He opened his palm. A dusty grey Boulder Badge lay quietly in the center of his palm.
"Ash..."
Brock's voice echoed in the silent arena:
"This grey Badge..."
"You deserve it."
_____
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