Having made her decision, Misty no longer hesitated. With a powerful wave of her arm, she shouted,
"Dewgong, don't dodge! Use all your strength, Ice Beam!"
Misty's command stunned everyone watching, especially Ash.
He never expected that the same Misty who always warned him against getting hot-headed in battle would show such a fiery, decisive side herself.
Watching Misty command with such passion, Ash felt his blood start to boil as well.
After this match ends, I'm challenging the Cerulean Gym right away, he thought. I can't wait another second.
Sam, on the other hand, was very satisfied with Misty's choice.
This was exactly what he wanted.
Everything had unfolded just as he predicted. He had done everything a Trainer could, now the rest depended entirely on Bulbasaur.
This had become a contest of willpower. Whoever could endure longer would claim the final victory.
Bulbasaur's situation was clearly unfavorable.
Even though it desperately mobilized every last bit of energy in its body, it still couldn't stop the freezing cold from spreading. Its feet were firmly frozen to the floating platform, and the ice was creeping upward. Before long, its entire body might be sealed in ice.
But Dewgong wasn't doing much better.
The relentless Razor Leaf barrage had inflicted heavy damage. Under the repeated slashes of leaf blades as sharp as knives, Dewgong was also nearing its limit.
Am I… going to lose?
Bulbasaur's consciousness began to blur. Each breath it exhaled turned into pale mist.
Sam clenched his fists, silently cheering it on. He knew this battle had reached its most critical moment.
Perhaps sensing Sam's encouragement, Bulbasaur suddenly shook its head, forcing itself to stay conscious.
"Bulba… saur!" it cried out, rallying itself.
Then,
a dazzling white light burst from its body.
"It's evolving!" Sam's heart leapt, and he almost shouted out loud.
"Bad timing for Misty," Brock said, shaking his head. "She had the advantage. If Bulbasaur hadn't evolved now, she might've won."
But Sam didn't see this as luck at all.
Bulbasaur's growth had already reached its peak. This battle was merely the final push it needed. From Sam's perspective, this evolution wasn't accidental, it was inevitable.
The moment she realized what was happening, Misty ordered Dewgong to stop attacking. She stood quietly, giving Bulbasaur the respect it deserved as it evolved.
Bathed in the light of evolution, Bulbasaur's body grew larger. The bulb on its back bloomed into a sturdy bud.
A new Pokémon stood on the battlefield.
"Ivysaur," Sam said with a smile. "Let's finish this."
"Ivy, saur!" Ivysaur roared excitedly, brimming with renewed strength.
Misty raised her hand again.
"Dewgong, don't give up! Even if it evolved, we won't surrender! Ice Beam!"
But the balance had already been broken.
Dewgong might have been evenly matched with Bulbasaur, but it was no match for Ivysaur.
Misty's command was a final act of perseverance, the struggle of a cornered fighter.
The outcome was already decided.
Moments later, Dewgong collapsed in the center of the pool, completely unable to continue.
Misty smiled faintly.
"You did great, Dewgong."
She recalled it into its Poké Ball, offering quiet words of comfort. Dewgong had fought with everything it had, this defeat wasn't its fault.
Then Misty stepped forward and handed Sam a badge.
"Congratulations, Sam. This is the Cascade Badge."
The cool metal rested in Sam's palm, and his smile widened.
"Tch… Su..Sam beat me again," Ash muttered, half envious, half fired up. "But I'll catch up! I'll get my second Badge soon too!"
"Second?" Sam said, amused.
He opened his Badge Case and turned it toward everyone.
"No," he said with a grin. "This is my third Badge."
Inside the case, the Boulder Badge lay alongside the Cascade Badge.
The entire venue fell silent.
Everyone there understood the weight of that badge, and what it represented.
Sam's strength was far more terrifying than they had imagined.
While the others were still stunned, Ash finally put the pieces together.
Was it that Tyranitar…?
The one that saved me and Pikachu from the Spearow back then…?
Ash clenched his fists, his determination burning brighter than ever.