"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Raichu, you too—Thunderbolt!!"
The battle began with a classic exchange.
One large, one small—two Electric Mouse Pokémon erupted with dazzling lightning at the same time.
Crackling bolts surged forward like roaring thunder serpents, colliding head-on in midair.
ZZZ—BOOOOM!!
The electrical currents clashed violently, surging back and forth as waves of energy rippled outward.
For a moment, they were evenly matched.
"Not bad," Lt. Surge praised.
"Even without evolving, that Thunderbolt is almost as strong as Raichu's."
Ash grinned proudly.
Whether it was Pikachu's growth back in Pewter City, fueled by sheer determination—or simply its extraordinary talent—
Pikachu's Thunderbolt didn't lose to anyone.
Lt. Surge's expression suddenly sharpened.
"Then try this! Raichu—use Thunder!!"
Raichu swung its arms violently.
A bolt of lightning shot straight into the sky, gathering power at its peak—
then crashed back down in an instant!
BOOOOM—!!!
The electricity in Raichu's cheek pouches exploded outward, its lightning growing denser and heavier.
An overwhelming pressure blanketed the entire arena.
Thunder roared down, the lightning column several times thicker than before.
Pikachu's Thunderbolt was instantly overwhelmed—like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—and forced straight back.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
The massive lightning pillar slammed directly into Pikachu.
The pain—both physical and mental—was immense.
And Thunder's powerful attraction made dodging impossible. Pikachu had no choice but to take the hit head-on.
"Pika…"
When the lightning finally faded, the ground beneath Pikachu had sunk several centimeters.
One side of its body was faintly charred, and it panted heavily.
The damage was real.
0.01 doneness.
If this had been an ordinary Rattata, the meat would've been medium-rare by now.
"See that?" Lt. Surge laughed loudly.
"That's the power of evolution!"
He suddenly pulled a yellow stone from his coat.
"How about it? Since we both raise Pikachu, I'll give you a Thunder Stone.
Let Pikachu evolve—then we'll fight again."
Ash rejected the offer without hesitation.
"No need. Raichu's looks don't pass. I'll never let Pikachu evolve."
"Pika pika!"
Pikachu nodded in fierce agreement.
If it evolved into that dark, chunky thing across from it, it might as well delete its save file and start over.
Their immediate refusal clearly offended both Trainer and Pokémon.
Lt. Surge's gaze turned cold.
"In that case—Raichu, stop holding back. Use Thunder again!"
"RAI-CHU!"
An insulted Raichu swung its arms fiercely.
Lightning exploded once more, terrifying currents spreading in all directions, converging on Pikachu.
No way to dodge!
"What do we do?!"
Cold sweat trickled down Ash's forehead.
His eyes darted across the battlefield, his brain racing.
Moves…
Typing…
Abilities—
Abilities!
Lt. Surge had mentioned it earlier.
Pikachu's Ability was Static or Lightning Rod.
Even though he didn't fully understand why, Ash shouted instinctively:
"Pikachu, use Lightning Rod!"
Lt. Surge: "?"
Kid… do you know the difference between an Ability and a move?
Surrounded by lightning, Pikachu's ears twitched.
Its muscle memory kicked in—
It leaped upward, both feet leaving the ground.
"Useless! Keep using Thunder!!"
BOOOOM—!!!
Thunder struck again, crashing down as a massive lightning column.
This time, the impact was even stronger.
The ground beneath Pikachu collapsed further, dirt and stone exploding outward.
"Pi—pika…?"
Pikachu was just about to scream in pain—
When it suddenly realized something was off.
…Huh?
This time… it didn't hurt?
Still, muscle memory took over, and it finished the scream anyway.
"PIKAA—!!"
The anguished cry echoed from within the lightning.
Lt. Surge smiled smugly.
Ash's heart sank.
Soon, the lightning and dust cleared.
"Raichu…"
Raichu was panting heavily.
Two full-power Thunders took a serious toll.
But Pikachu—
Was glowing.
As if nothing had happened.
Its body shone as though polished by lightning itself.
Its tail was planted firmly on the ground like a support pole, while all four limbs hovered in the air.
"…Pikachu used its tail as a lightning rod," Brock said thoughtfully.
With both feet off the ground, the current had nowhere to go.
High IQ play reclaimed the high ground.
But if it took no damage—
Then what was that heart-wrenching scream just now?
"The road to Best Actor…?"
Brock and Misty exchanged a look.
They suddenly remembered an achievement Pikachu's Pokédex had unlocked a few days ago.
Road to Best Actor — Level-One Trainee.
Good grief.
A veteran already.
"Nice work, Pikachu! Now it's our turn to attack!"
Ash didn't fully understand, but he pointed decisively.
"Pikachu—use Quick Attack!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu dropped back to the ground, its body cloaked in white light as it began darting around Raichu like a phantom.
Watching Raichu struggle to keep up, Ash reached a realization.
Because Raichu evolved too early, its power skyrocketed—
But its speed, never properly trained during the Pikachu stage, had actually dropped.
And that—
Was his chance.
Lt. Surge wasn't a rookie.
He knew Raichu had this flaw, and calmly ordered:
"Raichu, stay alert!"
Pikachu left behind afterimages across the shattered battlefield.
In a split second, it appeared behind Raichu—right in a blind spot.
"Now—use Thunderbolt!"
Lightning exploded, forming a sharp electric serpent aimed straight at Raichu's lower back.
But Lt. Surge's eyes lit up.
He'd been waiting for this.
"Got you! Raichu—use Thunder Punch and draw it in!"
Raichu's thick fists were already wrapped in lightning.
With a powerful swing, it forcibly altered Thunderbolt's trajectory, pulling all the electricity into its fist.
Zzzzz—!
Electricity detonated violently around its knuckles.
"RAI-CHU!!"
Raichu's eyes sharpened as it swung—
But instead of turning to hit Pikachu, it slammed its fist straight into the ground.
BOOOOM—!!!
Lightning and raw physical power erupted outward from the impact point.
Cracks spread like ripples, tearing through the battlefield.
In an instant, dozens of meters of arena shattered into rubble.
Yes—its speed had dropped.
But Raichu's electrical output and physical strength had multiplied severalfold.
"Raichu…!"
Raichu straightened up, smirking.
The battlefield was completely destroyed.
No big deal.
Gym repair costs caused by challenger battles could be reimbursed by the Pokémon League.
But the uneven terrain—rising and sinking everywhere—severely limited Pikachu's movement.
Its agility was completely shackled.
"Finish it! Use Body Slam!"
At Lt. Surge's shout, Raichu leaped high into the air.
Its massive belly descended like a Wailord crashing down.
"Pika…"
Pikachu froze, hastily firing Thunderbolt in defense.
But the electricity dispersed harmlessly against Raichu's belly, failing to slow it even slightly.
It was about to be crushed.
"Damn it—what moves do we still have?!"
Ash was drenched in sweat, panicking like a Bulbasaur on a hot pan.
Thunderbolt was useless.
Quick Attack couldn't move—
"Forget it! Pikachu—use Tail Whip!"
The last move.
Pikachu desperately swung its zigzag tail, smacking Raichu across the face.
Smack!
…Chip damage.
And Raichu was already almost on top of it.
"PIKA!"
At the brink of life and death, Pikachu's gaze sharpened.
Its aura shifted completely—
As if some hidden switch had been flipped.
Ash's eyes widened.
"This feeling…"
It reminded him of their very first meeting—
When Pikachu had driven off a flock of Spearow with overwhelming lightning.
That same strange sensation.
"The road to Best Actor…?"
For some reason, that achievement flashed through Ash's mind again.
On the battlefield, Pikachu's tail—just used for Tail Whip—
suddenly snapped back.
It swung again toward Raichu's face.
WHOOSH—!
This time, the tail gleamed with a dense metallic sheen, radiating indestructible force.
A move Pikachu had practiced countless times before.
Ash instantly understood.
He roared in perfect sync:
"Now's the moment, Pikachu—use Iron Tail!!"
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