“Is this the Vermilion Gym?”
Ash looked at the building, covered in lightning symbols, somewhat dazed. It was so different from the two Gyms he had challenged before.
If Pewter Gym was unadorned and Cerulean Gym was exquisitely beautiful, then Vermilion Gym before him was flamboyant.
It practically screamed, “I’m all about electricity! I’m wild! I worship strength!”
“What’s wrong, too scared to go in?”
Xiao Xia, for some reason, suddenly taunted Ash. Perhaps she wanted to give him confidence? After all, if she didn’t push him, who knew how long he’d stand outside.
“I was just about to go in! How strange, why did you follow me?”
Provoked by Xiao Xia, Ash immediately retorted, but seeing that Xiao Xia had also followed, Ash was rather puzzled. Usually, Xiao Xia didn’t come to watch him challenge Gyms, did she?
Why did she follow this time? This wasn’t like her.
“Because I want to comfort you when you lose.”
Could Xiao Xia say it was because it looked like this Gym Leader wouldn’t hold back? Brock and she had both held back, but this time, Ash might really be made to cry.
Of course, what she thought in her heart stayed in her heart. Xiao Xia would definitely not say it aloud; how embarrassing would that be?
“What did you say! Are you saying I’m definitely going to lose!”
When Ash heard Xiao Xia’s words, he immediately flared up. Who curses someone to lose before they’ve even challenged? Just as he was about to argue with Xiao Xia, he saw Brock helplessly point forward. Yu Feng had already opened the door to Vermilion Gym, ready to challenge.
“Creak~~~”
With a teeth-grating creak, the Vermilion Gym revealed its fangs to Ash and his companions—primarily to Ash.
The people training inside also looked up at this round’s victim. A burly man with a buzz cut called out to the Gym Leader inside, slightly exasperated, “Gym Leader, another sacrifice has arrived!”
“Oh? Let me see what’s going on.”
Hearing his student’s shout, Lt. Surge, who had been sitting in the shadows, stood up. A large, dark figure walked out, exuding a sense of oppression.
Ash took a small step back, looking at the huge shadow before him. He usually felt that Yu Feng was too tall when they talked, but he had to look up at this Lt. Surge.
Even Yu Feng had to look up at Lt. Surge; his height, significantly taller than Yu Feng, was truly absurd. Ash only reached his waist. Roughly estimated, this Lt. Surge must be around six feet two inches.
“Welcome to Vermilion City.”
Unexpectedly, Ash had thought that Lt. Surge, who cruelly electrocuted Pokémon, would look fierce, but his personality seemed quite amiable. After coming out, he directly hugged Yu Feng, Xiao Xia, and Yu Teng Sheng Dai.
“You three challengers are so cute, but I won’t hold back.”
Seeing Lt. Surge’s actions, Ash retracted his previous statement. This was a pervert. Amiable, yes, but he wouldn’t comment on this behavior.
“I’m sorry, but we are not the challengers.”
Xiao Xia was very embarrassed by Lt. Surge’s overly familiar behavior. She pulled Yu Teng Sheng Dai aside. The matter of men and women keeping their distance didn’t need to be explained by her.
“Oh? So the challenger is you?”
Lt. Surge stood up, looking at Yu Feng, who was a head shorter than him, with some curiosity. Had a decent opponent finally arrived this time? Good, at least he wouldn’t have to fight those babies anymore.
“And me!”
Ash couldn’t hold back. He didn’t want to be left out. They were all challenging the Gym, so why only focus on Yu Feng and them? Was it because they were pretty?
“Oh? You too, huh? Hey, baby.”
Seeing Ash declare himself a challenger, Lt. Surge walked up to Ash, placed his large hand on his head, and stroked it, even with a hint of doting affection?
“I’m not a baby! I’m Ash from Pallet Town! And why don’t you call Yu Feng a baby?”
Ash angrily swatted away Lt. Surge’s hand. How could he just call someone a baby? And why only him and not Yu Feng? Was he judging people based on appearance!
“Hmph, anyone who loses to me is a baby. As for why I don’t call him one, do you think his physique is suitable?”
Lt. Surge pointed his thumb at Yu Feng, who was only about a head shorter than himself, then pointed at Ash, who only reached his waist. Sometimes, the truth hurts more than words.
“Huh? What is a Pikachu?”
“Look, the baby’s Pokémon. Still a baby, indeed, hahahaha.”
Suddenly, Lt. Surge saw the Pikachu hiding at Ash’s feet. He turned to his students and told them to look. A baby was indeed a baby; even his Pokémon was a baby Pokémon like this.
His students were just like him, laughing at Pikachu. In their eyes, Ash, with his Pikachu, was only slightly better than the two challengers from earlier today.
At least he wasn’t challenging the Gym with Flying-types and Rattata.
“See for yourself. Go, Poké Ball!”
Having laughed enough, Lt. Surge wiped away a tear of laughter. Looking at the unconvinced Ash and Pikachu, he decided to give them an eye-opener.
“Rai!!!”
Raichu, twice the size of Pikachu, appeared on the field, looking disdainfully at the Pikachu before him.
Ash quickly pulled out his Pokédex to check Raichu’s information. Upon learning that Raichu could directly knock out an Indian elephant, he looked worriedly at Pikachu.
“Did you hear that? If you want to run, now’s your only chance.”
Although his tone was somewhat arrogant, Lt. Surge did advise Ash. As for whether Ash would heed the advice, that was no longer Lt. Surge’s concern. A Gym Leader could offer suggestions but couldn’t avoid a battle. If the opponent insisted on challenging, he had no way to refuse.
“I’ll go first.”
Yu Feng interjected, stopping their confrontation. He didn’t want to watch them communicate like this any longer; when would the Gym challenge happen then?
“Alright, then you watch what a real Pokémon battle is like, baby, hahahaha.”
Seeing Yu Feng’s action, Lt. Surge had to respond seriously. After all, he’d been fighting babies day after day, and now that he’d finally met a decent opponent, he couldn’t make them wait too long.
So he patted Ash’s head again and walked with a laugh to the battle arena inside the Gym.
“Damn it!”
Ash’s anger towards Lt. Surge, who so underestimated him, had reached its peak. Even Pikachu, uncharacteristically, became fired up. After all, no one would accept being called a baby.
Battle arena.
“Most of my Pokémon are patrolling outside Vermilion City, and there’s another challenger after you, so how about a 1v1, one-round decider?”
Lt. Surge didn’t say much else. For opponents of similar strength, he always showed some respect. He informed Yu Feng of his current situation and let him decide. If he wanted a thrilling 2v2, it wasn’t impossible, but then the baby after him wouldn’t be able to challenge.
