After breakfast, the group's spirits were high, and they packed their bags before heading to the entrance of the Vermilion City Gym.
The Vermilion Gym was an Electric-type gym, and its décor reflected that theme. Two large, intertwined lightning bolts adorned the top of the building, giving the whole gym a bold, energetic appearance. It was clear that the Gym Leader would be someone with a similar personality.
"Move aside!"
At that moment, the gym's doors slid open, and a young Trainer dashed out, cradling a scorched Pidgey. He shouted in panic when he spotted Ash.
The three friends instinctively stepped aside, allowing the boy and his Pidgey to hurry past. Seeing this, Misty and Brock couldn't help but frown. "Not again! Ash, are you sure you're ready for this?"
It was clear that the boy was yet another defeated challenger, but Ash seemed unfazed. "There might be many people in the Alliance, but only a few can become top Trainers."
Without wasting time, Ash pushed forward, the doors opening automatically as he walked into the dimly lit gym.
"Is anyone here?" Ash called out into the darkness.
From the shadows, a man and a woman stepped forward. Their edgy, non-mainstream appearance immediately gave off a rebellious vibe.
"Huh? Who are you?" asked the man with a crew cut, eyeing the group suspiciously.
"I'm here to challenge the Gym," Ash stated, recognizing that these two weren't the Gym Trainers but still explaining his reason for being there.
The pair chuckled darkly. "Boss, looks like we've got another victim!" They glanced behind them, clearly referring to someone else.
From the shadows, a tall figure began to rise from the stairs. As the figure approached, it became clear that he was much larger than the two standing in front of him—and towering over Ash, Misty, and Brock.
The man had short, golden hair and a face that looked distinctly Western. Though the world of Pokémon was divided by regions rather than nations, it was clear that there were still various cultural differences. He wore a green military jacket, open to reveal his muscular chest and abs. His appearance gave off the impression of a living powerhouse.
"Whoa! He's so strong!" Brock couldn't help but admire the man's build. He clearly had a military background.
"Is this guy the Gym Leader?" Misty asked in surprise. His appearance was so different from Brock and the Trainers at the Cerulean Gym.
But Ash knew very well—this was Lt. Surge, the Gym Leader of Vermilion City.
"Hah! Let me get a look at you," Lt. Surge said, his eyes scanning the group. "Well, well, this challenger is cute!" His gaze settled on Misty, and with a wide grin, he approached her with his arms spread wide.
"Ah!!"
Although Lt. Surge was smiling, Misty was startled by his sudden approach and quickly hid behind Ash.
Lt. Surge paused, noticing her reaction, and shifted his gaze to Ash.
"She's not the challenger. I am," Ash said calmly, stepping in front of Misty and looking up at the towering Gym Leader.
"Huh? You?" Lt. Surge chuckled.
He lowered his hands and reached toward Ash, his large hand making Ash's head look small in comparison.
Ash frowned slightly but didn't flinch. Instead, he raised his hand and blocked Lt. Surge's approach, saying coldly, "Don't touch my head."
Lt. Surge wasn't using much force, but he was taken aback by Ash's response. It had been a long time since anyone had shown this kind of defiance. Most Trainers were intimidated just by his size.
"Hmph! You've got some guts, kid!" Lt. Surge withdrew his hand, a stronger grin forming on his face.
"Kid? Kid..." Misty muttered from behind Ash, confused by the nickname. The term felt a little over the top.
"That's right! For those weaker than me, I call them kids!" Lt. Surge said proudly, his hands on his hips.
Ash's eyes flashed at the remark. He didn't care about the name, but the condescending tone irritated him.
"Huh? Pikachu? Hahaha! Look at this! The Pokémon the kid uses is also a kid!" Lt. Surge's eyes fell on Pikachu perched on Ash's shoulder, and his mocking grin grew wider.
"Pika!" Pikachu frowned at the insult, glaring at Lt. Surge with a defiant expression. He clearly wasn't fond of being underestimated either.
"Enough talk. We're in a hurry, so can we start?" Ash said, his face expressionless, not bothering to engage further with Surge's taunts.
"Huh? Since you're in such a rush to lose, I'll oblige."
Lt. Surge's smile faded slightly. Though his personality was brash and confident, he could sense there was something different about Ash. His earlier attempts to throw the boy off hadn't worked. Sizing him up more seriously now, Lt. Surge's demeanor grew sharper.
*Snap!*
Lt. Surge snapped his fingers, and the floor behind him rumbled as the battlefield rose from the ground, shaking slightly as it fully emerged.
The arena in the Vermilion Gym was a lot more intense than the simple battlefields of Pewter and Cerulean Gyms. There were no fancy decorations—just a straightforward, electrified battlefield that reflected Lt. Surge's no-nonsense style.
"There will be two Pokémon in this battle. That good with you, kid?" Lt. Surge called out from across the field, his confident grin returning. He might have sensed something unusual about Ash, but his self-assurance hadn't wavered.
"Fine by me!" Ash responded indifferently. The format might differ from the anime, but he was ready.