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"Ah?? Ash is using Pikachu??" When Ash sent out Pikachu, not only were the three people in the Vermilion Gym stunned, but Misty and Brock were as well.
"What's Ash thinking? Doesn't he know that Raichu is Pikachu's evolution?" Misty looked worriedly at Pikachu, who had already jumped onto the battlefield.
Even if you couldn't tell from their appearances, you should be able to figure it out from the names. Raichu is Pikachu's evolved form.
For most Trainers, it's common knowledge that the evolved form of a Pokémon is generally stronger than its unevolved form.
Maybe it's different when comparing different types, but when it comes to the same type, it's typically believed that the evolved one has the upper hand.
So, almost no one would willingly use an unevolved Pokémon to battle against its evolved form—it would put them at a disadvantage.
Even though Pikachu and Raichu are both Electric-type Pokémon, Raichu's strength is on a whole other level compared to Pikachu's. Not only that, Raichu's electricity is far more powerful.
Brock, still squinting as always, remained silent, but the furrow in his brow showed he was also concerned.
"Huh? You actually plan to use that Pikachu to battle Raichu?" Lt. Surge asked after he realized what Ash was doing.
"Is there a problem?" Ash replied, unfazed.
"Don't you know Raichu is Pikachu's evolution? By letting Pikachu fight Raichu, you're basically asking to lose." Lt. Surge, who had been surprised by Ash in their first match, now showed nothing but contempt.
It seemed he thought Ash's earlier win was pure luck.
"You've been talking non-stop from the start. Why don't you wait until after you win to teach me something!" Ash retorted coolly.
"Hmph! But fine, I'll show you. After all, a real Trainer knows to evolve their Pokémon as soon as possible to unleash their full potential!"
Lt. Surge, clearly irritated by Ash's words, was an impulsive man who valued strength above all else.
Pikachu is different from most Pokémon. While other Pokémon require rigorous training to evolve, Pikachu only needs to use a Thunder Stone.
In Lt. Surge's mind, if you had a Pikachu, you should immediately evolve it with a Thunder Stone. To him, it was foolish to keep a Pokémon unevolved when it could be stronger without any extra effort.
Determined to teach Ash a lesson after their last battle, Lt. Surge wasted no time launching his attack.
"Raichu, show him what a real Electric-type is! Use Thunderbolt!"
Thunder roared through the air!
At Lt. Surge's command, Raichu immediately clasped its paws together, and in an instant, powerful electricity surged from the sacs on its cheeks, enveloping its entire body in golden lightning.
Bang!!!
It was like a thunderclap. Though the move was called Thunderbolt, Raichu's sheer power made it feel far stronger. The electricity crackled, turning into a shining golden whip that slammed into the already damaged battlefield, tearing it apart even further with its immense energy.
The shattered stones were instantly crushed into powder when they came into contact with the electric current's immense power. Misty and Brock, standing behind Ash, stared at the dazzling sparks in front of them, worry etched on their faces for both Ash and Pikachu.
"What destructive power!" Misty exclaimed.
"I knew Raichu was strong, but I didn't expect this level of force," Brock finally spoke, unable to contain his shock. "Even the ground can't withstand it. A pure Rock-type Pokémon wouldn't hold up against that."
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Ash shouted, remaining calm despite the situation.
Pikachu responded immediately, lowering itself to the ground. A silver flash enveloped its body as it dashed forward at incredible speed, turning into a streak of light. Raichu's electricity swept across the battlefield with devastating force, but Pikachu's speed outpaced it.
Raichu's Thunderbolt was powerful, but it always landed just behind Pikachu, missing by a hair each time.
"Pika Pika!"
Pikachu continued to close the gap between itself and Raichu, speeding up with every step. In an instant, Pikachu was right in front of Raichu and sprang forward, colliding with its opponent at full speed.
Boom!!!
With lightning-fast reflexes, Pikachu's Quick Attack struck Raichu head-on. But before Misty and Brock could even cheer, Lt. Surge sneered.
"That won't work. Such a weak attack doesn't bother my Raichu."
While Raichu wasn't gigantic, it was significantly larger than Pikachu. Raichu grinned confidently as Pikachu's tackle met its solid belly. Raichu tensed its muscles and pushed Pikachu away with brute force. Pikachu was launched backward, flipping through the air before hitting the ground and skidding to a stop a few feet away.
"See? That's the kind of power Raichu has after evolving!" Lt. Surge taunted. "Raichu, use Body Slam!"
Taking advantage of the moment, Lt. Surge had Raichu charge forward. Raichu leapt into the air, its body wide as it prepared to slam down on Pikachu with all its strength.
"Pikachu, dodge with Agility!" Ash commanded.
Raichu's Body Slam, while powerful, was sluggish. The downside of using the Thunder Stone to evolve too quickly was becoming apparent.
**Thunder!!**
Raichu's attack was coming down fast, but Pikachu's agility allowed it to zip out of harm's way just in time.
*Note: In terms of base stats, Pikachu is usually slower than Raichu, unless it's Ash's Pikachu. But the anime and games often differ, just like how Scizor is considered slow in the games, yet in the anime, it's portrayed as a symbol of speed.*
In the anime, Pikachu's speed and skill are emphasized, showing that practice and determination can overcome raw power. Even with some shortcomings, those can be overcome with enough training.
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