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After a while, Lt. Surge retracted Raichu and walked directly towards Ash, towering over him. Misty and Brock, standing behind Ash, couldn't help but feel a sense of intimidation from Surge's imposing presence, swallowing nervously.
It was no surprise they felt uneasy—Lt. Surge had an aura that could make anyone feel small. "What is this guy going to do? Is he mad because he lost the battle?" Misty whispered anxiously.
"Yeah... but he's a Gym Leader. He wouldn't get angry over something like this, right?" Brock responded, though his voice carried some uncertainty.
"Ah!!" Misty shrieked as Lt. Surge suddenly extended his fist toward Ash.
"Ash, you fought well. I'm impressed!" Lt. Surge said, breaking into a broad grin. "It's been a long time since I enjoyed a battle like that. This Thunder Badge is yours."
He opened his hand, revealing the Badge. It was clear that he had only wanted to spook Ash a little, but when he saw that Ash remained calm, his admiration for the young Trainer grew even more.
In Lt. Surge's hand was a sunflower-shaped, polygonal orange Badge. Ash smiled and gratefully accepted it.
"Thank you!" Ash said, holding up the Badge.
"You were right, Ash," Lt. Surge admitted. "Blindly evolving Pokémon without proper training is a mistake. You reminded me of that today. I should be thanking you."
"Good luck in the Pokémon League!" he added, extending his hand. Ash shook it firmly, a mutual respect growing between the two.
Despite his rough exterior, Lt. Surge was a good-hearted person. His personality might come off as intimidating, but deep down, he was bold and straightforward—someone who could accept defeat with grace.
"Thanks again! We'll be on our way now," Ash replied, not wanting to overstay their welcome.
As the trio left the Vermilion Gym, Lt. Surge watched them go, admiring Ash's spirit. "What an incredible kid," he mused. In all his time as a Gym Leader, he had been defeated before, but Ash was a Trainer like no other.
"Phew! I thought he was going to hit someone!" Misty exhaled once they were outside the gym. She had been genuinely afraid of Lt. Surge's reaction.
"There was nothing to worry about," Brock said confidently. "You're from a gym yourself, Misty. You know Gym Leaders can't just fight outside of Pokémon battles."
Gym Leaders not only accept challenges from Trainers all over the world, but they also have a duty to protect their cities when necessary. Ordinary Trainers, apart from battling with their Pokémon, can't fight for personal reasons or out of revenge. Doing so would result in serious consequences, including losing their Trainer qualifications.
"Many who lose their qualifications often turn to crime and become active in the underground world," Brock continued. "If a Gym Leader breaks the rules, they don't just lose their title—they face severe punishment from the Pokémon League. So something like that is almost impossible."
"Of course I know, that's the rule, but that guy is just too scary!" Misty replied, still shaken. Even though she was a Gym Leader from Cerulean City herself, Lt. Surge's sheer size and presence were enough to intimidate anyone.
"Let's get going!" Ash said with a smile, not wanting to dwell on it. He started walking toward the Pokémon Center, with Misty and Brock quickly following behind.
Meanwhile, outside the gym, three familiar figures crept out from behind the bushes, spying on Ash and his friends.
"Who would've thought Pikachu could actually beat Raichu? It's unbelievable!" It was Team Rocket, watching the group from afar.
"A Pikachu like that is definitely worth stealing!" Jessie said, her eyes gleaming with excitement after hearing James's observation. Pikachu's power had always been their target, but now, seeing how much stronger Pikachu had become, their determination only grew.
"But how are we supposed to catch such a powerful Pikachu?" James asked, clearly worried. After all, they'd failed so many times before, and Pikachu was only getting tougher.
"Yeah! That twerp is becoming a real problem," James continued, recalling how Ash's quick thinking had played a huge role in the battle against Raichu.
"Hmph! As long as we keep following them, there's bound to be a chance. We just have to be patient," Jessie said, undeterred.
"That's right! We'll keep at it, and before you know it, we'll be promoted to Executives!" Meowth chimed in, filled with determination.
### Pokémon Center
Ash and his friends soon arrived at the Pokémon Center. Ash handed Pikachu and Eevee over to Nurse Joy for treatment. When Nurse Joy saw them, she was surprised to find they weren't as badly hurt as most other Pokémon brought in by Trainers.
"Your Pikachu and Eevee still seem full of energy despite a tough battle!" Nurse Joy commented. Curious, she asked Ash about the battle, and when she found out that he had defeated Lt. Surge, she was genuinely impressed.
After congratulating Ash, Nurse Joy took Pikachu and Eevee to heal them, leaving the group to relax.
Later, as word spread, many Trainers who had previously faced the Vermilion Gym Leader were astonished. To their shock, even Lt. Surge himself came to the Pokémon Center, bringing Raichu in for treatment. This sight stunned several Trainers, especially those who had been defeated by him in the past.
Seeing Lt. Surge arrive meant only one thing—he had been defeated. The Trainers couldn't believe it, especially since Raichu's injuries looked just as serious as those of the Pokémon that Surge had previously overpowered.
Though the other Trainers didn't know who had managed to defeat Lt. Surge, Nurse Joy knew it had been Ash. However, she didn't make a big fuss about it. Instead, when she saw Surge, she lightly scolded him.
"Please, Lt. Surge, don't go so hard on other Trainers' Pokémon next time!" she said, frowning.
Despite his intimidating appearance, Lt. Surge scratched his head awkwardly, smiling sheepishly. "I'll be more careful, I promise!" he replied, clearly embarrassed by the reprimand.
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