Early the Next Morning
In the dormitory of the Pokémon Center, Robert finished his breakfast before retrieving Charmeleon and his other Pokémon into their Poké Balls. Today was the day—his much-anticipated Gym challenge. Without wasting time, he set off toward Vermillion Gym as planned.
The journey took about half an hour, and when he finally arrived at the massive gym doors, his heart pounded with anticipation. Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.
"Hello, I'm Robert from Pallet Town. Can we start the challenge now?" he asked after approaching the front counter where a staff member was stationed.
The gym staff, a middle-aged man in a uniform, looked up and smiled. "Robert from Pallet Town? Sure. Please hand me your Pokédex so I can register you. Once registration is complete, a staff member will escort you to the battle arena."
"Got it." Robert nodded and pulled out his Pokédex from his pocket, handing it over.
The gym staff took the device and scanned it efficiently. "Alright, Mr. Robert. Since you're a Rookie Trainer, you are entitled to one free challenge attempt. Your registration is complete."
"Thank you," Robert said, accepting his Pokédex as it was returned to him.
A waiting staff member then motioned for Robert to follow him. They passed through a dimly lit hallway, walking for nearly five minutes before emerging into the vast interior of Vermillion Gym.
Robert took in his surroundings. The battlefield was enormous, designed for intense, large-scale battles. Spectator stands lined the edges, and several uniformed gym assistants stood at attention near the field.
At the forefront of them all stood a tall, imposing man clad in a military-style uniform. His short, golden hair was neatly cut, and his rugged face gave off an intimidating aura. A pair of dark sunglasses rested on his nose, making him look even more formidable.
There was no mistaking him—this was Lt. Surge, the renowned Gym Leader of Vermillion City.
The Electric General
Lt. Surge was well-known for his aggressive battle style and his belief that only fully evolved Pokémon were worth using in combat. His reputation as a powerful yet merciless Gym Leader preceded him, and many Rookie Trainers found themselves utterly crushed by his overwhelming electric-type Pokémon.
However, there were two different depictions of Lt. Surge. In the standard anime, he was simply a strong and arrogant Gym Leader. But in the special episode, he was revealed to be one of the three former Team Rocket executives.
In that version, Lt. Surge had once served as a naval lieutenant and later worked as a driver aboard luxury cruise ships like the S.S. Anne and Agora. After Team Rocket's downfall at the Silph Co. battle, he had returned to Vermillion City and resumed his position as Gym Leader.
Robert glanced at the towering man in front of him and pondered, Which version of Lt. Surge am I facing today? The Gym Leader from the anime or the ruthless Team Rocket officer from the special episode?
Before he could come to a conclusion, Lt. Surge turned his gaze toward him, his sunglasses gleaming under the bright gym lights. He studied Robert from head to toe before smirking.
"Oh, what do we have here? A scrawny little baby fresh outta Pallet Town!" Lt. Surge scoffed, folding his muscular arms. "And what's that on your shoulder? A Pichu? Ha! That's a baby among babies! I hope you don't start bawlin' your eyes out when I shock you into reality!"
Robert's eyes narrowed slightly. Now he was sure—this was the cocky and arrogant Lt. Surge from the anime, not the cold and calculating Rocket executive.
Though his opponent's mocking words didn't faze him, Robert was secretly relieved. Facing a Team Rocket executive at his current strength would have been a major problem. He still had a long way to go before reaching the Elite level. Until then, it was best to keep a low profile and avoid unnecessary entanglements with criminal organizations.
"Pichu, Pichu!"
The small Pokémon on Robert's shoulder huffed in protest, puffing up its tiny cheeks. It didn't appreciate being called a baby. Sure, it might be small, but it was strong, cute, and full of spirit!
If Robert hadn't held it back, Pichu would have zapped Lt. Surge right then and there.
"Relax, Pichu," Robert chuckled, patting its little head. "Let's save our energy for the battle."
Then, he looked back at Lt. Surge with a confident smirk. "Really? Well, I hope you'll still be smiling after this match, Gym Leader."
Lt. Surge let out a booming laugh. "Hah! You got guts, kid. But guts ain't gonna save ya when I fry your Pokémon to a crisp!"
He turned and walked toward the battlefield, signaling that it was time for the battle to begin.
The Gym Battle Begins
A referee stepped onto the field and raised his hand. "This is an official Vermillion Gym battle! The rules are as follows: This will be a 1v1 battle. The Gym Leader cannot switch Pokémon, but the challenger may switch at any time. The match ends when one Pokémon is unable to battle. Do you understand, Mr. Robert?"
"I understand," Robert confirmed.
"Very well! Both Trainers, send out your Pokémon!"
Lt. Surge grinned and grabbed a Poké Ball from his belt. "Alright, baby boy, let me show ya what real power looks like!" He tossed the ball onto the battlefield.
"Come out, Raichu!"
With a flash of light, a large Raichu appeared, slamming its tail onto the ground and sparking with high-voltage electricity.
"Pika-chuuu!!" it growled, its cheeks crackling with power.
Robert wasn't surprised—he had expected Raichu to be Lt. Surge's choice.
"I see... going straight for pure power, huh?" Robert muttered to himself. Lt. Surge's strategy was clear: overpower opponents with Raichu's raw strength and speed.
Lt. Surge smirked. "You ain't got a chance, kid. My Raichu's been through war! You sure you wanna go through with this?"
Robert ignored the taunt. Instead, he reached for his Poké Ball and threw it forward.
"Charmeleon, I choose you!"
A burst of light revealed Robert's Charmeleon, which landed on the battlefield with a fierce growl. Its tail flame burned brightly, reflecting its fighting spirit.
Lt. Surge raised an eyebrow. "Heh, interesting choice. A fire-type against my electric powerhouse? You sure you ain't makin' a mistake, kid?"
Robert smirked. "We'll see about that."
The referee raised his hand once more.
"Let the Vermillion Gym battle begin!"
To Be Continued...
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