The video continued playing.

The referee of Vermilion Gym was a young man wearing glasses. He adjusted them and stared at the enormous difference in size between the two Pokémon on the battlefield, involuntarily swallowing.

"Um... I hereby declare... the Vermilion Gym challenge officially underway!"

Lt. Surge clenched his teeth. Since things had already reached this point, he had no choice but to force himself through it.

"Raichu! Use Thunderbolt!"

Raichu gathered every last shred of courage as the electric sacs on its cheeks began crackling.

"Raichu!"

A golden current of electricity shot toward Gyarados.

The attack struck Gyarados’s scales, but when the arcs of electricity finally dispersed, they were still gleaming brilliantly. There was not even the slightest scorch mark upon them.

Gyarados lowered its head and examined the place where Thunderbolt had struck. It then raised its head again and roared furiously at Raichu.

"ROAR!"

How dare you dirty my noble scales?

"Raichu, Raichu, Raichu!"

I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!

Lt. Surge nearly choked when he saw Raichu’s reaction.

"Again! Use Thunder!"

With its Trainer’s command, Raichu finally managed to calm itself. It took a deep breath as electricity enveloped its entire body.

"Rai—chu!"

A thick bolt of lightning descended from above and struck Gyarados directly on the head.

Gyarados still showed no intention of moving.

Thunder crashed into its body, and electricity flowed down its scales before crackling across the ground.

When the lightning finally faded, Gyarados looked down at the electrical marks on the floor, then at the panting Raichu.

It yawned.

Under the Gym’s bright spotlights, everyone saw that yawn perfectly clearly.

[Regular-Seat Chat Group]

"Gyarados yawned!"

"Critical Yawn! Double psychological damage!"

"Raichu: I used Thunder, and you responded by yawning?!"

"Lt. Surge’s blood pressure must be through the roof! Hahahahaha!"

"Breaking news: During those few seconds of silence, Leader Surge was reconsidering every decision he had ever made."

[VIP Chat Group]

[Ash]: Two attacks did absolutely nothing?! Just how tough is that Gyarados?!

[Gary]: Don’t forget that this Gyarados remained standing after taking Tyranitar’s Giga Impact at Pewter Gym. Raichu’s Thunderbolt probably felt like nothing more than a slight itch.

[Jasmine]: Gyarados yawning... I know Electric-type moves are super effective against Water types, but this scene still makes me feel sorry for Raichu...

[Volkner]: The difference in how thoroughly these two Pokémon have been raised is simply too great. Gyarados doesn’t even need to move.

[Dawn]: Raichu is already panting, yet Gyarados didn’t feel anything at all? The difference is enormous! It’s even greater than the difference between my Piplup and Dialga!

[Brock]: Um... I think the difference between Piplup and Dialga is probably still greater...

[Piplup]: Piplup, Piplup!

[Nanu, Island Kahuna of Ula’ula Island]: It looks like Surge’s Raichu isn’t good enough. Personally, I think he should replace it with its Alolan relative.

[Lt. Surge]: Where am I supposed to find an Alolan Raichu right now?!

[Nanu, Island Kahuna of Ula’ula Island]: Nothing you can do, then. Ahem... Good luck.

[Skyla]: Are you all right, Lt. Surge? Would you like to drink some water first?

[Lt. Surge]: I am not all right!

[Bruno]: Ohhh! This is incredible!

[Lance]: Bruno is acting up again...

[Bruno]: Every time I witness a bond like this, my blood starts boiling, Lance! You wouldn’t understand!

[Lance]: ...Whatever you say.

[Diantha]: The way Raina placed her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly just now showed considerable acting potential. If she auditioned for one of my productions, I would accept her immediately~

[Wallace]: The luster of Golden Gyarados’s scales and the timing of its coordination with its Trainer would be perfect for a Pokémon Contest! Absolutely flawless!

[Steven]: Wallace, this is a Gym battle, not a Pokémon Contest.

[Wallace]: Why can’t a Gym battle be beautiful? Someone who spends all his time staring at stones could never understand true beauty.

[Steven]: Stones are beautiful.

[Wallace]: ...

[Viola]: Valerie, Valerie! I captured that moment! I can turn Raina’s smiling expression with her hands behind her back into a reaction image!

[Valerie]: Send it to me, send it to me~ I want it too~

[Wulfric]: What are you two messing around with now?

[Viola]: We’re studying reaction images based on Raina’s battle tactics!

[Wulfric]: What’s a reaction image? The only thing I know is Bergmite.

[Valerie]: Mr. Wulfric, perhaps you should go check your freezer again.

[Valerie]: Incidentally, Raina’s traveling outfit would be even cuter with a little lace added to it~

[Elesa]: Valerie, you’re finally paying attention to fashion! I thought I was the only one here who noticed!

[Valerie]: I only happened to notice~

[Elesa]: Then tell me, what color belt would look best with Raina’s outfit?

[Valerie]: Either white or blue would work~

[Jasmine]: Two Gym Leaders are studying reaction images, while two others are discussing outfit coordination. Is this how meetings usually work in Kalos and Unova?

[Viola]: Yes, of course. Is something wrong with that?

[Skyla]: We usually talk about whatever comes to mind. I think a blue belt would be better. White would be too plain.

[Korrina]: Skyla, why are you joining them too?!

[Skyla]: I simply possess aesthetic taste. Flying-type Trainers must pay attention to their appearance too.

[Falkner]: Flying-type Trainers should focus on speed, not clothing coordination.

[Skyla]: Do you have a problem with that, Falkner?

[Falkner]: No.

[Skyla]: Excellent. One more vote for the blue belt.

[Valerie]: The sheen of Gyarados’s scales is beautiful too. There’s a faint red halo within the gold...

[Wallace]: Valerie! Finally, someone understands me!

[Valerie]: Huh?! I only said I thought it looked pretty...

Because the VIP Seats’ discussion was far too entertaining, the livestream thoughtfully converted this section into scrolling comments and displayed them over the video for the entire world to see.

[Regular-Seat Chat Group]

"The Gym battle has turned into a Pokémon Contest judging panel! Hahahahaha!"

"Wallace: I’ve already started scoring, and no one can stop me."

"Diantha: The Trainer is a professional actress. Wallace: The Pokémon’s luster and entrance timing deserve full marks. Elesa: Outfit coordination has officially been added to the agenda."

"The professional judging panel is now online, while Lt. Surge is still fighting for his life."

"Lt. Surge: My battle isn’t even over, and you’ve already started judging the Best Performance Award?"

"Even the air inside Vermilion Gym must have frozen! Hahahahaha!"

"I’m one of the Trainers watching from outside Vermilion Gym. Something inside scraped across the floor a moment ago, and then everything went completely silent."

"I can confirm it. I’m the floor."

"Hahahahaha! Everyone in this chat is a genius!"

The video continued.

Lt. Surge finally realized that Raichu’s Electric-type moves were completely useless against this Golden Gyarados.

He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.

"Raichu! Charge forward and use Iron Tail!"

Raichu gathered the last of its courage. Its tail gleamed with a metallic light as it launched itself forward, spinning through the air and swinging toward Gyarados’s abdomen.

Just as Iron Tail was about to connect, Gyarados finally moved.

It merely flicked its tail.

The tail struck Raichu with a muffled thud.

Raichu was sent flying like a ball. It flipped seven or eight times through the air before crashing into the wall at the edge of the battlefield.

Its body became embedded in the wall, and its eyes turned into spirals.

The referee stared blankly for two seconds before hurriedly raising his hand.

"R-Raichu is unable to battle! Gyarados wins! The victor is Raina of Cerulean City!"

Several seconds of complete silence followed.

Lt. Surge stood on the opposite side of the battlefield with his mouth hanging open.

Lt. Surge’s inner thoughts:

Who am I?

Where am I?

What just happened?

Gyarados gently flicked its tail again, creating a faint breeze.

Raina placed her hands on her hips and smiled brightly at Lt. Surge.

"Thank you for the battle, Leader Surge~"

Lt. Surge recalled Raichu and stared silently at its Poké Ball for a long time.

Then he raised his head, revealing an exceptionally broad smile.

"You little girl... You little girl! That was good! That was a fantastic battle! I haven’t enjoyed getting beaten this badly in a long time!"

He strode toward Raina, shoved an orange-colored Badge into her hands, and gave her shoulder a powerful slap.

The force made her entire body sway.

"This is the Thunder Badge! It’s yours! Come back and battle me again! Next time, I’ll face you with my strongest team!"

Raina grimaced from the force of his slap, but still raised the Thunder Badge high above her head.

"Mm-hmm! Thank you, Leader Surge!"

[VIP Chat Group]

[Lt. Surge]: I may have lost, but that battle really was satisfying! That’s what a Gym battle should be like!

[Ash]: Lt. Surge! You acted exactly the same way when I defeated you!

[Lt. Surge]: Because that’s genuinely how I feel! A loss is a loss. It’s not as though I’ve never lost before!

[Brock]: That is one admirable thing about Lt. Surge. He has never refused to acknowledge a defeat.

[Gary]: He simply talks too much.

[Lt. Surge]: Gary, you little brat! When did you develop such a sharp tongue?!

[Gary]: I’ve always been like this.

[Erika]: To lose so decisively and still be so cheerful... That truly is like Lt. Surge.

[Blaine]: Hahahaha! Among all the Gym Leaders in Kanto, he has the best attitude toward defeat.

[Bruno]: That is the spirit of a true warrior! Victory and defeat are unimportant—the will to fight is what matters!

[Lance]: Why do you have so many lines today, Bruno?

[Bruno]: Because his passion has infected me, Lance! You wouldn’t understand this feeling!

[Lorelei]: Bruno has spoken more today than he has throughout the entire previous year.

[Phoebe]: That tail swipe was hilarious! Gyarados knocked Raichu away as though it were swatting a mosquito.

[Glacia]: Raichu’s flying posture was quite standard. The angle at which it extended its body and its rotational speed both deserve high marks.

[Steven]: ...Glacia, what kind of judging criteria are those?

[Glacia]: A force of habit.

[Misty]: She won and received the Badge. As long as she doesn’t become arrogant, that’s good enough.

[Daisy]: Misty, the corners of your mouth are practically touching the sky.

[Misty]: They are not!

[Violet]: I saw them. They definitely rose.

[Misty]: How could you possibly see me?

[Lily]: Three against one. You lose.

[Misty]: Are the three of you finished yet?!

[Wallace]: Does anyone still believe Raina is an ordinary ten-year-old child?

[Leon]: I don’t think anyone considered her ordinary in the first place.

[Raihan]: I’m more curious about where she’ll go next.

[Alder]: At this pace, she’ll probably head to Cerulean City after defeating Vermilion Gym. Cerulean Gym is her home, so it would represent a milestone of sorts.

[Janine]: That doesn’t sound right. She only recently left home. Is she already going back to battle her mother?

[Misty]: She wouldn’t be battling her mother! She would be challenging the Gym! Besides, that’s the parallel-world version of me!

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