“Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!”

Sensing the immense danger, Ash reacted instantly, commanding his partner to attack. Brock, standing beside him, tried to stop it, but it was too late. “Ash, no! Don’t rashly anger a Pokémon like that!”

But the Blood-Red Gyarados didn’t even flinch. It looked at Pikachu with an expression of pure, human-like disdain. As the electricity washed over it, the pale yellow of its underbelly shifted to a deep, pitch-black. Its entire aura changed, and it absorbed the full force of the Thunderbolt without taking any damage.

“How is that possible?!” Misty exclaimed in horror. As an aspiring Water-type Master, she knew Gyarados’s typing by heart. “It should be four times weak to Electric!”

“We’ve really done it now,” Brock said, his voice trembling. The Gyarados’s eyes now held a cold, murderous intent. Golden energy particles began to gather at its mouth as it prepared to unleash a devastating Hyper Beam.

“Beedrill, stop it! Use Brick Break!”

A familiar voice cut through the chaos. Ash turned, his fear momentarily forgotten as he saw his brother standing on the shoreline. As long as Red was here, everything would be okay.

The Gyarados, realizing it had targeted the wrong people, tried to pull back, but the Hyper Beam was already charged. It could only try to dissipate the energy as it fired, praying it didn’t hurt its master’s friends.

Under the panicked gazes of Ash and his companions, Red’s Beedrill shot forward, a blur of motion. It met the golden beam of destruction head-on, its twin stingers glowing with the white-hot energy of Brick Break. With a deafening crack, it shattered the beam, dissolving its power with pure, overwhelming force.

(As expected of the master’s first partner,) the Gyarados thought, sighing internally. Even a weakened Hyper Beam was not something to be taken lightly.

“Ash, you were too reckless,” Red reprimanded, his voice sharp. If he hadn’t noticed the commotion, his brother would have been in serious danger.

Ash, long used to his brother’s scolding, silently lowered his head. The Gyarados, which had been about to slip away, also received a stern glare from its trainer. Both sides were at fault. Gyarados shouldn’t have been training so carelessly, and Ash should never have attacked a Pokémon he couldn’t hope to defeat.

“Is that your Gyarados, Red? But why is it that color…?” Misty asked, still confused by what she had seen.

Red’s other four Pokémon, their training interrupted, had arrived. The sight of the massive Onix, the fiery Charmeleon, the golden Pidgeotto, and the azure Scyther, all fitted with heavy, black resistance harnesses, left the trio speechless.

“He didn’t even show his full strength at the gym,” Brock murmured, realizing Red had deliberately used his weaker, type-disadvantaged Pokémon in their battle just to help them evolve.

“That Scyther… it must be his sixth Pokémon,” Misty breathed. To be chosen as part of a trainer’s core team of six meant it possessed incredible potential. Its unique azure color alone was proof of its extraordinary nature.

“Amazing…” Ash mumbled. He thought of his own team and, for a moment, his shoulders slumped in frustration. He had never been able to surpass his brother.

Then, a familiar fire ignited in his eyes.

“Alright! I challenge you, big bro!” he declared, his passion overriding his doubt. He wanted a full six-on-six battle.

“No way, Ash!” Misty said, her sharp tongue trying to talk some sense into him. “The difference in your strength is too vast! Even if he goes easy on you, you wouldn’t be able to defeat a single one of his Pokémon!”

“She’s right. Let’s go rest at the lighthouse first,” Brock added gently.

But Ash, once his fighting spirit was lit, could not be dissuaded. Seeing his brother’s resolve, Red gave a slight nod.

“Ash,” Red said, his voice now serious, his gaze unwavering. “As your brother, I must advise you. I am always extremely serious in a Pokémon battle. You must face me with one hundred percent of your strength.”

Scyther stepped forward, taking its place on the sand.

“What Pokémon is this?” Ash asked, habitually pulling out his Pokédex. “Scyther, the Mantis Pokémon. It tears at its prey with its sharp scythes. It only flies on rare occasions.”

“It looks so dangerous!” Ash shouted. “I’m counting on you, Pikachu!”

“You can have the first move,” Red offered.

“Pikachu, Thunderbolt!”

“Double Team.”

Scyther vanished, its body multiplying into a dozen illusory clones that swirled around the confused Pikachu. The electric mouse unleashed its attack, but it only struck empty air and flickering afterimages.

“Bug Buzz.”

Scyther’s wings began to vibrate, releasing a high-frequency sound that drilled into Pikachu’s ears. The electric mouse cried out in pain, trying to cover its ears to block out the agonizing noise.

“X-Scissor.”

The real Scyther shot forward, its glowing green scythes crossed. It struck Pikachu with a single, clean blow, knocking it out instantly.

“Pikachu is unable to battle!” Brock announced, serving as the referee.

“Butterfree, I’m counting on you!” Ash sent out his Bug-type. “Use Sleep Powder!”

Butterfree flapped its wings, releasing a cloud of shimmering spores.

“Swords Dance.”

Scyther spun its body rapidly, its wings creating a powerful vortex of wind that blew the Sleep Powder away. The cloud engulfed the unsuspecting Butterfree, which accidentally inhaled its own attack and immediately fell to the ground, fast asleep.

“Oh no! Swords Dance raises a Pokémon’s attack!” Brock cried, a worried look on his face. “Ash is in even more danger now!”

“Air Slash.”

Scyther slashed forward, and a blade of pure wind shot across the field, striking the sleeping Butterfree and defeating it in one hit.

“Butterfree is unable to battle! Squirtle, I’m counting on you!” Ash shouted, sending out the Tiny Turtle Pokémon. “Use Water Gun!”

A jet of water shot toward Scyther. The azure warrior simply raised a scythe and cut the stream in half.

“The gap in strength is too vast!” Misty exclaimed. Scyther hadn’t even warmed up.

“Air Slash.”

Scyther swung again. Seeing the sharp blade of wind approach, Ash quickly commanded Squirtle to retreat into its shell. The attack connected, leaving a deep scratch on the hard shell. The sight made the trio acutely aware of Scyther’s terrifying power.

“Too naive,” Red said softly. “Scyther, charge. Use Brick Break.”

The azure warrior shot forward. Its right scythe glowed with a white-hot energy as it slammed the attack into the immobile shell.

In an instant, Squirtle’s head popped out, its eyes swirling.

“Squirtle is unable to battle!”

***********

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep