Early the next morning, Ash arrived at Pewter Gym.
"Is anyone here?!"
Ash took a deep breath in front of Pewter Gym for a long time, then finally pushed open the Gym's door.
"You fearless brat, you're back again."
Brock had a very poor opinion of Ash; if he couldn't defeat Onix yesterday, how could he defeat it today? Brock had always detested people who didn't cherish their Pokémon.
Ash happened to violate this principle of his, so he spoke harshly to Ash.
"Today, we're different from yesterday!"
"Pika!!!"
Ash looked at Brock with full confidence; last night's special training had filled him with conviction, and Pikachu also showed off his abundant electrical power.
"How interesting. Come with me."
Brock looked at the boy and Pikachu, who were clearly different from yesterday, and became slightly interested. He led them to the familiar battleground.
"Using only two Pokémon isn't a problem, right?"
Before the battle began, Brock once again emphasized the challenge rules to Ash, just in case he wasn't aware of the situation. After receiving Ash's impatient reply, Brock said no more.
"First up is Geodude, go!"
"I choose you, Pidgeotto!"
Ash and Brock simultaneously threw their Poké Balls, and Geodude and Pidgeotto appeared on the field.
"Do you think Ash can win?"
Yu Feng appeared beside Xiao Xia at some point and asked her for her opinion on the match.
"Huh! Yu Feng, why are you so elusive?" Xiao Xia was startled by Yu Feng's sudden appearance. After realizing it was someone she knew, Xiao Xia patted her meager chest in relief and said to Yu Feng with some dissatisfaction, "Yu Feng, scaring people can scare them to death. But I still don't have much faith in Ash."
Xiao Xia thought for a moment and then stated her opinion. After all, Ash's ace, Pikachu, would indeed have a very tough time at Pewter Gym. Without any surprises, Ash still wouldn't be able to win.
Brock was no pushover, and currently, Ash's Pidgeotto, Caterpie, and Weedle were all unsuitable for battling Brock.
"I think he'll win. After all, he's the person who always brings the most unexpected twists."
"I really can't see how he could win, unless a miracle happens."
Even if Pikachu used Charge, it wouldn't be able to cause much damage to Onix, whereas Onix could directly inflict heavy damage on Pikachu.
Unless some unexpected event occurred, like Pikachu evolving, but Ash had only just gotten Pikachu, so how could it evolve?
"Then let's wait and see."
Yu Feng smiled lightly; after all, Ash always managed to come up with new tricks.
While they were talking, Pidgeotto was being chased and attacked by Geodude on the field.
"You idiot, don't you know that Flying-type Pokémon are not very effective against Rock-type Pokémon?"
Brock frowned, feeling a bit confused about why he thought Ash had improved. He had thought Ash had made great progress.
"Ash, that idiot, is truly hopeless."
Xiao Xia sighed, unable to describe her current mood, but suddenly she noticed a pile of Brock's Pokémon beside her.
"Are you giving up the match again this time?"
Watching Ash recall Pidgeotto, Brock crossed his arms and scoffed. Had he overestimated Ash after all?
"What? Go, Pikachu!"
"Oh, it's this one again. It's truly pitiful that you've encountered a Trainer who doesn't know how to use Pokémon well."
Seeing Ash send out Pikachu again, Brock felt a wave of helplessness. He had been so badly beaten by Onix last time, yet he still hadn't learned his lesson.
Even if he managed to defeat Geodude by chance, what then? Onix was still coming after that.
"Listen, Pikachu, you're not the same as you were yesterday."
"Pika!!!"
Encouraged by Ash, Pikachu released Thunder Shock again. The golden lightning directly hit Geodude, charring him and rendering him unable to battle.
"This, this, this!"
Xiao Xia almost bit off her tongue, looking at Yu Feng in astonishment, then at Ash on the field. She couldn't understand how Pikachu had instantly defeated Geodude?
"Your Pokémon has improved a bit, but it's still no match for Onix!"
Brock calmly recalled Geodude, seemingly not very surprised by what had just happened. He then tossed out Onix's Poké Ball.
Onix appeared in front of Pikachu. Its expression clearly said, "Little brother, is it you again?"
Pikachu took two steps back when he saw Onix, clearly a bit scared, but then he remembered that today he was not the same as yesterday. This was his complete self, the complete Pikachu!
Ahem, in short, Pikachu seemed to remember the fear of being dominated by Onix that day, and with his eyes closed, he released Thunder Shock again.
But because his eyes were closed, his aim wasn't very good; it only shattered a few rocks and ignited the chandelier above. Onix slightly shifted its body and dodged Pikachu's Thunder Shock.
Then, using the same trick again, he trapped Pikachu in his tail. The situation seemed no different from yesterday.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
Ash watched with a heavy heart, only hoping that yesterday's special training had truly been effective.
Yesterday's special training seemed to have worked, as Onix actually showed a pained expression from being shocked by Thunderbolt.
Unfortunately, Pikachu stopped discharging electricity not long after, as if the electricity charged last night had been exhausted.
"Stop, Onix."
Seeing that today seemed no different from before, Ash gritted his teeth, about to forfeit like yesterday, but Brock stopped Onix's next move first.
Onix released the temporarily immobile Pikachu and quietly watched Ash across from him.
"Why did you call a stop? You were almost winning."
"There's no point in continuing. Your Pokémon has no chance of winning."
Ash was a bit confused; Brock was about to win, so why did he stop?
Brock, however, saw things clearly. Not only could Pikachu not defeat Onix, but continuing would only increase Pikachu's injuries.
A Gym Leader's duty is to guide Trainers, not to defeat them, especially since Brock loved Pokémon very much.
Unfortunately, they didn't notice the ceiling above, which had caught fire from the Thunderbolt, directly triggering the Gym's fire suppression system.
A large amount of water erupted from the fire hydrants. Onix writhed uneasily in the water curtain formed by the hydrants, seemingly very uncomfortable.
Pikachu also became energized by the sudden rush of water.
"Ash, now's your chance! Rock-type Pokémon are most afraid of water."
Hearing Xiao Xia's words, Ash also reacted and quickly commanded Pikachu to attack Onix.
A powerful current, like a thunder dragon, struck Onix, knocking him to the ground.
P.S. The group chat is discussing some very profound things. I don't understand, so I can only come and write. By the way, the old version has many bugs, such as Geodude being instantly defeated by Pikachu's Thunder Shock. In such cases, just assume that the difference is too great and damage can be inflicted.