Chapter 263

「Tie Xuan Gym Leader, I am Ash from Pallet Town. 」

Ash stepped forward and explained the situation clearly to Tie Xuan, stating his purpose.

You brought Raikou over to challenge the Gym?

Come over to blast the fish, right!

Tie Xuan verbally said he could accept the challenge, but in his heart he had cursed Ash many times; after glancing at the crackling electricity of Raikou, he slowly walked onto the battlefield, his face grim, without the initial smile of teasing Ash and his group.

The smile disappeared!

Meanwhile, that assistant stared blankly at the mighty Raikou, its sharp fangs and light-blue, electricity-shaped tail; he was quite excited, having looked at the mechanical Raikou for so long, finally seeing the real thing.

After Tie Xuan's reminder, the assistant hurried over to serve as referee.

The battle was about to begin...... Misty and the others walked over to the spectator seats.

「Go, Little Magnet Monster! 」

Tie Xuan sent out Little Magnet Monster.

「It's you, Young Basalt! 」

Ash wasn't so unscrupulous; he still sent out Young Basalt.

Fortunately, fortunately, he didn't send out Raikou...... Tie Xuan roughly knew Ash's strength; he probably couldn't beat him.

「Yoo! 」

Young Basalt looked at Little Magnet Monster, entering battle state.

Without Raikou, using Young Basalt is also hard to beat; Electric-type has no effect on it...... Tie Xuan shouted: "Electromagnetic Float!"

Little Magnet Monster used electricity to generate magnetism, then floated in the air.

Afraid of Ground-type moves...... Ash knew Little Magnet Monster's plan, so next it would use Steel-type moves against Young Basalt.

「Screeching Sound. 」

Young Basalt emitted a series of extremely sharp cries; the sound was piercing like metal friction, causing Little Magnet Monster to involuntarily retreat, increasing the distance between them to reduce the direct impact of the sound.

「Gyro Ball. 」

Little Magnet Monster spun rapidly on its own, forming a silver sphere; the surrounding air currents created waves due to its rotation, carrying an irresistible force as it slammed into Young Basalt.

The Gyro Ball move increases in power the slower the user, but Little Magnet Monster's speed is about equal to Young Basalt's, so the move's power is moderate.

「Block it. 」 Ash had full confidence in Young Basalt; this little guy was still diligent, with high potential, and Professor Damu had also helped train it, teaching it many moves.

Young Basalt's gaze locked onto the ball-shaped Little Magnet Monster; it steadied itself, arms outstretched like shields, precisely blocking Little Magnet Monster's advance.

At the moment of contact, a loud impact sounded, but Young Basalt merely stepped back a few steps, then stood firm; no matter how Little Magnet Monster exerted force, Young Basalt stood like a mountain, unshaken.

That much strength?

Tie Xuan looked at the tiny Young Basalt, never expecting it to block so easily.

Brock and the others had witnessed Young Basalt's strength; that little guy's strength is indeed great; just a few days ago, Ash had it demonstrate what it learned in the lab's backyard, and it ran straight to a tree and easily knocked it down.

Also, hand-splitting large rocks—that should be Professor Damu teaching it Break Tile.

With this stance, Young Basalt is likely about to use Break Tile!

「Break Tile! 」

Seeing Little Magnet Monster's attack easily neutralized, Young Basalt immediately launched a counterattack. It fiercely raised its right hand, arm muscles tensed, as if gathering all its strength, then swung down like a lightning bolt, a knifehand strike fiercely hitting Little Magnet Monster's body.

One Break Tile knocked Little Magnet Monster to the ground, but it wasn't over; Young Basalt then opened its mouth and bit Little Magnet Monster's body, flinging it away.

With a crisp landing sound, Little Magnet Monster lost its ability to battle.

「Yoo! 」 (I'm awesome!)

Young Basalt faced Ash, waving both hands, very excited.

After recalling Little Magnet Monster, Tie Xuan sent out Thunderbolt Ball.

「Young Basalt, well done! 」 Ash praised Young Basalt, then switched to Swamp Fish.

「Water-type Swamp Fish? Isn't it countered by Thunderbolt Ball? 」

Xiaosheng wondered.

「Just keep watching and you'll find out! 」

Brock smiled, not worried at all; after traveling with Ash for so long, he had basically never seen Ash undertake a battle without confidence, nor would he recklessly send out Poké Ball.

「Just trust Ash. 」

Misty had always trusted Ash; she had trained with him, feeling that all of Ash's battles were confident, everything under his control.

The battlefield situation was completely one-sided; Swamp Fish took several Electric-type moves with no effect, while Thunderbolt Ball struggled under Swamp Fish's relentless successive attacks. Swamp Fish continually dug up rocks from the ground and hurled them at Thunderbolt Ball.

Thunderbolt Ball could barely dodge one or two, but faced with Swamp Fish's concentrated rock barrage, it ultimately couldn't withstand, finally being hit by a huge rock and losing its ability to battle.

Swamp Fish is Ground-type, so Electric-type moves are ineffective against it.

Tie Xuan wasn't surprised; after all, several trainers had previously used Swamp Fish to battle him in the same way.

He lightly sighed, returned the incapacitated Thunderbolt Ball to its Spirit Ball, then took a deep breath, preparing to send out Three-in-One Magnet Monster.

And Ash sent out Raikou in the final match.

No, is that really okay?

Tie Xuan looked worried.

If he hadn't just seen Raikou attack his mechanical Raikou, he might be excited to fight Raikou now, but he doesn't want to fight Raikou at all, fearing another Electromagnetic Cannon would blast his own gym to pieces.

The battle was about to erupt, Three-in-One Magnet Monster struck first.

「Light Wall! 」

Tie Xuan still wanted to have a Battle with Raikou, to see how strong real lightning is.

"Discharge!"

Raikou's body burst forth with thick, snake-like currents; those currents intertwined in the air into an impenetrable electric net, with a speed and force almost impossible to dodge, directly swallowing the three-in-one magnetic monster opposite it whole.

The moment the electric current made contact with the triple-one magnetic monster's body, a sizzling sound rang out—the distinctive noise produced when an electric current pierces metal and mechanical structures, a sound both piercing and heart‑pounding.

The triple-one magnetic monster's body shuddered violently under the electric current's impact, and strong electromagnetic interference arose between its parts due to the current's effect.

A few seconds later, the triple-one magnetic monster fell limp from mid‑air, crashed to the ground with a dull thud, and lost its battle capability.

One move and the triple-one magnetic monster was knocked out!

Both as expected and yet unexpected.

Everyone witnessed this, gaining a new appreciation of Raikou's strength.

The aide's eyes flashed with insight, thinking that future construction of mechanical Raikou now had a new direction.

"Young people these days are so strong!"

Tie Xuan gave the Electric Badge to Ash, glanced at him, and his eyes filled with admiration and feeling.

"I look forward to seeing you shine brilliantly at the Colorful Hidden Tournament!"

"Sure, thank you for the guidance, Gym Leader Tie Xuan!"

Ash nodded solemnly.

【Tie Xuan: Indeed, they sent out Raikou—though not the first to appear, they were the last, and it was a one‑move KO.】

【Ma Zhishi: So strong! No wonder it's a legendary Poké Ball!】

【Da Wu: Three Sacred Beasts, huh... Black Satoshi should use them to enter the Colorful Hidden Tournament, right? I want to see my Black World self battle the Three Sacred Beasts, and even fight legendary Poké Ball like Phoenix King!】

If anyone else said that, most would think them arrogant, but that's Da Wu—the Johto Region Champion, strong yet low‑key, possibly not that famous.