Chapter 028: The First Day’s Journey

"Tch."

Paul clicked his tongue in frustration. This situation was supposed to have played out in Electrike's favor. He hadn't expected Ash to hold off on using Thunderbolt until now, instead turning Electrike's own Thunderbolt against it.

"Protect!"

Though the situation wasn't what Paul had wanted, it was still within his control. As long as he could block this Thunder, there'd be a chance to counterattack later.

"Keep it up with Thunderbolt!"

"Hm?!"

Once again, Ash's move was unexpected. Despite Paul issuing the Protect command late, it was as if Ash had predicted his action, calling out Thunderbolt almost simultaneously.

"Pika~chu!!"

A bolt of electricity struck the green barrier Electrike had raised before Thunder could land. Protect, which could only withstand one attack, shattered into specks of light upon being hit by Thunderbolt.

Under Electrike's incredulous gaze, Pikachu closed in. The Thunder, amplified by Electrike's own Thunderbolt, slammed unreservedly into its body.

"EL!"

With a pained cry, Electrike's body was sent flying backward under the force of Thunder. But Ash knew a single Thunder wasn't enough to end the battle, so he immediately pressed the advantage.

"Charge in with Thunderbolt!"

Though Thunderbolt was a long-range attack, for some reason, Ash had Pikachu pursue Electrike's trajectory. Was it to maximize damage by using Thunderbolt at close range?

"…Light Screen!"

After a brief hesitation, Paul decided to have Electrike use Light Screen. Originally, Light Screen was meant to be Electrike's trump card, a move to catch opponents off guard. But under the immense pressure of battling Ash, Paul opted to use it now as a stopgap. After all, if Electrike couldn't survive this round, there'd be no next one.

This kind of forced decision was the situation Paul loathed most in battles. Making such a choice meant he was backed into a corner—exactly what Ash wanted to see.

As the distance between Pikachu and Electrike closed, and Pikachu's Thunderbolt was mostly absorbed by Light Screen, Ash finally spoke again:

"Quick Attack, then Iron Tail!"

"?! Brick Break!"

"Pi~ka!"

"EL?"

In a battle, the side on the defensive often lagged a step behind. That was the case now.

Though Paul barely reacted in time to Ash's command and issued his own, Electrike, stuck in a passive state, couldn't follow through. Light Screen had been raised in a panic, and Electrike hadn't even stabilized its stance yet.

The moment Pikachu closed in with Quick Attack and swung Iron Tail, Electrike instinctively raised its right arm to block. But with Quick Attack's momentum, Iron Tail's power was amplified. The strike landed on Electrike's raised arm, effortlessly knocking it aside before slamming into its head.

"EL!"

Iron Tail, boosted by Quick Attack, left Electrike defenseless. With a cry of pain, it collapsed straight to the ground, unable to rise again.

"…"

Paul stared silently at the fallen Electrike for a moment before closing his eyes and recalling it.

"Still not quite enough, huh."

Paul murmured to the Poké Ball in his hand, showing no trace of regret over the loss.

"Great job, Pikachu."

Ash approached Pikachu, crouching down to pat its head in encouragement.

Watching Ash and Pikachu's interaction, Paul didn't mock them as he had before, but his tone was hardly warmer.

"I'll admit, your commanding skills are impressive. But the key to this battle was the quality of the Pokémon. Compared to Electrike, your Pikachu reacts much faster to commands. That's a gap in experience. Next time, I'll be the one to win."

Paul's calm tone seemed to state a fact, but to Dawn, it was just stubborn denial. Still, since Ash had won, and Ash himself merely shrugged at Paul's words, Dawn held her tongue. She stood behind Ash, beaming smugly as if she were the victor.

The battle concluded. As Professor Rowan and the others approached, Paul left without so much as a goodbye, his thoughts unreadable.

"It's over? Looks like you won, then."

Professor Rowan, glancing at the silent Paul's departure and Dawn's delighted expression, pieced together the outcome.

"Paul may be cold, but there's no denying his talent in Pokémon battles. Since both of you are entering this year's Pokémon League, you'll likely make formidable rivals."

No way, their personalities are totally incompatible!

Dawn thought to herself, not daring to voice it in front of Professor Rowan. Though Rowan noticed her odd expression, he didn't press her. He was well aware his demeanor didn't always mesh with youngsters, and it wasn't the first time.

"Well, it's getting late. Stay the night here as thanks for your help today. I'll have the cook prepare a proper feast for you tonight."

"Really?!"

"Awesome!"

"I can't wait…"

The prospect of a big dinner instantly lifted Ash and the others' spirits.

Especially Dawn, who seemed to have forgotten her earlier irritation with Paul. Her mind was now solely focused on what delicious dishes Professor Rowan would have prepared for them tonight.

"Alright, let's go."

With that, Professor Rowan turned and headed back into the lab. Ash and the others exchanged glances and followed.

As night fell, Ash and Dawn's first day of traveling in the Sinnoh region came to a perfect close.