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BOOM!!!
The powerful Confusion attack from Psyduck reached its peak as he hurled Team Rocket straight into the air. They collided with the ceiling once again before blasting off in their classic fashion.
"That was amazing!" Aya exclaimed in surprise. She hadn't expected Misty's Psyduck to possess such incredible power.
Misty herself was equally shocked at her Pokémon's abilities. Although Psyduck was a Water-type, she had no idea it could use such powerful Psychic-type moves.
Psyduck had now returned to normal, its vacant expression back in place, though it looked somewhat exhausted as it plopped down on the ground.
Seeing this, Misty quickly ran over and knelt beside her Pokémon. Koga, the Fuchsia City Gym Leader, approached with obvious interest.
"This Psyduck truly has remarkable power," Koga said, crouching down to get a better look at the duck Pokémon. "Would you consider trading it for one of my Pokémon?"
"No way!" Misty immediately wrapped her arms protectively around Psyduck. "Psyduck is my Pokémon and I would never trade it!"
Anyone watching would think Misty and Psyduck shared a deep bond, despite their usually complicated relationship.
"Women!" Ash and Brock thought simultaneously as they witnessed the scene.
Brock shook his head and sighed dramatically. "A woman's true feelings are as difficult to find as a needle in the ocean."
"That's unfortunate," Koga replied, seeing Misty's firm refusal. Though disappointed, he respected her decision.
"Excuse me," Ash interrupted, "but can we start our gym battle now?"
"Oh?" Koga looked up, slightly embarrassed. "I almost forgot. I apologize for the intrusion in my gym. I never expected intruders to break in like that. It seems I need to reinforce my security measures!"
"It's fine," Ash replied, eager to get on with the battle. "Let's just start the match!"
Koga surveyed the damage around them—two large holes in the ceiling and debris scattered across the floor. "This place is no longer suitable for a battle. Let's move outside!"
"Sounds good!" Ash agreed readily.
The group quickly relocated to the courtyard outside the gym. The outdoor space was surrounded by grass with plenty of room for a proper battle. Moving from indoors to outdoors significantly expanded the battlefield, providing more freedom for aerial maneuvers and diverse battle strategies.
"We'll determine the winner here," Koga announced. "The rules remain the same as before. Is that acceptable?"
"Absolutely!" Ash replied with confidence.
"Then I'll begin! Go!" Without further ceremony, Koga tossed a Poké Ball into the air. With a flash of light, his chosen Pokémon materialized on the field.
"Venonat!" it cried.
"Huh? It's a Venonat!" Ash exclaimed in surprise. Aya, Koga's sister, had used a Venonat in their previous encounter. He hadn't expected Koga to use the same Pokémon.
"Ash should be experienced in dealing with Venonat by now," Misty said confidently. After all, Ash had easily defeated Aya's Venonat not long ago.
"Don't be so sure," Brock cautioned. "Koga is a Gym Leader. His Venonat must be much stronger than his sister's!"
Brock understood the significant difference in skill level. There had been rumors that Koga was far more powerful than the average Gym Leader.
"Hmm, it's almost time," Koga declared mysteriously, crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes with a slight smile.
"Huh?"
Ash frowned at Koga's cryptic words, while Misty and Brock exchanged confused glances. What did he mean by "it's time"?
Suddenly, a brilliant light erupted from Venonat, enveloping the battlefield. Misty and Brock stared in astonishment as Venonat's form began to change within the radiant glow.
The Pokémon's body lifted off the ground, a pair of wings spreading outward as the light intensified, then scattered.
"That's it!" Misty gasped. "Venonat evolved into Venomoth!"
Brock was stunned. "Can you actually predict when a Pokémon will evolve?" Even as a former Gym Leader himself, he knew how difficult it was to determine the exact moment of evolution.
"When you train with Pokémon every day," Koga explained calmly, "and truly understand their growth patterns, you can anticipate the moment of evolution. Now, Ash, let's see what you're made of!"
A rare excitement glinted in Koga's eyes. He was genuinely interested in testing Ash's abilities. While others had overlooked Psyduck's potential at first, Ash had recognized it immediately.
In Koga's view, the young trainer before him had extraordinary insight, and that made Koga eager for their battle.
"Come on, Ash! Show me your true strength!"
"I choose you, Pidgeotto!" Ash released his Flying-type Pokémon.
Venomoth was a dual Poison/Bug-type, giving Pidgeotto a type advantage. Still, Ash remained cautious. Despite its typing, Venomoth could use Psychic-type moves and had various fighting styles that made it a formidable opponent.
"Pidgeotto, Quick Attack!" Following the rules that gave the challenger the first move, Ash immediately launched a direct assault.