Pokemon: The Master Of Monsters

"Primeape!" Gary's Pokémon roared, its bloodshot eyes filled with anger as it powered up for a Mega Kick.

Bang!!!

"Pikachu...!" Ash watched in horror as Pikachu was sent flying backwards by the powerful kick. Pikachu collided with a rock at the edge of the battlefield, the rock shattering upon impact, and Pikachu's body became lodged in the debris. His eyes were dazed, and his body lay motionless.

"Pikachu!" Ash cried out in distress as he rushed to his Pokémon's side. He gently scooped Pikachu up into his arms.

"Pikachu…!" Pikachu slowly opened his eyes, weak and barely able to move. It was clear that he could no longer continue fighting.

Misty, seeing Ash's worry, immediately stepped in. "Let me help," she said. She took Pikachu from Ash's arms and carefully checked for injuries. "He's just exhausted and drained of energy. It's nothing serious, though. A quick Super Potion should do the trick."

Ash nodded gratefully, though his face was filled with determination. "Gary, I'm not giving up! Let's keep going!"

Gary raised an eyebrow at Ash's resolve. "Are you sure? I've already taken down your strongest Pokémon. Pikachu's defeated, and Pidgeotto is poisoned. What other Pokémon do you have left? I suggest you surrender now, before your Pokémon end up in more danger."

"I won't give up," Ash said firmly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out another Poké Ball. "Charmander, it's your turn."

Ash threw the Poké Ball into the air, and a red fire lizard emerged onto the battlefield—his Charmander.

Gary couldn't help but notice Charmander's potential. "This Charmander has the makings of a future champion," he mused, envious. Ash truly had a knack for finding Pokémon with great potential. Even the ones discarded or left behind always seemed to have hidden strength.

"Come back, Primeape," Gary ordered. He didn't want to risk Primeape getting injured further. His next Pokémon had to be the one to finish the battle.

Misty, standing by, was filled with concern. She could tell that Gary was giving Ash a chance by swapping out his Pokémon. She hoped Ash wouldn't be too rash in his decisions. She could see that Ash was nervous about Gary's next move.

Gary didn't rush to send out his new Pokémon. Instead, he looked over at Ash with a knowing smile. "Ash, do you remember when we first set out from Pallet Town? You were so curious about my Earl Dervish Pokémon."

Ash nodded eagerly. "Yeah, I've always wanted to know what you picked! What Pokémon did you choose?"

Gary grinned. "My Earl Dervish Pokémon is my strongest. Let me show you the gap between us, and don't be too shocked by the difference." With a flourish, Gary threw his Poké Ball into the air.

"Kammy!" The large, imposing figure of Blastoise appeared before them.

"Blastoise?!" Misty gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. Being a Water-type enthusiast, she knew exactly how powerful Blastoise was. She hadn't expected Gary to have evolved his Earl Dervish Pokémon all the way to its final form.

"It's... Blastoise," Ash said in awe, his fingers quickly reaching for his Pokédex to scan the powerful Water-type.

The Pokédex buzzed as it began to report the data on Blastoise.

"Blastoise, the Shell Pokémon, is the final evolution of Wartortle. Despite its large size, Blastoise has immense strength and an incredibly high defense due to its tough shell. The Hydro Pump mounted on its back can unleash devastating attacks."

Ash took a deep breath, already formulating a plan. "Charmander, be careful! The opponent's Water-type attacks can really hurt you."

"Yeah!" Charmander nodded with determination, his small but fiery eyes locked on Blastoise.

Gary raised an eyebrow at Ash's words but didn't comment. "I'll let you attack first," he said coolly, waiting to see what Ash would do next.

Ash clenched his fists. "Charmander, use Flamethrower!"

Charmander's tail flame grew brighter, flaring up as it opened its mouth, launching a stream of fire towards Blastoise.

Gary, unfazed, sighed inwardly. Ash was too eager to fight head-on without considering his Pokémon's weaknesses. "Hydro Pump!" he ordered confidently.

Blastoise's massive shell shifted, and the twin Hydro Pumps on its back powered up. The Water-type unleashed two powerful torrents of water in response to Charmander's flames.

Zip! Zip!

The collision of fire and water created a burst of steam, but the Hydro Pumps easily overpowered the Flamethrower, extinguishing the fire before it even reached Blastoise. The twin jets of water hit Charmander squarely, knocking him back.

Charmander tumbled across the ground, the flame on his tail flickering and weakening as he struggled to regain his footing.

"Yes!" Gary exclaimed. He knew this was an easy win. Charmander, though strong, was still too underpowered compared to Blastoise.

"Charmander...!" Ash's heart sank as he saw his Pokémon falter. He had hoped for a surprise victory, but the gap in strength was far too wide. His Charmander, despite having the potential to evolve into a champion, was no match for Gary's fully evolved Blastoise.

Ash's expression turned grim. "You're right, Gary. I didn't expect this kind of power from you." He stood there silently for a moment, realizing how much further he still had to go on his journey to become a true Pokémon Master.

[Ding! Mission completed. Rewards have been issued to the space backpack.]

After the battle, Gary, Misty, and the others took Pikachu to the hot spring town's staff for treatment. The town had advanced medical equipment, capable of treating basic injuries and even dealing with poison. Pikachu and the other Pokémon would be fine after some rest and a Super Potion.

Once Ash was sure Pikachu would recover, he walked up to Gary, his expression one of hard-earned respect. "Gary, you won this time. But I won't give up. I'll keep training, and I'll definitely win the next battle."

Gary gave Ash a satisfied smile, the competitive fire in his eyes never dimming. "Then you'll have to work harder. Right now, our battle record stands at 1-0 in my favor."

Ash scowled but replied, "1-0 is just 1-0. I'll catch up, and I'll win next time."

Gary laughed lightly. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. I'm going to eat first. You keep working on improving."

Misty, seeing the rivalry between the two friends, couldn't help but feel both proud and concerned. The bond between Ash and Gary had been forged since their childhood, and this rivalry would continue to push them both forward.

Gary was content with the outcome of the battle. He knew that with the rewards he had accumulated, he could now level up one of his Pokémon to level 50, the peak combat power of a typical gym leader. But despite the victory, he still had his eyes set on the bigger picture—becoming the ultimate champion.

The group went to enjoy a hearty dinner, a specialty of the hot spring town. It was a delicious meal, and after the battle, they all felt ready to relax. The hot spring town's natural hot springs were a perfect way to unwind after a tough day.

As everyone settled in, Sabrina walked out from the changing room, wearing a white one-piece swimsuit. Though she was known for her icy demeanor, her graceful movements and stunning figure caught everyone's attention. Even though she was modest about her appearance, Sabrina hoped Gary would notice her, her heart beating a little faster as she approached him.

Sabrina's elegance and beauty, paired with her calm and reserved nature, made her stand out in a unique way. Gary, noticing her approach, couldn't help but smile, his mind distracted by the gentle warmth of the evening and the events that had just unfolded.

The day was far from over, and with it, new challenges awaited Ash, Gary, and their friends as they continued on their respective journeys.