"Pikachu, wake up." Lin Hao sighed.
In the middle of the arena, Pikachu rubbed its eyes. "Pika?" It slowly climbed to its feet and let out a huge yawn, utterly ignoring the Raichu opposite it that loomed like a small mountain.
At the sight, Lt. Surge burst into another round of arrogant laughter. "Hahahaha! Kid, are you kidding me?"
"What's wrong?" Lin Hao asked.
"You're telling it to wake up?" Lt. Surge pointed at Pikachu, laughing so hard he nearly cried. "It's on the battlefield and still dozing off? I could stomp ten pieces of Pokémon trash like that to death with one foot!"
The two Gym apprentices on the sidelines laughed along. "Boss, this kid isn't here to challenge you. He's here to put on a comedy show!"
"That Pikachu would probably be scared out of its wits just hearing Raichu roar!"
May stood on the sidelines with both hands over her face. "It's over. It's over," she murmured despairingly. "The size difference is too big. No matter how absurdly much electricity this Pikachu has, its body can't take a single slap from Raichu."
Raichu weighed a full thirty kilograms, while Pikachu weighed six at most. It was an overwhelming mismatch in weight classes.
"Raichu!" Lt. Surge stopped laughing, his gaze turning vicious. "Wake this worthless little rat up. It clearly doesn't know its place."
"Rai!" Raichu threw back its head and roared furiously. The electric sacs in its cheeks instantly erupted with dazzling golden currents!
The thick current became a lightning serpent, hurtling toward Pikachu on the ground with an explosive crack that tore through the air!
"Pikachu, dodge!" May shouted anxiously.
With both hands in his pockets, Lin Hao didn't even raise an eyelid. "No need."
Boom! The golden lightning serpent struck Pikachu, lighting up the entire battlefield.
Lt. Surge raised his chin smugly. "Hmph, that's what happens to trash. Fried straight to a crisp, huh!"
Yet when the lightning faded, Pikachu was still standing in the same spot. Not only had it not been charred, it even raised a stubby little hand and leisurely scratched its right ear.
It was as though that Thunderbolt had merely given it a gentle electrical massage. "Pika~" Pikachu let out a contented cry.
"What?!" Lt. Surge's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Not a scratch?!"
The two apprentices' jaws hit the floor. "Boss... Raichu's Thunderbolt can blast through steel!"
May was dumbstruck too. "How is that possible? It didn't even dodge!"
"What's all the fuss about?" Lin Hao rolled his eyes. "Electric-type attacks aren't very effective against Electric types. That's common knowledge, you know?"
"Bullshit!" Lt. Surge snapped in fury. "Even if it's not very effective, that was Raichu's full-power attack! An ordinary Pikachu would've been knocked out by now!"
"Maybe your Raichu hasn't had enough to eat," Lin Hao replied dismissively. "The voltage is too low."
Inside the System Space, Groudon let out a mocking roar. "Roar, roar! (That's hilarious! They call that Thunderbolt? It wouldn't even be strong enough to scrub my back!)"
Ho-Oh looked utterly scornful. "Kree! (Mortal electricity can't even hurt Master's utterly scornful one. How pathetic.)"
Mewtwo snorted coldly. "(Master maxed out both its defensive stats. Even Kyogre's Hydro Pump would only knock a hair off it. A mere Raichu thinks it can break through those defenses?)"
"All of you, shut up," Lin Hao cursed inwardly. "Keep making noise and I'll dock your premium Pokéblocks." The space instantly fell silent.
Back in the real world, Lt. Surge was utterly enraged. "Fine! Very well!" He gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. "If Electric-type moves won't work, we'll crush it with sheer strength!"
Lt. Surge swept out a hand. "Raichu! Use Body Slam! Flatten it into a meat patty!"
"Rai!" Raichu kicked off with such ferocity that it shattered the metal plating beneath its feet. Its massive body shot into the air like a cannonball, then came crashing down toward Pikachu with terrifying momentum!
"Lin Hao! Tell it to dodge!" May shrieked. "Thirty kilograms coming down on it will kill that mouse!"
"Let it land." Lin Hao yawned.
"You're crazy!"
Boom! With an incredibly heavy crash, Raichu slammed down onto the spot where Pikachu had been standing.
The entire Gym floor shook violently, and dust billowed everywhere. Lt. Surge burst out laughing. "Hahahaha! You arrogant brat! Let's see if your mouse survives this!" The two apprentices cheered along.
However, as the dust gradually cleared, Lt. Surge's laughter abruptly stopped. His eyes fixed on the middle of the arena, and his facial muscles twitched violently.
In the middle of the arena, Raichu's massive body hadn't landed on the ground at all. It was being held up in midair!
Pikachu had extended its short little right arm and was casually supporting Raichu's belly with just one hand!
In the hands of the six-kilogram Pikachu, the thirty-kilogram Raichu was like a weightless balloon!
"Pika?" Pikachu looked up at Raichu overhead, seemingly finding it a little heavy, and frowned in displeasure.
"What... what the fuck kind of freakish strength is that?!" Lt. Surge cried out involuntarily.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" The two apprentices collapsed onto the floor.
May clutched her hair with both hands, feeling as though her understanding of physics was being pinned to the ground and mercilessly trampled all over again. "Lin Hao! What did you feed your Pikachu growing up?!"
"Cheap, low-quality Pokéblocks from Pinduoduo," Lin Hao said without batting an eye.
"Who the hell would believe that?! Lifting a thirty-kilogram Raichu with one hand! That's a fucking Machamp!"
In the middle of the arena, Raichu flailed all four limbs wildly as it hung in midair, letting out terrified cries. "Rai! Raichu!"
"Stop playing around. Toss it back," Lin Hao ordered casually.
"Pika!" Pikachu flexed its little hand.
Whoosh! The enormous Raichu was hurled away like a shot put!
Bang! Raichu slammed into the wall beside Lt. Surge's feet, leaving an enormous dent.
The entire Gym shook violently once more. Lt. Surge swallowed, cold sweat instantly soaking his undershirt.
"You... what kind of monster are you?" Lt. Surge pointed at Lin Hao, his voice trembling.
"I told you, I'm just an ordinary person." Lin Hao rubbed his temples.
"Raichu! Get up!" Lt. Surge roared frantically. "Use your strongest move! Blast it to death! Use Thunder at maximum power!!!"
Before you continue