As more and more thunder-infused fireballs gathered, they gradually formed the shape of a peacock with its tail fully spread. The entire frozen battlefield began to collapse under the overwhelming force. Within seconds, the thick ice shattered completely, vanishing before everyone's eyes.
What shocked the spectators even more was what followed.
The water in the pool began to evaporate under the intense heat of the Thunder Peacock. At the same time, the lightning coursing through the attack spread across the water, turning the entire pool into a conductive field. Every drop carried electric current, and Lapras, still inside, was instantly caught in the devastating combination of heat and electricity.
"The attack covers too wide an area… there's nowhere to evade… damn it!" Pryce gritted his teeth, realizing he had no way to counter this technique.
"Boom!"
With Pikachu's final strike, the remaining water completely evaporated. As the mist cleared, the result became clear.
Pikachu stood there faintly glowing with residual electricity, while Lapras had already collapsed, completely unable to continue the battle.
"Lapras has lost the ability to fight. Pikachu wins. The winner of this Gym battle is Ash from Pallet Town," the referee announced.
"Pika…" Pikachu panted heavily, one paw pressed against the ground to steady itself. The strain of opening the Eight Gates was immense. Pikachu was not a taijutsu specialist, so the physical burden of such a technique was especially severe.
"Pikachu… you did great," Ash Ketchum said softly.
Pikachu leapt onto Ash's shoulder. Ash gently stroked its head while channeling a steady flow of vitality into its body, helping it recover.
"Pika~" Pikachu let out a comfortable cry, its expression relaxing. Seeing this, Ash smiled, genuine warmth in his eyes.
Pikachu held a special place in Ash's heart.
Ever since he arrived in this world, he had always felt out of place. He kept his distance from others, partly because he had no father figure, and partly because his own personality at the time was cold and withdrawn. He had no interest in mingling with other children.
But everything changed when Pikachu first appeared.
It was like a key that opened the door to his world.
From that moment on, Ash felt as if he had gained a brother. Even after meeting others later, that bond never wavered.
"You've won… this is the Glacier Badge from the Mahogany Gym. Take it."
Pryce stepped forward and handed over a snowflake-shaped badge. His expression was complicated, his eyes slightly moist, as if recalling distant memories. After handing it over, he turned and walked away without another word.
"Pryce…" the referee called out, concern evident in her voice as she watched his retreating figure.
Something about him had changed. The earlier frustration and sharpness were gone.
"It seems he still hasn't crossed that hurdle," she sighed softly before turning back. "Ash, Sabrina, let me take you both to get something to eat. It's already late, you must be hungry."
"Grandma Sima… why does Grandpa Pryce think humans and Pokémon can't truly be friends?" Sabrina asked as they walked.
Ash also listened closely, curious about the answer.
"It wasn't always like this," Sima began. "When he was young, Pryce was just like Ash. He treated Pokémon as his closest companions. Back then, he had a partner, a Piloswine."
Hearing this, both Ash and Sabrina understood that the answer lay in Pryce's past.
"When he was younger, Pryce traveled across the world as a powerful trainer. That Piloswine was his very first partner, and the bond between them was incredibly strong."
"During his journey through Johto, he learned about the League Conference there and decided to participate. After defeating all the Gym Leaders, Pryce and his Piloswine successfully earned the right to compete in the Johto League."
However, during the semifinals of the Johto League, Pryce and his partner, Piloswine, were defeated by their opponent's Magmar.
What made matters worse was what happened next.
Even after Piloswine had already lost the ability to fight, the opponent still ordered Magmar to use a powerful Fire-type move. In order to protect Piloswine, Pryce rushed forward without hesitation, shielding it with his own body.
The flames engulfed him instantly.
He suffered severe burns.
At that time, Pryce was only a strong but ordinary trainer, with no money or support. Despite his injuries, he forced himself to move, carrying Piloswine with him as they searched for medicinal herbs in the mountains.
But his burns were too serious.
Before long, his body could no longer endure it, and he collapsed.
Fortunately, fate intervened.
He was discovered by Sima, who had also gone into the mountains to gather herbs. Seeing his condition, she immediately brought him back and treated his wounds. During that time, Piloswine stayed by his side, guarding him quietly.
Everything seemed to be improving…
Until something unexpected happened.
More than ten days passed, yet Pryce still had not fully recovered. And at the moment when he was at his weakest and most vulnerable…
Piloswine left.
It disappeared without a word.
From that day on, Pryce stopped treating Pokémon as friends. He devoted himself entirely to harsh training, abandoning emotion in favor of strength. The departure of Piloswine had dealt him a devastating blow, one that shaped the man he would become.
Over time, he became known as the cold Gym Leader of winter.
"I see… no wonder Grandpa Pryce believes humans and Pokémon can't truly be friends," Sabrina said softly after hearing the story, unsure how to respond to such pain.
But Ash Ketchum shook his head firmly.
"No… I don't believe that."
His gaze was resolute.
"There's no way Piloswine would abandon him like that, not when he was so badly injured. There has to be another reason."