Just as Dawn was basking in the joy of receiving Piplup and her new identity as a rookie Trainer, the previously closed laboratory door was suddenly pushed open, accompanied by a voice that wasn't unfamiliar to Ash and the others.
"Professor Rowan, I've arrived as scheduled."
"?!"
Ash and the others turned around to see none other than Paul standing at the doorway, the same Paul they'd crossed paths with before. Paul, too, was visibly surprised to find Ash and his group inside the lab.
"It's you guys."
Paul's tone carried little emotion, as if he were merely stating a fact. But compared to Paul's indifference, Dawn was far less composed.
"I can't believe we're seeing you again! Didn't you say you had urgent business before? Why are you only strolling in now?"
Their philosophies clashed, and Paul's demeanor was anything but likable. In Dawn's mind, he'd already left a terrible impression, so naturally, her tone toward him was hardly polite.
"Pointless question." Paul snorted dismissively. "I'm a Pokémon Trainer. My urgent business was obviously to capture Pokémon with potential. And I arrived at the lab as agreed with Professor Rowan, so what's the problem? Weaklings."
"You…"
Though Dawn had picked the fight, when it came to riling people up, she couldn't hold a candle to Paul, even if she were ten years older. Recognizing this, Ash stepped in to stop her, signaling to let it go.
"Pip~!"
Seeing Dawn's sulky expression, Piplup, as her Pokémon, naturally felt uneasy. If Dawn didn't seem opposed to battling right now, Piplup would've marched up to Paul and challenged him on the spot.
"Well done."
Professor Rowan seemed oblivious to the tension—or rather, completely uninterested. He simply took a document from Paul's hands and turned to organize it, leaving Ash and the others in an awkward, silent standoff.
"By the way…" After Dawn's defeat in the verbal spar, Paul shifted his attention to Ash, saying, "I've got time now, and you don't seem too busy. How about a battle with your Pikachu against this one?"
As he spoke, Paul casually tossed out Electrike's Poké Ball. The Electrike that appeared was visibly excited upon seeing Ash and Pikachu, spinning its arms as sparks crackled above its head.
"Of course, no problem. As a Pokémon Trainer, you can't say no to a challenge, right?"
Ash and Pikachu exchanged a glance, their eyes brimming with battle-ready determination.
For Ash, whether it was to make up for the regret of their first battle ending in a draw or simply because he was irked by Paul's current training philosophy, he'd accept the challenge without hesitation.
"One-on-one. Let's take it to the outdoor battlefield."
With that, Paul led the way with practiced ease, as if the lab were his home turf.
Paul's casual behavior only fueled Dawn's anger further. She patted Ash's shoulder and said with deliberate emphasis, "You can lose to anyone else, but you cannot lose to him! Losing to him would mean our beliefs are easily dismissed and crushed by him, wouldn't it?"
"Don't worry, I won't lose."
Ash waved back at Dawn without turning, exuding confidence. But Dawn couldn't shake a sense of unease.
Sure, Paul was infuriating, but in novels and comics, people like him were always overpowering in the early and mid-stages, seemingly invincible. Only at the grand finale would someone like him be taken down by the protagonists.
If the usual pattern held, Ash winning wouldn't be easy.
When Dawn glanced at Brock, she read only one message in his eyes—
Trust Ash.
…
Following Paul to the battle arena behind the lab, they found Paul already prepared on one side. It was clear he took this match seriously too.
"I'll be the referee, then," Brock volunteered.
"No need," Paul said coldly. "No referee required. One-on-one Pokémon battle. It ends when one side can no longer fight."
"Fine."
Ash agreed, taking his place opposite Paul. This was an open battle with no hidden strategies, so both Paul and Ash exchanged a glance with their Pokémon. Electrike and Pikachu eagerly stepped onto their respective sides, ready to fight.
"First move?"
"You go first."
Paul—or rather, Electrike's skill set—meant he didn't care much about who attacked first. Ash didn't dwell on it, nodding simply before declaring the battle's start.
"Quick Attack!"
Ash aimed to seize the initiative right from the start.
At his command, Pikachu's form vanished from the field in an instant. When it reappeared a second later, it was already right in front of Electrike.
"Brick Break!"
Paul's brow furrowed slightly, as if Pikachu's move wasn't what he'd anticipated.
"EL!"
Electrike reacted swiftly. At Paul's command, it swung its right arm down. Quick Attack clashed head-on with Brick Break, sending both Pokémon stumbling back a few steps.
"Pikachu's got the edge."
Brock, observing the distance each retreated, judged that Pikachu's strength surpassed Electrike's. Paul noticed this too, his already serious expression growing even graver.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Thunder!"
In the second round, Paul aimed to reclaim the advantage he'd lost in the first. He quickly ordered Electrike to take the offensive.
Facing the incoming Thunderbolt, Ash didn't opt for a direct clash this time. Instead, he called for Thunder.
"Pika~!"
Pikachu's body was instantly enveloped in electric light, charging forward with unstoppable momentum, carrying a massive surge of electricity straight toward Electrike.
Electrike's Thunderbolt hit Pikachu mid-Thunder but failed to halt its advance. Instead, the Thunderbolt's energy only amplified Pikachu's Thunder, making it even more powerful.