The fists of Raichu and Fire Dinosaur collided. At that moment, it felt as if the entire air held its breath for a second or two.
Suddenly, strong winds and violent sounds erupted from the impact, the two powerful energies crashing and pushing against each other with tremendous force.
Both Raichu and Fire Dinosaur fought with all their might, neither willing to back down. No rat or dragon would yield at this critical clash.
Neither Ma Zhishi nor Kiyomi Tsugumi, buffeted by the fierce wind, could fully focus on the battle. Yet, no strategy mattered now—this was a pure test of endurance, a brutal contest to see who would outlast the other.
Huh? Ma Zhishi suddenly noticed something and exclaimed in surprise. The fierce wind wasn't just stirring dust; it was carrying with it some of the light blue flames wrapped around Fire Dinosaur's fists.
This meant that at the very point where Fire Dinosaur and Raichu collided, the violent winds were also mixed with searing flames.
The blue flames heated the air, and sparks occasionally flew out, hitting both Pokémon. Seeing this, Kiyomi wasn't worried—in fact, he felt a thrill. While the sparks could burn Fire Dinosaur, as a fire-type Pokémon it was far more resistant than Raichu. The flames would hurt both, but the advantage clearly favored Fire Dinosaur.
Raichu's stamina began to wane first. The pounding winds, the blazing flames, and flying sparks took their toll, scorching holes into its smooth fur.
Finally, a stray spark struck Raichu squarely, and it stumbled back a small step, wincing in pain. But that half-step retreat was a mistake.
Seizing the moment, Fire Dinosaur unleashed the last reserves of its strength.
With a fierce roar, Fire Dinosaur delivered a powerful strike into the opening Raichu left exposed.
Though its Burning Steel Fist wasn't as mighty as when it was first unleashed—most power having been drained battling Raichu's Million-Ton Punch—the remaining force was still too much for Raichu to handle.
The fist cut through the air with a sharp whistle. With a loud bang, Raichu bent at an angle from the blow, then tumbled three or four meters across the ground, rolling several times before coming to a halt.
After the battle, Ma Zhishi recalled Raichu and approached Kiyomi Tsugumi with a respectful smile.
"Kiyomi Tsugumi, that was a great fight. You've earned my respect today. This Orange Badge is yours."
Kiyomi accepted the badge shyly. He already had three others—it had been no easy journey. Step by step, victory and defeat alike, he relied on lessons learned from watching the anime "Pi Shen" when he first cared for Xiaogang.
Now, having faced Ma Zhishi's Raichu head-on, he felt the thrill of growing stronger, but he knew it wasn't enough yet. Fire Dinosaur still had room to grow—and neither could he afford to relax. There was a vast world ahead waiting to be conquered.
A few days after defeating the Vermilion Gym, what was Kiyomi doing? He was mopping floors at the gym. Yes, he had started working there.
After buying food and medicine for Fire Dinosaur and himself, Kiyomi found his funds nearly depleted. With no other choice, he shamelessly asked Ma Zhishi if the gym needed help.
Ma Zhishi nodded cheerfully, and Kiyomi began working for a month—cleaning the gym, organizing battles after matches, and maintaining the facility.
Though tired, Kiyomi wasn't discouraged. More importantly, it gave him a sense of accomplishment. Instead of begging his parents for money like a spoiled kid, he earned his travel expenses through his own effort.
During this month, Kiyomi often called his parents to reassure them he was safe—but mostly, his mind was on the future.
Fire Dinosaur was training under Raichu's watchful eye to learn the Million-Ton Punch, a move that would prove crucial in upcoming battles. After mastering it, Fire Dinosaur would face Raichu again.
Studying the battle manuals gave Kiyomi a headache. Sometimes, he wanted to tear the books apart, but he knew he had to keep going. How could he become stronger without paying the price?
So he forced himself to focus.
Reading was always good—improving skills and picking up tips were essential. Energy control, though, was complex.
When he first conceived the Burning Steel Fist, Fire Dinosaur had to try it out in bits and pieces. The energy fusion didn't work; neither did alternating the energies. Finally, Kiyomi found the balance.
First, use rigid energy as a base, then layer fire energy on top, carefully maintaining perfect balance. Too much or too little, and the energy spiraled out of control. But now he had it.
However, a new problem had arisen: how to handle the Million-Ton Punch?
Kiyomi wasn't satisfied with just using it as-is. He wanted the strongest, most explosive impact possible. Should he combine the Flame Fist with the Million-Ton Punch? Or should he pair it with the Alloy Claw?
These weren't small questions.
The Burning Steel Fist had one downside: after each use, it required a cooldown period. That made it a burst technique, not something for constant use. Kiyomi suspected his approach might still be flawed—but a breakthrough was coming.
After more than ten days at the gym in Vermilion City, early one morning Fire Dinosaur finally landed the Million-Ton Punch perfectly. Kiyomi was happy—but also a little troubled.
He kept pushing himself harder than ever, buried deep in study and practice.
That morning, as Kiyomi finished his chores and Ma Zhishi went about his duties as gym leader, an unexpected challenger arrived.