The ruined gym bore silent witness to Lt. Surge's despair.
You're still fighting after all this?!
Why must wage slaves tornt each other!
"Too sneaky, that squinty-eyed..." Surge ground his teeth.
"Pikachu." Ash's eyes burned with determination.
"We'll reach that level soday too!"
"Pikachu~!"
Jasmine smiled softly at the colossal Steelix dominating the battlefield.
"Victory matters less than mutual recognition of conviction."
Brock defending his gym's honor. Natsu-sensei chasing championship dreams...
This year's Indigo Plateau Conference will be spectacular.
CRASH!!
The arena trembled violently.
Steelix's massive fra disappeared underground.
"Steelix, Dig!"
"Steelix—!!"
The subterranean behemoth erupted upward, jaws clamping where Gengar stood monts ago—
"Gengar, Psychic!"
"Gengar~" Blue energy enveloped the ghost as shadow clones multiplied, each charging Shadow Balls.
The devastated battlefield offered no footing—Steelix's Dig had turned it into rubble.
Yet the steel serpent twisted midair, its Iron Tail sweeping through clones—
WHAM!
Dozens of copies vanished instantly!
Steelix landed with earthshaking force—
Only to find Gengar floating mockingly before it.
"Missed...or?" Brock narrowed his eyes.
Could Gengar's speed completely negate Steelix's attacks?
"Gengar, Shadow Ball!"
"Gengar!" The ghost grinned as dark spheres bombarded Steelix from all sides.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"No room to dodge..." Maylene gulped.
"Gengar's legendary speed," Jasmine noted.
Lt. Surge smirked. "The real show's just starting!"
The smoke on the battlefield cleared. Steelix panted heavily, its crimson eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit.
"Steelix—!!" With its roar, a violent sandstorm erupted, the grains crackling against the ruined terrain.
Lt. Surge pulled out a Strategy Goggles from sowhere and put them on.
Jasmine had Ampharos deploy a Light Screen, shielding herself and Maylene.
As for Ash… Ash stood wide-eyed, barely affected.
"Mr. Lt. Surge! What—what is that?!" Ash pointed at the rainbow-like glow within the sandstorm.
Lt. Surge's lips twitched. He averted his gaze and crossed his arms.
"That… is the bond between a Trainer and their Pokémon."
A smirk tugged at Lt. Surge's lips. "When their hearts beco one, they amplify their power—ga Evolution!"
In the heart of the sandstorm, Brock stood firm, his voice steady.
"This is my full strength!"
Whoosh!
Brock tore off his shirt, revealing his bronze muscles. The Key Stone hanging from his neck shimred with crystalline brilliance.
"Go, Steelix!" Brock crossed his arms, his voice resolute. "ga Evolution!!"
A dazzling rainbow light engulfed Steelix.
In an instant, sharp crystalline formations spun around ga Steelix, magnetically suspended.
"Steelix—!!" The ground trembled as Steelix's body grew even more massive, jagged spikes forming along its jaw.
"Steelix, Stone Edge!"
From within the sandstorm, the crystals on ga Steelix's body shot toward the ground. Razor-sharp pillars of rock erupted, threatening to tear Gengar apart!
"So this… is Gym Leader Brock's conviction?" Ash murmured.
"ga Evolution won't last long."
Lt. Surge frowned slightly. "But… with Gengar's frail body, it'll go down even sooner!"
Amid the raging sandstorm, the Sand Force ability boosted ga Steelix's Special Defense.
Even in a battle of attrition, it had the advantage.
And for Natsu-sensei, Gengar's Cursed Body hadn't activated even once so far…
"Substitute!" Natsu's gaze sharpened. "Skill Swap!"
The sharp stone pillars erupted—Substitute burst like a balloon with a "Pfft!"
Gengar's eyes glowed blue. Inner Focus locked onto the massive Steelix.
In an instant, Steelix let out a furious roar.
anwhile, Gengar's Speed in the sandstorm increased further, its shadow clones once again surrounding the battlefield!
"Damn it…" Brock gritted his teeth.
With Sand Force now stolen, the sandstorm had beco Gengar's advantage!
"Dig underground!" Brock commanded.
ga Steelix, now deprived of its Special Defense boost, burrowed into the ground—but Gengar was faster.
"Gengar~!" A sinister Will-O-Wisp clung to ga Steelix's body, its flas gnawing relentlessly.
Even as Steelix vanished underground, its pained growls echoed. Despite its crystalline tal body, the burn was unbearable!
"Burn status… on top of ga Evolution's strain."
Jasmine whispered, "Steelix can't stay underground for long now…"
"Gengar!" Gengar hovered near the tunnel entrance, grinning cheerfully—a Shadow Ball, dark as ink, swirling in its hands.
Like a ga of whack-a-mole.
"Steelix—!!"
The mont ga Steelix burst from the ground, Gengar leaped.
The Shadow Ball in its hands resembled a miniature black hole, its swirling force slamming straight into Steelix's forehead!
BOOM!!
The dust settled.
Vermilion Gym was in ruins.
Lt. Surge sighed deeply, arms crossed.
Why did I ever agree to lend them my arena?!
Kabutops, brought out with only a sliver of health left, was instantly knocked out by a pitch-black Sludge Bomb from Gengar.
"Gengar!" Gengar placed its hands on its hips, nodding in satisfaction.
With this, the Kanto Gym Badges were complete!
One step closer to winning the League Tournant Championship~!
Brock, still shirtless, stood silently before finally smiling.
He could feel Steelix's emotions and resolve.
Win or lose, staying unyielding as stone—that was the essence of a Rock-type expert.
"Even without ga Evolution… to have such a deep bond with Natsu-sensei…"
Jasmine stared blankly at Gengar, who was happily licking Natsu.
It was hard to imagine just how strong they'd beco with ga Evolution…
"You got , Natsu-sensei~"
Brock shook Natsu's hand, chuckling wryly.
"Good match." Natsu let out a relieved sigh.
Facing a monster like ga Steelix, even Natsu-sensei had to give it his all.
Kanto's new Trainers have it rough…
Between the Champion guarding Viridian Gym and Pewter Gym's ga Evolution right off the bat…
This region is brutal!
"That was SO cool, Natsu-sensei! Mr. Brock!" Ash ca running over, shouting excitedly.
Lt. Surge followed, lips trembling.
Natsu tilted his head. "Stomachache?"
Lt. Surge opened his mouth—then sighed deeply.
I have a feeling you two planned this!
"Oh, Natsu-sensei."
Brock picked up his discarded shirt and pulled out a small, intricately designed Badge from his pocket.
"Pewter Gym's Badge."
He smiled. "Consider it a nto of our battle!"
A token of manly friendship or sothing like that.
Since the System Quest still needed the Orange Badge, there was no risk of completing it prematurely.
Natsu nodded and accepted it graciously.
"Thanks~~"
The mont the octagonal gray Badge touched his palm—
The System's familiar ding echoed.
[Ding! Quest Updated!]
[Badges Collected: (7/8)]
Natsu smirked.
With only a week left before the tournant, there's no way you can pull a last-minute twist now, right?
"Oh, right."
Ash stared at the Boulder Badge, then suddenly rembered Lt. Surge's instructions. He smacked his forehead.
"Natsu-sensei! I've got sothing for you too!"
He reached into his blue jacket pocket, then held out a clenched fist toward Natsu.
Natsu blinked, extending his palm.
"What is it—?"
At that mont, the System chid again.
[Ding! Mission Complete!]
[Badges Collected: (8/8)]
[Mission reward has been sent to your Bag]
[Good luck at the League Tournant~]
Natsu: ???
--------------------------------------
Enjoying the story? Get early access to 460 Advanced Chapters!
👉 Support now: patreon/PokemonStoryWeaver
--------------------------------------
User Comments
0 comments from readers