Chapter 24: Battle at the Dojo

Chapter 24: The Gym Battle

Lanny carefully sifted through the list of Pokémon. First, he eliminated the rarer, more precious species; after all, borrowing Pokémon from the organization was already a risky move for him at this stage. If he were to borrow a particularly valuable one, and the League later launched an investigation, it would be difficult to explain himself.

Next, he filtered for Electric-type Pokémon with outstanding natural abilities, since this wasn’t a life-or-death struggle—no need to overthink things. This was simply a beginner’s gym challenge; with his wealth of experience, he could easily pass as long as he made wise choices regarding type advantages.

After multiple rounds of selection, Lanny narrowed it down to two options: Luxio and Mareep. Both possessed excellent Electric-type potential; the former was higher-leveled and more agile, while the latter, according to reviews, excelled at reading the flow of battle and adapting on the spot.

Of course, the ideal choice was to take both, and with his account’s points, Lanny could easily afford it. But that would significantly increase the risk of exposing his identity.

“If I have to choose…” Lanny’s gaze grew resolute as he pressed the “Borrow” button on his phone with determination.

—

At the heart of Cerulean City stood a grand, dazzling structure. White, minimalist concrete walls radiated an air of understated elegance, while the roof was composed of two enormous glass prisms that reflected the harsh summer sunlight in brilliant flashes. A moat-like, crystal-clear stream encircled the building, lined with lush greenery.

Inside the gym was a vast arena. At its center lay a huge circular pool, dotted with islands of solid brown rock.

“The rules for this match are three-on-three rotation, with no items permitted!” A clear, melodious female voice echoed across the empty hall.

A striking figure stood on one side of the arena. Her eyes, clear and gentle as water, sparkled beneath long, trembling lashes. Her flawless skin held a faint blush, as if it would yield at the slightest touch. Her orange hair was messily braided into a side ponytail, lips curled in a playful smile—she was the very embodiment of a lively sprite.

This was Misty, the leader of Cerulean Gym.

At that moment, hands on her slender waist, long legs poised, she raised her voice to explain the rules to Lanny standing across the field.

Lanny nodded from a distance, signaling his understanding.

“Alright, then I’ll make the first move!” came Misty’s spirited voice. She pulled a special blue-and-black Poké Ball from the pouch at her denim shorts and flung it high into the arena.

With a splash, a plump white figure landed in the pool, swimming nimbly.

“A Goldeen…” Lanny murmured inwardly.

He had already sketched out a rough strategy for the gym battle. He would send out the Mareep he’d borrowed from the organization first, aiming to capitalize on the type advantage to take down one—maybe even two—of Misty’s Pokémon.

Next, he planned to let his team’s strongest, Cyndaquil, fight against disadvantageous types by virtue of its higher level. The final Pokémon would be chosen as the situation demanded.

His fighting spirit rose; Lanny threw Mareep’s Poké Ball forcefully into the arena.

—

With a thud, Lu Yun felt a wave of dizziness as he landed on a rocky islet in the pool. He glanced around at his new environment and saw the Goldeen in the water nearby, eyeing him warily. Lu Yun quickly pieced together the situation: he must have been rented out for a battle.

“Shouldn’t they have released me before the match, to bond with the trainer and get a feel for things?” he thought. “Are all the people in ‘Darkstar’ this direct?”

He couldn’t help but grumble silently, but as the match was about to begin, Lu Yun’s focus sharpened. After all, this was his first field mission; he needed to perform well to earn more resources from the organization.

On the sidelines, Misty’s eyes lit up as she observed Lu Yun in the arena.

“A pink sheen to the skin, visible electric currents in the wool, a bright, shining orb at the tail…” she thought. “This Mareep has been well raised!”

Her interest in the upcoming battle grew.

“Goldeen, use Water Gun!” Misty called crisply, choosing to attack first.

Watery energy swelled in Goldeen’s mouth, condensing into a dense orb.

With a whoosh, a powerful jet of water shot straight toward Lu Yun.

“Dodge it!” Lanny shouted anxiously from the sidelines.

As the water surged toward him, Lu Yun was struck by a sudden clarity.

“It doesn’t seem all that strong,” he realized.

Lanny, watching Mareep standing dazed in the arena, grew increasingly anxious.

“Is this Mareep a simpleton? All Pokémon from the headquarters’ storage should have been strictly vetted! This could be bad…”

But just then, the situation shifted.

Suddenly, brilliant yellow currents erupted from Mareep’s body, the dazzling light nearly illuminating the entire gym.

“What on earth…” Misty raised a hand to shield her eyes, startled.

“Thunder Shock!” Lanny commanded.

In an instant, the wild electricity swirling around Lu Yun transformed into a vicious bolt, crashing down on the oncoming Water Gun.

With a resounding boom, accompanied by a blinding flash, the ferocious lightning tore through the jet of water, scattering it into a rain of droplets.

The powerful electric current surged ahead of the water, striking Goldeen and leaving its body paralyzed. The aggressive Electric energy continued to wreak havoc within Goldeen, heat searing through its form.

As the commotion faded, calm returned to the arena.

Lu Yun panted lightly, gazing at the blackened Goldeen floating on the surface, satisfied with the power he’d gained from his special training.

“Goldeen is unable to battle! Mareep wins!” the referee announced.

Lanny clicked his tongue in amazement, shock written all over his face.

“Such potent electricity—from a mere rotational Mareep?” he thought. “No wonder it’s an organization-issued rental.”

Misty’s expression grew even more serious as she recalled her fainted Goldeen.

“That Mareep is no ordinary opponent,” she thought. “Just one Thunder Shock… my Goldeen was finished…”

She picked up another Poké Ball, mind racing with strategies for the next round.