With Miraidon at full throttle, the fatigue of leaving Levincia was quickly replaced by rushing wind and scenery whipping past.
After a bit of rest and a hard ride, the group finally reached their next city: Cascarrafa.
Unlike Levincia's tech vibe, this city was all water. The moment they crossed the city limits, a moist sea-salt breeze hit them. The layout was unique: a massive terraced fountain formed the city's core, clear water cascading down level after level into a lattice of canals running through town.
The waterways weren't wide, but big enough for small boats and Water-type Pokémon to glide along. Sunlight danced on the surface, casting ripples of light across the white buildings on both banks—everything looked vibrant and alive.
Both sides of the streets were lined with little shops: dried seafood here, fresh seafood cooked on the spot there, and places renting surfboards and fishing gear. The salty tang of the sea mingled with the aromas of food, creating a lively scent that belonged to a seaside city.
Gast clearly loved the vibe. As soon as they entered, she zipped around in excitement, hovering and peering at the Pokémon cruising lazily in the canals. A dopey Magikarp leapt and splashed; Gast swooped in, pulled a face, and scared it straight back underwater.
Iron Valiant and Miraidon followed quietly behind Jason, taking in the novel city. Jason didn't spend much time on the view. His goal was clear: the Cascarrafa Gym.
Ever since leaving Levincia, Iono's shadow kept flitting through his mind—the lounge, the teasing tug-of-war, the soft warmth—leaving him a little distracted. He needed something else to clear his head. A battle was perfect.
He could feel it: the city thrummed with strong, pure Water-type energy. Gym Leader Kofu—the famed chef—was no lightweight. Jason had heard a bit about him from Brassius. A man who fused cuisine with Pokémon battles, whose style, like his food, had layers and a lingering finish.
A foe like that would knock the clutter out of his head. Decision made: Gast would sit this one out. He would fight himself.
"Jason, are we challenging the gym now?" Gast floated back, eager. She knew the leader was Water-type and had just learned Thunderbolt from Miraidon—perfect timing.
"Mm. Now," Jason nodded.
"Great!" She pumped a fist. "I'll finish it fast and show that chef what I can do!"
Jason stopped and looked at her. "Gast, you're resting this time."
"Huh?" Her excitement stalled. "Why? Electric hits Water super well—I just learned it."
"I know," he said evenly. "But this opponent's strong. I want to stretch my own legs."
"But—"
She caught his eyes—no room for debate there, only pure will to fight. She swallowed the rest.
"…Okay." Head drooping, a bit deflated.
Jason ruffled her head and headed straight for the gym in the city center.
Cascarrafa's gym sat beside the main fountain plaza, a gorgeous building that looked like a high-end restaurant. Jason went in and stated his purpose. The staff, clearly used to challengers from everywhere, kept it brisk—registration done, then they guided him to the arena.
Down a corridor lined with marine specimens—then a fresh mist of water hit his face.
Cascarrafa's arena was a huge open-air platform, paved in light stone etched with graceful patterns. Around it, a giant ring fountain roared: dozens of tall jets arced into the sky and traced elegant parabolas back into the pools below, splashing with a constant rush. In the sunlight, the mist formed a faint rainbow spanning the field.
Jason stood at one end, feeling the rich moisture in the air. Behind him, Miraidon and Iron Valiant watched, grim and focused. Gast hovered above—benched, but wired with nerves.
Before long, a tall, broad-shouldered man strode out from the far side—chef whites under a blue apron, close-cropped hair, skin tanned a healthy brown by years near the sea, a big reliable grin.
Gym Leader Kofu.
"You're Challenger Jason?" he boomed from the dais.
"That's me," Jason nodded.
"I've heard about you from Brassius." Kofu's gaze swept the team and paused on Gast. "He said your Gengar was something else—took down all of Mr. Brassius's Pokémon alone."
"She is strong," Jason admitted.
"Haha! High praise coming from a Trainer like you—guess the rumors are true." Kofu grinned. "I've been looking forward to this. Battling someone like you is an honor."
The hunger to fight—and respect for strength—rang in his voice.
"Likewise," Jason said.
Small talk over, the air tightened. Kofu's smile thinned into a veteran's focus.
"Standard rules: when one side's Pokémon can no longer battle, it's over," he declared. "Challenger, ready?"
"Anytime," Jason replied.
Kofu nodded, plucked a ball from his belt, and hurled it. "Show me your strength! Go—my first partner!"
Red light flashed—an unusual fish Pokémon hit the field. Streamlined body, teal scales, big sharp eyes—and most notably, massively developed pectoral fins, edges glinting like blades.
Veluza.
Famed for speed and slicing power. It dove straight into the edge pool, only its eyes breaking the surface, watching Jason.
Arms crossed, Kofu stood tall. "Come then, Pokémon challenger! Let me see that unbeatable Gengar!"
He was braced for a hard fight. Gast leaned forward unconsciously, body tensing despite knowing she wouldn't be sent in.
Then Jason did something that stunned everyone. He didn't call a single partner. He walked up the water-ringed field alone—step by step to center—facing the coiled Veluza.
Kofu frowned, puzzled. Jason looked up at him and smiled, meaningful.
"Sorry to disappoint," he said, voice quiet but clear across the arena. "This time, I'm going in myself."
"Yourself?" Kofu's brow knit. He knew a little about the Ditto's power—supposedly terrifying.
As Kofu tried to parse it, Jason's body began to change. His outline blurred; his form shifted violently in the light. Skin lost its color and smoothness, turned rough and dark brown, ridged and furrowed like old bark.
A massive cap—like a mushroom umbrella—surged from his skull: deep green, speckled with yellow, a thick ruffled rim like gills, big enough to hide his upper body.
His features reshaped: eyes widened, pupils narrowed to feral slits, glinting with primal menace. His mouth split, showing jagged teeth. Limbs turned inhuman—arms and shins swelled thick with power; hands and feet vanished into root-like masses.
He loomed there, over a meter tall, cap drooping to shadow his face—only those savage eyes visible. Trunk-thick limbs rooted to the earth with immovable weight. A wave of power rolled off him and blanketed the arena; even the fountain jets seemed to slow under it.
Paradox Pokémon—Brute Bonnet.
In the pool, Veluza felt the crushing pressure and churned uneasily, letting out a wary screech.
On the dais, Kofu's jaw hung a second before he closed it. As a gourmand and a learned Trainer, he recognized it at once. He drew a breath, the grin returning—but with added gravitas.
"So that's it—you've been hiding quite the surprise."
He called out, loud and clear: "Looks the part!"
"Veluza!" His eyes sharpened. "Don't be fooled by appearances! Use your speed—show it some color! Water Pulse!"
Veluza shot forward, a teal arrow knifing through the water, cleaving a white wake and, in a heartbeat, bursting from the pool in front of Jason. A dense sphere of compressed water gathered at its jaws and howled straight at the towering mushroom.
On the sidelines, Gast and Iron Valiant held their breath.
Jason didn't move. He stood there and let the water bomb smash full on the giant cap.
Bang!
The orb burst, spray fanning out. Kofu's smile had just begun to form—the Special Attack on Veluza was no joke. Even if it didn't hurt much, it would test the foe.
A second later, the smile froze. As the spray fell, the giant still stood like a pillar. Aside from some droplets and a damp patch, Water Pulse had done nothing visible. He hadn't even swayed.
"Impossible," Kofu muttered. Grass or not, it shouldn't be that unmoved.
Jason slowly lifted his head; from the cap's shadow, those fierce eyes locked onto Veluza through the mist. The fish's skin crawled—its attack hadn't even been noticed.
"Don't stop!" Kofu shifted tactics at once. "Psycho Cut!"
Veluza's eyes flashed an eerie pink; psychic force gathered, shaping a crescent blade in front of it—silent, more lethal than the water burst—shearing the air from a tricky angle toward Jason's flank—
—and froze in midflight, inches from contact, as if hitting an invisible wall.
"Protect, huh," Kofu said, unsurprised—and more intrigued.
The timing had been perfect. Veluza's prized speed and special offense were useless here.
Jason gave him no time to think or adapt. He seized the opening. Controlling the Brute Bonnet's bulk, he stepped forward. The strides looked slow, each landing with a muffled thud—but each step covered a lot of ground. For all their heaviness, they bore down with crushing pressure, closing the distance to Veluza fast.
~~~
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