As Volkner's words fell, a young boy dressed in a blue tracksuit walked out from the edge of the field, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a delicate face and standing upright.
He nodded to Ash and the others as a greeting.
Volkner continued, "If you can't beat Alex, then you don't qualify to face me."
"Of course, defeating Alex will get you a Gym Badge, and if you want to continue challenging me after acquiring the badge, there's an extra reward — an item that boosts the power of Enhancement Skills by twenty percent. You'll know what it is when you beat me."
As he spoke, his gaze lightly swept over Ash, as if looking at just another ordinary challenger, without pausing for even a second.
In fact, according to Volkner, the change he made wasn't excessive, and could even be said to be within the rules.
Defeating the student meant getting the badge, which actually lowered the difficulty for challengers who came just to pursue the badge.
And for Trainers who came to challenge Volkner specifically, he gave them the choice to continue challenging him after defeating the student, and wouldn't let them challenge for nothing, but provide corresponding rewards.
By the rules, Volkner was absolutely fine, but from the Trainer's perspective...
Ash didn't respond immediately, but calmly met Volkner's gaze.
"I heard you're the strongest Gym Leader in Sinnoh, which is why I came to Sunyshore Gym to challenge you." Ash's voice was very calm, "Before I came, I was thinking, what kind of Trainer would Sinnoh's strongest be... turns out I'm a bit disappointed."
Volkner's eyes finally changed, waves rippled in his bright blue pupils.
Since arriving in Johto, no Trainer had ever spoken to him like this.
Facing the rippling Volkner, Ash didn't stop speaking, he continued.
"I once battled Cynthia, even though she's already Sinnoh Champion, she never had pretensions like you with any challenger."
"Her skill is stronger than yours, her fame bigger than yours, yet she never sent some student to dismiss challengers. Whenever she had time, she'd choose to accept challenges. Cynthia told me this because she enjoys Pokemon battles."
He paused, voice neither light nor heavy, "What I'm curious about is, Gym Leader Volkner, who is stronger, you or Cynthia? Do you... truly enjoy Pokemon battles?"
The gym fell silent for a moment.
Alex's breathing noticeably tightened, his gaze involuntarily drifted to his mentor.
Volkner's expression changed, the lazy detachment peeled off his face, his gaze sharpened.
"You've battled Cynthia before?"
Ash shrugged, didn't answer, but stood on the Trainer's platform.
This gesture seemed to say—whether I've battled Cynthia, whether I have that skill, you'll see in my battle, won't you?
Volkner was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled, his smile contained an unprecedented emotion, a feeling named excitement!
"Interesting." He turned around, walked toward the referee's seat, waved to Alex, "Alex, get ready. Let me see this—"
He stood firmly at the referee's seat, turned around, eyes falling on Ash.
"—What's your name?"
"Pallet Town, Ash."
Ash... Volkner was taken aback, he seemed to have heard this name somewhere before?
Due to not having watched the news for too long, being the type to mind his own business, Volkner didn't have a deep impression of Ash, you could even say none.
If it weren't for Ash's fame being utterly notorious, Volkner wouldn't even have this sense of familiarity.
Even so, Volkner still couldn't recall where he'd heard Ash's name.
But thinking about it, a Trainer who's battled Cynthia isn't some unknown character, he probably heard the name somewhere.
Pokemon battles rely not on fame, but on solid power, fame alone won't suffice.
"Let me see, how formidable this Ash from Pallet Town really is."
Alex took a deep breath, walked to the challenger's opposing command position, and stood firm. He took a Pokeball from his waist, holding it in hand.
Volkner stood at the referee's seat, raising his arm.
"The battle rules are three-on-three, both sides use three Pokemon each, the gym side sends first, challengers may freely switch Pokemon. The battle begins!"
Alex threw the Pokeball first. Light flashed, a yellow and black figure steadily landed in the center of the field.
Electabuzz, Electric Type Pokemon.
His build was robust, covered in bright yellow fur, with some areas covered in black stripes, two conductive horn-like protrusions atop his head.
Arms strong and powerful, fists entwined with delicate electric arcs.
This Electabuzz had been cultivated quite well, its fur shiny, muscle lines distinct.
"Electabuzz, prepare for battle!" Alex's voice was clear, he had already entered a focused battle state.
Even though he was a student, he wasn't an ordinary Trainer, being dispatched by Volkner to the field, he already had the capabilities of an ordinary Gym Leader, after all, he's being groomed as Volkner's successor.
Facing ordinary challengers, he would inquire beforehand about their badges and travel times, to decide what Pokemon to use.
But this time, the challenger personally said he had battled Cynthia before!
Just this fact alone is enough to make him go all out. There's no need to ask more; holding back would be disrespectful to the opponent!
Pikachu stood up from Ash's side, cheeks sparking with a strand of electricity. It looked up at Ash, its tail flicking, the meaning clear—let me go.
Ash glanced down at it and shook his head, "You rest for this one."
Pikachu was stunned for a moment and let out a dissatisfied cry.
"There's a more suitable choice." Ash said, taking a Pokeball from his waist and gently weighing it in his hand. He felt the slight warmth coming from the Pokeball, the eagerness of his partner inside to battle.
"It's decided then—Gardevoir!!"
The Pokeball was tossed high into the air and burst open mid-air. A white light poured out from the ball, delineating a slender and elegant figure on the ground. As the light faded, Gardevoir stood quietly in the center of the field.
She wore a pure white gown, and her short blue hair glimmered softly under the gym lights. Her gem-like eyes turned slightly, looking at the Electabuzz across from her with a calm and composed expression.
In the audience, Brock, with arms crossed over his chest, raised his eyebrows sharply upon seeing Gardevoir appear.
"Gardevoir? Ash is bringing out one of the big three from his team against a trainee."
Misty, holding Togepi, glanced at the blue and white figure on the field, a slight smile curling at her lips, "He's holding something back."
"Not necessarily out of anger." Brock mused, stroking his chin, "That trainee named Alex, didn't the doorman just mention it? He swept through three challengers with just one Pokemon earlier."
"Anyone who can hold up Volkner's gym can't be weak. Ash wants to show Volkner his strength in the most straightforward way and also demonstrate the characteristics of a true Trainer."
Gardevoir's strength is naturally unquestionable. The big three in Ash's team have always vied for the top spot, so you could say Gardevoir is virtually the top-ranked Pokemon in Ash's team.
For Ash to use such a Pokemon right off the bat, it seems he wants to finish the battle swiftly!
Serena kept silent, quietly observing the back of the boy on the field.
On the field, Gardevoir and Electabuzz glared at each other.
From the moment Gardevoir appeared, Volkner's gaze was locked onto her.
As an experienced Trainer, some things can be seen without even battling.
That Gardevoir, just by standing there, exudes an aura distinctly different from ordinary Gardevoirs. This is a temperament that only settles after countless battles and overcoming numerous difficulties.
Volkner's lips curled slightly, interesting, seems this guy named Ash wasn't just bragging earlier.
Alex was momentarily stunned upon seeing Gardevoir, as shiny Gardevoirs are rare, but it was only for a moment. The next second, he loudly commanded, "Electabuzz, Thunderbolt!"
Alex didn't probe, starting directly with full force using an Electric-type move.
The twin horns on Electabuzz's head erupted with blinding golden lightning, a thick golden thunderbolt exploded from its body, wrapped in crackling arcs, and struck directly at Gardevoir!
In that instant, the entire gym was bathed in gold.
Gardevoir stood still, unmoving. She merely raised her right hand, her slender arm gracefully swung in front of her as if brushing away a fallen leaf.
The fierce golden thunderbolt, only halfway to Gardevoir, seemed torn apart by an invisible hand before coming close.
Before the lightning could strike down, the flashing golden thunder dissipated into nothingness in mid-air.
Alex's eyes widened, his mouth open, but he couldn't utter a word. His Electabuzz was Gym Intermediate Level, that Thunderbolt was at full strength.
The opponent didn't even use a move, just waved their hand to dispel his attack!
This wasn't just blocking it, but directly dispersing the move!
This can't be described as "strong"; it's a difference on an entirely different level.
Even the gap between him and his own Gym Leader shouldn't be this wide. This young man named Ash truly has the strength to challenge Sinnoh Champion Cynthia!
"Gardevoir, Psychic." Ash casually ordered.
Gardevoir slightly raised her hand, and a vast superpower surged from her body!
"Quick, dodge!" was a classic move, but Gardevoir's Psychic couldn't be dodged by an Intermediate Gym Level Electabuzz!
Without surprise, Psychic hit Electabuzz directly, it let out a tragic cry, then its eyes rolled, and it collapsed to the ground.
One strike—KO!
The whole process was clean and swift, without any contestation. With such a huge power gap, any struggle was in vain.
Alex didn't have time to be shocked or saddened; he retrieved Electabuzz, gritted his teeth, and brought out the next Pokemon.
"Manectric, I'm counting on you!"
A flash of light, and a blue-and-yellow quadruped Pokemon appeared on the field.
Its mane jutted back like solid lightning, limbs long and strong, surrounded by crackling arcs.
Manectric, also an Electric-type, faster than Electabuzz, its attacks more fierce.
"Volt Tackle!" Alex ordered without hesitation.
Manectric let out a low growl, its entire body enveloped in dense golden light, charging like a lightning meteor towards Gardevoir!
Its speed was so fast it left a golden afterimage in the air. The ground where it tread left charred claw marks.
"Telekinesis."
Gardevoir's orange eyes glinted slightly, and an invisible force expanded from her, halting the swift-charging Manectric as if it hit an invisible wall.
It maintained its charging posture, limbs still in running motion, yet couldn't move a single claw.
Alex's pupils constricted, "Manectric, break free—"
Before he could finish, Gardevoir's finger lightly lifted, launching Manectric high into the air, tracing an arc before a massive invisible hand slammed it to the ground.
"Boom!"
The gym floor shook, Manectric lay in a shallow pit, limbs twitching slightly before going still.
The assault by Telekinesis and the crash landing, the double damage combo struck it incapable of combat, yet another strike, KO!
Alex's hand trembled holding the Pokeball, he looked up at the blue-haired, white-dressed figure, Gardevoir stood there quietly, her breathing steady.
His two Pokemons, Gym Intermediate Level Electabuzz, Gym Intermediate Level Manectric, couldn't withstand even one move against her. Such a disparity felt like a mountain pressing down, making it hard even to raise his head.
Alex took a deep breath, withdrew Manectric, and took out the last Pokeball from his waist.
This is it, even if I can't defeat the opponent, I'll show the spirit of Sunyshore Gym!
"Luxray, I'm counting on you!"
A flash of light, and a sturdier quadruped Pokemon than Manectric landed on the field.
Luxray, the final evolution of Shinx.
He was covered in dense blue-black fur, his mane fluffy, limbs sturdy, and his tail tipped with a golden four-pointed star.
This was Alex's strongest Pokemon, with a level reaching Gym Advanced. Though still like an ant trying to shake a tree against Gardevoir, neither Alex nor Luxray had any thought of giving up at this moment!
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