By the time Tetsuya had dared to publicly declare, "I am Tetsuya from Ecruteak City," in his previous life, Elite Four Agatha had already passed away.
As Kanto's long-standing Elite Four, the fact that she had remained at the pinnacle of a major League like Kanto's for fifty years without being replaced meant she undoubtedly dominated unique knowledge of Poison- and Ghost-type Pokémon.
As for Asea, Agatha's student, Tetsuya had never encountered her in his previous life. Battling her now might lead to some new discoveries. Hopefully, she had inherited some of Agatha's true teachings.
Sabrina used Teleport to bring them to the inner hall of Vermilion Gym, the Gym Leaders' private training area. Tetsuya found a place to sit down and wait.
"Wait here. I'll go get Asea," Sabrina said.
Tetsuya nodded, already considering which Pokémon he should use.
---◓---
After returning to Vermilion Gym, Sabrina walked directly over to Asea. Since Sabrina specialized in Psychic-type Pokémon, simply approaching Asea created an invisible pressure, even though Sabrina was only fourteen or fifteen years old.
"Asea, would you be willing to battle with the person I mentioned? He's waiting in Vermilion Gym's inner hall. Your combat power is recognized by everyone. Afterward, you can judge his true level yourself and convince certain 'people' once and for all…"
The "people" Sabrina was referring to were naturally the Sensational Sisters. However, they did not believe any Challenger could truly be stronger than Asea, so they readily approved Sabrina's proposal.
Sabrina's request left Asea unable to refuse. She simply nodded and said, "…As a Gym Leader, I have no reason to refuse any challenge."
"Un, let's move."
After speaking, Asea followed Sabrina toward the inner hall. Naturally, the Sensational Sisters followed as well. If they were absent, Sabrina might take advantage of the situation.
With Blaine presiding over the challenge event outside, there was naturally no cause for concern.
---◓---
Before long, Sabrina, Asea, and the Sensational Sisters arrived in the inner hall, where Tetsuya was sitting with his eyes closed in quiet thought.
"Tetsuya, this is Asea, the Gym Leader of Fuchsia Gym," Sabrina said, offering only a brief introduction.
Tetsuya nodded. "Hello."
"Hey! who do you think you are, huh!? How dare you challenge Asea-oneesan? She's Elite Four Agatha's student you know! You're seriously overestimating yourself," Violet of the Sensational Sisters said.
"…I'll just do my best." After saying that, Tetsuya took his position before adding, "How shall we conduct this battle?"
"We'll use Fuchsia Gym's challenge rules. A Triple Battle. The Challenger has the right to switch Pokémon. The match continues until all three Pokémon on one side are unable to battle," Asea said.
"We'll do it your way. Come on out!"
With that, Tetsuya threw his Poké Ball. Seeing this, Asea also threw her first Poké Ball rather than taking advantage of the situation. This way, neither side knew what the other's first Pokémon would be, making it completely fair.
From that simple gesture alone, Asea concluded that Tetsuya had courage. Likewise, Tetsuya felt that Asea was, at the very least, broad-minded.
Tetsuya's first Pokémon was Skorupi, while Asea's first Pokémon was Nidorino.
After appearing, Nidorino cautiously fixed its gaze on Skorupi, ready to attack at any moment. Tetsuya naturally understood that this first Pokémon was merely meant to test the waters. This Nidorino was definitely not Asea's main battler.
Skorupi remained completely fearless, waving its pincers confidently.
"You can make the first move," Asea said, displaying the bearing expected of a Gym Leader.
"Skorupi, Pin Missile."
At its current stage and level, Skorupi's movepool was still lacking, making it completely different from the way Drapion fought.
In a Drapion's eyes, there was nothing that overwhelming raw strength and deadly poison could not solve. But Skorupi still needed to gradually build up its strength and enhance its toxins. For now, it could only wait patiently for the right opportunity during battle.
Skorupi swung its pincers, firing a dense barrage of silver needles that poured toward Nidorino like a rainstorm.
Such a dense Pin Missile attack would be difficult even for agile Pokémon to evade, let alone a Pokémon like Nidorino that did not excel in Speed. However, Tetsuya did not relax his guard because of this. His opponent was the student of Kanto's veteran Elite Four, Agatha, and one of Kanto's foremost Gym Leaders. She undoubtedly had a way to deal with it.
"Head Smash!" Asea commanded. The corners of her mouth rose slightly. Using this move was the greatest test she could give a Challenger.
Watching Nidorino's performance, Tetsuya nodded. Asea had truly brought out Nidorino's strengths, fully developing its power. Head Smash, a devastating Rock-type move, was indeed a tremendous test for any Challenger. Only after successfully dealing with this move would there be a chance for the battle to continue.
Nidorino's entire body became shrouded in a cyan-brown aura, with the energy around its head becoming even more intense. Every Pin Missile fired by Skorupi was deflected away, failing to inflict the slightest damage on Nidorino.
However, Tetsuya was not worried. When it came to battle experience, Asea was still lacking somewhat. He knew Head Smash all too well. All he needed to do now was wait, waiting for the moment when Head Smash revealed an opening.
Head Smash had tremendous power but notoriously low accuracy. Naturally, there was a reason for that.
Seeing that Tetsuya still refused to make a move, Asea sighed and shook her head. He was still just a rookie. Had seeing such a powerful move for the first time frightened him so badly that he did not even know how to dodge?
Suddenly, Nidorino leaped into the air!
"Now. Skorupi, charge forward and use Iron Tail!"
This was the exact moment Tetsuya had been waiting for. Nidorino had leaped into the air and was diving straight toward Skorupi. While such a Head Smash carried immense power, it had one fatal flaw: once committed, it could no longer change direction!
As long as a Pokémon was not intimidated by its impetus, any agile Pokémon could evade it. The instant Nidorino jumped, Skorupi had already moved outside Head Smash's attack range.
Skorupi had now reached Nidorino's rear. Head Smash crashed into the battlefield, instantly blasting a huge crater into the ground. Nidorino also suffered the backlash from such tremendous force, leaving it dizzy and disoriented.
At that moment, Skorupi's Iron Tail arrived right on cue, whipping into Nidorino and sending it flying straight into the wall!
Asea could not help clicking her tongue in amazement. She had not expected this Skorupi to have such might.
Overjoyed, Skorupi felt power surging throughout its entire body. It struck its own forelegs with its tail, and immediately afterward, its pincers began dancing wildly.
In his previous life, Tetsuya had been highly skilled at raising and training Skorupi. He recognized this move the instant it appeared.
With this move, Skorupi's combat ability would advance another step!