"Roar!"
The Rhydon let out a furious bellow. The violent shockwave churned the air itself, whipping up a gale as if a sudden storm had descended.
"B-Boss, there's a monster!"
The red-haired punk—who had seemed the most arrogant just moments ago—grabbed the Mankey beside him and stumbled backward. His face turned deathly pale. The roar blasted his long fringe upward, exposing his eyes completely.
Over four meters tall, thick and imposing, clad in armor black as ink, with cold, shattered-gold eyes—the sheer presence of the massive Rhydon was enough to strike instinctive fear into anyone seeing it for the first time.
"You're here to challenge the dojo?"
Kael crouched down, smiling faintly at the three delinquents who had been scared witless by Rhydon.
"N-No, no!" The yellow-haired one shook his head violently, forcing a grin. "Hello there, boss! We were just passing by. Oh right—you posted a recruitment notice on the city board, didn't you? The three of us came to join your dojo. We want to work under you."
As he spoke, he shot urgent looks at his two brothers, silently warning them not to say anything stupid.
The green-haired one caught on immediately. "That's right! We're here to join the dojo! 'Second to the World Gym'—what a name! Sounds powerful already. Anyone can tell the leader must be an incredible Pokémon trainer."
The red-haired brother looked confused. Weren't they sent by the Kaz Gym to smash the place? Kaz had ordered them here to wreck it.
But under his brothers' murderous glares, he swallowed his words.
"Do you think you qualify as excellent trainers?"
Kael remained half-crouched, idly rolling his thumbs together. Seeing that the boss hadn't even bothered to stand—and glancing at the terrifying Rhydon behind him—the three brothers sat obediently on the ground like sheep, not daring to rise.
The yellow-haired one swallowed hard. "Our strength might not be top-tier. But we're loyal! If you say go east, we won't go west. If you tell us to attack the Yas Gym, we won't touch the Kaz Gym!"
"Yeah! Exactly!" the other two echoed in unison.
A faint smile curved Kael's lips. He stood and walked toward Rhydon. With a snap of his fingers, a pearwood armchair drifted down from midair and settled neatly behind him.
Kael stepped back and sat, resting his chin on one hand as he looked at them.
"Our dojo welcomes any trainer. But there's a small test."
"Just say the word, boss!" the brothers said eagerly.
"You may fight one-on-one, or all three together. Defeat just one of my Pokémon, and you're in." He paused at their fearful expressions and added lightly, "Don't worry. Not this Rhydon. Lulu, come out and play."
As his voice fell, Lulu's petite, ballerina-like figure flickered into existence before the three brothers, having teleported from the inner courtyard in an instant.
It was a Kirlia.
"That's the one?" the yellow-haired brother asked, raising a hand. He'd never seen this species before—but compared to the towering black Rhydon, this small, doll-like Pokémon looked far easier to bully.
Kael gave a slight nod. "You may fight her three-on-one. Win, and you join the dojo. I'll pay you triple what the Kaz Gym offers."
"Boss, triple pay!" the red-haired one jumped up in excitement.
"Idiot—we've been exposed!"
The yellow-haired brother was quicker on the uptake. That last sentence made it obvious their cover had been blown. But since Kael hadn't pressed the matter, they could only grit their teeth and continue.
"We choose three-on-one!"
Kael shrugged.
...
Lulu hovered midair using psychic power, her expression calm as she looked down at the two Mankey and one Primeape below her. As a Psychic-type Pokémon, she naturally countered Fighting-types like them.
"You can attack first," Kael added lazily. "And I won't give her any commands."
That single sentence boosted the brothers' confidence instantly. A Pokémon guided by a skilled trainer and one left without direction were worlds apart.
"Primeape! Jump and use Cross Chop!"
Lulu wasn't floating very high. With Primeape's jumping ability, seven or eight meters was nothing.
With a powerful leap, Primeape shot upward more than ten meters into the air. Its crossed arms glowed white as Cross Chop activated.
From above, the high-power strike came crashing down toward the motionless Kirlia.
The yellow-haired brother clenched his fists in excitement. That Cross Chop could split a tree in half. If it lands, that tiny thing's headed straight to the Pokémon Center.
Lulu did not dodge.
As Primeape closed to within a meter, she gently raised her right hand. A faint blue gleam flashed through her ruby-like eyes. Invisible psychic force spread outward.
Primeape suddenly froze mid-air. It felt as though an unseen net had wrapped around its body, crushing and restraining it. It couldn't lean forward. Even breathing became difficult.
"Ya!"
With a sharp cry, Lulu flicked her wrist.
Primeape was hurled away like a rag doll, screaming as it smashed into the courtyard wall.
Spiderweb cracks spread across the white surface. Primeape slid down slowly. It tried to stand—but its vision swam.
With a dull thud, it collapsed again.