Chapter 185: Gym
The next day.
After Ash learned that Azalea Gym had resumed normal operations, he pulled Misty and Brock along and headed towards Azalea Gym.
Soon, the group arrived outside Azalea Gym.
Misty looked at the domed building ahead and asked, "This place is so strange. It looks like a botanical garden, not a Gym at all. Did we come to the wrong place?"
Brock took out his guide and compared the shape and location of the building, confirming, "No mistake! The address written in the guide book is this place."
"It's right that it looks like a botanical garden. The Azalea Gym Leader specializes in Bug Pokemon. The Gym is filled with plants to provide a comfortable growing environment for the Bug Pokemon.
It's similar to the design of your Cerulean Gym aquarium, Misty!" Ash explained.
"Bug Pokemon?! Ash, why don't you let Brock go in with you? I'll wait outside."
Misty's fear of bugs was triggered again.
"Uh... Misty, you've already raised Caterpie into Butterfree, why are you still afraid of bugs?"
Ash truly didn't understand. Misty clearly had the potential to be a Bug Pokémon Master, but she was afraid of bugs. What a waste of talent!
He even felt that if Misty wasn't afraid of bugs, she could probably easily become an Elite-level Bug Pokemon Trainer due to her natural physique that attracts Bug Pokemon.
"Butterfree is Butterfree. How can a butterfly be compared to a bug?"
Misty's face showed visible resistance to bugs.
"It's okay, Misty, just pretend you're entering a forest. Just don't look at those bugs, and even if you stand outside the door, who can guarantee that no Bug Pokemon will run out? Look, the doors here aren't even locked." Brock tried to scare her.
"That seems right! Ash, can you use your Psychic power to keep bugs away from me?" Misty walked behind Ash.
"I can, but Misty, you seem to be quite popular with Bug Pokemon!"
"No, I'm not!"
Finally, Misty still followed Ash in, but she kept holding one of Ash's hands, making Pikachu have to walk.
No wonder, Eevee also likes to stick to Ash!
"It's so quiet here! Is the Azalea Gym Leader really at home?" Brock said.
"He is, you'll know if you look over there."
Ash had already discovered the Gym Leader's location.
The reason he hadn't appeared was because he was stuck in a tree.
The two looked in the direction Ash pointed, only to see a young man standing on a tree branch.
"Hey, are you here to challenge the Gym?" The young man shouted to Ash and the others.
"Yes, I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and I'm here to challenge Azalea Gym."
"If you're a challenger, then could you please do me a favor? I'm Bugsy, the Azalea Gym Leader, also known as the living encyclopedia of Bug Pokemon!"
"What favor?"
Bugsy awkwardly pointed to the ladder below, "Please help me set the ladder upright."
Seeing this, Ash could only go and set the ladder upright.
After Bugsy came down, he led Ash and the others towards the battle arena in the center of the Gym.
"Oh, a battle arena built in a forest, truly worthy of a dedicated Pokemon Trainer!" Brock exclaimed.
"Then, Azalea Gym Leader Bugsy and challenger Ash from Pallet Town, let the official match begin with the gym badge as the stake, with each Trainer limited to three Pokemon. Are you two ready?" The referee asked.
"I'm ready anytime!" Ash said.
"I'm ready too! Ash, have you ever heard the saying, 'He who conquers Bug Pokemon conquers the world'?"
Hearing this, Ash looked at Bugsy suspiciously: "No, I haven't. Did you just make that up?"
"Uh... What do you mean 'made up'!" Bugsy immediately felt guilty.
He took out a red and white ball and changed the subject: "My first Pokemon is the silent warrior among Bug Pokemon, go, Spinarak!"
"Alright, I choose you, Kirlia!"
Ash's male Kirlia's potential was almost fully unearthed, and it just needed a bit more experience to evolve into Gallade.
And the Dawn Stone needed for evolution was already hanging around his neck.
"Spinarak, String Shot!" Bugsy commanded first.
"Kirlia, Double Team."
As Spinarak's string flew in, Kirlia moved quickly, creating several clones, easily dodging Spinarak's threads.
"Continuous String Shot!"
Spinarak received the command and spat out a large amount of silk from its mouth.
"Kirlia, attacks at this speed won't hit you, charge!"
Kirlia easily dodged all the threads with small steps and took the opportunity to get close to Spinarak.
"Alright, Kirlia, Fire Punch!" Ash shouted.
Kirlia gathered fire-type energy in its hands and threw punches at Spinarak. Spinarak could only dodge frantically. It could dodge the first two punches, but prolonged attacks would quickly reveal its weaknesses.
Bugsy hurriedly shouted, "Spinarak, String Shot onto the tree, create distance!"
"Kirlia, don't let it run, burn the threads!"
Ash didn't want to give Spinarak a chance to escape like Spider-Man.
Kirlia's Fire Punch burned off most of the threads, and Spinarak fell heavily to the ground as soon as it took off.
Then Kirlia closed in and delivered a beating. After a few punches, Spinarak 'fell asleep', its eyes spiraling into mosquito coils.
"Spinarak is unable to battle, Kirlia wins!" The referee shouted.
Bugsy looked at Ash somewhat speechlessly and asked, "Ash, does your Kirlia only know two moves?"
He had been a Gym Leader for so long and had never seen anyone use one move to conquer everything, just sticking to one move!
Ash replied, "Of course not, but how many moves he uses depends entirely on the Pokemon you send out next!"
"Next, my second contender is the proudest and most sacred warrior among Bug Pokemon, go, Metapod!"
"Metapod? Is he serious?" Ash was a bit disbelieving of Bugsy's choice.
"Ash, his Metapod should be well-trained, don't underestimate it!" Brock reminded him.
"Don't worry, no matter what opponent I face, I will take it seriously!"
"Kirlia, Trick Room!"
Kirlia heard the command and waved its hands to create a bizarre space, enveloping the entire battle arena.
"Metapod, Harden!"
Metapod focused on stacking its defense.
"Harden? Bugsy, I've seen through your attack, I won't let you succeed!"
The only attack method Ash could think of for Metapod was to stack defense and then jump to use inertia for Tackle.
Loving Book So Far Check Out 80+ Chapters In Advanced At Pa Treon:
patreon.com/FicTonic1