Pokemon: The Master Of Monsters

At the entrance of Celadon Gym, Gary and Sabrina approached the massive structure, the glass walls gleaming in the sunlight.

[Ding! Task released: Get Celadon Gym Badge/Rewards: Intermediate Rare Candy X10, Permanent Skill Learning Device "Sunlight," Top-quality Miracle Seed (Grass-type skill power increased by 50%) X1]

The system's task had been activated. The rewards were tempting, confirming that Erika was not a weak trainer. In the original plot, Ash had struggled to earn the badge here. He had received the Celadon Gym Badge not because of his strength, but because Gloom, who had saved Erika's life, had given it to him out of gratitude. Despite this, Ash's selfless act toward Pokémon had earned him the respect of many trainers, and there was nothing wrong with him receiving the badge.

Gary and Sabrina walked through the door.

"Welcome!"

The glass door slid open automatically, revealing two young women inside. They were apprentices from the gym and worked part-time at the perfume shop, also handling reception duties at the gym.

"How can I help you?" asked one of the women with black hair as she walked up.

"I'm here to challenge the gym," Gary explained.

"Is that so? Please follow me."

The woman enthusiastically led Gary and Sabrina into the gym.

"Wait a moment; I'll inform Sister Erika."

She disappeared deeper into the gym.

After a short while, Erika entered, walking confidently toward them.

"Hello, I'm Erika, the gym leader of Celadon. Are you the challenger?" she introduced herself, her voice calm yet authoritative.

"Yes, Miss Erika. My name is Gary, from Pallet Town," Gary responded, maintaining a respectful tone.

"I see. How many badges do you have now?" Erika asked, her eyes flicking briefly over to Sabrina.

"Five," Gary answered, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Erika blinked, surprised. To challenge her gym, one typically needed only three badges, but five meant that Gary was a seasoned trainer. She knew that the challengers with five badges were no pushovers.

"Very well," Erika nodded. "Let's begin."

Gary and Erika walked to their respective sides of the battlefield.

Erika nodded to the referee, signaling that the match was about to start.

"Okay, let's begin!" she said.

The referee raised his hand and announced, "The gym battle begins. Both trainers will use three Pokémon. The challenger is the only one allowed to switch Pokémon. Let the battle begin."

"Go, Tangela!" Erika threw a Poké Ball.

Out of the ball emerged a strange Pokémon with vines covering its body.

[LV23 Tangela♂ / Elite]

Gary was slightly surprised. "Only level 23...?" he muttered.

Given that it was already mid-level, he had expected Erika's Pokémon to be stronger. The Pokémon from the previous gym had been at least level 28, and Erika was considered a top-tier trainer, so a level 23 seemed out of place.

"Alakazam, I choose you!" Gary threw his own Poké Ball.

[LV23 Alakazam♂ / Quasi-Elite]

Both Pokémon were at the same level, which made for an exciting start. Erika's face tightened with determination as she assessed Gary's choice. She knew that Alakazam was a powerful Psychic-type Pokémon, and with the number of Grass and Poison-type Pokémon on her team, it would be a difficult matchup.

"Alakazam, use Confusion!" Gary commanded.

With a flick of its spoons, Alakazam's eyes began to glow a deep blue, and a powerful psychic wave enveloped Tangela. The vines on its body froze, and Tangela was immediately lifted and thrown backwards, slamming hard against the wall.

"Bang!"

Tangela cried out in pain from the impact, and the damage was considerable.

Sabrina, who was watching from the sidelines, raised an eyebrow. She had helped raise this particular Alakazam, so she was well aware of its capabilities. But even she was surprised by how much power Gary's Alakazam had unleashed with its Confusion. She had never seen it burst out with such force.

"Confusion's power has definitely increased," Sabrina mused.

Gary's Alakazam was equipped with a Twisted Spoon, an item that boosted the power of Psychic-type moves by 50%, giving it an edge over other Alakazams.

"Use Psybeam, Alakazam!" Gary continued, not missing a beat.

Alakazam crossed its spoons, and a magical light burst from them, forming a beam of psychic energy that shot toward Tangela.

The Grass-type Pokémon tried to dodge but was too slow and was struck directly by the Psybeam.

"Bang!"

Tangela was knocked out cold, tumbling to the ground.

"The challenger's Alakazam wins!" the referee declared.

Erika took a moment to regain her composure before recalling her Tangela. She then threw out her next Pokémon.

"Weepinbell, I choose you!"

A green, trumpet-shaped Pokémon appeared in a flash of light.

[LV28 Weepinbell♂ / Normal]

Gary raised an eyebrow. Weepinbell's level was high, but he couldn't help but wonder why it hadn't evolved into Victreebel. With its level, it could have easily evolved with a Leaf Stone, yet here it was, still in its base form.

He glanced around at the gym's battlefield, noting that the area had transparent glass walls to allow sunlight to shine through. The sunlight boosted Grass-type Pokémon, increasing their strength and reaction speed.

"Confusion, Alakazam!" Gary ordered again.

Alakazam's eyes glowed blue, and it used its psychic powers to trap Weepinbell in mid-air.

"Weepinbell, use Acid!" Erika shouted, trying to mount a defense.

Despite being held in place by Confusion, Weepinbell still managed to use its mouth to spray a stream of poisonous acid toward Alakazam.

But Alakazam was quick to react, countering the Acid with a psychic wave that sent the venom splashing back toward Weepinbell, drenching it in its own attack.

"Psybeam!" Gary commanded, not wasting any time.

Alakazam released another burst of psychic energy. Weepinbell, desperate, used Razor Leaf at the same time, sending out sharp, leaf-like projectiles to intercept the Psybeam.

But the Psybeam cut through the leaves effortlessly and struck Weepinbell, sending it crashing to the ground with a cry of pain.

"Weepinbell is unable to battle! Alakazam wins again!" the referee announced.

Gary watched with a slight frown. Erika's Pokémon were certainly at a high level, but they seemed too weak to put up a serious fight. Weepinbell's performance, despite its level, was underwhelming, and Gary couldn't help but wonder why Erika hadn't evolved it into Victreebel.

Erika, however, remained calm, though her expression had shifted from confident to concerned. She had one last Pokémon to send out, but she knew that it would be a tough battle now.

"Let's see if I can finish this," Gary thought, preparing for the final round of the battle.

------------------------------------------------

Visit our Patreon for more:

patreon.com/Johnwick007