"Yo~ Future Champion!"
Before Red could continue admiring the beautiful legs emerging from the water, a man in overalls suddenly stepped in front of him and started introducing the place on his own:
"This is the Cerulean Gym located in Cerulean City. The Gym Leader, Misty, is a master of Water-type Pokémon."
"If you want to challenge the gym and earn a badge, it's best to bring Electric- or Grass-type Pokémon."
After speaking, the man in overalls turned back into an emotionless machine and returned to his station.
"You're really a loyal employee of your Gym Leader." Red sincerely praised the NPC who just gave away his leader's strategy.
Thanks to the interruption, his attention was pulled away from those alluring legs.
Well, it couldn't be helped; they were short on time!
Otherwise, Red really would've liked to sit in the audience and enjoy the water ballet performance.
He's the kind of person who loves appreciating art! If only he could gather more energy each day, he wouldn't have to rush so much...
"This is the first time I've felt such a strong urge to become stronger!"
Red sighed inwardly, but then stepped onto the crystal platform that led to the Gym Leader's area.
In an instant, the entire gym's atmosphere changed.
The dancers in the pool quickly dispersed, and the soothing music turned into a battle theme.
"It's showtime, Luffy!"
"Remember what I told you—don't give their Pokémon the chance to dive into deep water!"
Seeing a bikini-clad beauty swimming over toward them, Red reminded Luffy again.
Luffy gave a confident smile. "Leave it to me!"
As they spoke, the bikini beauty arrived in front of them.
"So, you're the ones challenging Leader Misty, huh!? Let me test your strength first!"
She spun elegantly and released a horned goldfish—Goldeen, a Water-type Pokémon.
"A level 16 Goldeen? That should give us decent EXP."
Red grinned and immediately gave the order:
"Luffy, attack!"
Before the words left his mouth, a powerful punch had already flown through the air toward the floating Goldeen.
"Goldeen, dodge it!"
Even the NPC seemed caught off guard by how aggressively Red and Luffy struck first.
She hurriedly gave the command.
But…
Luffy's punch wasn't so easy to dodge!
Even Marine Vice-Admirals would have to use Tekkai to withstand it!
*Boom!!!*
A huge splash erupted, making it rain lightly inside the gym.
"Goldeen!"
The busty beauty gasped in shock.
But with the battle prompt and field vanishing, her expression quickly turned cold again.
[Monkey D. Luffy defeated Bikini Trainer's Goldeen – Gained EXP: +103]
[Battle Command Evaluation: Average]
[Bonus Reward: +21 EXP]
"It's like time stood still." Looking at the bikini-clad sister floating motionlessly in the water, Red couldn't help but entertain some… less-than-moral thoughts.
Unfortunately…
He had already tested this when he first entered the game world, on a random girl on the street.
Maybe even the system feared being flagged and taken down, so no matter the situation, whether in normal mode or battle, neither Red nor Luffy could physically touch the NPCs.
They could only admire from a distance, not cross the line.
Still…
"The EXP rewards are pretty generous!"
Red shook off the dirty thoughts and focused on Luffy's EXP instead.
Right now, Luffy's EXP bar shows: [4113 / 6787]
He needed just 2674 more points to level up!
"If each trainer can give over 120 EXP…"
Red glanced around at the bikini beauties in the pool and found there were exactly 20 trainers, not more, not less.
"Looks like we'll have to count on the Gym Leader for the final push."
After thinking for a moment, Red stepped forward toward the next bikini NPC.
"Hmph! I won't let you pass so easily!"
"Ah~! My Shellder!"
"Let me show you my skills!"
"Ah~! Staryu!"
"Hmph~ You're not bad at all, are you!?"
"Mmm~ I admit defeat…"
"..."
"..."
As Red and Luffy bulldozed their way through the gym, the arena echoed with the cries of defeated girls one after another.
In less than an hour, the once lively and water-filled gym looked more like a life-sized model gallery.
One curvy beauty after another stood frozen in the pool, forming a path straight to Gym Leader Misty.
Seeing how close Luffy was to leveling up, Red's heart raced with excitement!
This was his first time facing a level-up; who knew how much stronger Luffy would become after evolving?
Red waved his arm dramatically: "Let's go, Luffy!"
He stepped forward and faced Misty.
Short orange hair like Nami's, wearing a cool white swimsuit, but her flat chest couldn't compare to the curvy babes in the pool...
At this moment, Misty's eyes sparkled with vitality.
"Are you here to challenge me!?"
She quickly took out a Poké Ball from her belt and smiled sweetly, eyes flashing with a strong spirit.
And as Misty activated, the entire gym transformed once more.
The floating crystal tiles above the pool began to move, converging toward the center where Red and Misty stood.
Soon, a large dome battle platform formed above the water.
Colorful spotlights beamed down, turning the area into a perfect stage!
"Challenger, since you've come this far, be ready to get wrecked by my Water-type Pokémon!"
"Let's go!"
"I, Misty—the world's cutest girl—will be your opponent!"
Misty struck an adorable, cute, sassy pose.
But after seeing so many busty babes jiggle around earlier, Red had zero interest in "cute" now.
Instead, he was fired up to see Luffy level up!
"You're not even using the water's advantage? Just making a land battlefield?"
"I respect your guts!"
Red scoffed, then stepped into the challenger's area.
Instantly!
Spotlights locked onto him, and the crowd's cheers roared from all directions.
The gym's energy hit its peak!
"Then, my first Pokémon is… you!"
Misty threw out a red-and-white Poké Ball, summoning a Psyduck who tilted its head blankly.
The battle zone expanded, covering the entire arena.
"Level 18 Psyduck, huh?"
"Sending out such a slow and clumsy Pokémon… your generosity is surprising!"
Red muttered under his breath, then shouted to Luffy:
"Luffy! Use Headbutt and finish it in one hit!"
"Got it!"
Luffy laughed, leapt into the battle zone, and began channeling his energy into his forehead.
"Gum-Gum… Headbutt!!!"
Whoosh!
With a mighty stretch of his neck, Luffy's head shot out like a cannonball, straight toward Psyduck's noggin.
But Misty… wasn't worried at all. In fact, she grinned:
"Hehe, you actually attacked Psyduck's head!?"
"Don't you know the more pain Psyduck feels in its head, the stronger it gets!?"
"Psyduck, use… huh!?"
Her confident expression instantly vanished.
A yellow blur flew past Misty and slammed into the gym's wall—Psyduck was sent flying out of the arena before it could even act!