"I never expected this young man's strength to be so outstanding…" the middle-aged man whispered, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He now saw Red and his Scizor as the saviors of Dark City.
"Don't say I'm bullying you," Red announced, his voice echoing through the silent street. "Go call your bosses." He had already seen through their pathetic plan to call for reinforcements and decided to settle the matter once and for all.
The members of the two gangs exchanged glances, a silent, temporary truce forming between them. They scrambled back to their respective bases to fetch their leaders.
"Won't this be too reckless?" the restaurant owner asked, his voice filled with worry. "The leaders of both Gyms are not ordinary trainers."
"Don't worry, sir," Red replied with unwavering confidence. "These third-rate thugs are no threat to me. Just relax and watch the show."
A short while later, the two Gym leaders, Yas and Kaz, swaggered onto the scene, flanked by their subordinates. They glared at Red with arrogant disdain.
"So, you're the one who provoked our Gym," they both shouted in unison. "Seeing as you're quite strong, if you agree to become one of our fighters, I can let this slide."
"What?!" they both exclaimed again, turning to glare at each other in astonishment. Realizing their recruitment plans had been mutually anticipated, they angrily dropped the pretense, ready to challenge Red directly.
"What a pathetic display," Red mocked. He casually tossed a Poké Ball, and the colossal Steelix materialized, its sheer size casting a long, intimidating shadow over the two gangs.
"Gulp!"
The two leaders, who had been posturing just a moment before, instantly deflated. If it had only been Scizor, they might have attempted some cooperative strategy. But the appearance of another heavyweight like Steelix crushed any lingering hope in their hearts.
Feeling the expectant gazes of their underlings, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and send out their Pokémon. An Electabuzz and a Scyther appeared before Steelix and Scizor, looking utterly terrified.
Steelix and Scizor exchanged a knowing glance, each choosing their opponent.
Without waiting for a command, Steelix charged, unleashing a devastating Heavy Slam on the Electabuzz. The Electric-type was so terrified by the approaching monster that its legs went limp, all thoughts of resistance vanishing.
"Stand up, Electabuzz!" Kaz, the Gym leader, shrieked, but it was a hollow command. His Pokémon glanced back and saw that its own trainer had already scurried to hide in a corner. A look of utter despair washed over its face.
BANG—
Electabuzz was sent flying. Its struggling body was then pinned by Steelix's immense weight, literally pressed into unconsciousness.
Scizor's battle was even more one-sided. Scyther, seeing its opponent was its own evolved form, lost most of its fighting spirit from the start. In a contest of speed, it was miserably outmatched, knocked to the ground by a single Metal Claw.
"How is that possible?!"
Seeing their ace Pokémon so easily defeated, the two leaders gave up all resistance. They fell to their knees in unison, begging "Master Red" to forgive their transgressions. Their subordinates, seeing their leaders surrender, quickly followed suit, wailing and pleading for mercy.
"As Pokémon Trainers, you are failures," Red stated, his voice cold and indifferent.
The members of the Yas and Kaz Gyms nodded frantically, some even slapping themselves in regret.
"I can understand your desire to become Gym Leaders," Red continued, "but your actions have completely violated the responsibilities that come with that title."
"Master, how can we become Gym Leaders recognized by the League?" one of them asked, his voice trembling.
In the Pokémon world, strength commands respect. It felt only natural for them to address Red as their master. Sensing that Red might be willing to guide them, Yas and Kaz scurried over, attempting to massage his back and feet, a gesture that momentarily bewildered even Red.
"The primary responsibility of a Gym Leader is to maintain local peace and uphold the reputation of the Pokémon League," Red explained, his voice sharp. "Do you truly believe that brawling in the streets and disregarding the safety of the residents is the behavior of a Gym Leader?"
His words were a revelation. The gang members looked around at the dilapidated town, at the residents who lowered their heads in fear, and at the innocent children crying in the background. The weight of their actions finally crashed down on them.
"What have we done?!" they cried out, pounding the ground in regret.
"Rather than wallowing in regret, go and apologize to the townspeople," Red advised. "Take responsibility for restoring Dark City's prosperity. Perhaps then, they will forgive you."
Galvanized by his words, the members of both Gyms immediately took action. They began cleaning the streets and making amends, humbly accepting the consequences of their actions. Even when a child threw a stone at them, they simply smiled, bowed, and apologized.
"Now that is the proper demeanor of a Gym Trainer."
Applause came from behind them. The mysterious figure from the restaurant stepped forward, pulling off her trench coat to reveal her true identity.
"I am the inspector dispatched to Dark City by the Pokémon League," Nurse Joy announced.
"Inspector! Please, give us a few more days!" Yas and Kaz pleaded, their faces pale with panic. They knew they were far from meeting the League's standards.
"Originally, I planned to observe you for a few more days," she explained. "But with this young man's intervention, I decided to reveal myself early." Her words made them realize that she had witnessed all of their shameful duels. "Don't worry. As long as you truly repent, you are still qualified to become Gym Leaders."
A flicker of hope returned to their eyes.
"Master," Kaz said, "the main reason we fought was because we were told Dark City can only have one official Gym. We had no choice but to duel for that single position."
"That is a simple matter to resolve," Red said, seeing their confused expressions. "Though it has not yet been implemented in the Kanto region. Why not merge your two Gyms into one? The Kaya Gym. You can retain elements of your former styles, but you will be co-leaders. Establish the Kanto region's first official Double Battle Gym. That way, there will be no need to fight over the position."
"Master, is a Double Battle Gym really allowed?" Yas asked, puzzled.
"Yes," Kaz added. "All the Gyms in Kanto are Single Battle format. Is there any hope for a plan like ours?"
"What? Are you unhappy with my suggestion?" Red's brow furrowed. Beside him, Steelix and Scizor glared at the two men, who paled under their intimidating gazes.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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