"Zzz…"
Blastoise fell fast asleep on the spot, its eyelids fighting to stay open—and losing.
Its will was willing, but the body wasn't.
"Blastoise, get up!"
Gary tried a "revival shout" to wake it.
"Don't sleep!"
"Blastoise! cough, cough…"
Halfway through yelling, Gary's voice gave out—and Blastoise kept snoozing like a Snorlax, dead to the world.
No matter how he called, it wouldn't wake!
Clearly, yelling wasn't doing much.
Watching Blastoise like this, a vein twitched at the corner of Gary's eye.
He made a silent vow: Blastoise has to learn Sleep Talk after this!
Otherwise, what—just stand there and be a punching bag?
"Breloom, use Leech—"
Gary: ?!
"I forfeit!"
Before Grey could finish the second-round command, Gary didn't hesitate. Once he confirmed Blastoise wasn't getting up, he recalled it to avoid pointless damage.
"Whew…"
Clutching the Poké Ball, Gary stared at Grey's smiling face with lingering dread.
Spore + Leech Seed, seriously…?
A combo finisher from a Fighting-type trainer?!
"Ahem. Challenger, you chose the 'civil' style yourself," Grey said kindly, reading Gary's thoughts.
"???"
Gary gaped, speechless.
So that's what you meant by "civil," huh?
"Then what's 'martial'?"
"Probably something like Mach Punch into Bullet Seed to mop the floor."
Grey rubbed his chin as he answered.
Given Gary's Blastoise's current strength, a clean Bullet Seed string might've sealed it.
Gary: "…"
Great—there's always a 'perfect way to lose' tailored just for me, huh?!
"Since the challenger recalled his last Pokémon of his own accord, this counts as a forfeit. The winner is Gym Leader Grey!"
Bumiao announced the result.
[Uh…]
[I've heard Breloom's pretty nasty, but this is…]
[Dirtiest dojo battle I've seen…]
[Feels like the young master's loss wasn't undeserved.]
[Outclassed is outclassed. Nothing else to say.]
Blue's on-screen comment drifted by. He knew Gary's situation well enough.
In his view, there's no such thing as an unbreakable strat. It might cheese you once, but once you figure it out, Spore or Leech Seed shouldn't rattle you anymore.
And so ended Gary's second challenge of the Fighting Dojo.
It was also his third time challenging Grey.
Unfortunately, still a loss.
Grey felt Gary had done far better than his first two tries. On performance alone, it would be fair to award a badge.
After all, you don't always have to beat a Gym Leader to receive one.
"Gary, your strength has my recognition. Take this badge."
After a brief thought, Grey took a badge from his pocket.
It was golden overall, shaped like a dumbbell—pretty slick.
"Th… this isn't right. I didn't win, and I didn't even defeat a single Pokémon…"
Gary swallowed hard, warring with himself.
He had to admit—he wanted the Fighting Dojo badge.
But he hadn't even beaten Hitmontop…
Granted, there was that broken Baton Pass. Without it, he might've had a real shot.
But he hadn't stopped it.
Given all that, could he really accept what felt like a "handout"?
After thinking for a long while, Gary shook his head hard and pushed the badge back. "No. I want to take it the day I beat you fair and square."
Grey nodded and pocketed the badge again.
So fast that Gary almost missed it.
[Hahaha, the streamer was just being polite—afraid the young master might actually take it.]
[Gary: So you never planned to give it to me, huh?]
[At least he knows himself.]
"I'm off. When I'm stronger, I'll come back and go three hundred rounds with you!"
Gary gathered his Poké Balls and left for the Pokémon Center.
"Fighting Dojo, huh… Breloom, huh…!"
On the way, just remembering Grey's cheeky plays made Gary shiver. His breathing quickened and he hurried out of that trouble spot.
He made up his mind: he'd build a team tailored to counter Grey!
Stuff like Gyarados, Pidgeot, Dragonite…
If it flies, it trains!
He refused to believe a Fighting-type specialist could cover every angle!
"Yo—what are you thinking about?"
Grey's voice popped up out of nowhere.
Gary: ?!
"W-why are you following me?!"
Gary jumped.
"My Pokémon need treatment too."
Grey shook Hitmontop's Poké Ball, then looked toward the Pokémon Center down the road, musing, "Yeah… the Center is still too far from the dojo. It's a bit of a walk."
If Sabrina was around, it was fine—one Teleport and they'd be at the Center.
But what about later, with Sabrina away?
Jogging over every time was a waste.
For now, he'd pin his hopes on Gallade. Once Kirlia evolved, Teleport's range might extend enough.
They chatted on and off along the way, and Grey gave Gary a few pointers, clearing up a lot of his confusion.
"So Fighting types aren't just about charging in. Some can add judo-style counters for more options. If I learn that…"
Gary had been mulling whether to raise a few Fighting types himself. With Grey's guidance, he felt unstoppable.
He might even ride this momentum all the way to the Indigo Plateau Conference!
Armed with Grey's true teachings, no one could stop him now!
—So Gary thought.
…
Outside the Fighting Dojo.
"Saffron Fighting Dojo? That doesn't match the school sheet…"
A girl in an aristocratic school uniform stood at the dojo entrance, holding up her phone to compare the building with the image.
Something felt… off.
"Excuse me, is this the Saffron Gym?"
Undecided, she spotted a green-haired man passing by and asked.
"Hmm, let me see…"
Still on his call, the green-haired man wore a faint smile, not showing any impatience at the question.
He glanced up at the signboard and shook his head lightly. "No—this is Saffron City's Fighting Dojo. If you're looking for the Saffron Gym, try the ruins a few hundred meters that way."
"Eh?"
She froze, watching the green-haired man walk away.
"…"
The man flicked a look at the dojo behind him and smirked. "Just two run-of-the-mill Gym Leaders. As if they could hinder Team Rocket's grand design!"
//Check out my P@tre0n for 20 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810.