"Someone else is challenging. I wonder how good they are." The moment Zhang and his companions arrived, the audience began to murmur.
"Hello, viewers, and welcome back! We have our next challenger," a young woman said to the camera. It was Xiao Xue, a host for the Pokémon Channel.
The Pokémon Channel was the most popular television network in the Daxia region, primarily because it was the only one with exclusive rights to broadcast the eight major Gym challenges live. People of all ages tuned in; even the older generation had been enthusiasts and trainers in their youth. The only difference was that young people preferred to watch on their phones, where they could post live comments.
At Xiao Xue's cue, the cameraman focused on Zhang, Cynthia, and Bea.
"To be young!" a comment flashed across the screen.
"Those two girls are so beautiful. I'm so envious."
"+1!"
"+1!"
As usual, Bea and Cynthia drew more attention than Zhang.
"Professor Li, what do you think? Can these three challengers earn the Gym badge?" Xiao Xue asked the old man sitting beside her.
This was their special guest commentator, Professor Li Zhifeng, a doctor of Pokémon battling. He was renowned for his sharp eye and had mentored many of the wealthiest Elite Four members, making him one of the most famous battle strategists in Daxia. The self-made Heavenly Kings, those who had fought their way up from nothing, had no need for a "layman's" guidance.
"Based on my years of observation, the stronger the trainer, the more confident they appear," Professor Li said, adjusting his glasses. "These three students look very confident, without a trace of apprehension. This suggests they have great faith in their own strength. It's likely they are all Gym Leader-tier trainers, true prodigies."
"Gym Leader tier?" Xiao Xue's eyes widened in disbelief. Even in the Daxia region, such trainers were incredibly rare and considered true powerhouses.
"Finally, some real talent! I trust Professor Li's judgment."
"I don't get it. I'm confident too, does that make me Gym Leader tier?"
"Exactly."
"Sitting here waiting for this old man to be proven wrong."
"Waiting +1!"
"+1!"
Like Xiao Xue, most of the viewers were skeptical.
"It seems our audience doesn't share Professor Li's assessment," Xiao Xue said with a slight smile. "Well then, let's wait and see." She gestured for the camera to focus on Zhang as he entered the arena.
He stepped onto the massive battlefield of the Pewter Gym.
"This place is huge," he marveled, looking at the arena that was larger than a dozen football fields. "It must be amazing when it's full of people. The feeling of being in the spotlight... I'm looking forward to it."
"Are you Zhang Tian?" a middle-aged man with tanned skin asked from the other side of the field. This was the gatekeeper of the Pewter Gym. To get the badge, a challenger had to defeat him or earn his approval.
"That's right," Zhang nodded.
"Good," the man said, and nothing more. Although he planned to give Zhang a hard time for Hao Fei's sake, he wouldn't do so overtly. It would only cause trouble. He was a disciple of the Gym, not the owner. This was the Daxia region, not some lawless state.
"Please get ready!" a young man on the back of a Pidgeot called from above. He was this match's referee. "This will be a 3v3 battle. The rules are as follows... Alright, the countdown will now begin."
Zhang and the gatekeeper took out their Poké Balls.
"10, 9, 8..."
"0!"
The moment the countdown finished, they both threw their Poké Balls.
"Come out, Arzuros!"
"Crush the enemy! Golem!"
"ROAR!" With a deafening roar, the towering Arzuros appeared. It stood 3 meters tall and was 5.5 meters long. On its hind legs, it could reach a height of 7 meters, as tall as a two-story building. It was a true monster.
At the same time, a 1.4-meter-tall Golem appeared in front of the gatekeeper.
Golem
Level: 43 (Gym Leader Tier)
Type: Rock/Ground
Ability: Sturdy
Held Item: Leftovers
Arzuros
Level: 41 (Gym Leader Tier)
Type: Fighting
Ability: Big Bully
Held Item: Black Belt (+20% power to Fighting-type moves)
The moment the Arzuros appeared, an overwhelming aura of brutality and the thick scent of blood washed over the arena. Many viewers at home were startled. Even the experienced host, Xiao Xue, couldn't help but take a few steps back, her body trembling slightly. The primal part of her brain was screaming at her to flee. Even the unflappable Professor Li's expression changed.
"Such intense ferocity, such raw wildness... How could a Pokémon like that even be captured, let alone tamed?" he murmured in disbelief. The ferocity radiating from the Arzuros, even from this distance, made the hair on his arms stand on end. How could such a beast obey a trainer?
The Golem trembled. Under the Arzuros's murderous aura, it was terrified, a far cry from Cynthia's fearless Garchomp.
"How is this possible! How could Zhang have a Gym Leader-tier Pokémon?!" Hao Fei stared from the audience, his mind reeling.
Bulk Up. The moment it hit the field, the Arzuros used its buffing move. Its Attack and Defense were now 1.5 times their original values. The Golem, paralyzed by fear, only reacted after the Arzuros had already powered up.
"ROAR!" The Arzuros charged, using the move Thrash. This skill, similar to Quick Attack, doubled its speed while also dealing damage. The Arzuros was slow, but the Golem was even slower.
"Golem, use Harden, then Rollout!" the gatekeeper shouted.
Hearing its trainer's voice, the Golem snapped out of its stupor.
Harden!
Its defense rose by one stage. By the time it had finished, the Arzuros was already upon it.
"ROAR!" The bear-like monster rose to its full height and brought its palms together, aiming to crush the Golem.
Faced with the attack, the Golem instinctively used Protect.
CLANG!
The Arzuros's paws were blocked by the translucent barrier. The attack looked powerful, but it couldn't break through the shield that was as thin as an eggshell.