5 bonus chapter's coming out at 11 AM EST. So I ask that you withhold you're powerstones until then.
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"Professor Johan, will it be an unrestricted battle, a rotation battle, or...?"
Stepping onto the battlefield, Erika asked with a calm smile.
Do all Kanto Gym Leaders have a thing for unrestricted battles?
Johan couldn't help but grumble internally.
Then again... upon reflection, they really did!
Erika wasn't just skilled in flower arranging and perfume crafting—she also excelled in archery.
The kind of archery where Poké Balls were used as arrowheads, shooting Pokémon directly into battle.
It was reminiscent of Ethan's billiard cue style.
Of course, she also used arrows without Poké Balls when necessary.
"Let's keep it simple," Johan suggested. "This is just a friendly match, so we'll go with a basic 1v1."
Erika gave a polite nod and bowed slightly.
When she straightened, her hair was pinned back with her headband, revealing a sharper, more spirited expression.
"In that case, I'll rely on this one."
She produced a Poké Ball from her sleeve, prepared for battle.
Johan did the same, signaling he was ready.
Audience Stands
Steven, Flannery, and Roxanne sat with Brock, Will, and Bugsy.
"Miss Roxanne, I must say, I greatly admire you—"
Before Brock could finish, Gengar materialized from Johan's shadow, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Ka-kah~~"
Brock froze, his expression stiff.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma... It tingles!"
"Gengar, what are you doing here?" Flannery asked curiously.
Johan was about to face Erika, so why wasn't Gengar with him?
"Since Erika specializes in Grass-type Pokémon," Steven mused, "Professor Johan will likely send out Vulpix for this match."
"But then why was Gengar following him earlier?" Roxanne asked, confused.
Grinning mischievously, Gengar produced a bucket of popcorn from seemingly nowhere.
Ta-da!
Grabbing a handful, it stuffed the popcorn into its mouth, crunching loudly.
Delicious!
"Ka-kah?"
Want some?
Gengar generously offered the bucket around.
"Thanks, Gengar!" Everyone's eyes lit up as they eagerly accepted.
"Wait, where did you get this popcorn?" Bugsy asked, curious.
Gengar clenched a fist dramatically before slowly opening it, suggesting it had made the popcorn itself.
"But… the academy doesn't even have corn, does it?" Roxanne questioned.
Steven, recalling a certain incident, rubbed his temple awkwardly.
"It's probably from those Sunflora running around campus…"
"Wait, Sunflora seeds can make popcorn?"
"Hold on a second."
Will paused mid-bite, suddenly realizing something was off. Turning to Gengar, he asked cautiously:
"Gengar… how did you pop the popcorn?"
Hmm?
"Ka-kah!"
Gengar grinned, summoning a small, ghostly blue flame.
"Will-o-Wisp?!"
Everyone froze.
Will's face turned red, as did Bugsy's and Roxanne's.
Steven, wisely, hadn't taken any popcorn.
Flannery, however…
Crunch, crunch—
"This is pretty good! Gengar, can you make it spicier next time?" Flannery commented, her cheeks puffed with popcorn.
"Ka-kah!" Gengar gave her a thumbs up.
Finally, someone with taste!
Unaware of the chaos her students had endured at Gengar's hands, Erika stood on the battlefield, her focus entirely on Johan.
"Professor Johan," she said with a smile, "do you have your own unique 'battle blossom' style?"
She tossed her Poké Ball.
A red beam shot out, revealing a massive Venusaur, its back adorned with a giant blooming flower.
Venusaur, the Seed Pokémon. Grass/Poison-type. The final evolution of Bulbasaur, one of Kanto's starter Pokémon.
"Veeen~"
Do you really have to be this serious?
Johan's brow twitched as he looked at the hulking Venusaur.
Though Erika's signature Pokémon were Vileplume and Bellossom, Johan knew full well how troublesome Venusaur could be.
He threw his Poké Ball, releasing his Vulpix.
"Oowu?"
Vulpix's expression grew serious the moment it saw Venusaur.
"Relax," Johan crouched to reassure his Pokémon. "Just do your best—it's not about winning or losing."
Vulpix nodded solemnly.
"Oowu!"
This opponent looks tough, but I'll give it my all!
Its tails curled as it produced its cherished small Ice Stone, which it began to chew on.
Crunch!
Johan: "…"
You could eat that this whole time?!
He'd thought the Ice Stone would last for a while, but apparently… another expense was on the horizon.
"You okay?" he asked.
Vulpix swallowed the shard with a gulp, nodding confidently.
"Oowu!"
Ready to go!
This doesn't count as a performance-enhancing substance, does it? Johan wondered briefly.
"Go for it," he finally said.
Vulpix leapt onto the battlefield.
"Professor Johan, it seems both you and your Pokémon genuinely enjoy battles."
Erika's soft gaze sharpened.
"And I'm equally thrilled for this upcoming match!"
Though there was no official referee, their mutual understanding was clear.
The battle began!
Vulpix's snowy white fur shimmered, a faint frost exhaling with each breath. Snowflakes began to fall, covering the battlefield in a light blanket of snow.
What incredible weather control!
Erika's eyes widened slightly.
This is the strength of Professor Johan's team?
"Venusaur, use Leech Seed!"
"Veeen!"
Venusaur launched seeds from the flower on its back. The seeds landed near Vulpix, quickly sprouting roots that wrapped around the small Pokémon.
Meanwhile, Johan's Pokédex displayed Venusaur's details:
[Venusaur]
Type: Grass/Poison
Ability: Overgrow
Moves: Sunny Day, Leech Seed, Toxic, Protect, Substitute, Sleep Powder, Poison Powder, Razor Leaf, Synthesis…
Seeing Venusaur's moveset and ability, Johan immediately grasped Erika's strategy. His expression turned a bit peculiar.
Oh, it's THAT strategy…
"Vulpix, use Nasty Plot!"
Vulpix ignored the Leech Seed's growing vines as it focused, its cunning and power increasing.
Erika frowned.
This wasn't the usual strategy she had expected from Johan's Vulpix.
Isn't it supposed to stack Hail and build snow forts?
Still, she pressed on.
"Venusaur, Toxic!"
As the toxic sludge flew toward Vulpix, Johan sighed.
Of course, the classic 'Toxic + Substitute + Protect' combo.
"What a nasty strategy," he muttered.
"Oowu!"
Vulpix dodged by burrowing underground.
"Dig?" Erika smiled.
"That won't work."
Venusaur's vines glowed faintly, revealing the underground Vulpix's location.
Leech Seed tracking?
Johan: "…"
This is some next-level nonsense!
"Vulpix, now's your chance!"
Vulpix burst out of the ground, breaking Venusaur's Protect.
"Use Blizzard!"
"Oowu!"
Snow and ice whirled violently, blanketing the battlefield.
Erika tried to counter:
"Venusaur, Sunny Day!"
But something was off.
Venusaur struggled to alter the weather as frost-covered flowers began blooming around it.
That's… Aurora Veil?!
"Venusaur, Substitute!" Erika commanded urgently.
"Too late," Johan responded.
Vulpix unleashed its full Blizzard, enhanced by Nasty Plot. The icy storm engulfed Venusaur, even bypassing its Substitute.
Venusaur fainted!
Panting, Vulpix ran back to Johan, nudging him with a pitiful whimper.
"Oowu~ Oowu~"
I'm poisoned! I need ten Antidotes!
In the stands, the students were speechless.
Roxanne, Flannery, Bugsy, and Will exchanged glances.
Johan had indeed demonstrated how to counter a "Toxic Protect" strategy—with raw power.
But…
How are we supposed to learn that?!
"That Blizzard covered the entire field…" Roxanne muttered.
Bugsy added, "And it broke through Substitute like it wasn't even there…"
Brock, clutching his chest, sighed deeply.
"Perhaps… this is the biggest gap between Professor Johan and me…"
He thought about the cheering Officer Jennys and felt his heart shatter.
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Powerstones?
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