"Are you today's challenger?!"
From atop a high platform of dark gray rock, Brock—the spiky-haired, dark-skinned leader of the gym—gazed down at Red and Luffy. His sharp eyes seemed to pierce straight through them as his voice echoed across the gym.
After enduring the journey through waves of trainers, Luffy and Red had finally reached the Pewter Gym Leader. Along the way, Luffy had racked up over 500 experience points by defeating countless Geodude, yet he still seemed eager for more.
Red stepped forward confidently, his voice firm and steady. "That's right! We challenge you!"
Beside him, Luffy stretched his arms and rolled his shoulders, a playful grin spreading across his face. He was clearly bored of the endless stream of Geodude he had faced so far.
"I wonder if this guy can actually put up a good fight," Luffy muttered, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Red's response seemed to flip a switch. Brock's expression darkened, his youthful face now filled with a seriousness that matched his imposing demeanor.
"Hmph. You know you'll lose, but you still challenge me?" Brock sneered. "You're either brave... or foolish!"
His voice grew louder, filled with pride and authority.
Around them, the defeated gym trainers from earlier gathered in the audience seats, watching intently.
Suddenly, a spotlight illuminated Brock, casting his figure in a commanding glow. The crowd began to cheer wildly, and dramatic music filled the air, enhancing the tension.
At the same time, the ground in the center of the gym split open, revealing a regulation Pokémon battle arena. The smooth transformation from rugged terrain to a structured battlefield was nothing short of breathtaking.
Brock smirked confidently. "I am the Rock-type Gym Leader. My Pokémon are as unyielding as stone and as tough as the earth itself!"
He paused, the intensity in his voice rising. "Come on! Show me what you've got!"
As Brock made his way to his position on the battlefield, Red couldn't help but chuckle.
"All these theatrics... they really went all out to make this feel authentic," Red thought, rolling his eyes but inwardly impressed.
Luffy, however, was mesmerized by the spectacle. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he followed Red to their position on the opposite side of the battlefield.
The match was about to begin.
Brock wasted no time, pulling a Poké Ball from his belt. "Let's see how you handle this! Go, Geodude!"
With a flash of light, a larger-than-average Geodude appeared on the battlefield. Its rough, rocky body exuded strength, and its movements were sharper and more aggressive than the Geodude Luffy had encountered earlier.
Above its head, a status bar appeared: [LV: 12, HP: 38/38].
"A level 12 Geodude? Still not much of a challenge," Red murmured to himself.
Turning to Luffy, he gave his command. "Alright, Luffy! Take care of this!"
"Got it!" Luffy said with a grin, stepping onto the battlefield.
The ground beneath them shifted again, enclosing all three participants—Red, Luffy, and Brock—inside the battle zone.
For a moment, Brock's sharp gaze locked onto Luffy. His confident smirk wavered as his expression shifted into one of disbelief.
"Wh-what...?" Brock stammered, his eyes widening.
As an experienced trainer, he immediately sensed something unusual about Luffy.
Under the influence of the machine, even if he gained intelligence, he would not think that Luffy was not a Pokémon.
Still, Brock couldn't ignore the powerful aura radiating from Luffy.
"How... How does a rookie have such a strong Pokémon?!" Brock muttered, his voice tinged with shock and frustration.
Red, oblivious to Brock's turmoil, was already issuing his next command.
"Luffy, same plan as always! Use Soru to get behind it!"
Luffy smirked, already moving before the words had fully left Red's mouth.
Even though Geodude was Brock's Pokémon, its fate seemed inevitable.
Whoosh!
Luffy dashed across the battlefield like a whirlwind, his figure a blur of motion.
Brock's earlier shock quickly dissipated as he snapped back into focus, his instincts as a gym leader taking over.
"Huh!? Was that Quick Attack?!"
In this world, gym leaders were not just placeholders—they were imbued with battle intelligence befitting their status. Recognizing the threat, Brock made a split-second decision.
"Geodude, use Defense Curl and Rollout!"
"Luffy, attack!" Red commanded.
"Haaa!" Luffy roared, stretching his arm back. "Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!"
As the trainers barked their orders, the Pokémon and Luffy executed their moves simultaneously.
But just as Luffy's powerful, stretched fist shot toward Geodude, the rock Pokémon curled its body, its surface becoming smoother and more aerodynamic. With practiced ease, it withdrew its limbs and rolled to one side at high speed.
BAM!
Luffy's fist slammed into the rocky ground, leaving a deep crater and a spiderweb of cracks.
"Um!?" Luffy froze for a moment, glancing at the empty space where Geodude had been. Red, too, was momentarily stunned as the rolling Geodude made its escape.
Red's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing in thought.
"Using Defense Curl to enhance Rollout's speed... It compensates for Geodude's natural lack of mobility," Red murmured to himself, impressed. "As expected of a gym leader. That wasn't just instinct—that was a calculated reaction!"
He clenched his fists, realizing how far he still had to go. "So this is what it means to be an excellent trainer."
But then, Red smirked. "Too bad no amount of strategy can close the gap in raw power."
Without missing a beat, he called out, "Luffy! It's on your right! Go after it!"
"Got it!" Luffy responded enthusiastically.
In truth, Luffy didn't even need the command. His Kenbunshoku Haki had already locked onto the Geodude's movements, sensing its presence as it rolled to safety.
With a sudden burst of speed, Luffy used Soru, transforming into a blur as he pursued the rock Pokémon.
Brock stood frozen, his sharp mind unable to devise a solution in time. He could only watch as Geodude's desperate attempt to escape was thwarted by Luffy's overwhelming speed.
In moments, Luffy reappeared in front of the rolling Geodude, cutting off its path.
"Luffy, finish it!" Red shouted.
Brock gritted his teeth and barked, "Geodude, use Rollout and Tackle!"
Geodude, fueled by its trainer's determination, used a small protruding rock to launch itself into the air, spinning with increased velocity as it hurtled toward Luffy.
Despite its best effort, it was no match for Luffy's raw strength and precise timing.
"Gomu Gomu no... Bazooka!"
This time, Luffy used both hands, unleashing a devastating attack with a wider range to ensure success. His palms struck the oncoming Geodude with the force of a cannon.
BOOM!
Geodude let out a cry of pain as it was flung across the battlefield, slamming into a rocky outcrop.
"Geodude!" Brock shouted, rushing forward. He quickly recalled his fainted Pokémon, his expression a mix of worry and frustration.
Returning his gaze to Red, Brock's face grew serious. "I didn't expect you to have such a powerful... Pokémon."
"But I'm not done yet!" he declared, his determination rekindled.
Reaching for another Poké Ball, Brock tossed it into the air. "Go, Onix!"
A burst of red light erupted from the Poké Ball, and an enormous serpent made entirely of rugged, dark gray boulders materialized. Onix's head nearly scraped the gym ceiling, its sheer size and presence intimidating.
"Whoa!!!" Luffy exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. "What a cool giant snake!"
Drooling slightly, Luffy looked at Red. "Can I keep it?!"
"Focus, Luffy!" Red snapped, suppressing a laugh.
Onix roared, shaking the gym with its powerful cry, its piercing gaze locking onto Luffy. The battle between Luffy and Geodude had played out before its eyes, and now it was ready to avenge its fallen comrade.
.
.
.
1 minute later.
[Congratulations on successfully challenging the Pewter Gym and earning 236 experience points.]
[Command evaluation: Average.]
[Bonus reward: +47 experience points.]