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Chapter 157: An Interesting Challenger (1)
🕑 Added 2025-06-25 18:01:33 +0000 UTC
Gladion was back to his boring gym leader duties. The number of trainers has increased as most of the rookie trainers had have their first or second badge and at least 2 sufficiently trained Pokemon to challenge him.
To Gladion, the battles were a yawn—predictable Tackles, half-hearted Quick Attacks, and the occasional wins.
'They’re not terrible for beginners,' he thought about the ones who won a gym from him, his smirk wry, 'but nothing special. I could not test them much since they were still roomies. The higher badges will weed out the weak.'
He’d just wrapped a 2v2 against a nervous boy from Fuschia who lost pretty easily and had not trained his Pokemon sufficiently.
“Keep training, kid,” Gladion said, tossing him a Moonwood sticker—a cartoon Umbreon winking—as consolation.
'Boring.' His psychic senses swept the challenger crowd waiting outside for their turn, hungry for a spark of challenge, when a girl stepped forward, her fiery orange ponytail eyes blazing with determination.
She wore a Charizard-themed T-shirt, its flaming logo faded from countless washes, and clutched a Poké Ball like a lifeline. “I’m Tara from Vermilion!” she declared, her voice cutting through the chatter.
“I’m here for a 3v3, five-badge challenge!” The crowd gasped—five badges with only two under her belt? That was either gutsy or suicidal.
Gladion’s smirk widened, 'Finally, someone with spine.' He stepped onto the battlefield, a flat expanse of packed dirt, devoid of grass, rocks, or water—just pure, unadulterated ground for raw skill to shine.
“Now that’s what I like,” he said, his voice carrying a rare warmth. “Looking for a fair fight, even when you could coast with a two-badge challenge. Reminds me of my younger self. You know, when I was ten, I challenged a Gym Leader with just —” Tara cut him off, her eyes sparkling like a Flamethrower, words tumbling out in a torrent.
“Um, sorry, Mr. Vortex, I’m a huge fan of Mrs. Erza! Can I meet her? Pretty please? Can I see her Charizard? Is her red hair natural? If it’s dyed, what brand does she use? And her Ninetales—oh my gosh, it’s so fluffy! What grooming products does she use? Does she brush its tails daily? What about its Fire Spin, how does she train it? And—”
Gladion blinked as Tara bombarded him with questions about his mother, Erza.
The crowd that had gathered to watch rookies embarrass themselves or win some glory snickered, and Nyx, lounging nearby, purred, [Kid’s got a serious crush on your mom, boss.]
Gladion’s face twitched, caught between amusement and horror. 'Thank Arceus she’s, what, ten-eleven? And Mom’s married, or I’d bet my gym she’d propose to her on the spot.'
He pictured Tara, starry-eyed, offering Erza a bouquet of Fire Flowers, declaring eternal love, while his dad, Ben, fumed in the background, muttering, “Not another fangirl!”
'Lesbian’s a thing in this world too.' Gladion imagined Tara trailing Erza like a lovesick Growlithe, asking for autographs on her Charizard plushie, while Erza, ever the fiery diva, humored her with a wink.
'Mom would eat her up.'
He cleared his throat, raising a hand to stem the tide. “Alright, alright, let’s get the battle started,” he said, his smirk returning.
“Impress me enough, and we’ll talk about meeting my Mom.” Tara’s face lit up like a Charmander’s tail flame, her squeal piercing the air. “Deal!” she shouted, bouncing on her toes, her ponytail whipping.
The crowd cheered, sensing a spectacle. The battlefield was decided to be a ground field with no grass or rocks just plain ground.
Gladion thought 'Her fangirling screams Fire-type specialist, like Mom. Let’s test how she handles a type disadvantage.'
He tossed a Poké Ball, releasing a Rhyhorn, Tara grinned, throwing her own. “Go, Growlithe!” The Fire Puppy bounded out, flames licking its orange fur, tail wagging fiercely.
But Tara’s eyes flicked to Rhyhorn, and her grin faltered. “Wait, return!” she called, recalling Growlithe in a flash of red light.
'Smart move,' Gladion thought, his smirk approving. Fire versus Rock was a losing game. And Growlithe were not known for many non fire type moves.
She tossed another Poké Ball. “Go, Charmeleon!” The Flame Pokémon emerged who had a much bigger natural skillset than a Growlithe. The crowd murmured, impressed by her quick thinking.
'Interesting withdrawal,' Gladion mused, “Rhyhorn, Take Down!” he commanded.
Rhyhorn charged towards the Charmeleon.
Tara shouted, “Charmeleon, Smokescreen!” Black smoke billowed from Charmeleon’s mouth, engulfing the field in a choking haze, obscuring vision. Rhyhorn barreled through, missing Charmeleon.
Gladion’s eyes narrowed, 'She’s using Smokescreen to block Rhyhorn’s charge moves—Take Down, Horn Attack. Clever girl.'
“Rhyhorn, keep throwing Rock Blast!” Gladion ordered. Rhyhorn roared, its hooves digging into the dirt, conjuring jagged stones from the ground and hurling them into the Smokescreen.
The rocks flew in a relentless barrage, cracking through the haze, some shattering against the field’s edges.
Gladion’s mind raced, anticipating her next move. 'Her best play is Dig—attack from below, catch Rhyhorn off-guard.' In a higher-badge battle, he’d counter with Earthquake or dodge psychically, but for a five-badge challenge, he’d play fair, letting her strategy unfold. 'Let’s see if she’s got the guts.'
The ground rumbled, and Charmeleon burst from beneath, its tail glowing with a metallic sheen. “Iron Tail!” Tara yelled, her voice ringing with confidence. The attack slammed into Rhyhorn’s flank, the steel-hard tail cracking against its rocky hide, sending the Rock-type stumbling who roared in pain.
Gladion’s smirk widened. 'Solid hit. I am glad she’s not just a fangirl and has skills to back herself.'
“Rhyhorn, Stone Edge!” he countered. Sharp stones erupted from the ground, hurtling toward Charmeleon in a deadly arc. The Fire-type staggered, caught in the onslaught and got buried under a pile of rocks. Tara gasped, her hands clenched, but Gladion pressed the advantage. “Finish it, Mega Horn!” Rhyhorn charged, horn glowing, aiming for the pile—but found only a hole in the dirt.
'Dig again,' Gladion thought
Charmeleon erupted behind Rhyhorn, battered but fierce, its tail flame roaring brighter despite its injuries. “Dragon Breath!” Tara shouted, her voice cracking with urgency.
A torrent of green fire surged from Charmeleon’s mouth, engulfing Rhyhorn in a searing blaze. The Rock-type roared, its hide scorched black, before collapsing, eyes dim with exhaustion. The referee raised a flag. “Rhyhorn is unable to battle! Charmeleon wins!” The crowd erupted, Tara pumping her fist, her ponytail bouncing wildly. “Yes, Charmeleon, you rock!” she cheered, nearly tripping in her excitement.
Gladion recalled Rhyhorn as he nodded in approval. 'She avoided Fire moves, knowing Rock resists them. Used Smokescreen for cover, Dig for surprise, and Dragon Breath for the knockout. Smart and gutsy, Not bad, kid.'
