The air in the gym was still thick with the excitement from our last match, but peace never lasted long around here. I was halfway through re-aligning the arena's floor panels when the system chimed.
[Urgent Task: Resolve Incoming Conflict]Time Limit: 30 minutesFailure Penalty: Decrease in Gym Reputation
Before I could even groan, the doors slammed open so hard they bounced against the walls. In strode a man in his late twenties, built like a wrestler, with a Gyarados emblem stitched across the back of his jacket. Behind him trailed two equally tough-looking companions.
He stopped in the center of the gym and jabbed a finger in my direction. "You're Lin Shou?"
I set down my tools slowly. "Depends on who's asking."
The man's eyes narrowed. "You trained a rookie named Chen Wei last week, right? Kid with a Magikarp?"
I nodded. "That rings a bell."
"You told him his Magikarp was useless!"
I raised my hands defensively. "I said it wasn't ready for battle yet. There's a difference."
"Yeah? Well, he went home crying. Now his big brother—me—has come to 'teach you some manners.'"
Squirtle, lounging on a bench, perked up at the word "teach." Latina, on the other hand, was already reaching for her wrench.
The man threw down a Poké Ball. In a flash of light, a hulking Gyarados filled the arena, its scales gleaming and eyes blazing with fury. The floor trembled under its weight.
I took a steadying breath. "Squirtle, you're up."
He hopped off the bench, cracking his knuckles.
From the sidelines, Latina muttered, "Want me to set the MK-II to hazard mode?"
"Not yet," I replied. "Let's see how round one goes."
"Gyarados, Hydro Pump!" the man roared.
A massive torrent of water surged toward Squirtle, but he dove aside, rolling back to his feet. He countered with Water Pulse, but the attack barely made the giant serpent flinch.
Gyarados lunged with surprising speed, jaws wide for a Bite. Squirtle spun into his shell, using Rapid Spin to deflect the strike, but the sheer force sent him skidding backward.
"Focus on mobility!" I called.
Squirtle darted between the arena's rock formations, using them as cover. Gyarados smashed through one with its tail, showering the floor with debris.
Latina, never one to stay out of a fight for long, activated the MK-II. The robot zipped into the fray, spraying soapy water under Gyarados's coils. The massive Pokémon roared in irritation as its movements became more erratic.
"Skull Bash!" I shouted.
Squirtle charged forward, head lowered, and slammed into Gyarados's midsection. The serpent recoiled, but instead of retreating, it whipped around for a Dragon Rage.
The searing blast of energy tore across the arena, narrowly missing Squirtle but demolishing another section of the floor. I winced—repairs were going to be expensive.
We needed a finishing move, fast.
"Squirtle, Aqua Jet—full power!"
He shot forward like a blue missile, colliding with Gyarados's jaw in a powerful uppercut. The giant serpent teetered, roared once more, and collapsed with a crash that shook the entire building.
The man stared, speechless.
I exhaled slowly. "If I apologize to your brother, will you calm down?"
The man's expression shifted. After a long pause, he gave a grudging nod. "Fine. But you'd better mean it."
An hour later, I found myself standing in front of a scrawny kid holding a Magikarp. Chen Wei eyed me nervously as I crouched down.
"Listen," I said, "I wasn't trying to insult your partner. Magikarp might not be strong now, but with the right training, it can become a powerhouse. Trust me, I've seen it happen."
His eyes widened. "Really?"
"Really. Come by the gym next week. We'll start from the basics."
The kid's face lit up. "Okay!"
Back at the gym, the system delivered its verdict.
[Task Complete: Conflict Resolved]Reward: Mid-tier Loyalty Bonus for Local Trainers]
Latina tossed me a towel. "You know, for someone who hates drama, you attract an awful lot of it."
I dried my face and glanced at Squirtle, who was already dozing on the couch. "Yeah… but at least it keeps things interesting."
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had a nagging feeling. If this was the small conflict of the week, I wasn't sure I was ready for whatever came next.