"That aura is terrifying… you can tell at a glance that he's not someone to mess with… damn it, he's just a kid, so how did he raise such a powerful Pokémon?"Watching the towering Charmeleon standing on Yozora's side of the field, Takesan's heart trembled in disbelief.
"But my Primeape isn't a pushover either. It has dazzling speed and masterful fighting skills!"
With a confident smile, Takesan commanded:"Primeape, use Agility to close in on the opponent!"
"Shu-shu-shu—!"Sure enough, Primeape burst forward with blinding speed, its figure flickering like a shadow as it bounded across the field.
"Charmeleon, use Scary Face!"Seeing Primeape rushing closer and closer, Yozora gave his order.
Charmeleon's eyes narrowed. With a sudden, earth-shaking roar, an overwhelming pressure surged forth…
In that instant, Primeape felt as if Charmeleon's body had grown into a monstrous giant, looming high above like a beast blotting out the sky.
Crushed beneath that terrifying pressure, Primeape broke into a cold sweat. Its movements froze, Agility cut off instinctively, leaving it stiff in place.
"Primeape!!"Even Takesan could feel the oppressive force of Charmeleon's Scary Face. His whole body was covered in goosebumps.
"Finish it—Flamethrower!"Yozora swung his arm down.
Charmeleon unleashed a stream of blazing fire that roared toward the immobilized Primeape.
Primeape trembled violently, unable to dodge. The flames engulfed it head-on.
"Gwaaaaah—!"The attack's force was devastating. Primeape let out a pained scream as it was blasted backward, crashing hard onto the ground. Its eyes spun with stars before it finally collapsed, completely losing its ability to battle.
"Primeape… how… how could this happen…"Takesan was stunned. His strongest partner, felled in a single blow, left him kneeling in shock.
Relying on that Primeape, he had already strung together ten consecutive victories here, thinking himself formidable. But now, he had been utterly crushed by Yozora, a so-called rookie…
After defeating Takesan, Yozora folded his arms across his chest and said nothing, simply waiting for the next challenger.
Over the next three matches, his Charmeleon once again overwhelmed every opponent with ease, knocking them out one after another.
The flawless coordination between Yozora and Charmeleon showcased a power that left the crowd no room for doubt.
At last, all those watching acknowledged his strength.
"That's enough, Yozora. You don't need to battle anymore. You may be young, but your strength far surpasses ours. Today's right to challenge Taige Gym belongs to you!"
"That's right—it's yours! We all admit it!" the trainers around him agreed.
Yozora gave a slight smile, recalled Charmeleon to its ball, and under the envious gazes of the crowd, stepped into Taige Gym.
The moment he entered, the great doors shut firmly behind him, shutting out all the other trainers outside.
—Each Gym has its own rules. Taige Gym was unique in that it accepted only one challenger per day.
Inside, the air was filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers. At the center lay a vast training hall. Potted plants, carefully pruned and arranged, lined the perimeter, giving the entire Gym a refined atmosphere.
Atop the dojo floor, a white-haired elder sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.
His frame was lean, his white training robes loose and flowing, his face glowing with vigor. His forehead and temples bulged with power, his breathing deep and steady.
With each inhale and exhale, the very air around him vibrated, drawing in streams of white energy that resembled coiling dragons.
"What an incredible Aura…!"Yozora focused, sensing the old man's presence. His Aura fluctuated—sometimes immeasurably strong, sometimes faint and elusive, carrying the essence of simplicity and truth. It was impossible to gauge its true depth.
A human, yet bearing such formidable Aura—there was no doubt. The man before him was none other than Master Tyron.
Before Master Tyron, four disciples were diligently practicing their martial forms, their voices rising in rhythmic shouts.
Though his eyes were closed, Master Tyron seemed to sense Yozora's arrival. After only three breaths, he opened his eyes and rose to his feet.
His gaze fell on Yozora. A flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes, followed by admiration."Not bad. Many trainers come here to challenge my Gym each day, but for someone of your age to stand out among them is truly rare."
"I don't dare claim credit."Yozora bowed humbly. "My name is Yozora, from Pallet Town. I've come to challenge your Gym."
"No problem."With a wave of his hand, Master Tyron signaled his disciples to clear the stage."The rules of Taige Gym are one-on-one. Young man, send out your strongest Pokémon, and I will provide you with a suitable opponent."
Yozora blinked in surprise.
He had challenged many Gyms before, but he had never encountered rules like these.
But then again, this was Master Tyron—a man known for his independence and unconventional ways. To follow the usual format would hardly fit his style.
And Yozora had no doubts about his strength.
This was the man who had trained Master Bruno of the Elite Four. Even if Bruno had surpassed his master, Tyron's own ability as a trainer was unquestionable.
Bruno was one of Kanto's Four Elite, a powerhouse just below Champion level. For Tyron to have raised such a disciple, his own strength, at the very least, had to be on par with the Elite Four.
"Send out my strongest Pokémon, huh…" Yozora hesitated. His true ace was Beedrill.
But Beedrill's level was far too high. Ordinary people might not notice, but Master Tyron surely would.
Yozora didn't want to reveal too much. After some thought, he chose to send out Charmeleon instead.
He had originally planned for Charmeleon to compete in the Fighting Tournament of Taige Town in two weeks' time. Training it here and now would be an excellent opportunity.
"Mhm. A fine Charmeleon indeed."Master Tyron nodded approvingly at the Pokémon, then drew a Poké Ball from his belt and tossed it high.
"Come forth—Hitmonchan!"
A humanoid figure appeared with brown-toned skin, clad in a skirt-like martial armor that was tougher than it looked, serving as reliable protection.
On its fists were bright red boxing gloves, its stance that of a professional fighter.
Hitmonchan—aptly named the "Punching Master."
Its punches were blindingly fast, making it a specialist in boxing techniques. Its brother, Hitmonlee, was equally famous, known for its devastating kicks, legs snapping out like coiled springs that could extend to strike even distant opponents.
Even from ten meters away, a single kick from Hitmonlee could still land cleanly.
Pokémon: Hitmonchan
Type: Fighting
Rank: Commander-tier, High-level
Potential: Commander-tier
Notes: A seasoned, battle-hardened Hitmonchan. Never to be underestimated.
(End of Chapter)