［Target Confirmed Check-in: Pallet Town · Ash］
［Companion: Cerulean Gym · Misty.］
［Status: Registered.］
However, Nurse Joy possessed strong professional ethics; she did not reveal exactly which Pokémon Ash was carrying, nor the condition of those Pokémon.
The Joy family was completely neutral. Unless necessary, they did not mix in with the messy affairs of the League.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
As the local powerhouse of Pewter City, the Pewter Gym certainly had special connections with the Pokémon Center.
And it was quite normal for the Pokémon Center's Nurse Joy to recognize Misty.
Misty's three older sisters were quite famous, and as the younger sister, Misty had some presence by association.
Inattentive people might not notice, but anyone who paid a little attention would know who Misty was.
After all, the Kanto League only had 8 mainstream Gyms.
And even if the Cerulean Gym had declined, Misty was still the Fourth Miss of the Gym.
"He's finally here!" Brock's fingers, clutching the communicator, tightened slightly. On his rock-like face, the corners of his mouth twitched upwards almost imperceptibly.
Deep in his eyes, the fighting spirit that had slumbered for days was like magma surging beneath the earth's crust, suddenly ignited.
He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over his parents, his voice low and clear:
"Father, Mother."
"He has come."
"Pass the order down... prepare to activate the 'Rock Core' arena."
"Prepare for the 'Special Assessment'."
Since the worldview had become realistic.
This led to the problem of a massive increase in Pokémon Trainers.
With more Pokémon Trainers, the number of people challenging Gyms naturally went up.
It was impossible for the Gym Leader to receive every challenger personally; otherwise, they would die of exhaustion.
So, under the Gym Leader, there were other Trainers responsible for lower-end assessments.
Every Gym could conduct assessments for the first through the eighth Badge.
However, the Gym Leader themselves would only conduct assessments for the seventh and eighth Badges.
And different levels of Badge assessments also had different levels of arenas.
The size and security quality of these arenas were different.
［Rock Core Arena］
It was the assessment venue for Pewter Gym's seventh and eighth Badges.
Brock prepared to give Ash a space large enough to display his skills at will—let me see your talent and potential!
A sharp light burst from Flint's eyes, and he clenched his fist abruptly: "Good! This is what we've been waiting for! I really want to see just how hard the bones are of the kid Professor Oak personally greeted us about!"
Flint did not feel that being ordered around by Professor Oak was a humiliation.
For a big shot to take the initiative to say hello was already giving them a lot of face.
Professor Oak was, after all, the former first Champion of the League.
Lola also stood up slowly, the gentle smile on her face fading:
"I will go check the arena and the final defensive facilities."
"Brock, don't hold back."
"The 'suitability' the Professor wants is a 'caliber' that can withstand your full-force test."
The League needed change.
Brock's mother, Lola, knew this very well; she was also an outstanding Ace Trainer.
Let her see, was the wind of change really going to blow this time?
Brock did not respond. He simply turned and strode towards the depths of the Gym, to that core arena specifically sealed off and surrounded by giant grey-white rocks—the "Rock Core".
The heavy stone doors closed slowly behind him, emitting a dull boom, cutting off the inside from the outside.
He would meditate here, waiting patiently.
Deep in the Gym, only the low echo of grinding rocks remained, along with that heavy, mountain-like fighting spirit spreading silently.
The rocks belonging to Pewter Gym had prepared the hardest, cruelest testing ground for the challenger coming from afar.
Meanwhile, at the Pokémon Center.
Ash certainly didn't know what was happening at Pewter Gym.
After healing Gyarados in the special medical room, Ash returned Gyarados to its Poké Ball.
At this moment, he had just finished a shower and was resting.
"Gyarados, Pidgeotto, Pikachu... I'll be relying on you tomorrow."
As if hearing Ash's words, the Poké Balls containing Gyarados and Pidgeotto shook twice.
As for Pikachu?
Pikachu didn't like sleeping inside a Poké Ball, so naturally, it slept on the bed.
"Pika~ Pika~" Pikachu extended its cheek to nuzzle against Ash's face.
"Hahaha, that tickles a bit~" Ash smoothed Pikachu's fur with his hand.
His eyes looked at the system interface, where there was an achievement—1st Gym Challenge (Incomplete)
Ash incidentally checked the data of his companions.
①——
Partner Pikachu
Nickname: Partner
Level: 17
Nature: Bashful
Ability: Lightning Rod
Skills: Volt Tackle LV1, Zippy Zap LV1, Thunder Shock LV3, Growl LV1, Tail Whip LV1, Thunder Wave LV2, Quick Attack LV2, Double Team LV2, Double Kick LV1, Electro Ball LV1, Feint LV1
Equipped Item: Light Ball LV30 (Under level 30, Sp. Atk and Atk doubled)
②——
Pidgeotto
Nickname: Sky Eye
Level: 21
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Keen Eye
Skills: Tackle LV2, Sand Attack LV2, Gust LV2, Quick Attack LV2, Tailwind LV1
③——
Gyarados
Nickname: Sea Rogue
Nature: Quirky
Level: 23
Ability: Intimidate
Skills: Splash LV10, Take Down LV1, Bite LV1, Hyper Beam LV1, Dragon Rage LV1, Water Gun LV1
How should one put it?
Ash discovered that Pikachu's move set was not just ordinarily luxurious.
Compared to Pikachu, the move sets of Pidgeotto and Gyarados were quite plain.
And compared to Pidgeotto, Gyarados had already learned a Normal-type ultimate move at this level.
The gap between them had already started to widen.
"It seems there is no level cap for now?" Ash held Pidgeotto's Poké Ball in his hand.
If the system could remove the growth limits of Pokémon, then Pidgeotto could continue to appear in future tournaments.
"Partner... let us continue to make our appearance at the Indigo League~"
"By then, you surely will have already evolved into the form of Pidgeot."
Although the official name for Pidgeot was 'Great Pidgeot'.
But Ash felt this name was lame; he still thought 'Pidgeot' sounded better.
What 'Great Pidgeot'?
We don't know it.
Right?
Pidgeot~~
"Pika~ Pika~" Seeming to sense Ash's thoughts, Pikachu cried out.
It was like saying, leave everything to me, I'll cover the bottom line.
"Hahahaha~ Partner~"
"The Great King Pikachu is invincible in the world, yeah~"
Seeing Pikachu's confident look, Ash laughed, then suddenly started tickling Pikachu.
"Pika—!!" Seeing Ash laughing at it, Pikachu instantly felt shy; being suddenly attacked by Ash, it didn't react in time.
Pikachu's nature was essentially shy; the confidence was just an attitude in front of Ash, a side shown only to its own people.
"Hahaha, it all depends on you tomorrow, partner."
"Pi~ Ka~ Chu~"
Everything was ready, just waiting to get the Gym Badge tomorrow.
Just like Brock, Ash was also conserving his energy.
As a Pokémon Trainer, this was the first formal battle!
He had to fight beautifully!
To prepare for the challenge against Pewter Gym, Ash had prepared a Water-type Pokémon.
It was hard to fight Rock-type Pokémon purely with Pikachu.
But after Gyarados coated the Rock-type Pokémon with water.
Hehehe—
As for why not Pidgeotto...
Let a bird without suitable skills go hit a rock?
How did that saying go again?
A cat lover had a stroke of genius, more hellish than a cat abuser.
_____
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