(Grey's POV)

  The morning light in Fuchsia City was filtered through a thin veil of mist, giving the traditional wooden architecture a ghostly, ethereal glow. I didn't head for the Gym immediately. Instead, I sat on the edge of my bed in the Pokémon Center, my phone illuminated as I dove back into the Pokénet. I needed to see what pokenet said about Koga's early-tier difficulty.

  [Thread: Scouting Koga's Entry-Level Roster] KantoGrind99: Just faced Koga for my 1st badge. He's predictable at 0-1 badges. Usually runs Zubat, Venonat, or Kakuna. It's all about speed and poison-evasion there. ShadowStep: Watch out once you hit the 2-4 badge bracket, though. That's when the Grimers, Ekans, and Koffings come out. The difficulty curve doesn't just climb; it teleports. But for a first-timer? Stay sharp on the flyers and bugs and you're golden.

  I leaned back, feeling a surge of confidence. Zubat and Venonat. My team was more than ready. Axew had the raw power, Exeggcute had the psychic control to swat bugs out of the air, and Shellder was the ultimate physical anchor. I didn't think there were many surprises left for me for this gym,

  I marched to the Fuchsia Gym—a sprawling dojo surrounded by high stone walls and a raked sand garden—to register. The attendant behind the desk didn't even look up from her monitor.

  "Slots are full for today, kid," she said flatly. "I can put you in for tomorrow morning, 09:00 sharp. Take it or leave it."

  "I'll take it," I said, suppressing my impatience. A day of extra training wouldn't hurt. In fact, it was exactly what I needed to ensure this wasn't just a win, but a statement.

  With the day ahead of me, I returned to the salt-sprayed rocks of Route 19. Having three Pokémon changed my entire tactical outlook. I wasn't the desperate kid with a single Axew anymore; I was a trainer with a rotation. I started taking on challengers with more aggression, seeking out those with 1-2 badges.

  I found the "Lock Eyes" guy from the previous day. He looked like he'd been waiting for a rematch of his pride. "You! I don't care about your 'myth'! Battle me for real!"

  "Fine," I said. "Let's see if your training matches your mouth."

  He sent out a Kangaskhan. My heart skipped—a powerhouse species. But as the fight unfolded, I realized the truth. The Kangaskhan was a tank, but it was unrefined. Axew, however, had become stronger , He danced around the parent Pokémon, alternating between Slashes and Night Slashes with a predatory rhythm. Axew took it down 1-on-1, proving that his growth was outpacing the average "rookie" curve.

  By midday, I moved from battling to specialized drills. I pulled up more tips for Shellder.

  [Pokénet: Teaching Rapid Spin to Bivalves] SpinnerGuy: The trick for Shellder isn't just spinning . You need to teach it to focus its internal kinetic energy on the central muscle. Have it practice on a hard, flat surface to reduce friction. If it can vibrate the shell fast enough, the rotation becomes automatic. It's a defensive move that doubles as a centrifugal weapon.

  I found a flat, sun-baked rock for Shellder. "Focus on the hinge," I commanded. Shellder began to vibrate, its shell clicking rhythmically until, with a sudden burst of energy, it began to spin. It was clumsy, wobbling like a top, but the foundation was there.

  For Exeggcute, I pushed its Confusion to the limit. I had it lift multiple small stones, then slowly moved up to heavy boulders. "Don't just lift them," I urged. "Move them. I want you to be able to hurl a rock at the speed of a projectile." By the end of the hour, Exeggcute was juggling three stones the size of my head with frightening speed.

  As for Axew, we focused on Dragon Dance. I wanted him to be able to hold that overclocked energy longer, pushing his physical limits so the second and third dances wouldn't suffer such a heavy drop-off.

  As evening fell, I recalled my team and walked through the heart of Fuchsia. The city transformed at night. Red paper lanterns glowed outside the stalls, casting long, flickering shadows on the cobblestones. The smell of grilled Yakitori and sweet bean dango filled the air.

  I stopped at a local stall, watching a chef expertly flip skewers of meat over a charcoal flame. I ordered a generous portion for myself and sat on a wooden bench, letting the atmosphere sink in. The locals here moved with a quiet, deliberate grace—there was no wasted movement. It was a city of ninjas and survivors, and I felt a kinship with that philosophy.

  I visited a local PokéMart, pulling the heavy gold Nugget from my bag. The clerk's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He weighed it, checked the purity, and handed over a stack of Pokedollars so thick I had to shove it into the hidden compartment of my bag. I immediately spent a portion of it on premium-grade kibble and high-quality potions. If we were going to be elite, we had to eat like it.

  Back at the Center, I gave my mons a final pep talk. "Tomorrow is the real test. No more wild battles, no more rookies. We're taking a piece of the League. Sleep well."

  Stolen story; please report.

  The next morning, I stepped into the Gym. It was a vast, dim hall with invisible walls and the faint scent of ozone. I was the second challenger of the day. Ten minutes of waiting, listening to the sounds of battle from the inner chamber, and then the doors slid open.

  I walked into the arena. Koga stood on a raised platform, his ninja garb blending into the shadows. He was reviewing a digital tablet—likely my student records and recent battle data.

  "Grey," Koga's voice was like gravel over silk. "Your record is... unconventional. You possess a Dragon from Lance's as you were one of the top4 in the trainers exam. Very well do you understand the rules of the Dojo?"

  "I do. As a 0-badge challenger, I have the right to switch and a numerical advantage if chosen," I replied, standing firm.

  Koga nodded to the referee. "I shall use two Pokémon. Challenger, begin."

  He tossed his first ball. "Zubat, emerge!"

  "Axew, let's go!"

  The Zubat was a purple blur, using the rafters to gain momentum. "Leech Life!" Koga commanded.

  "Dragon Rage, Burst Mode!" I countered. Axew fired a rapid-fire volley of blue orbs. The Zubat dodged with inhuman flexibility, but it had to get close to heal. The moment it dived, I saw the opening. "Night Slash!"

  Axew's right claw erupted in dark energy, catching the Zubat mid-dive and staggering it. "Now! Cross Slash!" Axew lunged, his claws forming a perfect 'X' of energy that slammed the Zubat into the floor. One hit. KO.

  Koga stared at the fainted bat, then at me. "I see. Lance did not hand this dragon to some incompetent. Your training is far beyond a 0-badge level. To continue with my standard roster would be a waste of your time... and mine."

  He clapped his hands, and a ninja appeared from the rafters, handing him a Heal Ball.

  "I have a proposal, Grey. I will increase the level of this match. I will bring out a Pokémon I rarely use for rookies. If you win, the rewards—monetary and tactical—will be more. But the challenge difficulty will also be increased."

  "I accept," I said, my heart pounding.

  Koga released the ball. I expected a Muk or a Weezing. Instead, a pink, egg-shaped blob appeared on the field.

  Chansey.

  "A Chansey?" I muttered. "What is a Chansey doing in a Poison gym?"

  "Begin!" the ref shouted.

  "Axew, finish it! Cross Slash!"

  Axew tore across the floor, his claws glowing with draconic and normal energy. He hit the Chansey with everything he had. The blob was sent skidding back, its flesh rippling from the impact—but it didn't fall. It looked up and gave a pleasant, empty smile.

  Suddenly, Axew lurched. He let out a wet, raspy cough, and a purple aura began to pulse around his scales.

  "Toxic," I whispered..

  "Soft-Boiled," Koga commanded. The Chansey glowed, and the massive damage from Axew's slash simply... vanished.

  "Hell NO!" I realized the trap immediately. "Axew, return! Now!"

  "What? Switching already?" Koga teased. "It's just a Chansey."

  "That thing is a bio-weapon!" I yelled, releasing Exeggcute. "Exeggcute, we need a lockdown!"

  Chansey went for another Toxic, but I was ready. "Confusion! Hold that sludge!" Exeggcute caught the poison mid-air and hurled it away. "Leech Seed!" The seeds flew, and when Koga ordered an Egg Bomb to intercept, Exeggcute used its psychic power to curve the seeds around the explosion, planting them firmly on the Chansey.

  "Reflect!" The barrier went up. Chansey tried to go for a Seismic Toss, but Exeggcute levitated itself out of reach. "Sleep Powder!"

  The green spores descended, and finally, the pink tank slumped over.

  "Switch! Axew, get back in there!"

  Axew returned, the Toxic poison already sapping his life. "Dragon Dance! Keep going until she wakes up!"

  Axew danced. One. Two. Three. He was glowing with an aura so intense it was hard to look at. But every second, the poison was ticking higher, his health bar dropping in bigger and bigger chunks. The Leech Seed's health was the only thing keeping him standing.

  Chansey woke up.

  "Soft-Boiled!" Koga shouted.

  "Cross Slash!"

  Axew lunged. The two collided—the healing light vs. the draconic X. The impact was massive, sending Chansey flying into the back wall. But as the dust cleared, the blob wobbled back to its feet with a smirk.

  I don't have a finisher, I realized in a cold panic. I have no fighting types. This thing will outlive us all.

  "Axew... one more dance! DO IT!"

  Axew roared, the dragon energy swirling around him. As the dance finished, the Toxic damage hit him like a physical blow. He fell to one knee, coughing up purple foam. The Leech Seed drained a healthy amount from Chansey, feeding it to Axew, giving him one last spark of life.

  Koga saw the end. "Soft-Boiled!"

  "Don't let it! Burst Dragon Rage and RUN!"

  Axew sprinted, firing a rapid-fire volley into the Chansey's face to disrupt the healing. The Chansey barely managed to pull off the Soft-Boiled, its wounds closing just as Axew reached it.

  "NOW! FINAL CROSS SLASH!"

  Axew put every ounce of his soul into his arms. The 'X' was massive, glowing with a blinding light. He slammed into the Chansey. The impact was so great that the shockwave rattled the Gym's rafters. Chansey was sent hurtling into the stone wall, the impact cracking the masonry.

  Axew stood for a second, his eyes glazed. Then, the poison hit its peak. He collapsed, unconscious.

  I looked at the wall. The Chansey was standing. It stood there, upright, looking at Axew then the leech life took affect and then, its eyes rolled back. It hadn't fainted from the hit—it had stood up out of pure spite, only to lose consciousness while standing.

  "Both Pokémon are unable to battle! The winner is Grey!"

  I didn't care about the announcement. I ran to Axew. "Axew! Buddy, talk to me!"

  Koga walked down from his platform, his face unreadable. "Calm yourself, Grey. My staff has the specific antidotes for this Toxic strain. He will be fine."

  I slumped over, the adrenaline leaving me hollow. "What was that? Chansey isn't a Poison type."

  "A ninja uses the best tool for the job," Koga said, his voice actually showing a hint of warmth. "There is no law that states a Gym must be mono-type. I wanted to teach you to expect the unexpected. Most high-level battles do not go according to a plan. You won because of your training and dedication which is something about which I dont have to impart you about , but training only takes till the match , post which how you battle and tackle the unexpected determines the outcome ."

  He handed me a purple, heart-shaped badge. "The Soul Badge. And for the challenge..." He handed me a thick envelope and a disc. "12,000 Pokedollars. And the reusable TM for Toxic. Use it to teach others the lesson I taught you today."

  I took the badge, the cool metal a weight of proof. I had survived. I had my first badge. Koga also gave me his number for some reason,But as I watched the med-techs wheel Axew away, I realised pokemon battles aren't as easy as I had thought.