Chapter no.40 Nugget Bridge Challenge

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Austin took a deep breath as he stepped onto the Nugget Bridge. It was similar to the games in the sense that it wasn't some grand bridge, but so much different. Then again, you couldn't really compare the 2D designs to a 3D structure in real life. The bridge was a sturdy, stone structure with a grand arch in the center and smaller arches on either side, spanning a sparkling canal below. Shops and vendor stalls lined the walkway on both sides, their colorful awnings flapping gently in the breeze. Trainers and spectators gathered around, creating a lively atmosphere as battles took place along the bridge's length.

"Pika!" Pikachu chirped from behind, trotting up to Austin with a little bounce in his step, eyes wide with excitement as he spotted trainers preparing for their own challenges on the bridge.

Austin bent down with a smirk. "Easy there, buddy. Today's not your fight."

Pikachu gave him a disbelieving look, crossing his tiny arms.

"C'mon, we talked about this. You need to rest up a bit more before we get you back into battles."

With a dramatic huff, Pikachu looked away, clearly unimpressed with his trainer's decision. Austin chuckled, shaking his head as they continued toward the top of the bridge.

At the crest, Austin noticed a battle in progress. A Starmie was getting knocked out by a Butterfree, the defeated trainer groaning as he handed over a handful of cash to an older man standing nearby. The man, dressed head to toe in black with a long coat and a dark hat that cast a shadow over his face, looked up just in time to catch Austin's eye.

"Hey, you the guy running this challenge?"

The man nodded, sizing Austin up with a critical gaze. "That's right. This here is the Nugget Bridge Challenge. Five trainers in a row, no breaks, no items allowed mid-battle. You make it through without getting knocked out, and you win the grand prize."

"What's the prize?"

The man's lips curled into a small smile. "A shiny, golden nugget. And bragging rights, of course. But there's a fee to enter. Two thousand Pokédollars."

Austin snorted. "Two thousand just to take a walk on a bridge and knock out some rookies? That's a bit steep, don't you think?"

"Then don't take the challenge, kid."

Austin's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Tell you what," he said, voice calm but confident. "I'll pay double if I lose. But if I win, I don't pay a thing."

The man raised an eyebrow, his gaze appraising. "Cocky, aren't you? Alright, kid, you got yourself a deal." He held out his hand, and Austin shook it firmly.

"Perfect," Austin said, pulling out his wallet to hand over the cash. As he did, a voice rang out behind him.

"Well then, Mr. Mysterious," a girl said with a teasing lilt, "if you win, how about you show me what you're hiding under that scarf?"

Austin was dressed in a dark green sweater layered under a brown coat, with a neatly wrapped scarf covering his mouth. A pair of sunglasses hid his eyes, and a hat cast a shadow over his face, giving him an air of quiet mystery.

"Let me guess," she continued with a raised eyebrow. "Hiding from a secret past? Maybe you're an undercover agent?" She winked.

Austin chuckled, adjusting his scarf a bit tighter. "Or maybe I just don't want everyone in town to recognize me as the guy who stomped five trainers in a row."

The girl laughed. "Alright, let's see if you can back up that talk."

"Don't worry," Austin replied smoothly. "You'll have a front-row seat."

As she stepped onto the battlefield, she tossed out a Pokéball, and in a flash of light, a menacing Beedrill appeared, its stingers glinting under the midday sun.

Pikachu tugged at Austin's pant leg, letting out an insistent "Pika!" and giving him a determined look.

"Pikachu, please. We agreed—no battling today," Austin said, holding out a peace offering in the form of a ketchup packet. "How about one of these?"

Pikachu shot him a withering glare, crossing his little arms.

"Fine," Austin sighed. "Two packets."

Pikachu's eyes softened, but he still huffed and looked away, clearly holding out for more.

Austin leaned down and whispered, "Come on, buddy. Let Vee have this one, okay? Besides, once you're rested up, I'll teach you something special."

Pikachu's ears perked up, curiosity piqued as he looked back at Austin with a little "Pika?"

Austin grinned. "It's called Counter Shield."

Suddenly, without a hint of concern for their conversation, the older man stepped up and called out, "Alright, trainers! Let the battle begin!"

Austin took a deep breath and reached for a Pokéball at his belt.

"Alright, Vee, let's show 'em what you've got!" With a flick of his wrist, he released Umbreon onto the field.

The sleek, dark Pokémon emerged gracefully, his golden rings glowing as he surveyed the battlefield with a calm, intense gaze. Across from him, Beedrill hovered menacingly, its stingers poised and ready.

"Swift!" Austin commanded.

Umbreon's tail-tip began to glow a brilliant yellow before releasing a flurry of star-shaped projectiles that shot toward Beedrill, spinning through the air like shurikens.

"Laser Focus!" the girl countered, her eyes sharp as she watched the field.

Beedrill's eyes narrowed, glowing with intense concentration as it darted through the air, weaving in and out with expert precision, not a single star landing a hit. As it dodged, Beedrill spiraled toward Umbreon, then abruptly flew upward, leaving the swirling Swift stars to continue their trajectory—right back toward their origin. In a flash, the glowing stars crashed into Umbreon, knocking him backward as smoke enveloped the area.

Austin's eyes narrowed, impressed but wary. That was no rookie's strategy. Not only had the girl used Swift against him, but with Laser Focus in play, her next attack was guaranteed to be a critical hit.

A smile crept onto her face as she peered through the smoke. "Looks like I win," she taunted. "Fury Cutter, now!"

Beedrill crossed its stingers, which glowed a vibrant green and grew in size before it shot forward like a missile, aiming directly into the smoke cloud.

"Pursuer," Austin said, voice low and calm.

From within the smoke, Vee's crimson eyes glowed, tracking Beedrill's movements. In a flash, Umbreon burst out of the smoke like a black comet, shrouded in a faint, dark red aura. His paw glowed with the crimson-black energy of Assurance, combining it with the speed of Quick Attack. This combo—Pursuer—was a move Austin and Vee had been practicing, capitalizing on Vee's Inner Focus ability to deliver a decisive counterattack.

With a fierce, sweeping motion, the dark type slammed into Beedrill mid-air, the crimson aura doubling the attack's power as Beedrill was sent flying like a rag doll.

"Beedrill!" the girl called out, concern flickering in her eyes as her Pokémon struggled to stand.

Austin saw his opening. "Finish it. Ember!"

Vee opened his mouth, a small, fiery glow gathering at his throat before he released a spray of hot embers down on Beedrill. The tiny flames struck the bug type just as it was trying to lift itself off the ground, igniting it in a burst of red and orange. The bug-type shrieked as greenish energy pulsed from its body—a desperate last surge from its Swarm ability, boosting its power as its health hit critical levels.

The girl seized the opportunity. "Beedrill, Fury Cutter!"

Despite the flames licking its body, Beedrill's stingers glowed green and elongated as it cut through the ember attack, buzzing toward Umbreon with renewed fury. It was relentless, fueled by Swarm, slicing through the air with vicious intent.

"Hidden Power—Dark."

Vee crouched low, energy crackling around him as he formed an orb of light. He let it hover for a moment, timing his attack with precision, then slammed it down into the ground. The orb shattered, unleashing an omnidirectional wave of darkness that radiated outwards, enveloping Beedrill in its shadowy tendrils.

Beedrill faltered mid-attack, its form engulfed by the wave of dark energy, before it crumpled to the ground, knocked out cold.

The girl's shoulders slumped, but she offered a small smile as she recalled her fallen Pokémon. "Good job, Beedrill. You did great." She then pulled out another Pokéball, tossing it forward. "Let's go, Butterfree!"

In a flash of light, her Butterfree appeared, its vibrant wings spreading wide as it fluttered gracefully above the battlefield.

As Austin recalled Umbreon, he patted the Pokéball gently, whispering under his breath, "Let's do a little switcheroo, Flareon." He slipped the Pokéball into his bag on the right, casually drawing out another identical Pokéball from the left. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it onto the battlefield.

In another flash of light, Vee emerged, now in his Flareon form. The transformation was smooth, seamless—and exactly what Austin needed to keep his opponent on her toes.

The girl raised an eyebrow, her surprise evident. "Wow, two evolutions of Eevee. Guess you're full of tricks," she muttered, pursing her lips in realization. "That's not exactly fair, you know."

Austin shrugged, adjusting his scarf. "Are you going to give up?"

She shook her head, a stubborn grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Not a chance. I've got a paycheck on the line here."

Austin's gaze flicked briefly to the older man standing off to the side, watching the match intently. There was something about him—a calculating look in his eyes that made Austin uneasy. But he pushed the thought aside, refocusing on the battle.

"Alright, Butterfree," the girl called out, her voice sharp with determination. "Let's show them what we're made of!"

The match didn't last long.

"Good match," she muttered, though her voice was tight. Austin noticed her hands trembling slightly as she clipped the Pokéball back to her belt. It wasn't just disappointment—there was something else in her expression, a hint of nervousness that caught his attention.

Before he could ask her about it, his next opponent stepped up. This time, it was a kid with a Rattata and a Nidorino, both looking fierce but ultimately falling to Vee's precise attacks. One by one, challengers came forward, and one by one, they fell, each battle feeling a little easier than the last.

But something felt off.

As Austin observed the trainers, he noticed a pattern: none of them looked like locals. Their desperation grew with each defeat, their strategies more erratic, their faces tinged with worry.

Finally, after a decisive blow from Flareon's Hidden Power Fire took down his fifth opponent's Bellsprout, Austin felt a strange tension lift from the air. The last trainer slumped, looking defeated, as the older man approached him.

"Well, well," the man said with a slow clap, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Congratulations, kid. Not many make it through all five battles unscathed." He reached into his coat and produced a small black box, opening it to reveal a shiny, golden orb—a Gold Nugget.

Austin's eyes narrowed as he reached out to take the item, feeling its weight in his hand. It was lighter than he'd expected, but the solid gleam of gold from the games was unmistakable.

The man watched him with a calculating gaze, his voice lowering to a near whisper, thick with a sinister undertone. "You know, you've got real skill for a young trainer. We could use someone like you… in an organization that can make you even stronger. Think about it. Power, money, respect—all within reach if you join us."

Bingo, Austin thought, keeping his expression neutral. He knew about the Nugget Bridge in the games, a hidden Team Rocket recruiter disguised as a regular trainer. But he hadn't known who it would be—or how it would go down in the real world. That was why he'd donned the dark academia disguise in the first place, to avoid being recognized or pursued. Unlike in the games, he doubted Team Rocket would take "no" for an answer so easily.

Feigning innocence, Austin tilted his head. "Can I ask you something?"

The man raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Of course."

"If I join this… 'organization' of yours, am I gonna end up like those five?" Austin gestured casually toward the defeated trainers around him, who were casting nervous glances at the older man.

The man's face hardened slightly. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on," Austin said, his tone turning sharp. "You tricked those five into working for you, didn't you? Probably some scam organization you roped them into. I mean, they don't look too happy about their so-called 'employment.'"

The man's expression shifted, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features. "Those five signed legitimate contracts," he said, his voice a bit too defensive.

"No, we didn't!" the girl from earlier burst out, her voice cracking. "You told us we'd get paid after this—promised us a big reward! We haven't seen a single Pokédollar!"

The man's face darkened, and with a swift motion, he released an Arbok in front of the trainers. The massive snake hissed as it rose up menacingly, its hood flared. The trainers backed up, fear evident in their eyes.

Austin clenched his jaw. He could have just walked away from this mess, left the trainers to deal with their mistake. But as he looked at their terrified faces, he cursed his own nature. He couldn't stand by and let Team Rocket make more victims.

"Sword Strike!"

Pikachu, who had been watching the entire scene eagerly, finally sprang into action, disappearing in a flash of yellow as he dashed forward. He reappeared directly in front of the Arbok, his tail glowing with a metallic sheen as he swung it like a sword. The Iron Tail connected with a resounding smack, sending the poison-type flying off the bridge and into the canal with a splash.

"No!" the older man shouted, running to the edge of the bridge to recall his Arbok from the water. He turned back to Austin, fury blazing in his eyes, just as the boy calmly reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek, black taser.

With a quick trigger pull, the taser shot forward, sending electric prongs into the man's chest. He convulsed, a garbled shout escaping his lips as he spasmed and fell to the ground, twitching from the shock.

"You're making a big mistake, kid," the man hissed through gritted teeth. "My organization doesn't take kindly to people like you. They won't let this go."

Austin smirked, his voice dripping with mock fear. "Oh, I'm so scared." With a swift kick to the man's head, he knocked him out cold.

Turning to the five trainers, Austin found them staring at him like he was an alien. After a beat, he gestured toward the road leading back to the city. "Someone call Officer Jenny."

Two of the trainers nodded quickly and ran off to find the authorities. The girl, the first one he'd battled, lingered for a moment, looking at him with a mixture of awe and gratitude.

"Thank you," she called, her voice a little shaky.

Austin gave her a casual wave as he picked up the box, tossed the gold nugget inside, and tucked it securely into his bag. Without another word, he turned and began walking off the bridge, a satisfied smile hidden beneath his scarf.

As he made his way down the path, he muttered to Pikachu, "Alright, let's go sell this thing. Misty's tournament isn't going to fund itself."

Pikachu squeaked in agreement, clearly proud of his own performance. But as they walked away, Austin couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him from the shadows.

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[Author's Note]

Guess who's watching Austin from the shadows? 👀 Place your bets in the comments!