Chapter 10: Mikan Gym

"It really is Ash!" exclaimed a boy standing not far behind Cissy. The boy, around Ash's age, bore a striking resemblance to Cissy. He was her younger brother, Senta, and a big admirer of Ash.

In the audience, the Trainers took their seats one after another. Although excited to see Ash in person, they refrained from making loud noises, maintaining the decorum of the gym challenge.

"Hello, Miss Cissy. I'm the challenger, Ash!" Ash announced confidently, standing at the challenger's position and nodding toward Cissy, who stood 100 meters away.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Ash," Cissy replied with a respectful tone. Despite Ash's young age, she addressed him formally—a gesture of respect toward a Trainer of his caliber.

"So... what are the rules of the challenge?" Ash inquired, noticing the absence of a referee. Remembering the unique style of the Orange League, he sought clarification.

"The rules of our Mikan Gym challenge are quite different from traditional gym battles. Here, we focus on Pokémon's mastery of moves rather than direct combat," Cissy explained with a smile.

"See those tin cans on the table?" she continued, pointing toward a row of iron cans. "The challenge is divided into two parts.

"In the first part, each of us sends a Pokémon to the opposite end of the pool. The Pokémon must knock down all the tin cans in the shortest possible time. The one who completes it fastest wins!"

Ash observed the cans at the far end of the 50-meter-wide pool. "Are only Water-type Pokémon allowed, or can other types participate as well?"

"Any Pokémon can participate, regardless of type," Cissy clarified. "Not every challenger owns a Water-type Pokémon, so we don't impose such restrictions."

She added, "However, there is one limitation. Pokémon can only use long-range attacks and are restricted to knocking down one tin can at a time."

"I see," Ash nodded thoughtfully. Behind him, Misty seemed intrigued by the unique style of the challenge.

"As the Gym Leader, I'll go first to demonstrate the rules and give you a sense of the challenge," Cissy stated before stepping forward. "Come out, Seadra!"

Cissy threw her Poké Ball, and a flash of white light illuminated the pool, revealing her Pokémon—a Seadra.

The light-blue Pokémon, resembling a seahorse, floated gracefully in the water. It had a distinctively long, triangular-prism-shaped snout, sharp horns on its head, and spines covering its back. Its coiled tail completed its striking appearance.

—---

Seadra

Type: Water

Category: Dragon Pokémon

Abilities: Poison Point or Sniper

Hidden Ability: Damp

Sniper: When this Pokémon lands a critical hit, the damage is 2.25 times normal instead of 1.5 times.

Strength: Bronze-level

—---

Although Seadra was only at the Bronze-level, Ash didn't underestimate it. The challenge wasn't about raw strength but precision and control over moves. 

Years of experience in this specific challenge had likely honed Seadra's skills to a fine edge.

Still, Ash remained confident in his Pokémon's training and control over their moves.

"Alright, I'm starting now!" Cissy announced, signalling for the challenge to begin. A timer appeared on the large screen above the field.

Seadra swam to the edge of the pool, positioning itself against the wall. While the water gave it an advantage, the edge placement didn't provide a significant lead.

The challenge consisted of twenty tin cans, all reinforced to withstand moderate attacks. Each can was heavier than usual, making them harder to knock down with regular-level attacks.

"Seadra, use, Water Gun continuously!" Cissy commanded.

With a sharp cry, Seadra activated its Water-type energy, firing rapid bursts of Water Gun from its triangular snout.

The timer began ticking as Seadra launched its first attack. Its precision was flawless—each Water Gun was perfectly calibrated to knock down a single tin can. In just one second, Seadra fired three Water Guns, maintaining a steady rhythm.

The reinforced cans toppled one after another, a testament to Seadra's exceptional control and accuracy.

When the last can fell, the timer stopped at 6.42 seconds. It was an incredible display of skill, averaging over three cans per second.

"Wow, that's amazing!" Tracey exclaimed from the sidelines, furiously jotting down notes. He marvelled at Seadra's stamina and precision, especially considering how energy-intensive such rapid movements could be.

Cissy glanced at Ash with a hint of pride. "What do you think? This is one of Seadra's best performances. It even beat its previous record of over seven seconds!"

"It's very impressive," Ash admitted. He could see the potential in Cissy's Seadra. Although it wasn't the strongest in terms of raw power, its mastery over its moves spoke volumes about its training.

"Now, let's see what the Indigo Conference Champion can do," Cissy said, her confidence brimming. "So far, this is the best performance Mikan Gym has ever seen!"

"Venusaur, it's your turn!" Ash declared, throwing a Poké Ball with determination.

A massive Venusaur materialized at the edge of the battlefield. Its imposing presence and the large flower on its back immediately caught everyone's attention.

"Venusaur?" The audience murmured in surprise.

Venusaur's massive, tank-like frame seemed unsuited for a challenge requiring precision and agility. Its bulky appearance made it hard to imagine it excelling in such a test.

"Let's show them what you can do, Venusaur," Ash said with a confident smirk. His sharp, toothy grin revealed his unwavering belief in his Pokémon's abilities.

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