74. Fuchsia Gym.

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Crossing the long suspension bridge, Kai walked up to the closed main entrance of the Fuchsia Gym.

He was about to use the door knocker when, without warning, the two wooden doors swung open on their own!

Looking into the courtyard, Kai saw no one behind the doors neither staff to greet him nor any Pokémon present.

Was some sort of mechanism triggered?

"Excuse me, is anyone here?" Kai called out loudly.

His voice echoed through the courtyard, but after waiting a long time, there was still no response.

The area was eerily silent, almost oppressive, as though the air itself was thick with tension and hidden danger.

"Hmm, mysterious. Is this really a ninja's domain?" Haunter murmured, intrigued.

Known for its mischievous and playful nature, Haunter thrived in spooky, unconventional places like haunted houses or ancient cemeteries.

"Maybe this is a test," Kai thought aloud.

Without further hesitation, he stepped into the gym. Following a gravel path, he soon reached the entrance of the main building.

However, just as he stepped onto the floor, the Fuchsia Gym delivered its first surprise!

The ground beneath him abruptly shifted, the floor tilting steeply to create a smooth, slippery incline.

Kai, anticipating traps, reacted swiftly, grabbing hold of a nearby pillar to steady himself.

He glanced down to see that beneath the rotating floor lay a worn and uneven stone surface, likely weathered from years of careless trainers falling prey to this trap.

To ensure his safety, Kai released Kirlia from her Poké Ball. Her Psychic abilities would help her handle any unexpected hazards.

Regaining his composure, Kai entered the main hallway again.

Past a screen adorned with bamboo, he found himself in a dimly lit corridor. At the end of the corridor were two branching paths one to the left and one to the right.

Both paths seemed ordinary, but in this mysterious ninja gym, traps were likely waiting at every turn. Kai knew he had to tread carefully.

After a brief deliberation, he decided to follow his instincts and chose the left path.

The wooden floor creaked beneath his steps, and after only a dozen steps, the ground suddenly gave way! A hidden pit opened beneath him!

Fortunately, Kirlia's Psychic abilities enveloped Kai in a protective aura, gently lifting him to safety on solid ground.

"Nice work, Kirlia!" Kai praised, patting her head affectionately.

Peering into the pit, he saw nothing sharp or deadly just smooth walls and a deep drop that would make climbing out impossible for anyone who fell.

So, this is meant to teach careless trainers a lesson, Kai mused, appreciating the thoughtfulness behind the trap's design.

He pressed onward. The once-flat floor began to slope upward slightly. Sensing something amiss, Kai gestured to Haunter to scout ahead.

Before Haunter could move, a sound echoed down the corridor a faint click, followed by a mechanical rumble.

The ceiling above cracked open, and a massive boulder, perfectly sized to the width of the corridor, came crashing down!

The enormous rock, gathering speed as it rolled downhill, barreled straight toward Kai.

"Kirlia!" Kai shouted.

Kirlia quickly used Psychic to stop the boulder's momentum. With her assistance, Kai retreated to safety behind the earlier pit.

As Kirlia released her hold, the boulder fell into the pit with a heavy thud.

If someone else had faced this, without superpowers or a powerful Pokémon, this trap could have crushed them entirely!

"This trap feels… a bit too dangerous," Kai muttered under his breath.

Before he could relax, the faint sound of footsteps echoed again this time retreating quickly down the corridor.

"Haunter, follow them!" Kai ordered.

Haunter phased through the wall, his eerie laughter echoing from the other side. Moments later, a piercing scream split the air.

"Ahhh!"

Suddenly, the wall in front of Kai flipped around, and a girl stumbled out, nearly falling.

She wore a traditional ninja jumpsuit in black, complemented by a pink-and-red cape. Her purple hair was tied in an enormous ponytail.

The girl coughed awkwardly, clearly flustered. "Well, it seems my training still needs some work if you found me so easily."

Kai raised an eyebrow, unfamiliar with her. "Sorry for entering the gym unannounced. I'm here to challenge the Gym Leader, Koga. Is he here?"

The girl crossed her arms and smirked. "If you want to challenge my father, you'll have to get past me first!"

"Father? So…"

"That's right! My name is Janine, and I'm Koga's daughter," she said, sizing Kai up. "Follow me. I'll take you to the battlefield."

Janine led Kai through several more traps before they reached a simple battlefield inside a spacious room.

The arena's floor was made entirely of wood, an odd choice given how easily Fire, Ground, or Rock-type moves could destroy it.

Kai stood on one side of the field, with Janine opposite him. She gestured to a door behind her.

"Defeat me, and you can pass through that door," she said, her tone serious.

"Understood," Kai replied calmly. "What are the battle rules?"

"One-on-one. The first Pokémon to faint loses," Janine declared, tossing out a Poké Ball. "Let's go, Crobat!"

A purple, bat-like Pokémon with two pairs of wings appeared, flapping energetically.

Kai turned to Haunter. "You've never fought a Gym battle before. Want to give it a try?"

Haunter grinned mischievously, floating onto the battlefield.

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