Chapter 189

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This first gym battle for both participants ended with the challenger's defeat, which is quite typical. Moreover, gym battles in the pirate world tend to be more challenging.

Law left calmly.

He hadn't considered giving up, even though he failed on his first step.

In his quest to save Corazon, giving up was never an option. He could only keep moving forward.

He believed in his Pokémon and their ability to help him win.

As for Gan Fall, still in the gym, he looked at the Sky Badge in his hand and pursed his lips.

He wondered when someone would finally take the first badge from him.

According to Gan Fall's understanding of the eight gym leaders, the difficulty of challenges, from highest to lowest, was: Kizaru → Magellan → Sentomaru → Dragon → Garp → Ivankov → Fukaboshi → Gan Fall.

This ranking was not solely based on the gym leaders' strength.

If it were about strength alone, the Dragon-type gym leader Dragon was currently the strongest.

The difficulty ranking referred to how hard it was for trainers to earn a badge from the gym leaders.

Kizaru was the most extreme. This lazy guy not only required trainers to be at least advanced level to challenge but also went all out during gym battles, aiming never to hand out a single 'Thunder Badge'.

If Dak hadn't intervened, Kizaru initially wanted trainers to be at gym leader level to challenge him.

Next was Magellan.

This guy was a dutiful employee, executing the alliance's requirements to the letter.

This meant no matter how well a trainer performed, how deep their bond with their Pokémon, if they couldn't beat Magellan, they wouldn't get the 'Venom Badge'.

After that, the difficulty gradually decreased.

The other gym leaders might consider a trainer's character, attitude towards Pokémon, battle mentality, etc., and might give a badge based on their performance even if they didn't win.

Gan Fall considered himself the most lenient. After all, he was old and wanted to give young people more chances.

Particularly since his Skypiea Gym was the hardest to reach. Getting there was impressive enough in his eyes.

As for Law.

That kid had some psychological issues and was too reckless in battle, not meeting Gan Fall's passing standards.

On the same day, at the Seven Waters Gym.

This was Fukaboshi's 29th gym challenge this month, averaging one per day.

The Seven Waters Gym was easy to find, making it an easy destination. Additionally, Fukaboshi, a teenager, seemed like an easy target to many.

However, out of 28 gym challenges, only one person had earned the 'Seven Waters Badge'.

That person was Edward Newgate of the Whitebeard Pirates.

Yes, 'Whitebeard' himself.

Today, Fukaboshi faced another unusual challenger.

Why unusual?

"Admiral Kuzan, aren't you supposed to be working like me right now?"

Fukaboshi looked at Kuzan standing not far away, feeling a bit miffed.

"Well, I took a day off specifically to challenge the gym."

Kuzan sheepishly scratched his seaweed-like hair. "I heard the rare item 'Lunar Feather' can ensure a good night's sleep, which is very appealing to me."

"Alright then, you know the rules."

"Of course."

"Let's begin."

"Okay."

Kuzan didn't waste time. Being fellow alliance members, they both knew each other's Pokémon well. "Go, Snorunt."

Lv. 35 Snorunt appeared on the field.

With Kuzan's Ice-Ice Fruit powers, his Ice-type Pokémon never lacked ice energy, growing quickly.

However, unless Snorunt evolved into Froslass with a Dawn Stone, it was a late-blooming Pokémon needing to be around Lv. 42 to evolve into Glalie.

On the other side, Fukaboshi sent out his Lv. 30 Horsea.

Though Fukaboshi was a former prince of Fish-Man Island, he wasn't Shirahoshi and didn't have abundant water energy for his Pokémon.

So Horsea's growth was not too slow, but not fast enough to evolve.

Fukaboshi had already anticipated the outcome.

With both a level and type disadvantage, the battle was practically decided.

After twenty minutes, Fukaboshi handed out his second 'Seven Waters Badge'.

"By the way, Fukaboshi, just a reminder: at least tens of thousands of trainers on Pokémon Island alone plan to challenge gyms in the coming year."

Kuzan, admiring the water drop-shaped badge, reminded, "With the Seven Waters Gym's location, it will likely be their first choice."

Hearing this, Fukaboshi immediately adjusted the challenge prerequisites overnight.

He required trainers to be at least 'advanced trainers' to challenge the Seven Waters Gym.

Other gyms also got the news and promptly modified their challenge rules.

In summary, easily accessible gyms raised their challenge prerequisites, while remote gyms like Skypiea set no conditions.

...

Time flew by.

Three months passed, and it was now July in Alliance Year 1.

The big news recently was that Pokémon Academy was about to go on summer vacation.

But before that, there would be a public end-of-term exam and a parent-teacher meeting.

The public end-of-term exam meant that outsiders, including parents, could watch the exams.

Depending on the students' chosen major, there would be different exams, along with common exams like battle courses.

Battle courses had three exams: 3v3 standard matches, 2v2 double battles, and 25v25 team battles by class.

The first test assessed students' future potential as professional trainers.

It was identical to gym battles.

The second test assessed students' understanding of their Pokémon and their ability to coordinate Pokémon during battles.

The 2v2 double battles were 1 trainer vs. 1 trainer, each commanding two Pokémon simultaneously.

The third test focused on teamwork and future job skills.

Students were familiar with the first two tests from frequent practice and exams.

Only the team battle was new and exciting.

On exam day, the audience was packed. People, having little else to do, flocked to this rare and entertaining event.

Dak also planned to use this opportunity to test the 'Pokémon Global Terminal'.

A week before, Morgans had published news and newspapers, notifying Pokémon Island and the entire pirate world of the live broadcast of the Pokémon Academy's end-of-term exam next week.

Those wanting to watch needed only to buy a screen or go to a place with a screen.

Now, with the exams about to start, crowds gathered around screens in both worlds.

People stood or sat, drinks and even popcorn in hand, slowing the world's pace for the day.

Everyone simply sat together, watching students and their partners prepare for 'war' on the big screen.

Yes, a clash of 25 trainers against 25 trainers.

It was like a small war, given that it involved their Pokémon.

At this moment, it was Class 1 vs. Class 2.

"Today, we prove we're better than those weaklings in Class 2. Everyone's watching, so no losing face!"

Class 1's leader, Kujaku, was motivating everyone.

On the other side, Class 2 was doing the same.

"Those brats in Class 1 are so arrogant. Let's crush them today and give them a good holiday."

Class 2's leader was elder brother Thatch, with Sabo as vice leader.

Both were calm and intelligent, always leading Class 2 above the other seven classes.

But their position was precarious.

Class 2's average grades were low, with only a few strong students, while Class 1 had strong students despite their leader's lack of brains.

Thatch previously disdained competing with kids.

But today was different.

With a global live broadcast, losing would not only disgrace their teacher Perona but also the Whitebeard Pirates.

As Whitebeard Pirates' Fourth Division Commander, he had to show his true strength.

"Munchlax, help break their formation later."

Thatch spoke to the chubby Munchlax beside him.

This Snorlax was the evolved form of the previous baby Munchlax. After more than six months of feeding, their bond had finally reached a high level, triggering Munchlax's evolution.

"Munch."

Snorlax patted its belly, reassuring Thatch.

(End of Chapter)