Chapter 292

Luke blinked, a bit thrown off as he studied Janine. Her voice trembled with a mixture of nerves and resolve.

"Wait… are you serious?" he asked, almost to himself.

Her father was Koga, the king of poison and a formidable Gym Leader in his own right. Why would she seek guidance from him, of all people? Did Koga somehow put her up to this?

Janine met his gaze, her expression calm but determined. "You said you'd pay me for the job, right?"

Luke nodded, piecing it together. He knew she was skilled; even the renowned Goldenrod City Art Museum had once brought her in for disaster drills. With her expertise as both a Gym Leader and a security specialist, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty. Gym Leaders these days often needed side gigs to make ends meet. Brock did the same, with his rock-solid work ethic, and even the Cerulean sisters, who turned their Gym into a performance space.

Lost in thought, Luke suddenly heard Janine speak, her voice soft but firm.

"I don't want money. I want a battle," she said, looking directly at him. "That's the reward I'm after."

Luke looked at her, taken aback. He realized this wasn't just some offhand request. For Janine, a chance to spar and learn from him was more valuable than any paycheck. Her father's words about Luke must have really left an impression on her. And for her, this was a real opportunity to step up.

She gripped the shuriken at her side, her hand tightening as if to steady her resolve. To herself, she thought, If I can learn from him, this whole trip will be worth it.

Luke was stunned—and oddly flattered. All she wanted was one sparring match. No pay? Just a practice session? Could there really be such a sweet deal?

Luke's thoughts were spinning, particularly about what would happen if he let his Squirtle participate in the spar. The medical bills would certainly be a concern...

He crossed his arms, lost in contemplation.

Janine watched him silently, her brow furrowing with worry. Had she misjudged the situation? Was he offended by her bold proposal? After all, a trainer of his caliber might not easily accept a challenge from someone like her.

"I apologize if I overstepped," she said, lowering her head in respect. "If you're not interested in sparring, we can just discuss my fee instead…"

Before she could finish, she felt a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"It's not about the money," Luke said with a warm smile that broke through her worries. "Honestly, I've been looking for someone to spar with lately! It sounds like a great opportunity."

His enthusiasm was infectious, and Janine felt a spark of excitement at the prospect. Perhaps this wasn't just a challenge but a chance to learn and grow under the guidance of someone she admired.

...

As dusk settled over the city, the Rocket trio wrapped up their day, stowing away their booth and plopping down on the ground, utterly exhausted. Despite their fatigue, happy smiles lingered on their faces.

"With this, we'll have enough funds to make some new props!" Jessie said, her excitement bubbling through her tiredness.

After sharing a few giggles, she turned to her partners. "I'm heading out—are you two going to report back to the cadre?"

"Of course," James replied, stretching his arms as he prepared to stand. "It's only polite."

Meowth, ever the inquisitive one, pulled out a pair of binoculars. "Let me see where the cadres are," he said, jumping onto the top of their booth for a better view.

After scanning the area, Meowth's eyes widened in shock. "What the—?!" he exclaimed, almost tumbling off his perch.

"What's going on, meowth?!" Jessie snapped, irritation creeping into her voice.

"It's a cadre!" Meowth shouted, flailing his arms excitedly. "He's fighting someone else, meow!"

The duo exchanged curious glances, intrigued by the unexpected scene unfolding before them. They leaned in closer, eager to see the action as the thrill of adventure momentarily overshadowed their exhaustion.

...

As dusk settled over the park, the shadow of the slide stretched long against the ground. Togepi gleefully slid down with a delighted "swoosh," kicking up his little feet in joy. Luke knelt down, catching the little Pokémon with a gentle grin, before setting Torkby back on the slide for another round of fun.

"kek ke~q(≧▽≦q)" Togepi chirped, clearly having a great time.

Turning to Janine, Luke said with a playful glint in his eye, "Just to be clear, this is a friendly match, so let's keep it light!"

Though Janine was aware that her strength fell short compared to Sabrina's, she was determined to give it her all. Accepting the challenge meant she had to tread carefully; the Poison-type wasn't known for overwhelming power, but for its ability to inflict status effects and slowly wear down opponents.

Luke's words of caution were appreciated. He was a supportive mentor, and she understood that he was merely looking out for her. "I'll do my best!" she replied, nodding earnestly.

She reached for two shuriken-shaped Poké Balls at her waist. This unique method of throwing—using the spinning motion of the shuriken—allowed her to place her Pokémon exactly where she wanted, reminiscent of Gold's pool cue technique and Yellow's fishing rod.

"Mr. Luke," Janine said, adjusting the red scarf around her neck, "can I use the competition system I'm most comfortable with?"

"Of course!" Luke replied, intrigued. "What system do you have in mind?"

"Doubles," she stated confidently.

This was the strategy her father, Koga, had mastered and one that Luke excelled at as well. The support of a teammate could provide crucial moments for strategic positioning and dodging. Janine was eager to test herself against Luke in this format and see how she measured up in a field she was passionate about.

"Doubles sounds great!" Luke agreed, a grin spreading across his face. "It's a great way to assess your command and adaptability. And honestly, I might just have the upper hand here!"

"Let's go with 2 out of 4!" Janine declared, excited at the prospect of a longer match against her mentor.

"Alright! It's a deal," Luke said, chuckling. "This is going to be fun."

With a polite bow, Janine added, "Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Luke! Let's give it our all!"

...

As Luke stepped onto the battlefield, he took a moment to gather his thoughts. He understood that, while the duel was important, the outcome wasn't the primary focus. He pulled out his commemorative Poké Ball and a luxury ball, calling out, "Come on, Sirfetch'd and Arcanine!"

Simultaneously, Janine spun her shuriken and tossed her Poké Balls into the air. "Ariados and Muk, let's go!"

As her Pokémon emerged, Janine quickly donned her mask, a sly smile forming as she watched Muk take its place on the field. Luke's expression shifted; he realized just how cunning her strategy was.

Not far away, Koga, Janine's father, stood silently in the shadows of a large tree, a proud smile crossing his face. "This girl…" he mused, folding his arms. "She's truly my daughter."

Ariados, a giant spider Pokémon standing nearly a meter tall with its striking red and black body, hissed menacingly, revealing sharp fangs. Beside it, Muk oozed from the ground, its stench palpable and overwhelming.

Luke's attention momentarily wavered as he took in the scene before snapping back. "That's a neurotoxin," he murmured, frowning. "It can disrupt a trainer's judgment… even in a gym battle, external factors play a crucial role."

Muk's abilities were a testament to the importance of adapting to special conditions in battle. Meanwhile, Sirfetch'd, standing tall, raised its V-shaped eyebrows. With a determined cry, it brandished its massive leek, creating a gust that dispersed the noxious fumes surrounding them.

"Sirfetch'd, use Defog!" Luke commanded, impressed with how quickly his Pokémon adapted.

As the red light flickered, Sylveon gracefully leaped from its Poké Ball, creating a shimmering barrier that isolated them from the stench.

Janine's expression tightened as she realized Luke had countered so swiftly. "This Sirfetch'd… it's going to be a tough opponent," she thought, steeling herself for the challenge. She needed to take the initiative.

"Use Flamethrower! on Ariados!" Luke shouted.

Arcanine opened its mouth, unleashing a torrent of fiery orange flames. But before the attack could connect, Ariados swiftly swung from a nearby streetlamp, falling toward Sirfetch'd with all its might.

"Is it going for a preemptive attack?" A moment of anxiety coursed through Luke as he called out, "Sirfetch'd, Detect!"

The giant spider hurtled toward Sirfetch'd, which remained still, eyes locked on its opponent. Ariados hissed fiercely, and for a fleeting moment, it seemed all hope was lost for the duck Pokémon.

It's over for duck ヽ(≧Д≦)ノ! !

Yet just then, Luke's commanding voice pierced the tension. "Sirfetch'd, Detect!"

With renewed determination, Sirfetch'd shielded itself, bracing for impact. The collision echoed with a clang as it deflected Ariados's assault, the poisonous mist from the attack thwarted by its shield.

In that instant, Sirfetch'd swung its leek, sending a sharp slash toward Ariados, who barely leaped back in time to evade the blow. Koga, observing from his perch, couldn't help but express his admiration. "You may look weak, but you didn't falter…" he mused, questioning if he had underestimated Luke's prowess.

Janine's focus intensified. Under the cover of Ariados, Muk had begun to shrink in size, becoming quicker and more agile. "Toxic!" she commanded, as the foul-smelling venom sprayed forth, staining Arcanine's fur a deep purple.

"Arcanine, Flame charge!" Luke shouted, and Arcanine responded with a fierce roar, a dazzling light enveloping its form, enhancing its speed.

"It's useless!" Janine retorted coldly. "Muk, melt it down!"

Muk transformed into a pool of liquid on the ground, its defense heightened, poised to strike while still being able to retreat. Janine felt her heart race as she strategized. If she could maintain her Pokémon's positioning, she might just stand a chance.

But then, as Arcanine leapt over the pooling venom, Janine suddenly realized, "Ariados, slow it down with String Shot!"

Her attention was split, and while she was focused on Muk, Luke had a different target in mind. He had strategically aimed for Ariados, who was now vulnerable.

Janine's eyes widened in alarm. "Sirfetch'd, helping hand!" Luke shouted, and the duck Pokémon responded, seemingly unfazed.

"A diversion…" Koga observed, impressed by Luke's tactics. "He's using Sirfetch'd as bait."

With a burst of flames igniting from Arcanine, the fire ignited into a blazing red light. It was more than just a Flame charge; it was the perfect move for Arcanine—its signature technique.

"Let's charge, Arcanine!" Luke commanded, the thrill of battle surging through him.