Chapter 6: The Pewter City Gym, Conquered!

"Are you the challengers today?!"

Brock, the spiky-haired, dark-skinned gym leader, called down from a high platform made of dark gray rock. Akane and Luffy stood below on the rocky platform, having just defeated six opponents, earning Luffy over 500 experience points in the process. Now, they had reached the leader of the Pewter Gym.

Akane stepped forward and confidently replied, "That's right! Please accept our challenge!"

The anticipation of earning the first badge, and with it, a potential reward from the machine—had Akane eager to begin. Luffy, meanwhile, cracked his knuckles, bored from battling Geodude after Geodude and wondering if this gym leader might offer a more thrilling challenge.

Akane's response triggered something in Brock, whose expression turned deadly serious. Combined with his dark complexion, his intensity carried an air of intimidation that belied his age.

"Huh~ You know you'll lose, but you still want to challenge me? You're brave!" Brock's voice rose with authority.

All the gym trainers who had been defeated by Akane and Luffy gathered in the audience seats on either side of the gym. Suddenly, a bright light illuminated Brock, accompanied by a surge of magnificent music that blended with the cheers of the crowd.

A crack appeared in the center of the Rock Gym, the ground splitting open to reveal a formal Pokémon battleground. Brock, brimming with confidence, declared

"I am the rock-type gym leader. My Pokémon are as unyielding as stone, with the perseverance of a rock. Let me see what you're made of!"

With that, Brock moved toward the trainer's position on the battlefield.

Akane couldn't help but smirk as the rocky area transformed into a battle arena. "So many theatrics—this is really something," he thought, while Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement as they made their way to the opposite side.

The battle was about to begin!

"My first Pokémon, go! Geodude!" Brock shouted, pulling a Poké Ball from his waist and releasing a dark gray Geodude—a standard in any rock-type gym.

But this Geodude was noticeably larger and seemed more powerful than those of the other gym trainers. The level above its head confirmed its strength:

[LV:12, HP:38/38]

"A level 12 Geodude? I'm sorry, but it seems you won't be much of a challenge," Akane muttered under his breath. Then, turning to Luffy, he said, "Go, Luffy! Take it down!"

"Yoshi~"

As Luffy stepped into the Pokémon battle area, a huge field suddenly activated, enveloping the three of them and Geodude. Brock's eyes widened in disbelief as he took in Luffy's imposing presence.

"How... How can a newcomer have such a powerful Pokémon!?" Brock's shock was palpable.

But Akane had already given his command to Luffy.

"Luffy, the usual! Use Shave!"

When facing a clumsy Pokémon like Geodude, Shave was a surefire tactic, a move that could easily secure victory—even against a gym leader's Pokémon!

Whoosh! Luffy's figure blurred as he moved like a hurricane across the field. Brock's initial shock quickly gave way to focus as he realized the battle was on.

"Hmm!? Was that a flash of lightning!?"

Trainers in the game world were granted intelligence and battle experience consistent with their status. Before Luffy could get behind Geodude, Brock instinctively shouted the best possible command: "Geodude, use Defense Curl and Roll!"

"Luffy, attack!"

"Hacha!" "Gum Gum..."

As the commands echoed through the gym, Luffy and Geodude launched their moves simultaneously.

Just as Luffy's fist, stretched to its limit, was about to strike, Geodude retracted its arms, curled into a ball, and rolled away with surprising speed.

Bang! Boom!!! Luffy's punch smashed into the ground, creating a deep pit and spiderweb-like cracks in the rocky surface.

"Um!?" Both Luffy and Akane were taken aback as they watched Geodude dodge the attack with its rolling maneuver.

Akane's eyes gleamed with realization.

"Using the curled shape to enhance rolling speed for rapid movement? It compensates for Geodude's weakness in speed."

Akane murmured to himself, "As expected of a gym leader, reacting instantly... Maybe becoming a great trainer isn't as easy as I thought!"

Brock's ability to anticipate Luffy's attack and command Geodude to counter it wasn't just luck—it was skill. This was the level of command that separated the average from the exceptional.

But Akane remained confident. "No matter how brilliant the strategy, it can't overcome a significant power gap."

With that thought in mind, he quickly called out, "On your right, Luffy! Chase after it! Finish this!"

"Understood!" Luffy shouted back. In truth, there was no need for Akane's reminder—his observation Haki had already picked up on Geodude's movements.

Luffy moved like a shadow, quickly closing the gap with another Shave, positioning himself perfectly for the next strike.

This time, Brock had no counter. Perhaps, as a gym leader, he had run out of options against Luffy's overwhelming speed and power, leaving Geodude to roll in a desperate attempt to escape.

But Geodude's rolling couldn't match Luffy's speed. Soon, Luffy was directly in front of Geodude, ready to unleash his next attack.

Seeing this, Brock gritted his teeth and, with a hint of desperation, shouted: "Geodude, use Rollout!"

How is this even fair? Brock's frustration was evident. This wasn't a battle; it was a mismatch from a lower dimension.

Sensing the determination in Brock's voice, Geodude turned that emotion into action. It used a small stone protrusion to launch itself into the air, aiming directly at Luffy.

The move was executed flawlessly, showcasing the battle-hardened nature of a gym leader's Pokémon.

But it was no match for Luffy and Akane.

"Gum Gum... Bazooka!!!"

This time, Luffy didn't hold back. He used both hands, expanding his attack's range, and met the oncoming Geodude head-on.

Peng!!! "Cha~!"

With a thunderous impact, Luffy's bazooka-like punch blasted Geodude across the gym, sending it crashing into a rocky hill.

"Geodude!" Brock cried out in concern. He quickly recalled Geodude to its Poké Ball and turned his solemn gaze back to Akane.

"I didn't expect you to have such a powerful Pokémon! But I won't go down that easily!"

"It's your turn next. Go, Onix!!!"

Brock expertly threw his last remaining Poké Ball. A red light flashed, and in an instant, a massive snake-like creature made entirely of dark gray rock appeared, its head nearly touching the ceiling.

"Wow!!! You're so big~!!!" Luffy's eyes sparkled with admiration as he beheld the towering Onix for the first time.

"Ouch!!!" Onix roared fiercely, locking eyes with Luffy. It had witnessed Geodude's defeat and was ready to avenge it.

...

…

One minute later.

[Congratulations on successfully challenging the Pewter Gym and gaining 236 experience points.]

[Completed the command, evaluation: average.]

[Extra reward: Experience +47]