Chapter 24: Gym Leader Mina

Originally, Kalia planned to spend two weeks training Treecko and Charmander, but plans often change quickly. It seemed that Treecko's innate talent was stronger than she anticipated.

With Treecko now sufficiently powerful, challenging the Kana City Gym could be advanced earlier. As for Charmander, lacking any significant advantage against Ground-types and due to its lack of diligent training, it would likely serve as her second Pokemon in battle.

If Treecko were to lose, Charmander would step up next, although this scenario was highly unlikely. Kalia had great confidence in her abilities.

***

Three days later.

The Kana City Gym had a relatively short history; it was established only a few years ago. Despite being a new red-star Gym, its formidable reputation deterred countless novice Trainers from challenging it.

Gym Leader Mina hailed from the Ruby Emerald Pokemon Academy in the Sebas Region, and due to her exceptional achievements, the Pokemon League appointed her as the Gym Leader for Kana City.

The Ruby Emerald Pokemon Academy is renowned for nurturing outstanding Trainers, but since it's founded by the Pokemon League, these Trainers often prioritize serving the League first.

Mina specializes in Ground-type Pokemon and enjoys immense popularity in Kana City. Her charming appearance captivates numerous Trainers, yet her formidable strength deters many others.

It creates a love-hate relationship among many rookie Trainers.

Located in the northern part of Kana City, near the Kana Mountains, the gym serves as a hotspot for various Rock and Ground-type Pokemon activities. Many Trainers frequent this area to capture such type Pokemon.

However, the Kana Mountains can be extremely dangerous. Powerful Ground-type Pokemon battles frequently trigger earthquakes, resulting in injuries to several Trainers each year.

The Kana City Gym was constructed from sturdy rocks, resembling a colossal stone giant raising its fist towards the sky.

Lian leisurely followed behind Kalia, enjoying their relaxed stroll. He felt quite cheerful today since Kalia's gym challenge meant they skipped morning training.

Moreover, he anticipated being merely a spectator; there was no way he would participate in battle. The Gym Leader, being a formidable Ground-type specialist, posed significant disadvantages for Fire-type Pokémon.

With Treecko at his side, Lian had invested numerous Combat Points to enhance its speed ability specifically for moments like these. Why else would he spend so much if not for crucial battles? Without sufficient Combat Points himself, he wouldn't have splurged on Treecko.

Lian wasn't foolish, just rather laid-back. If Treecko could win, there was no need for him to engage directly. Anyone would seize the opportunity to gain benefits without exerting effort - only fools wouldn't.

As they approached the gym, Lian was surprised by its appearance. He expected a standard building but found it surprisingly impressive and unique in design.

Suddenly, he felt something nudging him. Turning around, he saw Treecko unexpectedly close by, which caught him off guard.

As a Fire-type Pokémon, Treecko naturally harbored some fear towards Lian, and they rarely interacted. Now, surprisingly, it dared to approach him closely.

"Tomorrow, let's have a battle."

Treecko looked at Charmander with a confident expression.

Lian was speechless, staring at Treecko as if he had seen a ghost. He wanted to ask, "Who gave you the courage?"

Being a Fire-type, while Treecko is Grass-type, Lian inherently has the advantage to dominate their battles. Yet now, Treecko seemed unafraid and even challenged him.

Lian couldn't help but feel amused; apparently, increasing Treecko's speed ability value went straight to its head.

He immediately accepted the challenge, having never known what it meant to back down. Treecko might think speed makes all the difference, but Lian reminded himself that he was the one who boosted its speed abilities in the first place.

Seeing Lian agree, Treecko became visibly excited. It had long desired a battle with Lian, believing itself to be the master's most cherished Pokémon. Despite the type disadvantage, Treecko aimed to prove it could still defeat Lian.

Unaware of Treecko's intentions, Lian decided to maximize his own speed ability value overnight. After all, Treecko was indeed swift, and underestimating it could lead to an unexpected upset.

Kalia was unaware of Lian's agreement with Treecko, as they communicated using Pokemon language. She could only observe their interaction.

This delighted Kalia, since Treecko usually avoided Charmander, who spent most of its time sleeping and eating.

"Let's go inside."

Kalia pushed open the glass doors of the gym, leading both Pokemon into the spacious interior.

Upon entering, a vast area unfolded before them. The gym was enormous, featuring a central battlefield composed of a large sandy arena with numerous protruding rocks.

At that moment, the gym appeared empty. Earlier, many novice Trainers had gathered here, but after attempting to challenge the gym and suffering overwhelming defeats, they realized the significant gap in their abilities.

Additionally, most Trainers only had one Pokémon due to limited access to Poké Balls, preventing them from quickly capturing a second Pokémon.

As a result, many rookie Trainers decided to acquire another Pokémon first, aiming to strengthen themselves before returning for a rematch.

"Is anyone here?" Kalia called out. Some Gym Leaders held part-time jobs, which meant there were instances when they might not be present at the gym.

However, Gym Leaders typically remain at their gyms most of the time. The Pokemon League annually schedules assessments for each gym's strength, and if the Gym Leader is absent during these evaluations, it could lead to severe consequences.

Kalia had little knowledge about Gym Leader Mina, as the Ruby Emerald Pokemon Academy catered primarily to children from affluent families.

After Kalia's father passed away when she was ten, he left her with a modest inheritance. At that time, she wasn't even aware of such academies, so naturally, attending one was not an option for her.

Nevertheless, every year, exceptional Trainers emerged from the Ruby Emerald Pokemon Academy. Tamagawa Naoki himself was a graduate, making him technically a senior to Gym Leader Mina.

"Coming, just a moment!"

Kalia's call quickly received a response, clearly a female voice—most likely Gym Leader Mina herself.

Soon, Mina appeared, tall and slender, dressed casually in a refreshing white tank top and blue-white denim shorts. Her short hair exuded a spirited charm, complementing her cute face, radiating youthful energy.

Lian's eyes lit up; Gym Leader Mina was stunningly beautiful, matching Kalia's attractiveness. Being a few years older than Kalia also made her more appealing to men.

Gym Leader Mina appeared to be quite bored and eagerly rushed over upon seeing challengers arrive. Despite the respect Gym Leaders receive, their inability to leave the gym freely can feel restrictive.

"Are you here to challenge the gym?" Mina looked at Kalia with wide, expectant eyes.

"Yes." Feeling somewhat overwhelmed by Mina's gaze, Kalia realized this Gym Leader seemed particularly enthusiastic about being challenged.

"I accept your challenge, but before we begin, I have a request. I hope you can make my Pokémon laugh," Mina stated.

"Make it laugh?" Kalia was taken aback. What kind of rule is this? Before challenging a gym, one must entertain the Gym Leader's Pokémon?

"Yes." Mina took out a Poké Ball and released it, revealing a Pokémon holding a white bone weapon, adorned with a skull cap on its head - unmistakably a Ground-type Cubone.

"Ever since Cubone's mother passed away, it hasn't smiled. I've tried various methods to bring back its laughter, but none have worked." Mina gently touched the skull atop Cubone's head, her eyes filled with tenderness.

"So, I'm hoping someone could help reignite its smile. Would you give it a try?" Mina asked.

"All right, I'll do my best." Kalia couldn't refuse, as the request didn't seem overly difficult.

According to legend, the skull atop Cubone's head belonged to its deceased mother, causing Cubone to often emit sorrowful sounds and even weep alone at night.

It was evident that Mina wished for Cubone to overcome its grief and regain its cheerful disposition.

However, making Cubone laugh proved challenging; Kalia had tried numerous methods without success.

Lian also attempted to tell a hilarious joke, but unfortunately, Cubone couldn't comprehend it, remaining oblivious to the punchline. Instead, Lian found himself laughing uncontrollably.

Despite their efforts, Cubone remained unamused, while Lian continued giggling due to recalling a particularly funny memory from his past, which only made him laugh harder.

I can't take it anymore! I'm busting up with laughter!

Lian's stomach ached from laughing so much, nearly rolling on the floor with mirth.

"If only Cubone could be as cheerful as your Charmander," Mina said enviously, observing the joyful laughter of Lian's Pokémon.

Kalia nodded in agreement.

Although Charmander tended to be lazy at times, it always showed consideration for her feelings, behaving like a playful child.

Whenever Charmander got caught sneaking snacks and then sat upright with a serious expression, it always tickled her funny bone, making her want to gently pinch its belly.

During this period, although she focused on training Treecko, most of her joy came from spending time with Charmander.

"Let's begin."

Since Cubone couldn't smile, there was nothing more they could do about it, but the gym battle must proceed as planned.

The gym had a designated referee who promptly arrived once the battle commenced. Red-star Gyms typically follow a 2v2 format, requiring challengers to bring two Pokémon for the match.

The competition used a rotation system, allowing challengers to switch their Pokémon, which added unpredictability and excitement to battles. This prevented swift defeat due to initial mistakes.

Lian took a seat among the spectators behind Kalia, deciding not to actively participate in this battle; he would just observe casually.

As he watched the combat unfold, he savored his favorite sweet-sour flavored energy cubes, feeling utterly content.

Now, the challenge had officially begun.