75. Finding Koga

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"Forget it." Haunter lost interest, shaking his head. "Too weak. It's not worth my time."

"Too weak?!" Janine, clearly offended, raised her voice. "Did you just call me weak, you talking Pokémon?! Don't underestimate us! Do you dare to battle my Pokémon and back up those words?"

Haunter was entirely unfazed. Sticking out his long tongue, he teased her. "Blehhh! Nope, I'm not battling. What are you gonna do about it?"

Janine's face turned red with frustration, and her temper flared. Seeing this, Kai quickly stepped in to diffuse the tension.

"Apologies! Haunter has a... unique personality. Please don't take it personally, Miss Janine."

Kai glanced at Janine's Crobat, whose fierce expression showed it was ready for battle. Thinking for a moment, he reached for a Poké Ball.

"Alright, Haunter doesn't want to participate, so I'll send in Jolteon!" He tossed the Poké Ball, and Jolteon materialized in a flash of light, its spiky fur crackling with electricity.

Janine raised an eyebrow. "Jolteon, huh? Interesting choice. But no matter who you send out, my Crobat will show you just how strong we are!"

Both Pokémon stood ready, their eyes locked as the battle began. Janine wasted no time. "Crobat, Air Slash!"

Crobat flapped its powerful wings, sending sharp blades of compressed air hurtling toward Jolteon.

"Jolteon, dodge it!" Kai commanded.

Using its exceptional speed, Jolteon easily evaded the attack and countered with Pin Missile, launching a barrage of glowing needles toward Crobat. However, Crobat deftly weaved through the assault, its agility matching Jolteon's speed.

Realizing ranged attacks wouldn't work, Janine shifted her strategy. "Crobat, use Cross Poison!"

Crobat swooped down with claws glowing a toxic purple, aiming for a direct strike. Kai made a quick decision.

"Jolteon, meet it with Thunder Shock!"

As Crobat closed in, Jolteon discharged a bolt of electricity, striking Crobat mid-attack.

The impact slowed Crobat, but it pushed through and landed its poisonous claws on Jolteon.

Both Pokémon took significant damage, but Crobat, being part Flying-type, suffered more from the electric attack.

Janine pressed on. "Crobat, Poison Fang!"

Kai responded in kind. "Jolteon, counter with Thunder Fang!"

The two Pokémon lunged at each other, their fangs glowing Crobat's with venom and Jolteon's with electricity.

They collided in a fierce clash, biting and clawing in a raw display of power. Both sustained injuries, but soon the aftermath of their attacks became clear.

Jolteon was poisoned, its body turning faintly green as the venom took hold.

Meanwhile, Crobat was paralyzed, electricity coursing through its body and leaving it unable to move.

Kai seized the opportunity. "Jolteon, finish this with Discharge!"

Electricity surged through Jolteon's body, building up until it erupted in a blinding flash. Crobat took the full force of the attack and collapsed, unable to continue.

Janine sighed, returning Crobat to its Poké Ball. "I lost..." She gave a small, rueful smile. "Looks like I underestimated you."

Kai smiled politely, walking over to Jolteon with an antidote in hand. "Great job out there, Jolteon." He patted its head, administering the antidote. "You fought well. Rest now." Returning Jolteon to its Poké Ball, he turned back to Janine.

Janine stepped aside, gesturing to a door behind her. "As I said, if you defeat me, you can proceed. My father, Koga, awaits further inside. Good luck."

Before Kai could respond, Janine disappeared into the shadows with the agility of a true ninja.

"Why does every gym have to be so complicated?" Kai muttered, shaking his head. He turned to Haunter and Kirlia. "Come on, let's go."

The group moved through the wooden door into a dimly lit staircase. Ascending to the second floor, they found themselves in a bright corridor with sunlight streaming in through transom windows.

Haunter hovered beside Kai. "It looks safe, but in a ninja's lair, you can never be too sure. Watch your step."

Kai advanced cautiously, but after several uneventful steps, his hand suddenly pressed against an invisible barrier.

Startled, he examined the obstruction and found it to be a thick, transparent glass wall reflecting faint white light in the sunlight.

Haunter effortlessly phased through the glass. "Need me to break it?"

Kai shook his head. "No need." He turned back toward the stairs but found another glass wall blocking the way. Both exits were sealed.

A memory surfaced. Kai recalled seeing Ash face this exact trap during his challenge at the Fuchsia Gym.

Smirking, he walked to the side of the corridor where the wooden walls and transom windows were located.

Raising his leg, he aimed for the wall and kicked it hard. Bam!

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