POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

"This is really troublesome..." Koga muttered as he wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. His plan had been derailed the moment Gengar hit Crobat with Mean Look. Now, Crobat was stuck on the battlefield, unable to retreat, and Koga had no choice but to improvise.

As a skilled ninja and Poison-type expert, Koga was no stranger to adversity, but this was a dire situation. The strategy he'd devised—using Crobat's speed to confuse Gengar and then switching to Venomoth for a Psychic-type assault—was no longer viable. Agatha, with her years of experience, had countered him effortlessly.

Koga clenched his fists. This was his third attempt to claim a position in the Kanto Elite Four. If he failed now, it might be his last chance for years. Still, he had to try.

"Crobat, use Air Cutter!" Koga commanded, choosing a ranged attack to keep Gengar at bay while he sought an opening.

Crobat let out a sharp cry and flapped its wings with blinding speed. Energy blades formed in the air, spinning like saws, before hurtling toward Gengar. Dozens of air blades streaked across the battlefield, cutting through the air with a shrill sound.

Agatha, however, remained calm. She tapped her wooden cane on the ground and gave her command: "Gengar, use Dark Pulse."

Gengar cackled ominously. Brownish-black energy swirled in front of it, condensing into a wave of dark energy. With a sinister grin, Gengar unleashed the attack, sending a powerful pulse rippling through the battlefield.

The collision was instant and devastating. The Air Cutters disintegrated upon impact with the Dark Pulse, scattering harmlessly into the air. The dark energy surged forward, slamming into Crobat with incredible force.

Crobat was launched across the arena, tumbling uncontrollably before slamming into the energy barrier separating the battlefield from the audience. The barrier rippled under the impact, but it held firm.

Crobat slid down the barrier and hit the ground, unconscious.

"Crobat is unable to battle! Gengar is the winner!" the referee announced, raising the green flag for Agatha.

The audience erupted into cheers. Some fans were in awe of Agatha's display of power, while others voiced their disappointment for Koga, who had lost his first Pokémon without landing a single hit.

"Damn it," Koga muttered under his breath. He recalled Crobat, gripping the Poké Ball tightly. Agatha's calm demeanor only made the sting of defeat worse.

"I underestimated her," Koga thought. "Agatha may be a member of the Elite Four, but her experience and skill far exceed that of most challengers."

---

Meanwhile, in Pallet Town

Ash Ketchum sat glued to his TV, watching the battle with wide eyes. His heart pounded as he took in the sheer power and precision of the Elite Four member's Gengar.

"That Gengar didn't even break a sweat," Ash whispered to himself. "It's on a completely different level... Champion level, maybe even beyond."

Ash was a passionate Pokémon fan, but this battle was a stark reminder of how different the real world was from the games he loved to play. In the games, strategy could overcome any obstacle. Even a low-level Pokémon could beat a high-level opponent if the moves were chosen wisely.

But reality was far less forgiving. Speed, strength, and experience all mattered. And most importantly, there were no pauses to carefully plan your next move. Trainers had to think on their feet.

"Mr. Koga really gave it his all," Ash said quietly, "but Agatha's just too strong."

---

Back in the arena, the battle continued, but the outcome was clear from the start. Koga sent out his remaining Pokémon one after another, but none could stand against Agatha's Gengar.

The Poison-types he relied on, such as Weezing and Venomoth, struggled against Gengar's superior speed, power, and tactics. Even when Koga managed to land a hit, Gengar's Curse Body ability would often disable the move, leaving Koga scrambling for alternatives.

Finally, after an intense but one-sided battle, Koga's last Pokémon fell.

"Koga is unable to continue! The winner is Agatha of the Kanto Elite Four!" the referee declared.

The audience erupted into cheers once more. Agatha bowed slightly in acknowledgment before recalling her Gengar.

Koga stood silently for a moment before returning his last Pokémon to its Poké Ball. He turned to face Agatha, bowing deeply.

"Thank you for the battle," Koga said.

"You fought well, Koga," Agatha replied. "But if you wish to challenge the Elite Four, you must become stronger. The path of a trainer is long and arduous. Don't give up."

---

Later that night, in Pallet Town

Ash turned off the TV and lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The battle replayed in his mind over and over.

"Elite level... Elite Four..." he muttered. He raised a hand, spreading his fingers as if to grasp something just out of reach. "I wonder if I could ever become one of them. No... not just one of them. I want to be the very best, like no one ever was!"

He clenched his fist, determination burning in his eyes.

"Ash! Are you still awake?" his mother's voice called from downstairs.

"Yes, Mom! I'm going to sleep now!" Ash called back.

He switched off the light and lay back down. Tomorrow was the start of his journey. He would visit Professor Oak and receive his first Pokémon.

"Should I choose one of the starters, or go with Pikachu like in the stories?" Ash wondered. "Pikachu might be tough to handle at first, but it's supposed to be really strong later on..."

His thoughts drifted as sleep overtook him. In his dreams, he stood atop a mountain, holding a championship trophy as a crowd cheered his name.

"I'll be the strongest trainer in the world," Ash murmured in his sleep.

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