Pokemon: With Title System

Chapter 64: Keep Talking, I'm Listening

Vermilion City Gym was Lt. Surge's domain!

He knew every corner of it.

"Voooooolt!"

The Voltorb let out mischievous grins as they triggered Explosion.

But… nothing happened.

The grins turned into looks of confusion.

Lt. Surge wore the same expression.

Asahi, seeing his bewilderment, shrugged.

"Why the shocked face?"

"You knew I'd expect you to use Voltorb. Did you really think I wouldn't prepare for it?"

"What made you think I'd walk in here unguarded?"

As he spoke, a small Poliwag timidly stepped out from behind him, releasing a faint mist.

Asahi bent down and patted the little Pokémon's head.

"Pokémon are amazing, aren't they?"

"A tiny Poliwag, considered weak by many, completely nullified your Voltorb's Explosion just because it has the Damp ability."

"You got too comfortable in your own Gym, Lt. Surge. You underestimated me."

The wild Poliwag had been bribed with energy cubes and his Viridian Power to help.

If only his Mudkip had Damp instead of Torrent, he wouldn't have needed to go through this trouble.

"Enough of this nonsense!"

Frustrated by his failed plan, Lt. Surge waved his hand.

"Voltorb, use Spark!"

Damp only negated Explosion, but Voltorb was still an Electric-type Pokémon!

Bzzt!

Electric arcs crackled as the Voltorb built up energy, rolling rapidly toward Asahi and Poliwag.

If it hit, Asahi might spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

But that was assuming the attack landed.

"You think my Gardevoir doesn't exist?"

Before Lt. Surge could react, Asahi's Gardevoir, clutching the Psychic Plate, suddenly radiated a blue glow.

Her psychic energy resonated with the plate.

Wooooooom!

A reality-warping force swept across the battlefield.

All the Voltorb's eyes lost focus simultaneously.

The electricity around them dissipated, and they rolled to the ground, motionless.

One move—instant KO.

And the massive psychic wave didn't stop. It surged toward Lt. Surge and his Electabuzz.

Lt. Surge couldn't see psychic energy, but he felt the danger instinctively.

His Magneton quickly erected a Light Screen to block the attack.

Boom!

The psychic force crashed against the barrier, sending ripples through it.

Cracks spread across the Light Screen before it suddenly shattered.

If not for Electabuzz stepping in at the last moment to create another Light Screen and absorb the weakened attack, Lt. Surge might have been taken out then and there.

He stared at Asahi's Gardevoir, eyes filled with wariness.

The last time he faced a real Elite-level Psychic-type was in a sparring match against Sabrina.

He had lost miserably.

But this Gardevoir felt even more terrifying than Sabrina's Pokémon.

Under normal circumstances, a top-tier Gardevoir wouldn't be this overwhelming.

"It's that plate, isn't it?"

Lt. Surge's sharp eyes immediately noticed the floating Psychic Plate.

Asahi smirked.

"My Gardevoir says she can see the fear in your eyes."

"So… how about surrendering?"

"We International Police treat our prisoners well. You'll get fresh Moomoo Milk every morning."

Asahi's tone was 'kind,' as if he were making a generous offer.

"You think you've already won?" Lt. Surge sneered. "Let me return your earlier words—you're too arrogant! This is my Gym!"

At his shout, Electabuzz roared, surging with electricity.

The energy shot into the ceiling, activating a hidden mechanism.

In Asahi's surprised gaze, a series of Tesla coils rose from the floor, forming a ring around the battlefield.

The coils hummed to life, channeling power straight into Electabuzz.

Its eyes gleamed with raw energy, its aura intensifying.

"Eluuuuuuuuuu!"

Sparks crackled as Electabuzz smashed its fists together, arcs of electricity dancing around its body.

With the Tesla coils feeding it limitless power…

"Now let's fight!" Lt. Surge declared, confidence fully restored.

Asahi, however, ignored him.

Instead, he curiously examined the mechanism.

"Huh… didn't realize this arena had that feature."

But it didn't matter…

Asahi pulled out his communicator and said a few words to Green, who was still in the control room.

A few seconds later…

Just as Lt. Surge was about to command Electabuzz to attack, a sharp whoosh filled the air.

The high-speed generator came to a sudden stop.

The coils surrounding the battlefield flickered twice before dimming completely, their electric charge vanishing instantly.

"What the…?"

Lt. Surge frowned.

He had backup Voltorb-powered generators with him, but he knew he had paid his electricity bill…

Why had the power suddenly been cut?!

Asahi adjusted his coat leisurely and looked at the dumbfounded Lt. Surge with a smirk.

"You called this your home turf? Got it. Anything else you'd like to say? Keep going—I'm listening."

Lt. Surge clenched his teeth so hard they nearly cracked, but deep inside, a fear he refused to acknowledge took root.

Every single one of his strategies had been seen through.

It felt like Asahi could predict his every move, while he barely knew anything about Asahi.

"Should I retreat?"

The thought crossed Lt. Surge's mind.

If he ran now, he'd have to abandon his status as a Gym Leader, his entire life in Vermilion City.

But with such a massive intelligence gap, no explosion tactics left, and no home-field advantage, he seriously doubted he could beat Asahi's Gardevoir head-on.

But just as he was about to make his move—

Asahi, who had been on the defensive the whole time, suddenly acted.

With a flick of his wrist, he threw out two Poké Balls.

A flash of white light—

Eevee and Shelgon appeared, joining Gardevoir in launching an all-out assault.

Shelgon and Gardevoir attacked from the front.

Eevee cut off Lt. Surge's escape route.

Meanwhile, Dragonair stayed by Asahi's side, ready to protect him.

Asahi patted Dragonair's head and said, "I heard you like to cripple the Pokémon of rookie trainers who challenge you."

"Well then… today, you're the challenger. Let's see how long you can last against me."

"Crush him."

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