Chapter 12: The Orange Blossom Dojo, Challenging a Thousand Miles!

“How are you so strong?!”

At this moment, watching his opponent defeated with a single strike, lying on the ground with swirling eyes and completely incapacitated, the young trainer named Little Fox was utterly astonished.

Seeing the bewilderment on his opponent's face, Zhang Feng simply smiled and said, “That’s why, young man, you might as well hand over all your pocket money to me!”

Little Fox, evidently from a well-off family, accepted his defeat gracefully and handed over all his pocket money to Zhang Feng. To Zhang Feng’s surprise, the total amounted to over five thousand Pokémon Coins.

As Little Fox left the Pokémon Center, he muttered, “You’re so strong, maybe you really can earn the badge from the Celadon Gym!”

In the game, the Celadon Gym requires challengers to earn four badges before facing the Gym Leader. But in the real world, as long as you have three Pokémon, you can challenge the Celadon Gym.

Moreover, the Gym Leaders are there to nurture trainers for the League, so they usually send out Pokémon according to the challenger’s strength. Even if the challenger doesn’t win, recognition from the Gym Leader can still earn them a badge.

Though Zhang Feng currently had only Forest Lizard and Pipi Bird on hand, he also had a Latios tucked away in the system space. If necessary, the third Pokémon would be Latios.

When Zhang Feng arrived at the Celadon Gym and expressed his desire to challenge it, the staff led him inside. There, he didn’t see any sign of Xiao Sheng or Xiao Yao, which meant that Professor Senri’s two children had probably already set off on their journey with Ash.

Combined with what Nurse Joy had said—that the Hoenn League’s Striaton Tournament was only six months away—it was likely that Ash had already challenged the third Gym. Or perhaps Ash was on his way to Celadon City but hadn’t yet returned to challenge the Celadon Gym again.

It’s important to note that regional professors distribute starter Pokémon not at a fixed time each year, but whenever new trainers turn ten and apply for their starter. Thus, the initial encounter Zhang Feng had with Little Li and Xiao Yao, who set out the same year, was actually separated by nearly half a year in their journeys.

Soon after, upon learning of a challenger, Gym Leader Senri himself arrived at the Gym Leader’s chamber.

“Oh, we have a new challenger! The Celadon Gym challenge requires challengers to have three Pokémon and engage in three-on-three battles. Can you accept that, challenger?” Senri asked.

Looking at this man, hailed as the strongest trainer beneath the Hoenn Elite Four, Zhang Feng couldn’t help but reveal a spark of fighting spirit.

“Of course I accept, Mr. Senri. My name’s Zhang Feng, from Wei Bai Town, a freshly debuted rookie trainer. I look forward to your guidance!”

Upon hearing Zhang Feng’s name, Senri laughed heartily. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such an energetic rookie challenger. Then let’s begin today’s Gym challenge!”

Gym Leaders receive information about challengers’ ages and debut times before battles. Though Zhang Feng was eighteen, by debut standards he was truly a rookie.

Therefore, Senri would not start by sending out his strongest Pokémon.

As Senri finished speaking, his apprentice took the role of referee, waving a flag and inviting Zhang Feng to take his place as challenger.

“Now commencing the Gym challenge between challenger Zhang Feng and Gym Leader Senri. This will be a three-on-three battle. Only challenger Zhang Feng may switch Pokémon during the battle. The battle ends when all three Pokémon on either side are unable to fight.”

“Gym Leader Senri, you may send out your first Pokémon.”

With that, Senri threw a Poké Ball. A red light flashed, and a Slaking appeared.

Pokémon: Slaking
Level: 25
Ability: Truant
Type: Normal
Potential: Blue
Bond Evolution: Locked
Mega Evolution: Locked
Moves: Scratch, Yawn, Slack Off, Encore, Headbutt, Brick Break...

Seeing that his first opponent was a Slaking, Zhang Feng felt a surge of joy despite its relatively high level. Slaking’s Truant ability was a glaring weakness that he could exploit to win despite the level gap.

“All right, Forest Lizard, I’m counting on you!”

Zhang Feng sent out his Forest Lizard with a luxury ball. The lithe Pokémon appeared instantly, locking eyes with Slaking, radiating the aura of a true contender.

Noticing Zhang Feng’s choice, Senri smiled. “A rookie trainer who sets the Celadon Gym as their first challenge and evolves their starter so quickly? Zhang Feng, you show great potential.”

“That said, I won’t hold back. Slaking, use Brick Break!”

As the battle commenced, Slaking shed its usual laziness, leaping forward. Its claws glowed white as it lunged fiercely at Forest Lizard.

Zhang Feng immediately commanded, “Forest Lizard, counter with Razor Leaf!”

Forest Lizard roared and two green blades of light extended from its arms. It surged forward, colliding head-on with Slaking.

The two Pokémon clashed fiercely, their moves—Brick Break and Razor Leaf—canceling each other out.

For a while, neither could overpower the other. But Slaking’s fatal flaw was its Truant ability.

This trait forced the Pokémon to enter a lazy state every other turn, unable to dodge or attack.

As the battle wore on, Slaking grew increasingly fatigued. When the Truant effect triggered, Slaking was blasted away by a powerful strike from Forest Lizard.

“That’s it! Forest Lizard, use Energy Ball!”

A green energy sphere shot from Forest Lizard’s mouth, exploding on the immobilized Slaking with a thunderous boom.

Severely damaged, Slaking writhed in pain. Though strong, its Truant ability proved a deadly disadvantage.

“Finish it with Seed Bomb!”

With a relentless barrage of Seed Bombs, Forest Lizard overwhelmed the already weakened Slaking, claiming a clean victory.

At this, Zhang Feng easily secured the first win.

“Ding dong! Forest Lizard defeated Slaking, earning 230 experience points. Forest Lizard leveled up to 26!”

Senri was pleased rather than angry. “Good battle sense. Your level already surpasses most rookie trainers. Utilizing Slaking’s Truant ability to mount a fierce offense shows promise.”

“But the next one will be a different story.”

No sooner had Senri spoken than Slaking was recalled. The Gym Leader sent out his second Pokémon—Primeape.

Pokémon: Primeape
Level: 28
Ability: Guts
Type: Normal
Potential: Blue
Bond Evolution: Locked
Mega Evolution: Locked
Moves: Fury Swipes, Slash, Abyssal Stab, Earthquake, Flamethrower...

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