After resolving the troublesome matters in Gringey City, Paul once again followed Ash and his party into the wild area.
"Hey. You said you knew the way through the wilds, but you really just know how to get lost in the wilds." Paul looked at Ash in front of him bitterly. It was Ash who had told him that finding the Fuchsia Gym in the deep mountains and old forests simply required trusting his Growlithe like jungle sense.
"Don't worry, I'm an old hand at navigating the wilderness. Follow my rhythm and we'll fly," Ash had declared confidently before leading Paul into the vast forest without blushing. Then... well, then they got lost.
After wandering around in the wild for several days, eating and sleeping outdoors, the Pokémon had battled numerous wild Caterpie, and they saw a large group of Diglett, but there was still no sign of the Fuchsia Gym.
Paul felt delusional for actually believing Ash. Now he just wanted to take out Zapdos's Ultra Ball, slap it on Ash's face, and ask, "You said you knew the way, but you just led us further astray?"
"Whoosh." Pushing through dense bushes again, Ash scratched his head sheepishly. "Eh? Where did this lead? I seem to have lost my way again!"
Charmeleon, responsible for clearing the path, saw the vein pulsing on Paul's forehead and quickly pulled Paul back to dissuade him.
"Char," it seemed to plead. * Boss, put down the Ultra Ball. Just use Electivire. Zapdos might be too much. *
"It's strange. Where is the Fuchsia Gym? Could it be that I, the unbeatable pathfinder from Pallet Town, am really going to meet my match here?" Ash poked his head out from the grass and sighed.
"Still claiming to be unbeatable... Let me tell you, if you can't find the way soon, we're asking for help! We've been wandering in the wild for days now!!" Paul complained mercilessly.
"Why would they build the gym in such a remote place?" Misty also cried out, frustrated. After all, there were too many Bug types in the wild for her liking.
Brock took out the map and looked around. "It should be around here."
The group found a stream, replenished their water, and moved forward.
Crossing a makeshift bridge made of dead wood, the group finally arrived at an ancient building complex. The architectural style was very similar to old houses from historical period dramas.
"It's here," Paul breathed out.
"Eh? Paul, how do you know?" Ash looked at Paul suspiciously.
"The owner of the Fuchsia Gym, Koga, is a ninja. Don't you think the architectural style here is very suitable for a ninja?" Paul asked.
"It really feels that way," Misty looked around curiously.
The group walked through the main entrance and came to the front room. As soon as she entered, Misty tripped, rolled into a wall, and disappeared.
"Whew," Paul whistled softly. "Trick wall. The owner here really likes games."
Brock stepped forward and fiddled with the wall, finally managing to release Misty.
"Ven!" At this moment, a Venonat appeared before everyone.
"Can't be wrong, this guy is a Pokémon from here," Paul nodded.
Ash pulled out his Pokédex: "Ding! Venonat, the Insect Pokémon. A Poison and Bug type. Its eyes function like radar, allowing it to move freely in the dark."
The Venonat bounced around in front of everyone, seemingly wanting Paul and the others to follow.
Ash, ever trusting, followed the Venonat inside. Paul, however, was cautious and kept his distance.
Sure enough, Ash was knocked down by a burst of electric current after taking just seven steps.
For Ash, who endured regular electrotherapy from Pikachu, this shock was nothing, but it was disheartening.
Ash complained helplessly, "Pikachu, why did you shock me suddenly? Wait until night... cough, no, anyway, I wasn't prepared for that."
Pikachu tilted its head with a pout. "Pika? Pika, Pika!" * What's that clueless boy thinking? Can't even tell my electric shock of affection? *
"Eh? Wasn't it Pikachu?" Ash's wide eyes showed slight confusion.
"Look there," Paul pointed to the floor.
Ash took a closer look. Well, the floor panel had flipped over, revealing a Voltorb, which had erupted with electricity after being stepped on.
"This is... a trap?" Brock looked around curiously, wondering if the house was safe at all.
Ash felt helpless. * Why is it always me who gets hurt? * He got up and continued chasing the Venonat.
When the group reached the second floor, Ash saw the Venonat bouncing and seemingly laughing at him. His temper flared instantly. "Darn it! Don't let me catch you!"
He sprinted forward, boom!! His entire body smacked against a sheet of tempered glass!
"It's too strange here, let's retreat," Brock suggested, feeling unnerved.
"Wait a minute," Paul said. "I don't think the Gym Leader would be this petty. Since these are pranks, I suspect someone related to the gym is messing around."
Brock thought of his younger siblings for a moment. Usually, when a trainer came to challenge the Pewter Gym, his siblings would also dislike the challenger and want to play tricks on them.
"Then what should we do?" Ash was furious.
"Hmph!" Paul snorted coldly and shouted loudly, "Person hiding in the dark, I know you can hear me! If this is how the Fuchsia Gym treats guests, then I really overestimated it! Teasing trainers who come to challenge? What you're doing will only embarrass the Fuchsia Gym!"
"Hahaha! Take this!"
Paul's vision blurred as a few shuriken flew towards him.
"Empoleon!" The Poké Ball in Paul's hand released instantly, and Empoleon's steel wings spun defensively.
Clang! Crash! All the shuriken were knocked down.
"Empol!" Wings tucked back, Empoleon struck a handsome pose. Paul felt Empoleon was hinting it wanted a cloak.
Thump. A girl in a red ninja costume landed on the ground. "Walking in the dark! Female ninja, Aya, is here!"
Misty looked at the female ninja with some embarrassment and asked, "But don't you think your color looks too flashy for moving in the dark?"
"None of your business!" Aya broke character immediately, then quickly composed herself back into her cool persona, holding a shuriken and looking at Paul. "Did you like my greeting?"
"Amateurish tricks, not interesting," Paul said with a cold face. Although Paul could be well behaved and gentle when facing someone like Cynthia, thinking that being a woman granted special privilege against him was naive.
"That's right! Nobody just throws shuriken suddenly. It's very dangerous!!" Ash said unhappily. The moment the shuriken flew over, he thought Paul was done for and was about to declare vengeance.
Paul eyed Ash doubtfully. * Good brother, you really have my back, huh? *
Only Brock, with a flushed face, tried to strike up a conversation, but Aya almost slapped him into next week.
"This place was originally where we practice! You broke in yourselves, so you can't blame anyone if you get hurt!"
Hearing Aya's words, Ash and Misty were furious.
Paul's eyes turned cold as well. Women could be willful, but being willful enough to hurt others intentionally was unforgivable.
"Who do you think you are? If it weren't for Koga's aura being present in this room, I wouldn't be polite to you," Paul said indifferently.
Just as Aya was about to retort disdainfully, she felt a chill down her back... Gengar's red eyes were right behind her.
"When?!" Aya's hair stood on end. "Damn it! I tell you, if you want to challenge my brother, you have to pass my level first! Let's fight, use Pokémon!"
Paul looked at Ash. "Do you want to fight?"
Ash gritted his teeth and stood up. "Of course I want to fight! How dare she look down on me!"
"I leave it to you," Paul nodded. With a sinister, strange laugh, Gengar melted into the shadows and returned to Paul's side.
Aya looked at Paul's indifferent expression and said angrily, "You're not going to battle?!"
"Why should I battle you? You've already lost to me," Paul frowned, looking at Aya. "Whether as a trainer or a ninja, letting someone sneak up behind you quietly is equivalent to entrusting your life to their hands! What right do you have to challenge me?"
Aya stomped her feet angrily and looked at Ash. "Okay, I'll clean you up first!!"
Ash said angrily, "I'm not easy to bully! Come on!!"
"Go, Venonat!" Aya sent out Venonat as expected.
Paul sneered inwardly; Ash could easily win with Charmander.
"Go! Bulbasaur!!"
Paul mentally facepalmed. * Yes, this is very Ash. Your inverse attribute master friend is online! *
"Let's battle! Venonat, use Agility!" Aya took the lead.
Ash showed no fear. "Bulbasaur, use Tackle!"
Venonat leaped nimbly to avoid Bulbasaur, then used its falling momentum to land squarely on Bulbasaur's face.
"Hiss! You don't hit the face! Is this just Venonat stepping on Bulbasaur's face? This is stepping on the trainer's face! Ash, can you bear it?" Paul commented with strange ambiguity.
"Ah! You're going too far!" Ash's anger exploded. "Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip!"
"Stun Spore!" Aya commanded, taking advantage of Venonat's jump to unleash the annoying powder attack.
"Blow it away!!" Bulbasaur took a deep breath and blew the Stun Spore away before it could take effect.
Immediately afterward, the Vine Whips began to chase Venonat.
Bulbasaur seemed determined. * Don't let me catch you, Venonat, or else... hehehe. *
Venonat looked panicked. * Don't come near me! *
"Venonat, use Psybeam!" Aya didn't rush. Relying on Venonat's high mobility, it dodged the Vine Whips one by one, then shot a Psybeam directly at Bulbasaur, attempting to confuse it.
"Bulbasaur, cheer up!" Ash activated his special skill: trainer encouragement! The effect was outstanding!
Bulbasaur shook its head and forcibly regained clarity.
"Use Leech Seed!" Ash changed his attack strategy.
Paul nodded inwardly. * That's right. If Leech Seed hits, this will be very comfortable. *
Bound firmly by the Leech Seed, Venonat crashed helplessly to the ground, drained of energy.
"Damn it! Come back, Venonat!" Aya retracted Venonat with an ugly expression.
Now the situation was awkward. Unable to out talk or out fight them, Aya felt a little stuck.
At this moment, a Voltorb rolled to the center of the area, and an explosion created bursts of smoke.
Then, a thin, middle aged ninja appeared before Paul and his party.
"Aya, you are really immature," Koga said earnestly.
Aya knelt on one knee. "Brother, I was careless!"
"The main character has finally appeared," Paul stared at Koga and said.
* This man is a little dangerous. He is definitely more than just a gym leader. *
"Since things have developed to this point, it seems I must battle you personally. Let's wager the Soul Badge."
"Just what I want," Paul accepted the challenge cautiously. His purpose was the badge, so there was nothing to fear.
Ash volunteered to battle first. Koga thought for a while and held two Poké Balls ready.
At the start of the match, Koga used his newly evolved Venomoth to defeat Ash's Pidgeotto. Then, Ash dispatched Charmander, who had a type advantage, to defeat Venomoth.
Halfway through the fight, the ceiling cracked with a bang, and the Team Rocket trio fell from the sky.
"Since you asked sincerely..."
"I didn't ask!" Paul yelled, his face contorted in fury.
"Then I will be merciful..."
"Electivire, Thunderbolt!!"
"Wait, meow! Why don't we finish our motto, meow!!"
Seeing Paul interrupting gleefully, Misty decisively sent Psyduck out to liven up the atmosphere.
"Psy?" Psyduck questioned, tilting its head with a vacant stare.
After some comical fumbling, Psyduck's headache intensified, and it neatly sent the Team Rocket trio blasting off again with a powerful psychic blast.
"So this guy is actually strong?" Misty discovered for the first time that Psyduck could be so cool. Even Koga looked impressed and offered to trade his Venomoth for Psyduck.
Without distractions from idlers, the Gym battle continued. Since the house was damaged by Team Rocket, everyone went outside.
This time, Koga used Golbat, which seemed to be just at Gym Leader level strength, and it was also easily defeated by Ash's Charmander.
"Now, it's your turn," Koga looked at Paul.
"Come on," Paul nodded and stepped onto the battle position.
"I don't think I need to hold back against you," Koga smiled and took out a Poké Ball from behind his back.
The corner of Paul's mouth twitched. "No problem. Bring it on."
"This match is one on one. As long as you win, the badge is yours. Go, Crobat!"
Paul took out his Pokédex and scanned it. "Ding! Crobat, energy level 50, Elite Four level!"
* Just as expected. The strength of this guy surpasses that of ordinary Gym Leaders. * Paul felt a prickle of anticipation.
"Go, Empoleon!" Paul also dispatched his powerhouse. To fight a Poison type, you use a Steel type!
"Crobat, use Air Slash!" Koga launched a Flying type skill, aiming at Empoleon's Water typing weakness.
"Empoleon, use your wings defensively! Counter Shield!" Paul didn't panic. Even though Crobat's level was higher, Empoleon was no pushover.
Employing a defensive maneuver reminiscent of Ash's strategies, Empoleon used the high speed rotation of its steel wings to form a shield, resisting the opponent's skills. The flying blades of Air Slash were drawn into Empoleon's spinning wings, their energy increasing with the rotation, finally turning into a shining energy wave on Empoleon's wings, which Empoleon then threw back using the rotational force.
"Crobat, avoid it!" Koga commanded carefully.
Crobat pulled up sharply and easily avoided the reflected slash.
"Cross Poison!" Without giving Paul a chance to seize the initiative, Koga's next move came immediately. Crobat's wings crossed, and the Cross Poison attack, glowing purple, fiercely pushed towards Empoleon.
"Catch it!" Paul clasped his hands, his expression unchanged. If it were a move like Brave Bird, Paul might reconsider, but since Koga chose the Poison type move Cross Poison, he wouldn't miss this chance.
Boom!! Accompanied by a muffled sound, Empoleon slid back a meter, its wings with their metallic luster firmly gripping Crobat in front of it.
"Can't run away now, can you?" Paul smiled.
"Oops! Crobat, use Poison Fang right there!!"
Crobat opened its mouth wide, and huge venomous fangs materialized, striking towards Empoleon.
"Flash Cannon!!" Paul commanded hastily. Empoleon's strong steel wings burst with energy. As it released its grip on Crobat, the thick beam of the Flash Cannon sprayed Crobat directly into the sky, causing an explosion.
Crobat, completely blackened, fell headfirst, and Koga recalled it to its Poké Ball.
"You won. I am convinced I lost," Koga looked at Paul with certainty.
"No, I have also learned a lot. Thank you for the battle. You are indeed the master of Poison, Mr. Koga," Paul bowed in admiration.
Until the moment before the end of this battle, both sides still retained the possibility of winning. Paul's heartbeat was still pounding violently and hadn't calmed down. Unlike previous Gym battles, this kind of battle, which could overturn at any moment, undoubtedly offered more learning opportunities.
"Elite Four Member!!" Ash and the others exclaimed.
"Oh, you actually know about that," Koga smiled slightly shyly. "Actually, I received an invitation from the Johto League, and I will be going to Johto to serve as one of the Elite Four. Didn't expect news to leak out?"
"That's amazing! Then Paul, you just defeated one of the Elite Four!!" Brock and Misty looked at Paul in surprise.
After all, these two were Gym Leaders themselves. Their strength might not have peaked, but they still had good judgment. Koga's strategy just now obviously involved using one of his main Pokémon to battle Paul.
"It's not quite that grand," Paul shook his head, knowing the reality. "Although Mr. Koga's Crobat has surpassed the level of typical Gym Leader Pokémon, it hasn't surpassed it by too much. I think it must be a Pokémon that has just entered his main team rotation."
Koga looked at Paul with interest. "Good eyesight."
Paul smiled wryly and shook his head. "After the Elite Four, one step further is the Champion. I was lucky enough to witness the main Pokémon of a certain Champion, so I don't think Mr. Koga, as an Elite Four member, would only have strength like the Crobat just now showed."
"That's right. What a formidable future generation," Koga patted Ash and Paul on the shoulders. "Come on, young people! The future belongs to you! I am waiting for you to challenge me again!"
"Yes! We will definitely challenge Mr. Koga again!" Ash was fired up once more.
After successfully obtaining the Soul Badge, everyone bid farewell to Koga with satisfaction.
Next, as long as they passed through the Safari Zone guarded by Kaiser, they could reach the legendary wilderness area where Ash caught his fill of Tauros!