"Battle Room 3 on the third floor," Renjiro murmured to himself as he glanced at the card in his hand.
"This is it."
Without wasting time, he strode toward the elevator. The soft hum of the machinery accompanied him as he ascended to the designated floor. As the doors slid open, he stepped out and checked the room number displayed on the opposite wall, ensuring he was at the right place.
Satisfied, he swiped the card across the sensor. The door clicked open.
Inside the room, a young man, perhaps around the same age as Renjiro, stood waiting. His posture radiated arrogance, his arms folded across his chest, and his gaze filled with disdain. It was clear he had been waiting, possibly eager to test his skills against a new opponent.
"You're my Rival?" the young man sneered, looking Renjiro up and down with visible contempt. "Judging by those cheap clothes, I bet you had to beg your parents for ages just to let you come here."
He chuckled, his tone dripping with mockery. "But you're out of luck today. You ran into me." He smirked confidently. "One thousand coins a round."
Renjiro blinked, slightly surprised by the immediate hostility. Was the atmosphere in Battle Tower always this intense?
But...
A slow smile spread across his face. I like it this way.
"Then it'll depend on whether you have the strength to beat me!" Renjiro shot back without hesitation.
Without waiting for further taunts, he reached for his belt, unhooked a Poké Ball, and with a practiced flick, sent it soaring.
"Go, Beedrill!"
A flash of red light filled the room as the insect Pokémon emerged. The buzzing of its wings filled the air as it hovered, its sharp stingers gleaming ominously under the battle lights.
The other boy stared for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Are you serious? Beedrill? That's your Pokémon?" His face was twisted in glee. "Level 22? I should have guessed—a complete country bumpkin!"
Renjiro's smile deepened. That's right. Underestimate him. You have no idea what's coming.
Most trainers would see a Beedrill and assume weakness. They would never imagine that this particular Beedrill's attack stat surpassed even that of a legendary Pokémon like Rayquaza.
"Country boy, let me show you the difference between us!" The young man's arrogance reached new heights as he dramatically threw out his own Poké Ball.
A Luxio emerged in a burst of light, its sleek blue and black fur standing out against the battle room's neutral walls. It crouched low, crackling with latent electricity, eyes locked onto Beedrill.
Pokémon: Luxio
Type: Electric
Ability: Intimidate – lowers opposing Pokémon's attack upon entry.
Level: 20
Gender: Male
Moves: Quick Attack, Spark, Tackle, Leer, Charge, Bite
Renjiro's keen gaze took it all in. His Insight ability activated instinctively, analyzing the opposing Pokémon's stats in real time.
Interesting. This Luxio was taller than most—about a meter at the shoulder, half a head taller than the norm. Its fur looked well-groomed, and the sharpness of its eyes spoke of good care and training.
"You've trained it well," Renjiro acknowledged.
The boy puffed up with pride.
"Of course! I've invested a lot in my Luxio's diet and training. He's in a different league compared to some wild Beedrill!"
Renjiro shrugged.
"Pity such a good Luxio is about to lose."
The boy's face twisted in scorn.
"Hah! As if a Beedrill could beat my Luxio! You're delusional."
Renjiro's heart raced—not with fear, but with anticipation. This was what he thrived on: breaking through arrogance with overwhelming force.
"Fine then, I'll even let you have the first move!" The young man sneered, confident Luxio could handle whatever came its way.
"Don't regret it," Renjiro said calmly. His voice was steady, his eyes sharp.
"Beedrill! Finish it in one strike!"
The room seemed to still for a heartbeat.
Then Beedrill shot forward like a missile, wings buzzing furiously. Its twin stingers gleamed as it executed Twineedle with blinding speed.
The boy's smirk froze.
"So fast!"
In that instant, the reality of the situation hit him. This Beedrill wasn't ordinary—not by a long shot.
"Luxio, use Spark! Defend!" he cried out in desperation.
Luxio reacted immediately, its body crackling with electricity as it prepared to absorb and retaliate against Beedrill's strike.
Renjiro's respect for the boy ticked up a notch. Not bad. Instead of panicking, he'd used Spark defensively—a smart move.
But not good enough.
"Beedrill, don't stop! Break through!"
Without hesitation, Beedrill drove its stingers forward, plunging into Luxio despite the crackling energy. Sparks flew as contact was made, but the force of Beedrill's attack was undeniable.
A loud crack echoed as Luxio was sent sprawling, skidding across the floor.
Its eyes swirled, consciousness fading.
"Luxio is unable to battle."
The announcement echoed in the boy's mind, along with the sound of Renjiro's calm breathing.
Renjiro's system chimed in his thoughts:
Ding! Your Beedrill defeated level 20 Luxio. Gained 210 experience points.
You have gained 35 combat points. Current combat points: 305.
It had been no contest.
Renjiro returned Beedrill to its ball, the insect's wings folding neatly as it disappeared in a flash of light.
The young man stared, mouth agape, struggling to process what had just happened.
"Impossible... how could my Luxio lose so easily?" His voice cracked with disbelief.
Renjiro walked over, his expression unreadable, then offered a small, almost pitying smile.
"Guess you ran into the wrong opponent."
The boy's face turned red with humiliation.
"You! You just got lucky!"
Renjiro tilted his head slightly.
"Sure. Let's go with that."
He crossed his arms, studying the boy.
"You don't have any more Pokémon, do you? If not, you'll be disqualified from advancing to the next round."
The boy's fists clenched at his sides.
He had nothing left. Even if he had, the sheer power of that Beedrill had drained any remaining confidence.
"Just wait! I'll be back! And next time, I'll crush you!"
Scooping up his fainted Luxio, the boy stormed out, his pride in tatters.
Renjiro remained where he was for a moment, watching the door swing shut behind his defeated opponent.
He exhaled slowly, letting the tension of the battle melt away.
One down.
The buzz of victory lingered in his veins, but Renjiro knew this was just the beginning. The Battle Tower was filled with trainers, many of whom would be far stronger, far more skilled than the one he'd just faced.
Still, this was the path he'd chosen.
The path of strength.
He stepped toward the console at the side of the room and swiped his ID card, signaling that his match was complete and he was ready for the next challenger.
Outside, trainers bustled about, unaware that a storm was brewing within the Battle Tower—a storm named Renjiro.
---