Golem, Gengar, Crobat, Fearow, Ampharos…
The Pokémon on Team Rocket's side were all fully evolved. Each one was a seasoned fighter, their crimson eyes glowing with a strange, violent light, as if consumed by rage.
Seeing this lineup, Officer Jenny's expression turned grim. Her Growlithe stood tall and defiant, its spirit unshaken, but the truth was clear: even handling one of these opponents would be difficult. Facing seven at once was simply impossible.
"Go, Gengar!"
At that critical moment, Yozora stepped forward."Use Night Shade!"
Gengar's eyes flared with black radiance. Dark beams shot from its pupils, sweeping across the enemy Pokémon in an instant.
One against seven.Total annihilation.
"What—?!" The Rocket grunts froze, dumbfounded. Officer Jenny herself blinked in shock before her face broke into joy. Together with Growlithe, she rushed forward, slapping cuffs on the immobilized criminals.
The Rockets were apprehended, but the Slowpoke tails… they would never grow back.
By sunset, Officer Jenny's colleagues arrived to haul the prisoners away.
"Yozora, thank you for your help this time," Jenny said gratefully.
Yozora only waved his hand, slipping away alone toward the next city.
His journey continued, pausing here and there for training or spontaneous battles against roadside trainers and wild Pokémon.
A month later, he arrived at the great plains near Goldenrod City. Beyond these grasslands lay his destination—the bustling Goldenrod, home to yet another Johto Gym.
That morning, Yozora and his partners finished their daily meditation, then prepared breakfast.
Through a month of training and careful nurturing, his team had grown even stronger.
Gengar and Miltank—the veterans—had progressed the least. Gengar remained at Gym Leader peak, while Miltank had finally reached Gym Leader level, though only just at its initial stage.
The younger generation, however, had advanced rapidly.
Among the four, Dragonair stood tallest at Lord-tier high rank. Eevee had reached Lord-tier beginner rank. Flaaffy and the Crystal Onix had both risen to Commander-tier peak.
It was hard to believe Yozora had raised them only recently.
On the plains, Yozora and his partners savored breakfast while enjoying the pastoral scenery.
This land was made for ranching. Fenced pastures stretched across the horizon—Mareep ranches, Tauros ranches, and even a Miltank ranch. Naturally, the Miltank ranch was the smallest, with only a single pen.
The reason was simple: Miltank were incredibly valuable. Without substantial wealth, no one could afford to raise them.
"Moo…"
Suddenly, a few Miltank ambled over, gazing in awe at Yozora's own Miltank, Mei.
Though of the same species, Mei was on a completely different level.
Towering nearly two meters tall, her frame was broad and solid, giving the impression of a small mountain even when sitting. Compared to her, the visiting Miltank—barely 120 centimeters—looked underfed, despite being healthy themselves.
Her name "Mei" (Little Beauty) no longer fit her—"Great Beauty" would be more apt.
"Wow, what a magnificent Miltank!!"
A girl with a pink ponytail came over, following the herd. Her eyes widened the instant she saw Mei.
"Hello, my name's Whitney. How did you raise your Miltank? Why is she so big and strong?" she asked Yozora directly.
"Whitney?"
The name clicked. Yozora recognized her now—Whitney, Gym Trainer of Goldenrod Gym.
"You're asking about training? Well, it's all about nutrition in their diet, paired with proper exercises…" Yozora gave a vague explanation.
Whitney nodded thoughtfully. As a Gym Trainer, her eye for detail was sharp. In the short time she'd been here, she had already studied Yozora's six Pokémon one by one.
It wasn't just Miltank. Every Pokémon here had been raised to extraordinary strength.
"Come out, Miltank!"
Whitney tossed a Poké Ball, releasing her ace Pokémon.
The others with her were simply her grandfather's Miltank from the ranch—she was helping him herd. But this one was her own.
"Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Whitney, Gym Leader of Goldenrod Gym." She extended her hand.
Yozora shook it. "Yozora. I'm from Kanto, traveling Johto to train for the Silver Conference."
Whitney's eyes lit up. "Perfect! Then let's battle right here! If you win, I'll give you the Plain Badge!"
Her Miltank, standing at 150 centimeters, was muscular and imposing. Though smaller than Mei, it was much stronger than most Miltank, having reached Lord-tier peak—a rarity for its species. Whitney had raised it since childhood, and its naturally combative spirit made it a true powerhouse.
"Here? Isn't that a little too casual?" Yozora frowned.
Whitney laughed, already assuming her stance. "Don't worry. As a Gym Leader, I can make that call. If you beat me, the Plain Badge is yours."
Yozora nodded.
"Three Pokémon each—fair enough?" Whitney asked.
Yozora nodded again.
The two quickly set the stage for an outdoor Gym battle.
"My lead is… go, Persian!"
Whitney's first Pokémon leapt gracefully into the field, while her Miltank stood with arms crossed, watching like a masculine warrior.
Yozora's eyes gleamed. Mei had grown up—it was time to find her a mate. Imagine raising a generation of powerful Miltank!
But then he remembered: Miltank were all female. Whitney's Miltank was simply a tomboy, not a bull. Yozora sighed inwardly.
Goldenrod Gym specialized in Normal-types. Whitney's ace choices were no exception.
Her Persian was a Normal-type as well, and strong—Commander-tier peak. Clearly, she wasn't holding back against Yozora.
"Flaaffy, your turn!" Yozora swept his arm.
The pink wool Pokémon bounded forward, eager to fight. Flaaffy had a bold spirit that matched Yozora's perfectly. In recent weeks, it had grown rapidly through relentless battles against trainers and wild Pokémon alike.
"Oh? A Flaaffy?" Whitney's eyes sparkled. "I like its spirit—it rivals my Miltank's!"
Indeed, she admired Pokémon with fighting hearts.
Mei, Yozora's own Miltank, was less battle-hungry—her strength had always come from her motherly instinct to protect weaker teammates. But with Dragonair now grown, that drive had faded. Mei spent most of her time meditating rather than battling.
"Persian, Agility!" Whitney commanded.
Persian darted across the field in a blur, leaving shimmering afterimages. With a sudden burst, it lunged toward Flaaffy like lightning.
But Yozora's eyes narrowed. Experience spoke first."Flaaffy, right side! Cotton Spore!"
Flaaffy yanked two tufts of fluff from its fleece and hurled them at Persian.
Caught off guard, Persian failed to dodge. The sticky cotton clung to its fur, dragging its speed down instantly.
Its charge halted mid-motion.
"Now! Flaaffy, Thunderbolt!"
Crackling bolts surged like serpents across the field.
"Jump, Persian!" Whitney cried.
Agile as ever, Persian leapt high, dodging the lightning.
"Up there, but you can't stay forever." Yozora smirked."Flaaffy—aim for the landing point! Thunderbolt again!"
The moment Persian touched the ground—BOOM!
Electricity engulfed it. Persian shrieked, body seared by lightning, staggering backward with singed fur and trembling limbs.
"Such power…!" Whitney gasped. Persian was Commander-tier peak, same as Flaaffy. Yet Flaaffy nearly one-shotted it.
Of course—it was no ordinary Flaaffy. With Adaptability and Technician, its special attacks were amplified far beyond its rank.
"Finish it! Discharge!" Yozora ordered.
A storm of lightning burst outward, spreading like a net. Persian ran desperately, but the field-wide attack caught it anyway.
Screaming, it collapsed, knocked out cold.
Whitney recalled it without hesitation. "Good fight, Persian."
Then she threw her second Poké Ball.
"Miltank, let's roll!"
Her Miltank let out a roar before tucking itself into a pink ball, launching forward with Rollout. The ground trembled as it barreled toward Flaaffy.
"Such speed." Yozora's eyes narrowed in approval. Without needing Agility, Rollout already reduced drag and accelerated momentum.
But this was no time to admire."Flaaffy! Cotton Guard!"
"Puff!"
Flaaffy's fleece fluffed up, expanding into a thick, cushioned coat just as Miltank slammed into it.
BAM!
Flaaffy rolled across the dirt like a tossed doll, but rose again, battered yet standing.
"Unbelievable defense…" Whitney muttered.
Her Miltank was Lord-tier peak. The gap between that and Flaaffy's Commander-tier peak was immense. She'd expected a one-hit knockout—but Flaaffy had endured.
That was the power of Cotton Guard—tripling defense instantly.
"Flaaffy, Cotton Spore again!" Yozora commanded.
Two more clumps of fluff stuck to Miltank, slowing it slightly.
Whitney scoffed. "That won't stop us. Miltank, Rollout again!"
"Flaaffy, Cotton Guard once more!" Yozora countered.
The wool thickened further, puffing Flaaffy up like a balloon, yet remaining light enough not to slow it down.
The clash between Flaaffy's resilience and Miltank's relentless momentum had only just begun.
(End of Chapter)