Ralts stared intently at the stone before her, her ruby-like eyes twinkling with excitement and longing.
Seeing Ralts's expectant look, Kai chuckled and ruffled the hair on her head before he began carefully processing the rough exterior of the stone. After some tinkering, the hidden gem inside was finally extracted.
Ralts, standing nearby, saw the sparkling object in Kai's hand and bounced excitedly in place, reaching out her small hands.
"Ral, Ral!"
"Alright, alright, here you go," Kai said, handing her the stone.
Looking at the little one who couldn't seem to put down the Mega Stone, he added, "You can't actually use this thing just yet. In a bit, I'll head to a shop and have someone custom-make a necklace casing so you can wear it safely."
He finished speaking and glanced at Froakie, who was standing quietly to the side. This little guy was much calmer than Ralts, maintaining a composed, stoic demeanor. Kai nodded to himself; Froakie already had that cool, disciplined ninja vibe.
"Froakie, we're going to challenge the Gym soon. I plan to have you lead the way. Any problems with that?"
"Froakie!"
Kai was met with a firm, determined cry. Seeing Froakie's enthusiasm made him smile. He reached into his backpack and pulled out some specialized Pokémon food—Pokéblocks—suitable for both of them.
Perhaps due to the system, Kai's learning ability was exceptionally sharp, and his memory was photographic thanks to his psychic powers. Everything he did seemed to have a multiplying effect; even these Pokéblocks were handcrafted by him, based on his knowledge of high-quality nutrition. He didn't plan on sharing this technology with the world just yet—after all, it was best to give his own team the edge first.
Pewter City Gym
The gates of the Pewter Gym were decorated with ancient, weathered rocks. Outside the entrance, Kai communicated with Ralts inside her Poké Ball using his psychic power.
Ralts, we'll take care of the Gym challenge first, then we'll go get your necklace made.
After sensing her happy affirmation in his mind, Kai no longer hesitated. He pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside.
The corridor of the Pewter Gym was incredibly dim. Kai stood in the main hall for a moment until—Clap!—the lights flickered on. Sitting cross-legged in front of him was a young man with narrowed eyes.
"Who goes there?" the man asked.
Kai sized him up. So this is Brock? He looks pretty serious right now. Hard to believe he's the same guy who's a total goofball around girls. Maybe the "serious gym leader" persona is his default setting.
"I'm Kai," he announced. "A new Trainer here to challenge the Gym."
After studying Kai for a moment, Brock stood up. He snapped his fingers, and the walls on both sides of the room retracted. A floor filled with massive boulders was pushed out, and soon a rugged rock arena stood between them.
"Gym battles are not like ordinary street battles," Brock warned. "Are you sure you're ready?"
"I'm ready. Let's go."
Brock saw the unwavering confidence in Kai's eyes and said no more. He walked to the leader's platform, and Kai took his place in the challenger's box..
"The rules are two-on-two. Let the battle begin! Go, Onix!"
With a roar, a massive Rock Snake Pokémon, seven or eight meters long, materialized in the arena. The ground shook as Onix let out a deafening cry.
> Pokémon: Onix
> Gender: ♂
> Level: 18
> Ability: Rock Head
> Moves: Bind, Dig, Rock Slide, Rollout, Tackle
> Potential: Elite
As expected of Brock's ace, but sending Onix out first? I'm not Ash; I'm not going to be intimidated, Kai thought, his lips curving into a smirk.
"Froakie, I'm counting on you! This is your first Gym battle!"
Kai tossed the Poké Ball, and a small blue figure appeared before the towering Onix. Onix stared down at the tiny opponent, almost as if thinking, Is this little thing really going to fight me? It looks like I could crush it just by sitting down.
As if sensing Onix's condescending thoughts, Froakie raised a claw and shouted defiantly.
"Froakie! (Who are you looking down on, you big dummy?)"
"A Pokémon from the Kalos region? Very spirited indeed," Brock praised. Usually, new Trainers' Pokémon were terrified when they saw Onix. The sheer size of the creature exerted immense pressure. It was rare to see a Froakie that was not only unafraid but actually talking tough. "Then let the battle begin. You may have the first move."
"Then I won't be polite. Froakie, Water Pulse!"
Kai didn't waste a second. Froakie brought his palms together, condensing Water-type energy into a swirling sphere before hurling it directly at Onix.
"Onix, use Dig!"
As a seasoned Gym Leader, Brock reacted instantly. Onix dove into the earth, and the Water Pulse splashed harmlessly against the rocks.
Having lost sight of his target, Froakie felt a momentary surge of panic. It was, after all, his first official high-stakes match.
"Froakie, don't rush," Kai said, his voice calm and grounding. "Close your eyes. Carefully feel the vibrations in the ground."
Following Kai's lead, Froakie closed his eyes and focused. Kai did the same, using his psychic power to map the movement beneath the arena floor.
Suddenly, both Kai and Froakie opened their eyes simultaneously.
"Directly below you!"
Froakie leaped backward just as the ground cracked open. Onix burst from the earth with explosive force, missing Froakie by an inch.
"Now! Full power Water Pulse!"
Taking advantage of the fact that Onix was mid-leap and unable to dodge, Froakie adjusted his posture in the air and fired a point-blank Water Pulse. It hit Onix squarely in the head.
Rumble!
The massive rock snake was slammed back into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Brock looked at Kai and Froakie with genuine surprise.
That calm response... that's not the skill level of a typical rookie, he thought. He looked into the pit where his Pokémon lay. "Onix, are you okay?"
Onix struggled to his feet and shook his head, but his movements were heavy and labored. Kai didn't wait for a dramatic mid-battle speech. Through his connection with his Pokémon, he could sense that Onix was at his limit.
"Froakie, finish it with Quick Attack!"
With a burst of speed, Froakie blurred across the field. The impact was the final straw; Onix collapsed, unable to continue.
"You worked hard, Onix. Return," Brock said, recalling his Pokémon. He looked at Kai with newfound respect. "You won that round. I can tell your Froakie is very strong and has incredible potential."
Kai smiled, patting Froakie on the shoulder. "Thank you. He puts a lot of hard work into his training."
"Alright," Brock said, reaching for his second Poké Ball. "Now for the second half of the match."