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The masked woman and the surrounding apprentices practicing their Psychic powers were all shocked.
In the entire hall, people practicing their Psychic abilities looked up in unison, and the spoons in their hands clattered onto the tables.
"Gym Leader Sabrina... proactively invited someone in?"
"Did I hear that right?"
"So many Trainers come to challenge, and the Gym Leader just says she's not in the mood and sends them right back..."
"What's the deal with this Trainer carrying a Pikachu?"
Whispers erupted in the hall, and everyone's gaze toward Roy changed.
The masked woman stared blankly at Roy, her expression beneath the mask clearly one of disbelief.
This was the first time Sabrina had ever proactively invited someone inside.
Usually, for Trainers who came to challenge, it depended entirely on Sabrina's mood.
If she didn't want to fight, the Trainers would have to leave dejectedly, unable to even set foot on the battlefield.
After all, no one wanted to provoke such a volatile, high-level Psychic.
There was once a reckless Trainer who shouted outside the Gym; that very night, he was found lying in the outskirts, completely incoherent, only able to mutter "doll... doll..."
Since then, the challenge rules of the Saffron Gym became an unspoken law—if Sabrina wants to fight, you fight; if she doesn't, get lost.
So this time, Sabrina's proactive telepathic invitation shocked everyone around.
"No way!"
Misty suddenly grabbed Roy's arm, her voice filled with worry.
"Roy, you can't go in alone! That Sabrina... she's too dangerous!"
Delia also tightly gripped Roy's other arm, her small face pale:
"She's right, Roy, let's go in together. In case she does something to you..."
Neither of them was foolish.
The warning from Sabrina's father was still ringing in their ears. If the legends about turning people into dolls were true, then Sabrina was a walking source of danger.
Seeing this, the masked woman quickly stepped forward to persuade them:
"Ladies, I understand your concern for your companion, but it's better if you wait out here."
She lowered her voice, her tone serious:
"The Gym Leader... she's truly very dangerous. Her Psychic powers don't just affect Pokemon; they can directly influence the human mind. If you are present, she might influence you along with him."
"You don't have a Psychic Constitution, so you won't be able to resist that kind of Psyshock. It's safer to stay outside."
Misty bit her lip and looked at Roy: "But..."
"Don't worry."
Roy patted their hands, his tone calm.
"I have a way to solve the Sabrina problem."
He paused, looking at their worried eyes, and added:
"Don't forget, I also have a Psychic Constitution. And..."
He leaned close to Misty's ear and lowered his voice:
"I've prepared something good."
Misty's face flushed, thinking he was about to say something improper again.
But Roy had already pulled back, giving her a "trust me" look.
Delia wanted to say more, but Roy already ruffled her hair:
"Wait for me out here like good girls. When I win, I'll take you to the best restaurant in Saffron City."
"...You must be careful," Delia said softly.
Roy nodded and turned to walk toward the depths of the Gym.
Passing through the hall, there was a long corridor behind it.
Both sides of the corridor were transparent glass walls, through which one could see training rooms—all filled with apprentices practicing Psychic powers. Some stared blankly at floating teacups, others tried to flip book pages with their minds; the scene was both eerie and comical.
At the end of the corridor was a heavy metal door.
The door had no handle, only a Psychic-type symbol that glowed slowly.
Just as Roy reached the door, it slid open silently.
It was pitch black inside.
He stepped in.
The door behind him closed automatically, cutting off all light and sound from the outside world.
The entire space was terrifyingly quiet.
Before entering the battlefield, Roy stopped.
He reached into his system space and took out an item—Amulet x1.
[Amulet x1: After use, perfectly resists all Psychic influences for 24 hours, including but not limited to mind control, telepathic attacks, and illusion creation. Note: Only effective for the host.]
Roy activated the Amulet just in case.
Having made his preparations, Roy continued forward.
Light gradually appeared ahead.
He walked into the battlefield.
This battle room indeed looked like a iron box—the surrounding walls, ceiling, and floor were all made of metal, polished enough to reflect shadows.
The entire space was about the size of two basketball courts, a standard battlefield regulation size.
But eerily, the other side of the field was completely shrouded in darkness.
That darkness wasn't an absence of light, but a kind of... substantial shadow, so thick it wouldn't dissipate, and even the light from the indicator lamps at the edge of the field couldn't penetrate it.
Roy narrowed his eyes.
Right then.
"Hee... heehee..."
A strange giggle came from the darkness.
The laughter was high-pitched and childish, yet carried an unspeakable gloom.
Next, something floated out of the darkness.
It was a loli cloth doll.
Red twin-tails, a red western-style dress, and an exaggerated smile painted on its face.
But those painted eyes seemed as if they truly had life, staring fixedly at Roy.
The doll floated in front of Roy, hovering in mid-air.
It was close enough that Roy could see every stitch mark on the doll's face.
Then, the doll's mouth—the corners of which were sewn with red thread—moved.
"You!"
A shrill voice emitted from within the doll:
"Are very special!"
The doll floated in a circle around Roy, its painted eyes seemingly sizing him up.
"From the moment you entered Saffron City... I have been watching you!"
"On your body... besides the fluctuations of Psychic power... there are also special fluctuations!"
The doll leaned close to Roy's face, almost touching his nose:
"Those fluctuations... I've never seen them... hee... interesting... truly interesting..."
Hearing Sabrina's words through the doll, Roy felt a slight chill in his heart.
She had been watching him since he entered Saffron City?
Isn't this perception range a bit too exaggerated?
How big was the entire Saffron City? She could use her Psychic powers to cover the whole city for surveillance?
This Sabrina... she couldn't be some kind of yandere, could she!
In the original work, she did have some mental issues, but that was caused by her Psychic powers spiraling out of control. But if she was interested in a "special existence" like him from the start...
Roy took a deep breath, suppressing the stray thoughts in his heart.
Now was not the time for this.
"Gym Leader Sabrina."
Roy spoke, his voice echoing in the metallic space:
"I am here today to challenge the Gym."
He paused, looking at the doll in front of him:
"If you're interested in me, we can have a good talk after the battle."
"I also want to learn a bit about your Psychic powers."
He spoke frankly, even with a hint of a smile.
The doll was quiet for a few seconds.
Then,
"Hehe... hehehe..."
The eerie laughter rang out again.
The doll floated back to the edge of the darkness, its painted eyes staring at Roy:
"Interesting... truly interesting..."
"The first Trainer... to dare speak to me like that... is you..."
"Fine~"
The doll's voice suddenly elongated:
"I accept your challenge~ Come, let me see your strength~"
The moment the words fell.
The darkness receded like a tide, partially.
Revealing the figure standing in the shadows.
Sabrina herself.
Her long, light-blue hair cascaded down like a waterfall, the tips almost touching her ankles.
A red, tight-fitting mini-dress wrapped around her mature-to-the-extreme body; her full breasts were tightly bound by the fabric, outlining a breathtaking curve, yet her waist was so thin it looked like it would break with a single grasp.
The hem of the skirt only reached her thighs, below which were long, slender legs encased in black stockings, gleaming enticingly in the dim light.
She floated barefoot twenty centimeters off the ground, her ankles slender and her toes exquisite.
Her face wore a perennial ice-mountain expression, and her light-purple pupils held no emotional fluctuations, just like an exquisite doll.
But...
Truth be told, although Sabrina was dangerous, she was also a top-tier onee-san!
Roy marveled inwardly.
This figure, this face, this aura—if one ignored that 'keep-away' dangerous vibe and the creepy doll beside her, she was absolutely the type that could drive men crazy.
However, yanderes weren't that easy to play with.
Roy temporarily focused his attention on the battle.
"Then..."
Roy took a few steps back, standing in the Trainer's command zone.
"Let's begin."
The Pikachu on his shoulder jumped down, landing on the field, electric sparks "crackling" from the pouches on its cheeks.
"Pika—chu!"
Full of battle intent.
The doll floated back to Sabrina's side, hovering on her left.
Sabrina herself remained expressionless, only slowly raising her right hand.
A poké ball slid from her sleeve, hovering in the air.
"Abra."
She uttered two words; her voice was a cold onee-san tone, in stark contrast to the doll's shrill voice.
The poké ball opened.
A flash of white light.
An Abra appeared on the field, its body curled up, clutching a spoon in deep sleep.
[Abra lv16 Novice Level]
Roy scrutinized the Abra before him. Although it was Novice Level, according to what the masked woman said earlier—this Abra would temporarily evolve, its strength soaring to Gym-level.
Plus Sabrina's Psychic power enhancement...
"Pikachu."
Roy spoke:
"Thunderbolt, test it out."
Pikachu erupted with a dazzling golden electric light!
A thick current tore through the air, heading straight for Abra!
The power of this strike was enough to trouble not just a level 16 Abra, but even a level 26 one!
But just as the current was about to hit Abra, a red light flashed in Sabrina's eyes.
Buzz!
A pale purple light shield suddenly emerged around Abra's body!
The Thunderbolt crashed into the shield, erupting in a blinding light!
The shield vibrated violently, but... it didn't break!
"As expected."
Roy now knew for sure; Sabrina shared some of her Psychic powers with this Abra.
"Abra, Confusion."
Sabrina's cold voice rang out.
The Abra, which had been sleeping, suddenly opened its eyes!
Its pupils turned the same light purple as Sabrina's, devoid of any emotion.
Invisible waves of Confusion spread out!
The metal floor of the arena made a "creak" sound as it warped, and the air began to feel viscous!
Pikachu's body stiffened, as if bound by an invisible force!
"Pika!"
It struggled, and electric light erupted from its body once more!
The Confusion binding was broken by the current!
But Abra's second wave of attack was already here!
"Teleport, Psyshock."
Sabrina's voice had no ups or downs.
Abra's figure vanished from the spot with a "whoosh"!
The next second, it appeared three meters behind Pikachu!
Simultaneously, a visible purple wave of mental energy blasted toward Pikachu's back like a cannonball!
"Quick Attack to dodge! Then counter with Iron Tail!"
Roy's command rang out almost simultaneously!
Pikachu turned into a streak of white light, narrowly avoiding the Psyshock!
A shallow pit was blasted into the ground!
Meanwhile, Pikachu had already used the speed of Quick Attack to dash in front of Abra, its tail gleaming with a metallic luster as it swung down hard!
Bang!!
The Iron Tail struck Abra squarely!
Abra let out a cry of pain, its body flying backward!
But while it was still in mid-air, the red light in Sabrina's eyes surged!
A brilliant light of evolution erupted from Abra's body!
Its body began to transform and elongate in mid-air!
The spoon flew from its hand, held up by an invisible force, hovering nearby!
The light dissipated.
A brand-new Pokemon appeared on the field!
Upright posture, slender limbs, holding a spoon, thin tail—Kadabra!
That aura was definitely Gym-level, no mistake!
"It really did evolve temporarily."
Roy narrowed his eyes.
Kadabra hovered in mid-air, two spoons crossed in front of its chest, its light-purple pupils looking coldly at Pikachu.
Sabrina's voice rang out again:
"Kadabra, Psychic."
A mental power several times stronger than before erupted!
The metal walls of the entire battlefield began to groan under the unbearable weight.
Air distorted, light refracted!
The electric light around Pikachu's body was suppressed by this mental power, flickering unsteadily.
Pikachu released a Thunder Shock, but as it neared Kadabra, the current suddenly bent eerily and struck the empty ground nearby.
The interference from the Psychic power greatly reduced the accuracy of the skills.
Roy watched Pikachu fall into a disadvantage on the field, yet his face showed no panic.
"Pikachu."
"No more ranged attacks."
"Close combat."
Pikachu nodded.
"Quick Attack!"
Roy gave the order!
Pikachu turned into a white light, dashing out instantly!
Its speed was so fast that even Kadabra's Lock-On was a beat slow!
Red light flickered in Sabrina's eyes:
"Psychic Bind."
Kadabra waved its spoon!
Invisible Confusion, like chains, coiled toward Pikachu.
"Double Team!"
Roy's command came at almost the same time!
Over a dozen Pikachu figures suddenly appeared on the field!
The Confusion chains only bound one of them—it was a clone!
The real Pikachu had already used the clones as cover to rush in front of Kadabra.
"Now! Iron Tail!!"
The metallic-gleaming tail swung down hard!
Kadabra hurriedly raised its spoon to parry!
BANG!!!
A loud metallic collision!
Kadabra was knocked back several meters by the strike, and cracks even appeared on its spoon!
Sabrina's reaction was not slow either.
"Teleport, open the distance."
Kadabra's figure flashed, appearing at the other end of the field.
Simultaneously, Sabrina's Psychic power enhancement strengthened again!
The aura on Kadabra's body climbed another notch!
Mental power, like a literal tide, filled the entire space!
Pikachu's speed was clearly affected!
The situation fell into a stalemate once more.
However, just then...
The space in front of Sabrina suddenly distorted slightly.
Her brow furrowed imperceptibly.
What was that?
The next second.
Two things appeared out of thin air in front of her, hovering in mid-air.
Those were...
Two bombs.
One large and one small, both entirely red, with exaggerated skull patterns painted on them, and the fuses were still "hissing" as they burned!
Time seemed to stand still.
Sabrina's perennial ice-mountain face showed a clear change in expression for the first time.
Her pupils contracted sharply, and her eyes flashed with shock, bewilderment, and even... a hint of panic.
The nerves in her brain that had been taut for years suddenly moved at this moment.
Danger!
Instinctive reaction made her want to use her Psychic powers to disperse these two bombs!
Red light exploded in her eyes!
Powerful Confusion swept toward the bombs!
But it was useless!
The bombs didn't budge, continuing to hover there as the fuses burned shorter and shorter!
Sabrina's heart jolted.
Her Psychic powers... failed?
No! Not failed! It was that these bombs... were immune to Psychic powers?
And in those brief two seconds while she was distracted dealing with the bombs, the situation on the field reversed instantly!
Sabrina's Psychic enhancement on Kadabra began to weaken because of her distraction.
Though it was only a very brief weakening, for Pikachu, it was enough!
Pikachu keenly seized this opportunity!
Quick Attack exploded at full speed!
It turned into a literal bolt of lightning, crossing half the field in an instant to rush in front of Kadabra!
At this time, Kadabra, having lost part of its Psychic enhancement, was half a beat slow with its Lock-On!
By the time it reacted, Pikachu's tail had already gleamed with metallic luster once more!
BANG!!!!!!
This time, there was no spoon to parry.
The Iron Tail struck Kadabra squarely in the chest!
Kadabra let out a wretched scream, its body flying backward like a kite with a broken string, slamming heavily into the metal wall!
A man-shaped dent appeared in the wall!
Kadabra slid to the ground, its eyes turning into swirls.
Unable to battle!
And at almost the same time.
The fuses on the two bombs in front of Sabrina burned to their end.