The sea breeze blew past his face with a salty, fishy scent, and the setting sun dyed the beach a warm orange-red.
Officer Jenny's personal watercraft had already turned into a small black dot in the distance, leaving only the wreckage of the sunken Speedboat on the sea surface, appearing and disappearing among the waves.
Ariel watched all this in silence. The brief encounter just now was like a stone thrown into the calm lake of his heart, stirring up circles of ripples.
The surprise of Malamar learning Teleport and the coldness of having to personally deal with that Team Aqua brute—two vastly different emotions intertwined in his heart.
He was not a bloodthirsty person, but he knew the laws of this world well.
The fewer people who knew a secret, especially one that could serve as a trump card, the better.
Malamar's Teleport was a trump card sufficient to turn the tide at a critical moment.
"What are you thinking about?"
Brawly's voice sounded nearby as he wiped his wet hair with a towel, his bronze skin glowing with a healthy luster under the setting sun.
Ariel withdrew his thoughts and turned to look at this Dewford Town Gym Leader.
"I was thinking, it's time."
Ariel spoke, his voice not loud but very clear.
Brawly's movements paused. He looked into Ariel's eyes; those pupils no longer held their usual easygoing nature, replaced instead by a pure fighting spirit.
"Oh?"
Brawly raised an eyebrow.
"Gym Leader Brawly,"
Ariel's address became formal,
"I wish to issue a Gym challenge to the Wudou Gym."
As the words fell, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Brawly threw away his towel, the sea breeze messing up the hair on his forehead.
His signature hearty smile slowly bloomed on his face, but his gaze changed—no longer the gentleness between friends, but the rock-like firmness and sharpness of a martial artist facing a challenger.
"Good!"
He said only one word, but it was powerful and resonant.
"Ariel, although we are close friends who can Surf together, on that field, my martial artist's soul won't allow me to go easy on you."
Brawly stretched his muscles and bones, making a series of popping sounds.
"I will use an offensive like a giant wave to completely crush you! Be prepared!"
Ariel smiled.
This was exactly what he wanted.
It wasn't just for collecting Gym Badges.
He needed a hearty battle to test his growth over this period and to accumulate more strength for the journey ahead.
The Wudou Gym's field was very special; there was no cold floor, but rather it was covered in thick sand, simulating a beach environment.
Various training equipment specialized for Fighting-type Pokémon were placed around, and the air was filled with the scent of sweat, sand, and the sea.
As Ariel and Brawly walked into the Gym one after the other, a figure rushed out impulsively.
"Brother! Brother Ariel!"
A girl wearing a cheerleader outfit waved pom-poms in her hands, jumping in front of the two with vibrant energy. It was Brawly's younger sister, Shauna.
"Are you two finally going to battle? I've been waiting for so long!"
Shauna's face was flushed with excitement.
A gratified smile appeared on Brawly's face; with his sister cheering him on, his condition would surely reach its peak.
He struck a pose he thought was cool, preparing to receive his sister's encouragement.
However, Shauna's next move caused the smile on his face to freeze instantly.
Shauna suddenly unfurled a small banner in her hands, which had words written in crooked but enthusiastic characters.
"Brother Ariel will surely win!"
While waving the banner, she shouted in a crisp voice: "Go, Brother Ariel! Knock out my brother's Pokémon!"
"..."
Brawly was petrified on the spot.
He turned his head mechanically, looking at his innocent-looking sister who even made a face at him, then at Ariel, who was trying to laugh but didn't dare, his shoulders shaking from holding it in.
An indescribable sense of grief and indignation welled up in his heart.
Brawly clutched his chest, showing an expression of being betrayed by family; the sound of a heart cracking seemed to echo in the background.
"Shauna! Whose side are you on anyway!"
He complained sorrowfully.
"Brother Ariel's side, of course,"
Shauna said confidently with her hands on her hips,
"Who told him to be more handsome than you?"
Brawly felt like another arrow had pierced his heart.
This sudden comedic scene instantly diluted the tense atmosphere of the pre-battle confrontation.
Looking at this pair of zany siblings, Ariel couldn't help but laugh as well.
However, Brawly quickly adjusted himself.
He took a deep breath. His sister's betrayal, far from discouraging him, instead aroused his full competitive desire as a Gym Leader and an older brother.
He would use his strength to prove who the true master of this Gym was!
"Ahem,"
Brawly cleared his throat and walked to the other end of the field, his expression having returned to seriousness,
"Referee, you may announce the rules."
A Gym apprentice acting as the referee stepped forward and announced loudly:
"The Wudou Gym Badge Challenge Match begins now! The rules are three-on-three. The challenger may switch Pokémon at any time; the Gym Leader may not!"
"Now, please release your first Pokémon, both sides!"
Ariel took a deep breath, his gaze becoming focused. He threw his Poké Ball.
"Go, Sneasel!"
With a flash of red light, a Sneasel with a vigorous build and crafty eyes appeared on the sand. Its sharp claws lightly scratched the ground, leaving a shallow mark.
Seeing the first Pokémon Ariel sent out, Brawly's gaze narrowed slightly.
Ariel was a Trainer specializing in the Dark-type.
Sneasel was Dark and Ice-type.
Facing his Fighting Gym, this was not a wise choice.
The Fighting-type was super effective against both Ice and Dark-types, meaning Sneasel would take a full four times the super-effective damage.
Is he looking down on me? Or does he have other plans?
Brawly thought no more and threw his Poké Ball.
"Come out, Primeape!"
"Roar!"
With an angry roar, a Primeape covered in burning rage appeared.
It wore heavy metal rings on its wrists and ankles, but that didn't affect its movements in the slightest.
As soon as it landed, it struck its fists together, and a violent aura swept across the field.
This Primeape had clearly been trained to an extremely high level; anger was its normal state and the source of its power.
"Battle start!"
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