Chapter 81. Gym Leader Erika

“Congratulations, Alex. With this third victory, you’ve earned the right to challenge Gym Leader Erika,” the floor coordinator announced as she led him to the center of the garden.

“Thank you,” Alex replied with a nod.

The last two matches had been a bit underwhelming—but that was expected. He had played to his type advantages, and the gym’s single-type restriction left his opponents at a constant disadvantage.

As they continued, Alex followed the coordinator into what resembled a traditional garden maze. But as they entered, it opened into a small clearing. A gazebo stood beside the battlegrounds, the entire area enclosed by thick walls of blooming flowers.

It was oddly serene, yet a little melancholic—like a beautiful cage sealed off from the rest of the world.

“Welcome, Alex. Would you like some tea?” Erika offered from her seat inside the gazebo.

“I’ll gladly take you up on that,” Alex said as he stepped into the gazebo and sat across from her.

She smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling with a hint of amusement, before gracefully rising from her seat. With practiced ease, she moved to the table, her delicate hands reaching for the teapot. She poured the tea with a slow, deliberate motion, the fragrant steam rising in the air as she carefully filled the cup, her movements fluid and elegant, as if performing a small, quiet ritual for her guest.

“Big fan, by the way,” she said suddenly.

“Oh? What for? I didn’t realize I was famous.”

“For taking down Monica, silly.” Erika gave him a knowing look as she handed Alex his tea and settled back into her seat. “She’s been a thorn in this city’s side ever since that little fiasco ten months ago. It’s refreshing to see you cleaning up your own mess.”

“To be fair, I had no idea it happened until I heard about it like everyone else.”

“Still.” Erika sipped her tea. “You broke a taboo we’re all expected to follow—meant to keep the city from falling into all-out war. You’re lucky you didn’t step on the wrong toes in Saffron City.”

“True, but those taboos only apply to people powerful enough to know about them. I’m so weak, I’m not even allowed to keep the regulated Pokémon I capture.”

“Also true.”

They sipped their tea in comfortable silence, neither rushing the moment. Once the cups were empty, Erika rose to her feet.

“Well then, I suppose it’s time for our battle. Are you ready?”

“For the most part.”

“Good. Let’s begin,” she said as they stepped out toward the nearby battlegrounds.

Erika took her place on the other side, then released an early Expert-ranked Jumpluff—a speedy and tanky setter that shouldn’t be allowed to use too many moves.

Alex, meanwhile, released a mid-Expert-ranked Togekiss to lead their fight. With Baton Pass and a specialty in Flying-type moves, the matchup should tilt in Alex’s favor.

“Singles Battle, 6v6. Gym Leader Erika versus Challenger Alex. Begin!” the referee called.

“Sunny Day,” Erika led.

“Safeguard,” Alex followed.

Jumpluff immediately conjured a mass of fire that hovered above the battleground, while Togekiss released a shimmering shield that guarded against status effects.

“Tailwind.”

“Reflect.”

Jumpluff’s already high speed skyrocketed with the added effect of Tailwind, practically guaranteeing that Erika’s Pokémon would move first every time.

Meanwhile, Togekiss projected a psychic barrier between himself and Jumpluff, softening incoming physical attacks.

“Swords Dance.”

“Light Screen.”

Jumpluff began stacking Attack with a graceful Swords Dance, while Togekiss raised another psychic barrier—this one to guard against special attacks.

Alex quickly realized Erika’s plan: she was setting up to Baton Pass to a sweeper. He hoped she’d get greedy so he could have a chance.

“Swords Dance again,” Erika commanded to Alex’s relief

“Imprison.”

“No—”

But it was too late. Jumpluff completed another Swords Dance due to its extremely high speed, just as Togekiss locked down Jumpluff’s mind with Imprison, preventing Jumpluff from using any moves that Togekiss also knew—like Baton Pass.

“U-turn.”

“Nasty Plot.”

Erika, realizing her plan had been seen through, opted to start her offensive early. Jumpluff charged at Togekiss, glowing with Bug-type energy, and tackled him with negligible damage. Using the momentum of the blow, it rebounded to Erika’s side as she released Leavanny.

“Swords Dance.”

“Baton Pass.”

Still trying to build up a sweeper, Erika pushed ahead as Leavanny danced. But Alex had no intention of letting Togekiss get knocked out, especially not after a Nasty Plot boost.

Togekiss tossed a baton into the air and returned to Alex’s side, replaced by Arcanine, who caught the baton in his jaws—gaining the increased Special Attack from Nasty Plot in the process.

“Heat Wave.”

“Knock Off.”

Leavanny moved first, knocking off Arcanine’s Safety Goggles, then took a point-blank blast of scalding heat from Heat Wave and was instantly knocked out.

Arcanine barely flinched from the boosted Knock Off but looked sadly at the Safety Goggles lying on the ground—useless now that he lacked the hands to put them back on. Maybe if he had those same evil hands as Alex... but alas, all he had were adorable paws.

The hit also triggered Arcanine’s Justified ability, raising his Attack by one stage.

Erika retrieved her fainted Leavanny and sent out Vileplume, whose Chlorophyll ability would now benefit from the still-active Sunny Day.

“Heat Wave.”

“Sleep Powder.”

With Safeguard expired and the goggles gone, Erika finally had her opening for a powder strategy.

Vileplume acted first, releasing a cloud of Sleep Powder across the battleground. Before Arcanine could use Heat Wave, he succumbed to sleep.

“Sleep Talk.”

“Sunny Day.”

Now that she had some breathing room, Erika refreshed Sunny Day. Vileplume reignited the hovering fireball, reinforcing the previous one.

Suddenly, Arcanine stirred and unleashed a Solar Beam, catching Vileplume off guard and dealing a solid 20% damage.

“Sludge Bomb.”

“Sleep Talk.”

Erika would have preferred Toxic, but with Reflect and Light Screen faded, it was time to deal as much damage as possible.

A blob of sludge splashed against Arcanine, cutting his health in half.

Still asleep, Arcanine responded with Wild Charge. As he rose to his feet, electricity surged across his body. He locked onto Vileplume’s position and charged, the impact nearly halving its health while Arcanine took only minor recoil in return.

“Sludge Bomb,” Erika called again, launching another glob of sludge that struck Arcanine and poisoned him.

Arcanine held on by a sliver. He was on the cusp of fainting from even the slightest touch.

Noticing Arcanine’s low health and status—and knowing he’d be put to sleep again regardless—Alex chose to take control of the situation rather than remain uncertain about when Arcanine would wake.

Alex gave a calm command. “Rest.”

Arcanine stirred, heard the order, and—shrugging mentally—curled up and went back to sleep.

Psychic energy wrapped around him, healing all wounds and purging the poison from his system.

Alex now had full control. He knew Arcanine would wake after two more moves.

Erika caught on to his strategy and took a risk.

“Growth.”

“Sleep Talk.”

Under the harsh sunlight, Vileplume’s Attack and Special Attack rose two stages each.

Arcanine opened his mouth and, in his sleep, blasted Vileplume with Flamethrower—knocking it out instantly.

Erika had gambled and lost. With a quiet sigh, she returned Vileplume to its Poké Ball and sent out Bellossom. She was starting to run out of options.

Alex’s Rest strategy was the perfect counter to her powders. She couldn’t put to sleep what was already sleeping. She also respected the powerful move pool Arcanine had access to—he was an Advanced-ranked threat in terms of move proficiency.

“Growth.”

“Sleep Talk.”

Bellossom soaked up the sunlight, raising both offenses as well.

Arcanine sprang forward and used Crunch, leaving Bellossom with just over half health.

‘Just one more,’ Erika thought.

But she knew Arcanine would wake soon, and a single Fire-type move could end it.

“Sleep Powder!”

“Heat Wave!”

Alex shouted, hopeful—but Arcanine remained asleep as Sleep Powder blanketed the field once more.

“Sleep Talk,” he said with a sigh.

“Growth,” Erika gambled again.

A wisp of flame escaped Arcanine’s mouth, burning Bellossom with Will-O-Wisp.

Not willing to gamble further, Erika issued a command: “Hyper Beam.”

“Protect!” Alex called out, hoping Arcanine would wake—but he remained fast asleep.

Bellossom unleashed a full-powered Hyper Beam, enhanced by four stages of Special Attack. It was a clean knockout.

Alex returned Arcanine and tossed out Ceruledge.

“Flame Charge.”

With Bellossom recovering from Hyper Beam and already below half health from Crunch and the burns, Ceruledge’s Flame Charge hit like a truck, knocking her out instantly.

Erika regretted not finishing the gamble. A max-stacked Sludge Wave might’ve done it, but that Flamethrower from earlier haunted her.

She recalled Bellossom and sent out Shiftry. The sun was still harsh—Shiftry would move first.

“Foul Play.”

“Flare Blitz.”

Shiftry struck first, using Ceruledge’s own power against it with Foul Play.

It was super effective.

Ceruledge fainted.

The battle had reached its halfway point—Alex still had four Pokémon remaining, while Erika was down to three.

Erika’s Chlorophyll strategy ensured the advantage of striking first, but Alex held the type advantage, allowing him to power through her team with minimal setup.

And as the sunlight burned harshly overhead, both trainers knew the battle was still far from over.

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