"What?"
"You've got to be mistaken."
A Level 24 Frogadier was already shocking enough.
Now they were hearing that—
Ten days ago, it had only been a Level 5 Froakie?
How were they supposed to believe that?
Many of them had trained their Pokémon for over a year.
And even then, their partners were only around Level 20.
Yet Gu Qiu had surpassed that in just ten days.
"No mistake," someone said firmly.
"He only received that Pokémon ten days ago."
"If you don't believe me, check Evergreen High's school forum. There's a record."
A moment later—
"Found it."
"Wow… it's real."
"He drew a high-grade Froakie as his starter."
"Background says he's a civilian. His parents run a convenience store."
A convenience store.
That meant a stable, middle-class life at best.
Enough for daily expenses.
But when it came to raising Pokémon?
It was far from enough.
The students exchanged looks.
So he wasn't from some powerful family.
No elite background.
Just an ordinary person.
On the battlefield—
Brock studied Gu Qiu carefully.
"You've only been a trainer for ten days, right?"
His gaze moved to Frogadier.
"Using Graveler against you… isn't that a bit too much?"
"It's fine."
Gu Qiu's eyes burned with fighting spirit.
"Please battle at full strength."
Brock paused for a moment.
Then nodded.
"…Very well."
Since Gu Qiu had no objections, he wouldn't hold back.
He also wanted to see—
Just how capable the young man praised by Lorelei truly was.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the stands—
A Gym staff member quietly whispered.
"So this is Gu Qiu… he actually came to challenge Pewter Gym."
The man glanced toward the battlefield.
"Better inform Lady Lorelei."
Back on the battlefield—
The referee raised a flag.
"Battle begin!"
Gu Qiu moved first.
"Frogadier—use Growl."
"Graveler—Rock Polish."
Neither side launched an attack immediately.
From a type perspective, Frogadier had a massive advantage.
Graveler was Rock/Ground.
Both types were weak to Water.
Stacked together—
That meant a four-times weakness.
Brock's strategy was obvious.
Increase Graveler's Speed.
Dodge the Water attacks.
Then counterattack.
Gu Qiu had already anticipated it.
Lower Graveler's Attack slightly first.
Secure an early advantage.
"Interesting."
Brock's lips curved slightly.
"Graveler, use Tackle!"
"Frogadier, jump!"
Frogadier's legs bent—
Then it exploded upward.
With a single leap, it soared more than ten meters into the air.
"So that's your plan…"
Brock's eyes sharpened.
Gu Qiu's understanding of Frogadier—
And his precise control—
Were far beyond what one would expect from a new trainer.
Graveler's Tackle missed completely.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Mid-air—
Frogadier formed a hand seal.
In the blink of an eye—
More than ten identical Frogadiers appeared in the sky.
"Double Team?"
A student frowned.
"What's the point of using that now?"
"Graveler—Rock Slide!"
Graveler raised its arms.
A massive boulder formed above the battlefield.
Then—
It shattered apart.
Dozens of huge rock fragments crashed down like a landslide.
"Frogadier, use Bubble on the ground."
Countless bubbles burst across the battlefield.
Water splashed everywhere.
The stone arena quickly became slick and soaked.
"Pointless."
Brock's voice was calm.
"End it."
"Graveler, jump!"
The heavy Pokémon suddenly launched itself into the air.
"Use the momentum from Rock Slide—Rollout!"
Graveler began spinning rapidly as it fell.
Its rocky body turned into a high-speed rolling projectile.
"Did it hit?!"
One Frogadier was struck directly.
The impact sent it flying across the battlefield.
A clean hit.
But Brock's expression suddenly changed.
"Bang!"
The struck Frogadier exploded into a cloud of smoke.
A clone.
"…A trap."
Brock's pupils shrank.
"Not good!"
Graveler had already begun its Rollout.
But the sudden realization caused a split-second hesitation.
And that moment—
Was enough.
"That direction—!"
Brock suddenly turned.
His gaze locked onto a figure approaching at incredible speed.
Frogadier.
In its hand—
A spinning blue sphere of energy.
"What is that?!"
Brock's pupils contracted.
The power contained in that sphere…
Was terrifying.
Was that really Frogadier's move?
Rasengan.
Frogadier's mastery over it had improved dramatically.
The swirling energy distorted the air itself.
"Graveler—Headbutt!"
Brock reacted instantly.
"Attack it head-on!"
If you couldn't dodge—
Then attack.
Offense was the best defense.
"Frogadier—Quick Attack!"
The distance vanished instantly.
Quick Attack amplified Frogadier's speed to the limit.
And the Rasengan—
Expanded.
"BOOM!"
A deafening explosion shook the entire arena.
Under countless stunned gazes—
Graveler was blasted backward.
The spinning sphere detonated on impact.
The massive rock Pokémon flew through the air—
Then crashed heavily onto the battlefield.
Silence.
Graveler lay motionless.
Unable to continue.
The referee raised the flag.
"Graveler is unable to battle!"
"Frogadier wins!"
At the same moment—
[Ding!]
Your Frogadier defeated Graveler.
EXP gained.
Level Up!
Frogadier reached Level 25.
Frogadier immediately grinned.
It waved its arms excitedly, hopping around the battlefield in celebration.
Zero dignity.
Zero composure.
Absolutely none of the aura of a powerhouse.
Gu Qiu rubbed his forehead helplessly.
Maybe awakening Naruto's template hadn't been the best choice.
Itachi's personality had been far cooler.
Meanwhile—
The audience was still frozen.
"…Lost?"
"The Gym Leader… lost?"
They couldn't process it.
Especially Le Liangcai.
Especially Yu Hao.
Graveler—
The same Graveler that had crushed Le Liangcai's entire team—
Had just been defeated.
Cleanly.
Without struggle.
Before there was comparison—
It hadn't felt so painful.
But now—
There was comparison.
And it hurt.
Le Liangcai could clearly feel the shift in people's gazes.
The admiration.
The respect.
It was no longer directed at him.
Whispers began spreading through the crowd.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
Pointing fingers.
Judging eyes.
He couldn't stay here any longer.
No matter how the rest of the battle went—
His humiliation had already been sealed.
His dignity had been crushed.
Ground into the dirt.
Revenge.
He would take revenge.
He, Le Liangcai—
Had never suffered such humiliation in his life.
With his head lowered—
He quietly slipped out of Pewter Gym.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
And on the battlefield—
Brock slowly raised his gaze again.
His calm eyes now held a completely different light.
"Interesting…"
He reached for his next Poké Ball.
"Looks like I'll have to get serious."
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