Chapter Milestone: Chapter 500+!
A huge thank-you to all readers who've followed the journey so far! Here's to many more adventures ahead!
By the afternoon, Kai and Erika had left Charizard Valley behind, trekking through forested routes for another full day and night before finally arriving back at Azalea Town.
With his Charizard now staying behind for intensive training.
After a long but not unpleasant journey, the two arrived at the gates of Azalea Gym early on the third morning.
Thankfully, the "Temporarily Closed" sign from before had been removed, and the gym doors now stood open. It seemed Bugsy had returned.
Looking inside, they saw what resembled a full-scale greenhouse or indoor forest. Towering trees, lush green grass, and thick bushes filled the space. The floor was natural earth, blending seamlessly with the surroundings.
From the doorway, Kai called out, "Hello? Anyone here?"
His voice echoed through the indoor jungle, but no one responded.
He and Erika exchanged a glance before Kai shrugged and stepped inside.
A narrow dirt trail led deeper into the artificial forest. As they walked further, they noticed it looked and felt much like a real forest. The Azalea Gym had clearly spared no expense in its construction likely because it was built just outside the town limits.
One key difference, though, was the number of Bug-type Pokémon present. They were everywhere.
In just a few minutes, Kai and Erika spotted swarms of Caterpie, Weedle, Metapod, and Kakuna, hiding behind leaves and nestled in the bushes. When someone approached, they popped their heads out cautiously to inspect the newcomers.
Erika murmured, "It really is a Bug-type Gym. They're everywhere…"
In the atmosphere, it reminded her of her own Celadon Gym, with its greenhouse and flower beds. But the Pokémon were… very different.
Kai chuckled. "Being a Grass-type Gym Leader, this must be your least favorite kind of place, huh?"
It wasn't a random tease Bug-types are natural predators of Grass-types, and the type matchup didn't favor Erika at all.
Erika gave a small nod. Unlike Misty, who was scared of Bug Pokémon, Erika simply didn't like them.
As they continued deeper into the greenery, a sharp voice called out nearby.
They turned to see a purple-haired boy in a green hoodie and shorts crouching in the bushes nearby.
Kai stepped forward politely. "Are you Bugsy, the Gym Leader here?"
The boy stood up, brushing dirt off his hands. Only now did they realize he had been tending to a Kakuna.
"That's right. I'm Bugsy the Azalea Gym Leader. Bug-type expert and the walking encyclopedia of all things Bug Pokémon!"
A self-declared title?
Kai wasn't sure how to react. Did people really give themselves nicknames like "Bug-type Encyclopedia"?
Bugsy asked, "So, you're here for a Gym battle?"
Kai nodded. "I came by a few days ago, but you were out."
Bugsy scratched his head. "Ah—sorry about that. I was off catching new Pokémon in a more remote area. Didn't mean to miss you."
Now that he understood why they were here, Bugsy motioned for them to follow him deeper into the indoor forest.
They passed thick undergrowth, crossed a small indoor stream, and eventually reached a battlefield nestled within the gym's forest environment.
Sunlight filtered down through glass panels in the ceiling. The air was rich with the scent of earth and flowers. It felt… wild, yet peaceful.
Bugsy was young maybe around Ash's age, or slightly older. To be a Gym Leader at that age meant he had real skill.
In truth, Bugsy was a recognized prodigy in Johto. Smart, quick-thinking, deeply knowledgeable about Bug-types, and on track to become a full-fledged Pokémon Professor. In many ways, he was a hometown hero in the region.
Kai took his place on one end of the battlefield, while Erika found a bench nearby and sat down quietly.
A Gym staff member emerged from a side room, stepping onto the field to serve as referee.
"The Azalea Gym battle will now begin!" the referee announced. "This match is between Gym Leader Bugsy and the challenger. Each side will use three Pokémon. The battle ends when all of one side's Pokémon are unable to battle."
As the defending party, Bugsy chose first. He pulled out a Poké Ball and tossed it high.
In a flash of light, a small green spider-like Pokémon appeared on the field.
"My lead Pokémon," Bugsy announced proudly, "is none other than Spinarak, the silent warrior of the Bug-type world!"
Spinarak, a dual Bug/Poison-type, stood less than half a meter tall. Its pale green head and blue body were marked with six legs, yellow-and-dark-green banded patterns, and a distinct horn. On its back was a haunting face pattern one that resembled a sorrowful mask.
Despite its small size, Spinarak was known for its incredible patience. It would spin elaborate webs and wait motionless for days, springing into action only after nightfall. Even if prey became tangled in its web, it would often wait until the cover of darkness to strike.
Its silk was absurdly strong strong enough to hold up a ten-kilogram rock without tearing. Some fishermen even harvested its threads to craft nets durable enough to catch Water-type Pokémon.
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