At night, John sat on the balcony, gazing at the clear, starry sky. The table in front of him was set with skewers and beer, giving off an air of relaxation. Across from him, Gardevoir was perched comfortably, engrossed in a play on a tablet.
Downstairs, the other Pokémon were gathered, with the barbecue maestro, Hariyama, stealing the spotlight. It seemed to have a natural talent for grilling, its two arms working tirelessly to skewer and cook nearly a hundred pieces of meat at once. With Blaziken managing the flames and Greninja slicing ingredients into perfect portions, the group had a culinary assembly line that could rival any professional team.
John mused that if they opened a barbecue stand at school, they'd be raking in millions a month.
The aroma of the spicy barbecue wafted through the air, making even Axew and Tyrunt, who were normally boisterous and competitive, settle down to enjoy the meal.
Watching everyone dig in with gusto brought a sense of contentment to John. After taking a bite of a perfectly grilled skewer and washing it down with a sip of cold beer, he sighed in satisfaction.
"This is the life," he murmured, wiping his hands with a napkin Gardevoir handed him.
Picking up his Gameboy, he prepared to resume his journey in the Hoenn Region. Now equipped with Surf, he planned to head east from Mauville City, cross Route 118's strait, and journey to Fortree City, where the next gym awaited.
The Fortree Gym specialized in Flying-type Pokemon. While John didn't have any Electric-types on his team, he was confident that his Rock-type powerhouse, Tyranitar, could handle the challenge.
But as he passed through Mauville City, he encountered Wattson, the local gym leader. Wattson asked John for help shutting down the main power supply at the city's underground power plant.
John recalled that completing this quest would reward him with the move Thunderbolt and other valuable items. Without hesitation, he accepted.
Navigating to Route 110, he used Surf to cross the waters and reached the entrance to the power plant. Wattson had given him a key, which unlocked the gate. A prompt immediately appeared on his Gameboy screen:
[Enter the special dungeon: "Underground Power Plant"?]
[Recommended Level: ?]
[Current Charge Progress: 0%]
John raised an eyebrow. "A dungeon? Interesting."
He saved his game before stepping into the unknown.
As the screen transitioned, he found himself in an abandoned office space. The flickering overhead lights barely illuminated the room, and papers were scattered across desks and the floor, evidence of a hasty evacuation. The faint hum of electricity in the air created a slight tingling sensation on his skin.
"Let's go, Garchomp!" John called, releasing two Pokeballs.
Garchomp emerged with a fierce roar, its sharp claws glinting under the dim light. Beside it, Gardevoir stood gracefully, ready to shield John from any danger.
The room offered two paths, one to the left and the other to the right. Choosing the right, John soon encountered a sturdy iron gate.
"Locked, huh?" He smirked. "No problem. Garchomp, Dragon Claw!"
With a single swipe, Garchomp shattered the gate, sending pieces of metal flying. Behind it lay a group of Electric-type Pokémon—three Magnetons, seven Magnemites, and a single Magnezone—sparks crackling as they turned to face the intruder.
John quickly assessed their levels:
"Piece of cake," he said confidently. "Garchomp, Earthquake! Let's shake things up!"
Garchomp stomped the ground with tremendous force, sending shockwaves rippling outward. The impact was devastating—two Magnetons and four Magnemites were knocked out instantly. Those with the Sturdy ability managed to survive with a sliver of health but were left heavily injured.
Magnezone, however, hovered above the chaos, having used Magnet Rise to evade the attack.
"Not bad," John muttered. "But it's not over yet. Garchomp, Rock Smash! Take it down!"
With a burst of speed, Garchomp leaped into the air, its claws glowing with energy. In one swift motion, it struck Magnezone, sending it crashing to the ground.
As the dust settled, Gardevoir stepped in, casting Dazzling Gleam to finish off the remaining Magneton and Magnemite. The room fell silent once more.
John took a moment to collect his thoughts. The challenge was far from over—this was just the beginning of the dungeon. He saved his progress and prepared to move deeper into the power plant, ready for whatever lay ahead.