"Grroo~!"
Even though it had been a near one-sided sweep, Metagross couldn't help but let out an excited cry after securing the win.
Despite being a fairly powerful Pokémon itself, the rest of the team was downright monstrous.
In their daily training battles, it usually came out on the losing side. Easy wins like this were a rare luxury.
After enduring so many rough matches, it felt pretty good to steamroll a weaker opponent for once.
More importantly, today's battle deepened its understanding—both of its own strength and that of its teammates.
"You still need more hands-on experience. Once you're back with Electivire and Torterra, ask them for some technical pointers—and use your head more in battle."
This was Metagross' first time integrating Cosmic Power into an actual match, and Paul offered a brief but pointed evaluation.
"Grroo~"
Metagross understood and smiled knowingly.
"Return for now."
Paul retrieved its Poké Ball and recalled it, then turned to face Brock.
"You may have just been looking for a battle, but since I won, I'm eligible for the Grey Badge, right?"
Brock composed himself and stepped forward, handing over the badge without hesitation.
"Yeah. You've earned it."
Paul accepted it casually, offering a curt "Thanks" in return.
But this time, he didn't leave immediately like he usually did. Instead, he moved to the side and quietly observed.
Not because he was interested in anything in particular—but because of the mysterious person nearby.
Paul wasn't entirely sure who they were, but judging by the visible strands of pink hair and the figure's posture, he could make an educated guess.
"Long time no see!"
Brock, unable to contain his excitement, rushed over to the mysterious figure.
He hadn't had a chance to get a good look earlier due to the battle, but now that he took a closer look, his instincts kicked in—and he immediately recognized her.
"That dignified posture, that graceful figure—there's no doubt! You're Miss Joy from Goldenrod City, aren't you?"
He blurted out his guess with utter confidence.
"That's right. I'm surprised you figured it out."
The mystery woman chuckled and removed her disguise, revealing the unmistakable face of Nurse Joy.
"It's me, Brock, the one who once crossed paths with you! Our hearts united, our hands intertwined, together embracing the joy of reunion... Ma–Mawile~!"
Before he could finish his romantic flourish, Toxicroak's Poison Jab landed squarely on his backside, sending him crumpling to the ground.
"I'm currently a Senior Inspector with the Pokémon League Inspection Bureau." Nurse Joy crossed her arms and spoke with calm authority.
"I'm here for two reasons. First, the Pewter Gym has been receiving negative feedback from the public lately, and I've come to investigate the situation."
"Second, I'm here regarding the Gym Leader succession request you submitted, Brock."
"What were the results of the investigation?"
Forrest asked nervously.
He had been acting as the interim Gym Leader for some time now and to some extent, the outcome of this investigation would determine whether he could officially take over the role.
"The results were... passable, I'd say. The acting Gym Leader's strength is average, but he's earnest and puts in the effort. That alone is enough to provide some challenge to trainers. However…"
Joy's eyes swept the room as she raised her gaze.
"I am not at all satisfied with the interior design of Pewter Gym."
"While every gym has its own style, the exterior of your facility seems completely disconnected from the Rock-type theme. I will be submitting a detailed report to headquarters and request that a specialist be sent to oversee renovations."
"Ugh… I knew I should've stopped Mom and Dad from redecorating…"
Forrest groaned, clearly exasperated.
Brock asked, "And what about the Gym Leader succession?"
He had always aspired to become a top-tier Pokémon Breeder and Pokémon Doctor. The position of Gym Leader had never been a major priority for him—hence his intent to pass the torch to Forrest.
That said, it was undeniable that strength was Forrest's biggest hurdle.
Still, it wasn't a hopeless gap. Forrest could handle most challengers.
And even if he couldn't... Brock wasn't sure he'd fare much better anymore.
"Judging by your recent battle performance, Brock," Joy said with a neutral expression,
"it's clear that your long years of travel have dulled your sensitivity to Gym Battles. That's why the match ended up so one-sided."
"If you were to face a truly strong Trainer again, I have reason to believe you might fail to provide the kind of pressure or growth opportunities a challenger expects. I will be reporting my observations truthfully. The final decision will be made by the Central League Administration."
"What's the worst-case scenario if the evaluation goes poorly?"
Brock asked.
"The worst outcome would be the Gym being shut down entirely."
Joy replied, still composed.
"Over the years, many aspiring Gyms have applied for the authority to distribute official Badges. But only in extreme cases—where a Gym refuses to reform or goes completely off the rails—does the League ever revoke that privilege."
She made it clear that while unlikely, the consequences could be severe.
"Now, Acting Gym Leader Forrest, please begin the official Gym Leader Qualification Battle."
Joy then stepped forward to face Forrest in a battle.
She sent out Blissey, while Forrest sent out Rhyperior.
At first glance, Blissey seemed like an easy matchup for the brute force of Rhyperior.
But the results told a different story.
Blissey took complete control of the battle, using clever tactics and timing to suppress Rhyperior despite its far greater offensive power.
A flurry of attacks was effortlessly neutralized by Blissey using moves like Minimize, Protect, and Reflect.
Any damage it did take was quickly restored with a single use of Soft-Boiled, instantly recovering its stamina. Then, with surprising persistency, Blissey unleashed a barrage of offensive moves, gradually wearing Rhyperior down.
In the end, it took a moment of quick thinking from Forrest. He turned the tide of the match by combining Earthquake with Dig, executing a combo that was difficult for Blissey to block or counter. The scales of victory finally returned to balance.
In the final clash, Blissey used Sing to put Rhyperior to sleep, then followed up with Wake-Up Slap, landing a solid hit.
However, having underestimated Rhyperior's durability, the attack failed to knock it out. Rhyperior abruptly awoke—and countered with a devastating Horn Drill, sending Blissey out of the battle.
"Your battle style is still a bit immature. Decent observational skills, and you've put together a solid team. I'd say you've reached the level of a Gym Leader."
Nurse Joy nodded calmly, withdrawing Blissey into its Poké Ball.
As one of the rare Joys who had left the Pokémon Center circuit, her strength and insight were naturally exceptional. She accepted her loss with quiet composure.
Or perhaps, it was because Blissey wasn't primarily a battle partner but more of a supporting assistant—that misjudgment of its offensive capability had led to the loss.
Had she known that Wake-Up Slap couldn't finish Rhyperior, she would've used Seismic Toss first to soften it up before going for the finishing move.
"Miss Joy, does this mean Forrest qualifies as a Gym Trainer now?"
Brock asked earnestly.
"He just barely meets the criteria. The application will go through, but I'll need the Gym interior restored to normal as soon as possible." She replied with a faint smile.
She was about to turn and leave when Paul voice called out behind her.
"Miss Joy—would you be open to a full-power battle with me?"
Having watched the match, Paul recalled that in the anime, this particular Nurse Joy was said to own a Latias.
Whether that held true in this world—or whether she was even the same Joy—he didn't know. But a chance to challenge her wasn't something he'd call a waste of time.
"A full-power battle?"
Joy turned to glance at him with mild curiosity.
"Full-power." Paul replied flatly, his gaze unwavering.
A full-power battle—by implication, a 6-on-6 match using every battle-ready Pokémon at their disposal.
Paul was genuinely curious. If she really had a Latias, what else did this Joy have up her sleeve? Were the rest of her team Legendary-tier as well?
"…A full-power match might be too much." Joy said after a pause. "But I've finished work for the day. I can spare some time for a casual battle."
Paul's demeanor caught Nurse Joy's attention. Smiling at the challenge, she turned to Brock and asked,
"Would it be alright if we borrow the gym for a bit?"
"Of course! It'd be an honor to assist you, Nurse Joy!"
Naturally, Brock didn't hesitate for a second—he immediately stepped aside and vacated the central arena. He then rushed up to the spectator stands with Forrest and a group of younger brothers and sisters to the audience to watch the battle.
(To be continued...)
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