The morning began like any other—quiet enough that I could almost believe we were running a normal gym. Squirtle was polishing the MK-II's mop attachment, humming under his breath. Latina sat at the counter, sipping berry tea while flipping through a thick manual that looked more like a dismantled phonebook.
I was halfway through sorting yesterday's receipts when the system chimed.
[New System Feature Unlocked: Reputation Ranking]Current Rank: Unlisted
I frowned. "Unlisted? That's not even last place—that's before last place."
Latina leaned over to peek at the notification. "Guess we'll have to do something about that, huh?"
Before I could reply, a follow-up notice appeared.
[Special Opportunity: Exhibition Match Invitation]Opponent: Local Popular Gym Leader – ClaraTime Limit: 2 hours to accept
I groaned. "Of course it's an exhibition match. Nothing says 'relaxing morning' like the threat of public humiliation."
Latina grinned. "C'mon, Boss. You beat Ren's Lucario. How bad can Clara be?"
I decided not to answer that.
Two hours later, we stood in Clara's gym—a spotless, glass-roofed arena filled with rows of spectators. Clara herself was already waiting at the far end. She had long silver hair tied in a neat braid, a confident smile, and a Poké Ball in each hand.
"Lin Shou, right?" she called. "I've heard rumors about your… unconventional methods."
I gave her my most professional smile. "I prefer the term 'customized training.'"
She laughed lightly. "Let's see how it works in practice."
The referee signaled the start. Clara threw her first Poké Ball, releasing a sleek Milotic whose scales shimmered like liquid glass. The crowd murmured in appreciation.
I gestured for Squirtle to step forward. He tightened his headband and squared his stance.
Milotic opened with Water Pulse, sending a rippling wave across the arena. Squirtle met it with a quick Bubble Beam, the attacks colliding midair in a burst of spray.
Clara wasted no time. "Aqua Tail!"
Milotic's tail glowed as it lashed forward, striking with surprising speed. Squirtle dodged narrowly, countering with Rapid Spin to close the distance. He struck Milotic's side, forcing it back a step.
The audience gasped. Clara's smile didn't falter.
"You're good," she said. "But let's see you handle this—Ice Beam!"
The freezing beam shot straight for Squirtle. He ducked behind a projecting rock formation, the beam striking stone and leaving a thick layer of frost.
"Water Gun, angle it!" I called.
Squirtle obeyed, bouncing the spray off the frozen surface so it hit Milotic from the side. The unexpected angle made the serpent flinch, buying us a few precious seconds.
Clara switched tactics. "Recover!"
Milotic's body glowed softly, its wounds mending. My interface flashed a warning—our damage was being erased.
"Time to shake things up," I muttered. "MK-II, hazard mode!"
From the sidelines, the maintenance robot whirred to life, rolling into the arena and scattering soap and water across the floor. The slick surface made Milotic's graceful movements falter, its tail slipping slightly as it tried to pivot.
The crowd roared with laughter and surprise. Clara raised an eyebrow but didn't object—the match rules allowed environmental changes.
"Squirtle, Skull Bash!"
Squirtle lowered his head and charged. Milotic tried to counter with Dragon Pulse, but the slippery floor threw its aim wide. Squirtle's head struck true, sending Milotic reeling.
Clara's eyes sharpened. "Enough. Milotic, Surf!"
A towering wave surged upward, dwarfing Squirtle. For a heartbeat, it felt like the whole arena tilted.
"Shell defense!" I shouted.
Squirtle retreated into his shell just as the wave crashed down. Water slammed into the arena walls, drenching the first few rows of spectators. The MK-II spun wildly before toppling over with a sad beep.
As the water drained away, Squirtle emerged, breathing hard but still standing.
We both knew the match was coming to a head.
"Hydro Pump!" Clara called.
"Water Pulse, full power!" I countered.
The two attacks collided midair, exploding into a cloud of mist that swallowed the arena. Visibility dropped to nothing.
For a few tense seconds, all I heard was the crowd's murmurs and the distant hum of the MK-II trying to reboot. Then a sharp cry—Milotic's—and the mist cleared just enough to reveal Squirtle standing behind it, having circled around during the confusion.
He delivered one last Aqua Jet to Milotic's flank. The serpent swayed… and collapsed.
The referee's flag went up. "Winner—Lin Shou's Squirtle!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. Clara recalled Milotic with a gracious nod. "Impressive. You fight… differently, but it works."
I smiled. "Thanks. It's all about adaptability."
Back at our gym, the system delivered the post-match summary.
[Reputation Increased: Rank – Bronze Tier]Reward: Mid-tier Upgrade Token ×1
Latina tossed me the token. "Told you it wouldn't be so bad."
Squirtle sprawled on the couch with a victorious smirk, clearly enjoying the glory.
I sat down, letting the adrenaline fade. "Alright. One exhibition win in the bag. Now we just have to keep this up."
Somewhere deep down, though, I knew the higher our reputation climbed, the more dangerous our challenges would get.
And honestly… I couldn't tell if that excited me or terrified me.