The next day, after a full day of rest...
Ethan decided that today he would officially begin his gym challenge journey.
"I see... so the battle rules are 3 vs. 3."
"And the opponents are three Charizard with different training styles?"
"A Charizard specialized in the Flying type, one specialized in the Fire type, and another specialized in the Dragon type."
"This Charizard Gym sure is interesting."
Ethan smiled faintly, straightened himself up, and left the inn headed for the Pokémon Trainer Guild.
Since he came as a "challenger," his challenge had to take place under the supervision of the Pokémon Trainer Guild in order to be officially valid.
When he arrived, he completed the registration with complete familiarity, and a staff member responsible for gym evaluations received him immediately. They also notified the Charizard Gym... well, technically, it still had to be called the Charizard Club, as it had not yet received official authorization from the League to be a formal gym.
Guided by the staff, Ethan arrived at the Charizard Club building. Once inside, it was noticeable that it had undergone renovations to be transformed into a gym, with an atmosphere very similar to the gyms Ethan had in mind.
"Now, the gym evaluation begins."
The staff member set up a camera to record the entire battle. He would later send the footage to the Pokémon Trainer Guild, where it would be used as reference for rating the gym.
"Evaluating gyms while also evaluating trainers who compete for World Championship slots... The Pokémon Trainer Guild really knows what it's doing." Ethan couldn't help but feel respect.
"Hello, my name is Julian Drake."
The future gym leader smiled calmly as he greeted him.
"Hello, I'm Ethan Black."
Ethan nodded and looked toward the staff member who would act as referee.
"Now, the gym evaluation begins."
"The rules are 3 vs. 3. When the three Pokémon of one side are knocked out, the battle ends."
"The provisional leader sends out his first Pokémon and may not switch during the battle. The challenger may switch freely..."
After explaining everything in detail, the referee began the battle.
Julian threw his Poké Ball, revealing a Charizard. Just by its appearance, it was still impossible to determine which training path it followed.
"Then let's test it first."
"Go, Vibrava."
Ethan tapped his belt and chose his first Pokémon.
With the light of the Poké Ball, Vibrava appeared, immediately lifting itself with a soft flutter of its wings.
"The battle begins. The challenger has the first turn."
As soon as he heard the cue, Ethan gave his first command: "Gust."
Vibrava flapped its wings sharply, forming a small tornado that shot toward Charizard.
"Flamethrower," Julian ordered without hesitation.
Boom!
The flames collided with the tornado, shattering it instantly. The fire continued surging forward.
Vibrava, thanks to its ability Levitate and its excellent control of the wind, glided weightlessly along the heatwave and elegantly avoided the Flamethrower.
"A very powerful Flamethrower... This must be a Charizard specialized in the Fire type."
Ethan had already reached a conclusion.
Without losing time, he took out the Poké Ball and retrieved Vibrava, which surprised Julian.
"Your turn now. Go, Charizard!"
A white light flashed, and Ethan's Charizard appeared.
"You also have a Charizard?"
Julian smiled slightly.
"Flamethrower."
"Endure it... and use Sunny Day!"
Ethan's commands stunned both spectators.
Ethan's Charizard stood its ground, its body slightly reddened, enduring without moving as the Flamethrower engulfed it.
"Charrzz!"
After holding out against the attack, it opened its mouth and launched a fiery orb into the sky. It transformed into an artificial sun, flooding the field with scorching heat.
"Sunny Day... it really is Sunny Day!"
Julian was dumbfounded.
At present, there were almost no reliable methods to teach weather moves. Except for the recently developed experimental sandstorm technique, no method was stable.
Thus, the only real way to master a weather move was to comprehend it on one's own.
And any Pokémon who managed to comprehend Sunny Day possessed monstrous Fire-type talent.
"So this Charizard has incredible Fire-type talent..."
"I see Ethan wants to face my Charizard head-on in fire power, huh?"
Julian smiled, accepting the direct challenge.
"Charizard, Flamethrower at maximum!"
"Charizard, us too! Flamethrower with everything you've got!"
Both Charizard gathered an overwhelming torrent of fiery energy, boosted by the sunlight, and fired their attacks.
BOOM!
The two Flamethrowers clashed...
And one of them was crushed instantly, as if it were a thin thread of flame against a raging flood.
BOOOOM!
The opposing Charizard took the attack head-on, was sent flying, and crashed against the protective wall, falling to the ground unable to stand.
"How is that possible!?"
Julian's eyes widened in disbelief. He could not believe it at all.
He knew the strength of his own Charizard, especially in fire-type moves, and he never would have imagined being overwhelmed so brutally in a direct Flamethrower clash.
"It worked."
"Sunny Day, the ability Solar Power, temperature control, and the energy you absorbed from enduring the first Flamethrower..."
"Four simultaneous power-ups! The power of your Flamethrower is absolutely terrifying."
Ethan smiled in satisfaction at the result.
(End of chapter)