"So… this is the last Gym, huh~"
At the entrance of the Viridian Gym.
Red stepped forward, dragging along Usopp, who was so nervous he kept swallowing hard.
"H-Hey, Red, how about we just forget it!?"
"Something this important should be left to Luffy and Zoro…"
"I… I don't think I can handle this…"
Usopp trembled from head to toe, taking shaky steps as he tried to persuade Red.
He had thought today was just another simple trip to the Pokémon world to grind some levels.
Who could have imagined that Red would bring him straight to the gates of the Viridian Gym?
As someone already very familiar with the Pokémon world, Usopp naturally knew what this place represented—the final Gym among the eight!
And inevitably, the strongest one.
No matter how he thought about it, Usopp couldn't understand why Red would entrust something this crucial—the strongest Gym challenge—to him.
Yet in the face of Usopp's cowardice, Red simply raised his hand and shoved him forward.
"Alright, stop overthinking it!"
"Haven't you been researching new bugs and plants these past few days?"
"This is the perfect chance to test your brand-new combat power."
"After all, even the weakest Pokémon in there are at least Vice Admiral–level!"
Gulp—
Usopp swallowed hard.
He had just reached Level 39—he was not prepared to fight a whole group of Level 50 Pokémon.
But at that moment, the trembling in his legs suddenly stopped.
Red wasn't wrong.
In truth, Usopp himself had always wanted to test whether the path he had chosen was truly the right one.
Under Red's encouraging gaze, he slowly stepped forward and entered the Viridian Gym.
…
…
Nearly two hours later.
Deep inside the Viridian Gym, with the effects of two Super Potions, Usopp—who had just been critically injured after being rammed by a Rhyhorn—had recovered to peak condition once more.
Seeing this, Red immediately stepped forward and asked,
"How is it? Still want to continue?"
"Next up is the strongest trainer in this Gym!"
"The strongest…?"
Usopp looked down at his chest, which had only moments ago been pierced by a horn.
Though the fatal wounds were completely healed, the bloodstains left behind told just how perilous that battle had been.
And that…
Had only been a single Level 51 Pokémon owned by a Gym Trainer.
The Gym Leader's Pokémon would undoubtedly be even stronger.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Usopp suddenly lifted his head. With tear-filled eyes, he stared at Red and spoke in a trembling but resolute voice,
"O-Of course I'll continue!!!"
"I-I'm not done fighting yet!"
"Good!" Red grinned.
After all, losing a battle in the Pokémon world only meant being sent back to the Pokémon Center—there was no risk to one's life.
Just go all out!
As soon as he finished speaking, Red stepped forward and instantly triggered Giovanni's dialogue.
"I never expected you to make it this far!!!"
Seated upon the Gym Leader's throne, Giovanni released an overwhelming aura without even raising his voice.
Though it wasn't as terrifying as Conqueror's Haki, it was still not something to be ignored.
However, this pressure meant nothing to the well-traveled Red—or to Usopp, whose fighting spirit was rising.
Under Red's calm gaze, Giovanni's expression subtly shifted.
"Hmph! Reckless little brats!"
"If you're so eager to die, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Whoosh—
The battle field expanded instantly, enveloping the entire Gym.
At the same time, the sound of machinery echoed throughout the hall.
The wall behind Giovanni slowly split apart, revealing a pitch-black space.
Large numbers of Team Rocket members ran out along the edges of the Gym, surrounding the battlefield and sealing off Red and Usopp.
"This is…?"
Seeing such a formation for the first time, Usopp froze and blinked at Red in confusion.
But Red, well aware of how NPC mechanics worked, waved it off indifferently.
"Relax. Just a bunch of small fry—no need to worry."
"…Alright."
Usopp scanned the Team Rocket members around them, unable to fully suppress his nervousness.
At that moment, Giovanni let out a cold laugh.
"Since this is a Gym Challenge, we'll follow League rules!"
"Then my first Pokémon will be this one!"
A flash of red light.
On the broad battle platform appeared a brown Pokémon with three round heads.
[Dugtrio, Lv. 54]
"Level 54 right from the start!?"
"And judging by its aura, this Dugtrio is anything but ordinary!"
"Usopp, be careful!"
"Leave it to me!"
The battle began.
Without waiting for Red's command, Usopp spread his hands wide. At the tips of all his fingers, wooden doors abruptly appeared.
The doors flew open, releasing countless black specks that rapidly expanded into finger-sized flying insects, spreading across the entire battlefield.
"…Huh!? What is that!?"
Even Giovanni, the boss of Team Rocket, couldn't help but be stunned by the sight.
But he quickly recovered and issued an order.
"Dugtrio, watch out for those insects!"
"Use Earth Power!!!"
"Chu~!"
All three heads cried out in unison.
The next instant, Dugtrio's body shook violently.
A pitch-black fissure tore open in front of it, streaking like lightning straight toward Usopp's feet.
Seeing this, Red immediately shouted,
"Usopp, watch that fissure!"
"That's not an ordinary ground attack!!!"
With his Psychic Power–enhanced perception, Red could clearly sense the terrifying energy contained within the fissure.
"Got it!"
In the next moment, a teal-green glow flashed behind Usopp, forming a pair of massive insect wings.
With a single flap, they lifted him into the air, sending him flying swiftly to the side.
It was Red's only Bug-type move—U-turn!
Even without mastering Shave, this move allowed Usopp to briefly unleash evasive speed far beyond his own limits.
At the same time, a sharp stone pillar erupted from the ground where Usopp had just been, shooting straight toward the Gym ceiling.
"That was close…!"
"This level of power—this is way beyond a normal Vice Admiral!"
Hovering safely away on his energy wings, Usopp's expression turned wary.
Then, the corner of his mouth curled upward.
"But now… it's my turn!"
"Usopp Finisher · Descent of the Tree World!!!"
Boom—
A massive surge of Grass-type energy burst from Usopp's body.
Instead of striking Dugtrio, it flowed straight into the ground beneath him.
In an instant, the entire Gym floor shook violently.
Under the shocked gazes of Giovanni and Dugtrio, countless strange trees burst forth from the ground.
Within mere seconds, the battlefield was completely overtaken by a lush forest.
"What kind of move is this!?"
Staring at the transformed battlefield, Giovanni muttered in disbelief.
Then a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. Under the personality granted by the system, greed surfaced as he looked up at Usopp in the air.
Breathing in the fresh scent of greenery, Usopp smiled broadly, confidence gleaming in his eyes.
"From now on… this is my stage!!!"
He landed atop a tree trunk, raised both arms—one aiming at Dugtrio below, the other opening his palm to recall the Seed-Sowing Insect.
"Finisher · Green Demon Bomb Barrage!!!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
The mechanical device on Usopp's arm popped open like a high-tech targeting watch, unfolding into an intricate aiming system.
The reticle locked onto one of Dugtrio's heads.
Several rounds shot straight out, smashing toward Dugtrio.
"Dugtrio, use Dig!"
Giovanni sneered, issuing the command without hesitation.
A strange vibration rippled through the ground as Dugtrio instantly activated Dig, attempting to burrow underground.
But just then, Usopp's grin widened into a handsome smile.
"You really think I've fought this many Ground-types without learning your tricks!?"
"Chu!?"
As if to prove his point, Dugtrio—who should have escaped underground—suddenly cried out in pain.
"What!?"
Giovanni froze.
From deep within the tunnel, thorn-covered vines burst forth, tightly binding all three of Dugtrio's heads.
Bright green life energy was drained through the thorns, nourishing the vines as they spread across the battlefield.
"With this, your Dig is sealed!"
"Now… enjoy the art of explosions!!!"
BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!
Deafening explosions erupted, engulfing Dugtrio in blazing fire.
The entire battlefield was swallowed by thick, choking smoke.
"Dugtrio!!!"
Giovanni roared unwillingly.
But under explosions powerful enough to pierce Marine battleships, even a Level 54 Dugtrio could only scream in agony.
"Chu—!!!"
When the smoke cleared, Dugtrio—drained by Deep Rock · Vampiric Thorns—collapsed unconscious.
"Dugtrio…"
Giovanni recalled it with a grim expression, then released his next Pokémon—
A Level 55 Nidoqueen!!!
"Poison and Ground-type!" Red warned immediately.
"Poison, huh…?"
Usopp nodded.
Just because he had defeated Dugtrio didn't mean he could overpower Giovanni's Pokémon outright.
Against someone of Giovanni's caliber, such tricks would only work once.
Now that the underground was compromised, Giovanni would never allow his Pokémon to dive below again.
The real battle had only just begun!!!
…
…
"Swarm Command · Swift Bugs · Leech Seed!!!"
"Rhydon, use Mud Shot—shoot those damned bugs down!!!"
"As if!"
"Swarm Command · Giant Rhinoceros Beetle · Sacrificial Defense!!!"
BOOM!!!
Surging Pokémon energy condensed into torrents of mud, blasting toward the swarming insects.
Each mud projectile punched a hole through the black curtain of bugs.
Yet in moments, the swarm filled the gaps as if nothing had happened.
Then, shield-like giant rhinoceros beetles flew out, turning their backs to the attack and blocking the assault with their bodies.
In an instant, countless beetles fell from the sky, merging with the carpet of insect corpses below.
Pain flashed through Usopp's eyes.
These bugs were all newly cultivated within his own body—each one his peak combat unit.
But he quickly suppressed the emotion.
Even after having several ribs shattered by Nidoqueen's desperate counterattack minutes earlier…
Usopp still darted gracefully through the trees using his Green Vine Grapple Device, evading the mud blasts.
Then—
A strange round was quietly fired while Rhydon was distracted.
"Try this…"
"Finisher · Green Demon · Impact Dragon Fang!!!"
The ammunition lodged itself silently into Rhydon's metal-like armor.
Zzz—
Like a signal.
The ground let out a strange hum.
"…W-What's happening!?" Giovanni's alarm bells rang.
Too late.
The insect corpses carpeting the ground suddenly withered, as if their nutrients were being drained.
Before anyone could react, the earth trembled violently.
A massive green dragon head erupted from the ground, biting down on Rhydon in one crushing snap.
Thorny vines shot from its maw, binding Rhydon tightly.
That familiar Grass-type glow flared once more.
"ROAR—!!!"
Rhydon howled in unbearable agony.
No matter how it struggled, it couldn't escape the Green Demon Dragon's fangs.
Usopp landed heavily, pain flashing across his face.
But in the next second, he looked up, an indescribable smile spreading across his lips.
"Looks like… this battle is mine!"
(End of Chapter)