Chapter 77 Red Lotus Gym
Seeing Ash's strength, Giselle ultimately didn't battle him, but instead found an excuse to slip away.
Afterward, James also chose to bid farewell to Ash and the others, embarking on his journey alone.
Just like that, the team returned to the previous Team Rocket Trio.
Over the next few days, Ash and the others continued towards the port that could take them to Cinnabar Island.
During these days, the Team Rocket Trio encountered another Team Rockets duo—Cassidy and James.
After catching these two and sending them to the authorities, Ash transferred James's Victreebel to Professor Oak's Laboratory.
On the same day, the two Pokémon Eggs Ash was carrying also hatched.
Abra, due to its inherent Pokémon characteristics, required long periods of sleep, so Ash put it into a Pokémon Ball.
As for Togepi, because its evolution conditions were quite strict, Ash didn't choose to put it in a Pokémon Ball, but instead held it in his arms, much like Misty held Cleffa.
Since Togepi was found by Pikachu, Pikachu's daily routine, besides training, gained another task: taking care of a baby.
On this day, Ash and the others finally boarded the cruise ship bound for Cinnabar Island.
On the ship, Ash and the others once again ran into Gary.
"Ash, you're still taking it easy, aren't you?"
Gary was in casual clothes, looking like he was on vacation.
"Gary, aren't you the one taking it easiest? Have you finished your Viridian Gym Challenge? You're already thinking about vacation!"
Cinnabar Island was a hot spring resort in the Kanto region, and with Gary in his vacation attire, Ash didn't even need to guess what he was there for.
"Come on, you're the one who should be worried!
I have seven gym badges, and you only have six.
Ash, let me remind you, there's no Gym on Cinnabar Island anymore," Gary said.
"Gary, are you crazy? Cinnabar Gym is still a League-recognized Gym.
When you say there's no Gym, it just means you couldn't find the place.
To tell you the truth, Blaine of Cinnabar Gym is a very strong Gym Leader.
If you didn't get to battle him, you'd suffer a crushing defeat even at Viridian Gym," Ash replied.
Indeed, Blaine was currently the strongest Gym Leader in the Kanto region, aside from Giovanni.
He was a scientist who broke away from Team Rockets, participated in the creation of Mewtwo, and was also a Trainer with Elite combat power.
"Really?"
Gary looked at Ash uncertainly.
"You'll know once I get the Crimson gym badge."
Soon, the cruise ship docked.
"Ash, do you really know where Cinnabar Gym is?" Misty whispered, asking.
Now the entire Cinnabar Island was filled with hot spring inns, and there was no sign of a Gym at all.
Misty couldn't help but suspect that Ash might have been tricked.
"Don't worry," Ash replied softly.
In a moment, he found the disguised Gym Leader, Blaine.
"Hello, Mr. Blaine!"
Ash stepped forward to greet him.
"Blaine? Young man, you've got the wrong person.
My name isn't Blaine."
Blaine instinctively denied his identity.
"Stop pretending, Mr. Blaine.
I know you're the Trainer of Cinnabar Gym."
Ash didn't give him a chance, grabbing him and exposing his identity.
"Oh, I've been exposed!
Young man, you have good eyes.
Are you all here to challenge the Gym?"
Blaine stopped pretending.
"I'm the only challenger," Ash said.
Hearing there was only one challenger, Blaine felt a lot more relaxed.
"Alright then, follow me."
And so, the group followed behind Blaine, walking towards the guesthouse Blaine operated.
Seeing that Ash had indeed found the Gym Leader, Gary couldn't help but follow along.
"Young man, since you've found out my identity tonight, you might as well stay here tonight.
I accept your challenge, and the time will be tomorrow at 10 AM.
Before that, you need to guess my riddle to find the battleground.
If you can't find it, the battle is void, and you can go find other Gyms.
Listen carefully, the battleground is: a place with a great flood above and a great fire disaster below."
"No problem, I'll be there on time."
Ash knew where the entrance to the battleground was, so for the rest of the time, he calmly enjoyed his leisurely vacation.
The next day, in the morning.
"Ash, did you really guess the riddle?" Brock asked.
"I did.
What we enjoyed last night was the 'great flood.'
Let's go, the mechanism is over here."
Ash, holding Togepi, pressed the mechanism of the hot spring pool.
The Gyarados-shaped spout sank, and a passage appeared before them.
"Let's go."
Ash took the lead and walked in.
The further down they went, the higher the temperature became.
Soon, the group saw an iron door.
After the iron door opened, a battleground, suspended above magma by four chains, appeared before them.
"I see, the 'great flood above' refers to the hot spring, and the 'great fire disaster below' refers to the magma," Brock said.
"Oh my, I didn't expect you to actually guess it!"
Blaine's voice came from the opposite side.
"Then, as agreed, Ash, let the Gym Challenge officially begin."
"Alright, please guide me, Mr. Blaine!"
Ash walked to the Trainer's command position.
"For Cinnabar Gym's Gym Challenge, three Pokémon can be used, and the challenger can switch Pokémon."
"My first Pokémon is it.
Go, Ninetales!"
[Pokémon: Ninetales]
[Attribute: Fire]
[Gender: Male]
[Level: Gym Advanced]
[Ability: Flash Fire]
[Potential: Quasi-Elite]
[Skills: Confuse Ray, Sunny Day, Fire Blast, Flame Vortex, Quick Attack, Flamethrower.....]
"Ninetales, huh?
Then it's you, Wartortle!"
Ash threw out a Luxury Ball.
"So big!" Blaine was startled by Wartortle's size.
"Ninetales, use Flame Vortex!"
Striking first, Blaine immediately issued the attack command.
"Wartortle, use Water Gun!"
Although Wartortle's level didn't progress as quickly as Charmander's, it had reached the Quasi-Elite Middle Stage.
Facing a Gym Advanced Ninetales, and with a type advantage, it easily defeated Ninetales.
Blaine recalled Ninetales, his expression becoming serious.
"Ash, you really have some skills.
My next one is it.
Come out, Arcanine!"
A two-meter-tall large dog appeared on the battleground.
[Pokémon: Arcanine]
[Attribute: Fire]
[Gender: Male]
[Level: Quasi-Elite Middle Stage]
[Ability: Flash Fire]
[Potential: Elite]
[Skills: Fire Fang, Flare Blitz, Agility, Flame Wheel, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Flame Charge, Heat Crash, Sunny Day.....]
"Arcanine, huh?
Come out, Aerodactyl!"
Ash recalled Wartortle and sent out the Pokémon he had caught earlier in Grampa Valley.
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