Cerulean City in the early morning was veiled in a thin mist, the water's surface shimmering faintly. Holding Shuppet in his arms, Ren stood steadily at the entrance of the Cerulean Gym. Built upon the lake, the Gym was entirely blue and white. Inside lay a vast aquatic battlefield—beneath the rippling surface hid the natural advantages of Water-type Pokémon.
Pushing open the Gym doors, he saw the referee already waiting at the center of the field. Across from him stood the three Cerulean Gym Leaders, side by side, their expressions lively yet confident. Seeing that Ren had only one Pokémon, they did not underestimate him. The referee, following special rules for new Trainers, raised his voice to announce the match conditions.
"This Cerulean Gym Challenge—Challenger Ren has only one Pokémon and is permitted to participate in a 2v2 Double Battle alone! The battle ends when the challenger's Pokémon loses the ability to battle, or when both of the Gym's Pokémon are unable to continue!"
"Battle—begin!"
At the referee's command, the Gym Leaders immediately threw out two Poké Balls.
"Go, Goldeen! Tentacool!"
Flashes of red light burst forth. A golden fish Pokémon and a translucent jellyfish Pokémon entered the water. Water-type energy spread across the battlefield as the two Pokémon instantly coordinated, forming a pincer attack.
Ren remained calm as he gently set Shuppet down.
"It's our turn, Shuppet."
Shuppet landed at the edge of the battlefield, its red eyes locked onto its opponents as a faint ghostly glow surrounded its body.
"Goldeen, use Water Gun! Tentacool, use Poison Sting!"
Two attacks surged forward at once—streams of blue water and venomous needles aimed straight at Shuppet, forming an unavoidable crossfire.
"Shuppet, dodge quickly!"
Shuppet leapt into motion, its body shifting like a phantom. It narrowly evaded the Water Gun, but a Poison Sting grazed its wing. A sharp sting shot through it, and its movement faltered for just a moment.
In the first exchange—
Shuppet was already at a disadvantage.
The pressure of a real double battle far exceeded simulated training. Goldeen swam swiftly through the water, continuously firing Water Gun to restrict movement, while Tentacool hovered on the surface, launching Poison Sting and extending its tentacles to disrupt and entangle.
Their coordination was seamless.
Shuppet couldn't find any opening to counterattack.
"Goldeen, continuous Water Gun! Tentacool, bind it!"
A barrage of water blasts rained down, while Tentacool's tentacles shot forward, wrapping tightly around Shuppet's body.
Shuppet struggled desperately, but the suppressive force of the Water-type attacks made it difficult to use its moves. Its condition dropped rapidly, its small body trembling as it fell into an overwhelming disadvantage.
The atmosphere around the battlefield grew tense.
Shuppet was completely restrained—
trapped in what seemed like inevitable defeat.
Ren's heart tightened slightly, but there was no trace of panic in his eyes. Through Viridian Power, he could feel Shuppet's pain and unwillingness to give up.
He knew—
this was not the moment to rush.
"Shuppet, calm down! Use Night Shade to strike the tentacles!"
His voice was clear and steady, cutting across the battlefield.
Viridian Power flowed quietly, soothing Shuppet's mind and allowing it to regain its composure.
Gritting its teeth, Shuppet gathered dense dark energy. A surge of Night Shade struck Tentacool's tentacles directly. The jellyfish Pokémon recoiled in pain, its grip loosening instantly.
Seizing the moment, Shuppet broke free—
though it had already consumed a great deal of energy.
"Now! Use Shadow Sneak to close in on Goldeen—then Shadow Claw!"
Shuppet transformed into a streak of shadow, instantly appearing behind Goldeen. Its claw, coated in dark energy, struck hard.
Caught off guard, Goldeen lost its balance and splashed into the water, its combat ability greatly reduced.
Tentacool immediately moved in to support, firing another wave of Poison Sting.
Ren reacted instantly.
"Sidestep—use Trick to disrupt it!"
Shuppet dodged nimbly. A burst of psychic energy followed, disrupting Tentacool's focus and throwing off its attack rhythm.
"Now—full power Night Shade!"
A dense sphere of dark energy formed, carrying all of Shuppet's remaining strength. It struck both the weakened Goldeen and the disrupted Tentacool simultaneously.
Two soft impacts echoed.
Both Water-type Pokémon collapsed into the water, unable to continue.
The referee raised his flag high and declared loudly:
"Goldeen and Tentacool are unable to battle! The winner is—Challenger Ren!"
[Ding—Main Mission "Cerulean Gym Challenge" Completed]
[Rewards Granted: Water-Resistance Berries ×3, Advanced Pokéblock Recipe, Special Energy Fragment ×1]
Ren quickly stepped forward, catching the exhausted Shuppet in his arms. Viridian Power flowed at full strength, easing its fatigue.
The little Pokémon nestled weakly against him, gently rubbing its cheek against his, its eyes filled with relief and quiet joy.
The Cerulean Gym Leader stepped forward, handing him a blue badge.
"Withstanding disadvantage and never giving up… your bond with your Pokémon is truly remarkable. This victory is yours."
Ren clenched the badge in his hand and looked down at Shuppet, a gentle smile forming on his lips.
This battle had been filled with setbacks, struggle, and moments on the brink of defeat—
just like the intense battles from the original stories.
And in the end—
through trust in each other,
they turned the tide.
In the mist-laden Cerulean City, the second badge was now his.
After a short rest—
their next destination would be Lavender Town.