Chương 100: Challenge the Gym? (BONUS)
Bonus for 900 powerstones. 100 CHAPTERS!
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Originally, Johan had intended to escort Cynthia back to her hotel.
After all, she was a guest, and on top of that, a lady—leaving her on her own would be a bit improper.
But Cynthia replied with, "Tinkatink just hatched, and right now, it probably needs you more than I do."
Are you sure about that?
Johan glanced up at the window.
There were Haunter, Vulpix, and the freshly-hatched Tinkatink lined up along the sill. When they saw him looking their way, they all waved—paw, claw, or hammer—at the exact same rhythm.
Johan had the unsettling feeling that… their grins looked more and more like Haunter's.
Come to think of it, leaving all three of them alone at home made him a bit uneasy as well.
"Besides," Cynthia added with a playful glint in her eye, "do you really think I need anyone to watch over me?"
With that, she tossed a Poké Ball into the air.
In a flash, her Garchomp materialized behind her, exuding a fierce aura and looking terrifyingly formidable.
This was the powerhouse that would someday take on Giratina with a Draco Meteor attack!
"Grrr! (o#゜曲゜)o"
Garchomp fixed its gaze on Johan.
Don't think for a second that I didn't notice what's been going on just because I was in the Poké Ball!
Johan felt a bead of sweat slide down his back.
"You've got a point…"
With Cynthia's strength, if anyone did decide to bother her, they'd be out of luck faster than they could blink.
Not to mention, she could always ride Garchomp back to the hotel. Taking a cab was simply for his benefit.
"Well… be careful on your way back," Johan called out, giving her a wave as she climbed onto Garchomp's back.
He discreetly slipped Garchomp a handful of Pokéblocks.
"Grr… (▼_▼)"
This appeased Garchomp, who seemed to relax noticeably.
"Don't worry," Cynthia said with a smile. "Garchomp and I regularly fly down Mount Coronet for fun."
Johan: "…"
That counts as fun?
With the winds and snow that howled around Mount Coronet, even climbing it was challenging for most people.
"Thanks for dinner, by the way. It was delicious," Cynthia said as she waved goodbye.
With a powerful kick, Garchomp launched itself into the air, spreading its wings as it soared off toward the hotel, leaving two trails in its wake.
"It really is… faster than a cab," Johan muttered, shaking his head as he headed back up the stairs.
Meanwhile, at the upstairs window, the three Pokémon craned their necks to watch Garchomp until it disappeared into the sky.
"Chu, Chu."
It… it flew!
Haunter grinned, pulled out its sunglasses, and patted Tinkatink's shoulder.
"Ka-kah~~ (_)"
Pretty awesome, huh? That's my buddy up there!
"Oowu?" Vulpix cocked its head.
Isn't Garchomp a lady?
"Ka… Ka-kah?!"
Haunter's voice rose several pitches.
Are… are you serious?!
Vulpix nodded with confidence.
"Ka… Ka-kah~~" Haunter waved dismissively.
Not important!
With a serious and determined look, it turned to the pondering Tinkatink.
"Ka-kah!"
What matters is that we become even stronger than it!
Tinkatink nodded solemnly, looking around for something.
Just as Haunter and Vulpix were wondering what it was searching for, Tinkatink's eyes lit up as it found a rock nearby.
With a focused expression, it tossed the rock into the air.
Gripping its hammer, Tinkatink wound up and swung with all its might.
Crack!
In a swing worthy of a baseball slugger, Tinkatink sent the rock flying toward the distant Garchomp.
"Chu!"
Take that!
Haunter and Vulpix stared, mouths agape.
Thankfully, given Tinkatink's current strength, the rock didn't even come close to reaching Garchomp, who was already well out of range.
"Chu…"
Tinkatink looked disappointed.
It'll need more practice.
Haunter and Vulpix: "…"
In the hallway, Johan's phone screen illuminated his face as he checked a new message.
He'd just received a document from "Famous Actress," otherwise known as Diantha.
Opening the file, he found notes on her and her Gardevoir's training with Shadow Ball, along with tips on enhancing Haunter's control over it and a list of items and materials to boost its power.
The first item he saw was a "Spell Tag."
His heart sank a little.
Spell Tags were easily as pricey as Evolution Stones!
Still, they did offer significant benefits to Ghost-type Pokémon.
Diantha had noted that while Spell Tags worked well with most Ghost-types, the item best suited to Haunter specifically was a "Reaper Cloth," a recommendation that matched what was in Agatha's Guide to Ghostly Insights.
Additionally, she'd mentioned that Wise Glasses and Choice Specs could also help Haunter not only master Shadow Ball but speed up learning of other Special Attack moves as well.
Johan sighed as he finished reading.
"There's no avoiding it—some things just need to be bought."
Good thing he had some cash saved up now; it was just a question of whether he could afford everything.
"With an extra mouth to feed in the house…"
Though he'd settled on a general training approach for Tinkatink, there were still a few gaps to fill in his plans. He'd likely have to consult Steven.
He pulled out a Luxury Ball.
If Tinkatink had any strong preferences about its future, Johan would respect them, even if that meant helping it return to Paldea someday.
But as the one who'd hatched it, he felt responsible, and for now, it made sense to officially add Tinkatink to his team before its personality and will became fully independent.
When he opened the door to his apartment, he was met with an enthusiastic welcome.
"Ka-kah~~"
"Oowu~~"
"Chu~~"
The three Pokémon pounced, sending Johan sprawling to the floor.
"Stop! Haunter—watch the drool! Vulpix—your ice is freezing my words. And, Tinkatink! Tinkatink, what are you doing? I didn't mean for you to…"
Thunk!
In a flash of red, the Luxury Ball locked instantly, without so much as a wiggle.
One hand on an ice pack Vulpix had made, he tossed the Luxury Ball, releasing Tinkatink back into the room.
"Chu!!"
Tinkatink gave a joyful chirp before rushing over to Vulpix, eager to get back to smashing ice blocks.
Watching it gleefully demolish the ice with a resounding thwack, Johan thought to himself…
At this rate, even if he didn't become a "Super Trainer," he was going to need the resilience of one.
Otherwise, he'd never survive the roughhousing from his own Pokémon!
"Ka-kah~~"
Haunter floated over, holding the faculty memo from Kanaz City Pokémon Academy and tapping on the section about the Battle Instructor Qualification Exam.
Johan had originally planned to skip it.
Why would a Pokémon psychology instructor need to take a battle qualification test?
But now, with Tinkatink freshly hatched, Haunter needing new items, and both Vulpix and Tinkatink bound to have their own needs, plus move tutors, daily Pokéblocks, Moomoo Milk…
Feeling the weight on his wallet, Johan took the memo from Haunter.
"Let's at least see what kind of prizes they're offering."
Walking over to his desk, he couldn't help noticing the way Tinkatink had reshaped his laptop into a heart.
Well, at least it still worked.
Logging into the Kanaz Academy's portal, Johan's eyes widened.
No wonder the academy had such a stellar reputation as Hoenn's largest Pokémon academy, with backing from companies like Devon Corporation, and, more importantly, the Hoenn League.
The top four prizes for the instructors' exams were Evolution Stones!
With only twenty or thirty competitors, even placing in the top eight would yield some serious rewards.
It was easy to see why even former top Trainers like Duff were interested in working at the academy—the instructor rewards alone were worth the effort.
Then he noticed something curious about the highest reward for the top-performing instructor.
"A… mystery prize? What's an academy doing offering mysterious prizes?"
Still, even if he entered, the odds of outcompeting the battle instructors for the top spot were practically zero. The mysterious prize didn't really concern him.
"If I can place in the top eight, that's already a win."
If he wanted to compete, though, he'd need to step up everyone's training right away.
Johan glanced back at his team: Haunter, engrossed in solidifying its Shadow Ball, Vulpix happily making snowmen, and Tinkatink—a fresh hatchling with formidable power already.
Guess they'd already found their own ways to ramp up training.
Beep beep!
Just then, his phone chimed.
[Eevee Eats Cabbage]: Having trouble sleeping…
[Grain in the Field]: I'm on it.
Johan still owed Cynthia for the last sleep session, after all
.
Heading out to the balcony, Johan didn't notice Tinkatink's puzzled look as he left.
"Chu?"
Where's he going?
Vulpix paused from making snowmen.
"Ka-kah~~" Haunter, hanging upside down from the ceiling, chimed in.
He's gone to sell things.
Tinkatink froze, eyes wide.
"Chu?"
Sell what?
When Johan returned to the room, he found Tinkatink already asleep on the bed, clutching its hammer tightly and muttering in its sleep.
"Chu chu… ~~ zzZ"
Johan chuckled. "After all, it's still just a kid. It wore itself out playing."
"Chu… chu…"
Such… big birdies…
Haunter and Vulpix pretended they hadn't heard that.
Kid?
Would he still call it that if he'd seen it try to hurl a rock at Garchomp?
But Johan was already lost in thought again.
If he entered the instructor battle exams, he'd have to boost the training for Haunter and Vulpix, and Tinkatink would need more battle experience.
Battle Café?
He dismissed the idea right away.
Rumor had it a powerful Trainer was already tracking him there.
Better to keep a low profile for now.
His plan was to strengthen Haunter and the others, not give them practice getting beaten up.
The Battle Club?
Too expensive.
So… that left only one real option.
Gym challenges?
After all, Gyms were specifically for assessing Trainers' strength.
No limit on the number of attempts!
And best of all? Free!
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Powerstones?
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