章節 57: ##Chapter 57: Gym Assessment
Finally, the day had arrived for Pryce to conduct the long-awaited gym assessment. The atmosphere was tense as everyone gathered early in the morning, preparing for the critical evaluation that could decide the future of the Ecruteak Gym.
Chiyama, Komatsu, Kane, Melissa, Thunderstorm, and Ryuki all stood outside the gym's front gates, waiting with growing anticipation for Pryce's arrival. The early morning air was crisp, and the quiet surroundings seemed to heighten the anxiety in everyone's minds. Kane, in particular, was feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. He had heard much about Pryce but had never seen him in action in his previous life. To him, Pryce was a legendary figure, someone whose strength was beyond measure, and now, the opportunity to witness him firsthand had finally come.
At precisely nine o'clock, a sleek, black, extended Alliance car pulled up in front of the gym, its tires crunching softly on the gravel road. The car's imposing appearance alone demanded respect. As the door opened an elderly man with a stern demeanor standing in a hunched posture signalling his age as he had short white hair wich was neatly combed back with a small mustache with a no - nonsense look wearing a long blue coat with fair trims around the collar symbolizing his association with ice type pokemon. The coat was well buttoned up covering most of his body as he wore long brown pants and black leather boots this man was pryce.
Pryce emerged with two female assistants who seemed to be in their early 20s as they were wearing black suits and his driver a tall lean male in his mid 30s wearing a sleak grey suit separating him from the two female assistants standing next to Pryce, their professional demeanor added some weight to the occasion.
Chiyama quickly stepped forward, guiding the others to greet their distinguished guest. "Mr pryce, My name is Chiyama, the Gym leader of Ecruteak Gym. We've been expecting you," he said, his voice carrying a respectful tone, though there was a subtle tension underlying his words.
Pryce gave a brief nod, his expression as distant and aloof as ever. "Let's go inside," he said simply, wasting no time with pleasantries. It was clear that he was here to get straight to business.
Chiyama led the group into the grand lobby of the gym, his mind racing with thoughts of the assessment ahead. As they entered the vast hall, he signaled Ryuki to prepare tea for their esteemed guest and his assistants, hoping to maintain a sense of decorum amidst the growing pressure.
"Please provide my assistant with the detailed records of Ecruteak Gym's challenge battles and badge distributions for this year," Pryce ordered in a matter-of-fact tone, his eyes scanning the room with practiced precision.
"We've already prepared the papers Mr pryce," Chiyama replied promptly, trying to maintain an air of confidence. As he spoke, Komatsu swiftly moved to fetch the prepared documents from the study, his movements quick and efficient, as if sensing the urgency in his father's word's.
Pryce's assistants began reviewing the records immediately, their sharp eyes moving over the papers with precision. The silence in the room became heavy with anticipation. After a moment, Pryce turned his sharp gaze to Chiyama and asked in a slightly pointed tone, "I've heard you've been holding unrestricted gym challenges at Ecruteak Gym over the past two months?"
Chiyama felt his heart skip a beat. His nerves flared up, and a bead of sweat formed on his brow. This question had hit harder than expected, as the unrestricted gym challenges had been a personal decision he hadn't fully cleared with the higher-ups. While it seemed like a minor issue, Pryce's reputation for strict adherence to the rules made this a potential point of contention.
"Mr pryce, please allow me to explain you see my students—" Chiyama began, his voice faltering slightly as he tried to justify his actions. But before he could get very far, Pryce raised a hand, cutting him off abruptly.
"You've done well," Pryce interrupted, his tone shifting unexpectedly to one of approval. Chiyama blinked in surprise, as did the others in the room. No one had anticipated praise. "A gym leader's duty is to test the skills of trainers and to offer them valuable feedback. By doing so, you help them grow, and that is exactly how we foster new talent for the League. The restrictions imposed by the higher-ups only serve to limit this growth, pushing talented trainers to seek opportunities in other regions. What you've done here should be encouraged, not suppressed."
As Pryce spoke, his passion for the subject became evident, and Chiyama felt the tension in his chest begin to ease. He had been expecting criticism, but now it seemed that his approach had earned the approval of one of the highest-ranking figures in the League.
After reviewing the records thoroughly, Pryce's assistant reported back with no issues, confirming that everything was in order. Pryce nodded in satisfaction. "It seems Ecruteak Gym is running smoothly and fulfilling its responsibilities. Now, let's move on to the battle assessment."
Relief washed over Chiyama as they moved to the next stage of the evaluation. Passing the initial review had taken a weight off his shoulders, though the real challenge was yet to come.
As they reached the battle arena, Pryce stood calmly on one side of the field, his expression unreadable as he prepared for the assessment. The gravity of the situation began to settle in once again for everyone present. Even though Chiyama was the gym leader, he could not afford to take this battle lightly. He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for whatever was to come. Even if he lost, he couldn't allow the reputation of Ecruteak Gym to suffer.
With that resolve in mind, Chiyama stepped forward and reached for his Pokéball. But before he could send out his Pokémon, Pryce suddenly spoke, halting him in his tracks. "Who said I was going to test you?" Pryce asked, his voice calm but commanding.
Confused, Chiyama looked at him. "Mr pryce, aren't you here to assess me? If not me, then who?" he asked, genuinely puzzled by the sudden change in the proceedings.
Pryce's sharp eyes turned toward the group of young trainers standing behind Chiyama. "Are those five students behind you all your disciples?" he inquired, his voice taking on an almost predatory curiosity.
"Well, except for this young girl," Chiyama gestured toward Melissa, "she's the daughter of a gym leader from Sinnoh. The other four are my students."
Pryce nodded thoughtfully before speaking again. "Good. Then let the four of them come forward. It's your disciples that I'll be assessing today."
This declaration sent shockwaves through the group. Everyone was taken aback, including Chiyama himself. Normally, gym evaluations involved assessing the leader, not the students. It was completely unexpected for Pryce to personally evaluate the disciples, especially in a battle. Moreover, the students had just been given a three-day break, and they weren't exactly in top shape for such a crucial test.
Chiyama's heart sank. He knew his students weren't prepared for something of this magnitude. This was beyond anything they had anticipated, and the timing couldn't have been worse.
Chiyama tried one last time to appeal to Pryce's reason. "Mr pryce, these children have only had a few years of experience with their Pokémon. How could they possibly compete with you?" His voice carried the worry and concern of a mentor who feared his students were being thrown into the deep end.
"Don't worry," Pryce responded calmly. "I know my limits." His tone left no room for further argument.
Realizing there was no avoiding this, Chiyama turned to his four students, his face pale but determined. "Just do your best," he told them, though his voice lacked confidence.
Of all the students, Ryuki was clearly the most anxious. His face was pale, and his hands were shaking uncontrollably. If he had known he would be part of the assessment, he might have never identified himself as one of Chiyama's disciples. He was still a novice when it came to battle, and now, the pressure was threatening to overwhelm him.
Kane, on the other hand, was composed. He stepped forward without hesitation, his face set in a stoic expression. "Gastly, you're up," he called, releasing his Pokémon onto the field. There was no fear in his heart. For him, this was just another opportunity to grow stronger, and he welcomed the challenge.
Pryce glanced at Kane, taking in the young boy's serious expression. There was something in Kane's demeanor that intrigued him, and he nodded to himself. This boy, at least, showed promise.
Seeing Kane step forward, Komatsu and Thunderstorm exchanged a nervous look but knew they had to follow suit. "Come out, Spiritbomb," Komatsu said, releasing his Pokémon.
Thunderstorm wasn't far behind, calling out, "come out, Dusclops!"
However, Ryuki remained frozen in place. His trembling hands refused to move, and sweat poured down his face. He couldn't bring himself to release his Pokémon. The pressure had become too much for him to bear, and he was paralyzed with fear.
"Ryuki, step forward and battle!" Chiyama shouted, trying to snap him out of it.
But instead of stepping forward, Ryuki collapsed onto the ground, bursting into tears. His breakdown shocked everyone. Pryce's assistants and driver exchanged glances and stifled their laughter at the sight of Ruki's total collapse.
Chiyama's face flushed with deep embarrassment. His student had just humiliated himself in front of one of the League's most powerful figures. This was a disgrace to Ecruteak Gym, and he could only blame himself for not preparing Ryuki better.
Pryce, however, remained calm. "If your disciple refuses to battle, then take him away," he said simply, making it clear that there was no room for weakness in his assessment.
Hearing Pryce's words, Chiyama had no choice but to remove Ryuki from the arena. As he walked away, a heavy weight settled deeper in his heart. One of his disciples had already collapsed before the test had even begun. This was not a good sign. In fact,Chiyama feared that the gym assessment was already doomed to fail before it had properly started. The coldness in his heart grew stronger, as he realized just how dire the situation had become.
After seeing to Ryuki, Chiyama naturally couldn't afford to waste time. He knew he had to face whatever came next and wait for Pryce to finish before dealing with Ryuki's breakdown any further. This was not the moment for distractions; the future of Ecruteak Gym was at stake, and he had to focus on the assessment, even if the outcome was already looking bleak.
Chiyama hurried back to the battle venue, his heart pounding he was clearly nervous. When he returned, he saw that Pryce hadn't taken out any Pokémon yet. It seemed as if Pryce had been waiting patiently for his return. The atmosphere in the room was tense, as everyone waited for what was to come.
Pryce's sharp eyes turned toward the returning Chiyama as he spoke in a commanding tone. " Chiyama,I will now formally assess your disciples. If you have any objections, now is the time to raise them however i must warn you they wont make much of a difference." His voice carried a weight that silenced the room, making it clear that this was the final chance for any resistance or concerns.
Chiyama's heart skipped a beat. How could he possibly object now? The situation had already spiraled out of his control, and all he could do was hope that his remaining students would perform well enough to avoid completely ruining the reputation of Ecruteak Gym. Chiyama also knew him raising any objections would paint him in a negative light with the higher-ups at the league as all he wanted now was to avoid annoying any of the higher-ups. His voice came out weak and forced as he replied, "No, no i have no objections at all." He forced a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. Deep down, he was praying for mercy to fall on his students .
Pryce gave a curt nod, acknowledging Chiyama's compliance. Without another word, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a Pokéball, ready to begin the true test. The sight of the Pokéball in his hand caused a ripple of tension to sweep through the room. Everyone knew that whatever Pokémon Pryce had chosen would be powerful, and this battle would be far from easy for the young disciples.
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