Chapter 689 - 689: 689. An Unexpected Battle Rule

After gaining a bit of understanding about Juan, Kai found himself genuinely eager to face the Gym Leader in battle.

After all, someone capable of producing two exceptionally talented students even if they surpassed their master was obviously a remarkable Trainer. This Gym battle would be a rare experience, and if he didn't seize the opportunity now, he would undoubtedly regret it later.

Seeing Juan move ahead first, Lisia glanced at Kai, sticking out her tongue slightly and murmuring, "Sorry about that. My master is usually very composed and elegant; only in front of me does he ever act so childish. Did he give you too much trouble?"

"No, I should be the one apologizing," Kai replied with a cheerful smile. "As a challenger, it might seem audacious to provoke a Gym Leader like that, but I genuinely wanted to face him at his full strength, not just a secondary lineup."

"I see," Lisia said thoughtfully. "I was wondering why your attitude changed just now. But you'd better be careful my master is really strong. Don't get tripped up~"

Following Juan, Kai and the others arrived at the Sootopolis Gym's battle arena.

Unlike the Gym's luxurious decor in other areas, the battle arena was surprisingly plain. It resembled a simple swimming pool, with several floating platforms scattered across the water for trainers to stand on. The rest was cool, deep water.

Misty and Lisia took seats in the nearby stands. Though they were still at odds, social etiquette forced them to sit side by side—albeit with some distance, avoiding any contact.

Kai and Juan took positions on opposite sides of the arena, each on a raised platform similar to a diving board, about two meters above the water, offering a clear view of the battlefield.

From the side emerged a silver-haired elderly man in a neat black suit, exuding the demeanor of a butler. This was the Gym's caretaker, who also served as referee during challenger battles.

He addressed Kai formally: "Now, the battle rules. Each Trainer will use five Pokémon. The Gym Leader may not freely switch Pokémon during battle. Once all Pokémon on one side are unable to battle, the match ends."

"Five?"

Kai was surprised. He had traveled to many Gyms, but none had allowed so many Pokémon in a battle.

The caretaker continued, unfazed: "In the first round, both Trainers must send out two Pokémon simultaneously in a Double Battle. Once one side loses both Pokémon, the round ends. The winner's Pokémon continues into the second round. After the second round, a single Pokémon battle begins until all Pokémon on one side are defeated."

Kai nodded. The rules were unusual but clear enough.

Most Gym rules across regions were similar, except for minor adjustments or leader-specific conditions. Sootopolis' Gym, however, clearly had this rare, specialized format.

Once the explanation finished, Juan's eyes locked on Kai. Grinding his teeth, he said, "By the way, I'm Juan, the Gym Leader. This marks the official start of the Gym battle. Are you ready?"

Truthfully, if not for the strict rules enforced by the league, Juan would have wanted to immediately punish the man who had dared to 'steal' his prized student. He wanted to use his ace Pokémon to utterly crush him, proving his own strength to Lisia.

"Don't worry," Kai said, tapping his bag. "Though these rules are a bit unexpected, I've already prepared for this."

Juan's chest heaved in irritation. Not only had this challenger not even given his name, but he confidently claimed readiness despite facing unfamiliar rules. Juan hadn't felt this competitive in years, and Kai had reignited his fighting spirit.

Seeing that Juan hadn't recognized Kai's identity, Lisia felt the urge to warn him. However, Misty, with a teasing smile, interrupted:

"Why so worried about Mr. Juan? It's just a battle. No need to remind him of anything."

Lisia leaned back, a bit flustered.

"You mean what?" she asked.

"Didn't you hear the referee?" Lisia said, pointing at the arena. "Sootopolis' rules are different from the usual Gym format. The larger number of Pokémon, including simultaneous doubles, demands exceptional skill from the Trainer—coordinating two Pokémon at once is no simple feat."

Lisia paused, noting Misty's thoughtful expression. "I admit, Kai is an outstanding Trainer, maybe one of the best. But this battle demands superior coordination. Sending only undertrained Pokémon could easily backfire!"

Misty's earlier confidence wavered slightly, though she still trusted Kai completely.

Juan sent out his Pokémon first, releasing Walrein and Kingdra from two Poké Balls. They appeared on the arena's platforms and in the water. Crossing his arms, Juan said calmly, "A Trainer aiming for the Master Class must be adaptable, like water itself. Shape yourself to the situation and make the correct choice. Let's see what Pokémon you'll use to challenge my Gym!"

Kai already understood. Juan had sent out his most powerful Pokémon. Though unfamiliar with his tactics, the sight of these fully evolved Pokémon spoke volumes.

From his available roster—excluding Gardevoir, Gengar, and the Legendary Pokémon—Kai had Dragonite, Tyranitar, Scizor, Eevee, Metagross, Combusken, and Milotic. With five Pokémon to send, most would have to participate, making his first-round selection critical. Winning round one would provide a strategic advantage.

After careful consideration, Kai chose Dragonite and Milotic, a combination of Flying/Dragon and Water types.

The decision was tactical. Dragonite was weak to Walrein's Ice moves, and Milotic faced reduced effectiveness against the Water-type opponents. Tyranitar's heaviness made it unsuited to a watery battlefield, and Eevee, while agile, would struggle here.

Even so, Kai remained calm. His previous training had prepared him for such disadvantageous matchups.

Seeing Kai's selection, Juan felt both surprised and slightly disappointed. He didn't know who Kai really was and assumed him just another ordinary challenger. His ace Pokémon faced seemingly ill-suited opponents, and he naturally underestimated Kai.

Yet Juan's intent remained. Regardless of Kai's appearance, today he would teach a lesson.

Dragonite soared above the arena while Milotic glided gracefully through the water.

Once all Pokémon were ready, the referee signaled the start of the match.

Juan was taken aback as Kai immediately issued commands. Both Dragonite and Milotic used Twister simultaneously!

Instantly, two massive water tornadoes erupted from the arena, reaching for the ceiling.

The force churned the pool violently, sending waves crashing in every direction.

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