Dewford Gym

"System, open the gift pack for catching Aron."

Gary looked at the gift pack resting quietly inside the System Space. With a thought, he spoke to the System.

The moment Gary finished speaking, the gift pack in the System Space opened, revealing an item inside.

"This is... a Metal Coat!"

The instant he saw the revealed item, Gary recognized it. It was a tool from the Pokémon World: a Metal Coat.

A Metal Coat had two functions. First, when held by a Pokémon, it could increase the power of that Pokémon's Steel-type moves.

Since the Metal Coat rewarded by the System was top-tier equipment in this world, it boosted the power of Steel-type moves by 20%.

Second, it could allow certain Pokémon to evolve, such as Onix evolving into Steelix, or Scyther evolving into Scizor.

Better than nothing. Gary silently thought as he looked at the Metal Coat he had taken from the System Space.

With Gary's current family background, obtaining a Metal Coat was an easy matter. Only a top-tier Metal Coat was somewhat difficult to acquire, so he was not overly excited.

After thinking for a while, Gary decided who the Metal Coat should go to.

Aron, whom he had caught earlier that day, was Steel-type, so Gary decisively gave the Metal Coat to Aron.

Time flew by, and soon it was the next morning.

After finishing breakfast at the hotel, Gary and Rosa headed together toward Dewford Gym.

Since the Dewford Gym staff had previously said that today was the day the Gym reopened, Gary and Rosa planned to complete their Dewford Gym Challenge today and claim their third Badge.

When Gary and Rosa arrived at the entrance to Dewford Gym, they happened to meet the Gym staff member they had encountered the day before yesterday.

The staff member recognized Gary and Rosa, who had visited before, and greeted them with a smile.

"You two are finally here. Our Gym Leader is already inside. Please follow me."

"Alright, thank you for the trouble."

After learning that Brawly, the Dewford Gym Leader, was currently inside the Gym, Gary and Rosa exchanged a glance and followed the staff member inside.

After entering Dewford Gym, Gary and Rosa saw their target for this challenge, Dewford Gym Leader Brawly, on the battle field.

Brawly, who had been sitting in the Spectator Stand, rose to his feet when he saw Gary and Rosa approaching and walked over to greet them.

"You must be Gary and Rosa. The staff already told me that you wanted to challenge the Gym."

Brawly smiled as he met Gary and Rosa.

"Then we'll be in your care for this Gym Challenge, Mr. Brawly," Rosa replied politely.

"No problem."

After agreeing, Brawly walked to the other end of the battle field and looked toward Gary and Rosa.

"Which of you will go first?"

After Brawly asked, Gary stepped forward and said, "I'll go first."

With that, Gary took his place at one end of the field, facing Brawly.

As for Rosa, she went to sit in the Spectator Stand, ready to watch the upcoming battle between Gary and Brawly.

"The battle between Gary from Pallet Town and Gym Leader Brawly will now begin. Each side may use two Pokémon. The battle ends when both Pokémon on one side are Unable to Battle."

After the referee stepped forward and announced the Dewford Gym battle rules, Brawly, as the Gym Leader, immediately threw out a Poké Ball.

"My first Pokémon is this one. Go, Machop!"

In a flash of white light from the Poké Ball, a Machop with several defined abdominal muscles appeared before Brawly.

"So it's Machop!" As soon as Brawly's Machop appeared, the System automatically provided Gary with its relevant information.

Pokémon: Machop

Type: Fighting-type

Ability: Guts

Gender: Male

Level: 28

Potential: Elite

Moves: Focus Energy, Low Kick, Karate Chop, Odor Sleuth, Low Sweep, Seismic Toss, Payback, Brick Break, Focus Punch, Cross Chop...

After looking over Brawly's Machop's attributes, Gary immediately took out a Poké Ball and threw it.

"This is your first appearance. Go, Aron!"

As the white light from the Poké Ball faded, the Aron Gary had caught yesterday appeared on the field.

"Battle start!" Seeing that both sides had sent out their Pokémon, the referee immediately declared the start of the battle.

"Aron, use Iron Defense!"

Although Gary had the first chance to attack, he did not launch an offensive right away. Instead, he had Aron use Iron Defense.

As a metallic sheen flashed across it, Aron's defensive power increased considerably.

"Let's go, Machop! Use Fire Punch!" Facing the Steel-type Aron, Brawly decisively chose the Fire-type move Fire Punch.

Upon receiving the command, Machop immediately charged toward Aron.

As it ran, a blazing flame ignited around Machop's fist.

"Rock Throw!" Watching Machop rush toward it, Gary immediately gave Aron an order.

After using Rock Throw, chunks of rock immediately appeared around Aron. Under Aron's control, they all shot toward Machop.

"Watch your footing, Machop."

At Brawly's reminder, Machop heightened its focus and continuously dodged the incoming rocks.

Fortunately, Machop was extremely agile, and it evaded every rock that came at it.

However, Gary decisively seized an opening and shouted to Aron.

"Aron, use Iron Head!"

The moment Gary finished speaking, a layer of white light flashed over Aron's body. It then targeted Machop, which was dodging the rocks, and charged forward.

"Dodge it, Machop!" Brawly naturally noticed the charging Aron and immediately shouted at Machop.

Machop understood Brawly's shout at once and immediately knew what to do.

Machop dipped slightly, then leaped up. Using Aron's rocks as footholds, it jumped step by step into the air and avoided Aron's Iron Head.

"Keep attacking!"

Machop, still in midair, used Fire Punch once again. After locking onto Aron on the ground, it dove down from above and swung its fist toward it.

When Machop's Fire Punch struck Aron, Aron was sent flying on the spot.

Yet when Gary saw Aron get knocked away, he showed no sign of panic. Instead, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.