After a brief chat, Crasher Wake led the group to the Battle Field.
Just like Pastoria Gym's unremarkable exterior, its Battle Field had nothing distinctive about it. It was simply a rectangular swimming pool with a dozen or so platforms of varying sizes floating on it to provide footing.
This could not help reminding Xia You of Cerulean Gym.
They were both equally simple...
But he had heard from Misty that Cerulean Gym was being rebuilt, and he wondered what it looked like now.
Yet unlike the Cerulean Sisters, who had not put much effort into running their Gym back then, the simple facilities here did not mean Crasher Wake was neglectful. Rather, his straightforward, easygoing nature led him to believe that the simpler the environment, the better Pokémon could display their true strength.
He just had not expected someone who looked so strong and was a professional wrestler to specialize in battling with Water-type Pokémon!
Appearances and preferences really could be... quite deceptive!
Still, that made sense. Aside from Fighting-type Pokémon Trainers, only Water-type Pokémon Trainers would go shirtless like this all the time because they frequently had to enter the water.
Taking his place in the Pokémon Trainer's Battle Area on one side, Crasher Wake turned to Xia You and Ash.
"Which of you is going first?"
Did he even need to ask...?
At Crasher Wake's question, Xia You looked at Ash. Sure enough, Ash showed no hesitation whatsoever. Rubbing his nose and chuckling, he stepped into the Pokémon Trainer's Battle Area on the opposite side first.
Only Ash would do that...
Not dwelling on it, Xia You, May, Dawn, and the others stepped aside, leaving the Battle Field to the two of them, and sat down in the stands.
This was also a good opportunity to see