Chapter 3: Showdown

"Wait, do you have any badges, by chance?" The guy in blue asked the young noble trainer.

"Um… no?" Arthur responded.

"Well, this is going to be easy!" He said in a mockingly soft voice. "So, where were was I? Oh, yeah! Kicking your butt! HAHAHAHAHA! And maybe taking that blonde girl on a date after you lose."

"I will cut you," Leni spoke with an angelic smile.

"Oh yeah," the guy said, not scared. "How about you go out with me when I kicked this guy's butt? You call me Blue,"

"'Beat me and go on a date?" Arthur repeated. "She's not a prize like some trophy, dude."

"No, she is, "Blue corrected. "And I will win! You had no right to refuse!" His grin widened. "But don't worry. I can fix that!"

"So not happening, dude!" Arthur objected.

"Then why don't you fight me, man to man!" Blue mocked. Then he snickered. "Oh. Guess you can't do that. Ha!"

Arthur snapped his fingers. A large bracelet-like device with purple, black, and heroic blue colour appeared on his arm.

"Just shut up and fight already,"

Blue began his cackling anew. "Yeah! That's right!" he jeered. "Like a lamb to the slaughter. Let's boogie! HAHAHA!" He brandished a device on his left arm. The rectangular screen, triangular end at one side, a ring with three horns on the other, and purple and black colour scheme was a replica of Arthur's, but darker, more sinister colours.

On cue, a buzzing from the sky. Both boys look up to see a drone with a screen on top.

"I'm a Dimension Controller Drone. I will be your referee for today's battle! The battle between the challenger, Blue of York New City, and the challenge, Arthur of places unknown, will now begin. Each trainer will use only one Monsutās, and the match will be over when either side is out of usable Monsutā. Now place your location cards in your gauntlets and have Monsutā-Links ready! Trainers ready?"

"Let's go already!" Cried Blue.

"Thank you for coming, ref, and YES! I'm ready."

"heads or tails," DC Drone said with a video of gold coin-flipping.

"Heads," Blue called.

"Tails"

"Blue has won the toss. Therefore, he may spin the location on his randomizer deck."

"Shut up, you stupid robot! I'm doing it!" Blue barked the drone. Who Arthur swears is rolling its eyes despite it not having eyes.

"The Rocky Path has set!" The drone glows, "Let's go, Monsutā Showdown!" DC Drone proclaimed loudly as the world around them shaped and transformed.

This is how people battle with Mons or Monsutās, whichever you prefer. The drone created a separate space created from location scans—places in the real world where they help their Monsutā in battle.

A Rocky Path begins to form.

The Rocky Path scan is located near the Grand Canyon. Arthur is weirded out and confused about how many places are like his old Earth. With extra places.

First Blue, followed by Arthur as she observed, pressed the button on the triangular end of the device. As a large compartment opened up, they placed a card with light purple colours and grey designs. The devices slid shut, loading the cards.

"Gauntlet… Power Strike!" Blue exclaimed while Arthur stayed silent. Nonetheless, both of their gauntlets' loaded cards shone a bright purple colour.

"His Ki is very low. "

"Go, Arthy! And kick his ass!"

Arthur looked behind him, and Blue looked in the same direction. It shocked both boys to see that Mora, Leni, and Calypso are wearing their own version of skimpy cheer outfits.

With Calypso wearing a pirate/slutty bar wrench with a lot of fishnet. Mora is wearing the Stripperiffic Amazon theme outfit. In contrast, Leni is wearing a striped version with a crop top and a short mini skirt.

Since this was not a private match, anyone can enter or watch this through any manner of device. Once they entered, a barrier protected them.

"Go! Go! Arthy!" The three girls cheered Arthur on.

Blushing, a bit Arthur turns around to face a mad Blue.

"Oh man," Arthur complained. "I thought I told them not to put those on."

"Holy shit!" A male voice said in the crowed stand. "I got to show everyone shit. Kick that playboy's ass for us, dude!"

Arthur reaches for one of his capsules and releases one of his friends.

"Hi, boss," Raphael greeted. "What's going to the game plan." He asked, not bothering to ask why he was in a strange place.

"Kick his ass," The eighteen-year-old boy pointed to the fuming across from them.

"Understood," Raph said.

"I'm going to enjoy kicking your ass! Playboy!" Blue called out, holding up a card, with the Earth symbol on it, between his fingers. "Gate Card, set!" He flung the card outward, landing it in between the two of them. The card quickly expanded beneath their feet, disappearing from sight.

"Now, let's get this party started, shall we? HAHAHAHAHA!" Blue threw a capsule, spinning straight into a large rock. "Stand and crush them. Ruler Rocker!"

A rhino-like beast with three horns made of rocks appeared on the field. His eyes glared red as he roared down the area.

"Ruler Rocker, the Rock beast. They recklessly charge at anything on a straight path, trampling over anything that gets in its way."

Arthur's Index again informed him.

"I know that, Index. Raph, go down there. Gate card set!" Arthur threw a black card to the field.

"Let's make this quick," Blue sneered. The gauntlet opened up as he placed an Ability Card within the compartment. As it slid closed, it glowed as dark purple at the center. "Channeling my Ki! Ability Activate! Rock Blaster! "

Ability cards are the physical card from your Monsutā attacks. This saves a massive amount of ki if you do it this way. Most trainers use this method.

Ruler Rocker arched his back, letting out a feral roar for everyone to hear. He then charged at Raph.

While he was charging, Ruler Rocker opened his mouth wide, his head locking onto the dino-looking dragon. A perfectly spherical orb of brown energy formed within his mouth, to be released within moments afterward. The rhino's speed only sped the orb's speed up.

Arthur put on an evil smile. "Gate Card open up! NOW!" His Gate Card then glowed brownish-orange, and then the ground slowly turned to sand, and behind both him and Blue pyramids appeared.

"Now, Raph! Use Sonic Uproar! Straight forward!" Arthur commanded, channeling his Ki into the gauntlet.

This old method use attacks. They use more ki and require the users to have a bond with his Mon, but it packs quite a punch.

Raph opens his mouth, and the inside of his maw glows white. Then, after five seconds, he releases a light blue cylinder beam from his mouth at the Rock Ruler and the Rock Blaster, blowing straight into Rock Ruler.

"AH! That hurts!" Rock Ruler cried out in pain after blasting into a stone.

"Way to go, Arthy! You get a kiss for that!" Leni cheered with her friends.

Arthur sometimes regrets having memories of his past life. If it weren't for that, he would actually enjoy that... or maybe not? Let's just say this world has a dark history, and certain taboos don't really exist.

"You think that'll stop me?" Blue mocked. "Get up, you worthless thing, and GO get him!"

Rock Ruler roared in response, beginning a reckless charge against Raph.

"Channeling my Ki! Ability Activate! Bulldozer! "

"Sandstrom!"

The Earth dragon stomps to the ground. Then brings it up quickly, creating a sand tornado from the dirt it kicks up. The tornado is way bigger than the normal cause of the gate card.

The updraft of sand uplifted the rocky rhino.

"You know that the ground is made of sand. Right?" Arthur spoke slowly. "Sphere of the Earth Dragon!"

The Earth dragon's eyes flashed brown as the move processed in his mind. His mouth filled with brown and black energy, which grew to surpass his maw.

"..." Raph proclaimed. Then, all at once, he unleashed the energy beam, aiming at the center of the sand vortex, causing a massive explosion.

"Oh yeah, I still have my gate card!"

"The Pyramids of Set negotiate all gate cards," Arthur explained.

"YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS! Ability Activate! "Blue snapped.

"Rhino Siege! "

Ruler Rocker charged out the smoke with great, heading toward Raph, who was yawning.

Arthur blinked at the dumb move. "Really?"

"F**K OFF! Your stupid dragon is going..."

"Steel Mash!"

"Now," Blue finished lamely.

Arthur grinned a bit at taking Blue by surprise like that.

Raphael's tail turned to a steel-like color as it swung forward.

"Channeling my KI!! Ability Activate! Metal Alloy Armor!!! "

A shimmer of metal dust covered Ruler Rocker's entire body just before the Steel Mash struck, dropping the damage it did to the powerful beast.

"So, we're going to have to force our way through, is it? Fine, Raph, rapid Steel Mash! Both tail and claws! Do it quickly."

The quiet dragon dashed around the rock beast, striking it everywhere with tail bashes and closed fists.

Earth dragons looked more like enormous baby T-red mix with a western dragon. They have great close combat skills, almost like martial arts.

"How did they-?!" Blue was gaping. "Just how much Ki do you have?! You should be tired already!"

The old method has risks as well. If your Monsutā takes damage. Then you take damage as well. If they get fatigued, you will get drained as well.

"I can do this all day."

This was too much for the rock rhino, and it fell over, defeated, in a huge smack to the ground.

"Impossible! It cannot be..." Blue said in complete surprise.

"Ruler Rocker...is unable to battle," DC Rone voiced announced lamely, "The winner is Raphael the Greydra, and the battle, go to Raphael and Arthur of Parts Unknown... "

Blue swears the robot was happy about this.

With that, the battle was over, and everyone returned to York New.

Blue handed over $200 and went on his way.

"Nice going, Raph, for your first battle." Arthur petted his Earth Dragon behind the ears.

"..."

Laughing a bit. Arthur understands the nonverbal message.

THUD!

Three bodies tackled the boy to the ground.

"Congratulations, Arty! You get a kiss every time Raph lands an attack." So the three beauties spoke as one. As well as chocking the life of the poor boy with their hugs.

"Raph! Help...me!" The boy gasped at his dragon friend.

"Not going to happen, boss,"

"After your reward, we can head down to the gym," Calypso said. "Now I CALL FIRST DIPPS! Remember Arty, the rapid attack count too, and you have to do it with each of us!"

"What?" Arthur said in shock.

"Aw, no fair!" Leni glared at the first girl Arthur saved.

"I'm his childhood friend. The FIRST one. I should go first!" Mora said.

"Well, I'm the girl he'd first seduced! So I get to go first!" Leni said, reminding Arthur of that day.

He still blames his parents for that day—all eleven of them.

Gallo Pendragon, his father, has a harem as well. They are all married but live in different houses around the world. It wasn't until he was 13 that Arthur even knew that he had sisters. To this day, Arthur still doesn't know why they never told him. 13-year-old Arthur Pendragon was a dumbass!

Stupid crazy world and damn that Necromancer!

The ground seems to forget about the crowd that was watching the match.

"That dude is my hero!" A random guy said with tears in his eyes.

"A true playboy! It's difficult getting a harem of three girls."

The men agreed.

"He doesn't have three," Mora spoke, gaining their attention. "He has way over three girls. They are just traveling the world at the moment."

Men just stared at the boy, who a hot black-skinned girl was deep kissing.

After the heavy display of P.D.A.

Men asking how many members of his harem he had blinded Arthur. It didn't help the girls didn't bother to change out of their outfits and were posing for the mob.

Seeing this is a way to get from the girls for a bit. He slipped away.

When he was a safe distance away, Arthur scratched his head. "Okay, that was weird. What was that all about?"

Raph just yawns without making a sound.

"Alright, let head down to the gym. I should bring out Longfang too."

The duo walked towards a yellow-themed building. To his surprise, it looked emptier than he imagined.

He saw a young woman walk out with reading glasses in front of her green eyes, purple hair that was long enough for her to tie a sizeable bun at the back of her head, and yellow-themed clothes. She then spotted Arthur with Longfang and Raph.

"Oh, hello. May I help you?" The woman greeted with a smile.

Automatically liking this place for that smile. Arthur greeted her, and he declared with excitement, "I'm here to challenge the Gym Leader of the name of this gym that I was never aware of!"

Arthur's two Monsutās looked at him weirdly. Well, Longfang did. Raph doesn't care. "What? I never actually found out the name of this place." The teen told his party.

The sound of the young woman giggling made the three look back at her. "Sorry, it's just… ah, never mind. Our team leader should be free for a gym battle inside. Just mind the herbs, ok."

Herbs?

"Wow!" Arthur cried out as he saw a lobby room that looked like a greenhouse. Some other people wearing yellow noticed the newcomer but seemed to get back to their own business.

"Hey, guys!? Anyone has seen our leader?" The dwarf woman asked as she shouted out loud.

"I saw him." One guy there pointed to a now empty spot. "Uhh, okay—no. I don't know where he is now."

"I sense someone there." The Earth Dragon pointing to the door.

No sooner after Raphael pointed, something suddenly popped out of the doors like he was the boss. "AHA! Here you are, Burrito Burrito Extra Wrap, you wily rascal you!" He looked to be a handsome young man in his mid to late twenties with spiky, short blonde hair, pale skin, and deep blue eyes. Despite his looks, he seemed to act like a child on Christmas morning as he jumped out and started doing a merry jig after finding one specific song.

The same dwarf woman noticed the young man and then quickly called out, "Apollo!"

Hearing his name. Apollo, the leader of the Gym, turned around. "Oh, Mest! Who is that beside you? Come on in! I just gotta put this guy near his brothers and sisters… now, where did I put Fizzy Knight and El Sour Cream?"

"Sir, please. You have a challenger." The middle-aged woman named Mest calmly said as she pointed to Arthur.

Apollo looked back at the boy, who then noticed his friends. He moved up to the young teen quickly and pointed to him. "Whoa! You got a Dragon and a Dire Wolf. That's pretty cool, dude!"

"Huh? Uhh, thanks?" Arthur didn't really know how to respond to that. However, his subconscious seemed to take cues from his mother's lessons as he then needlessly responded with, "I like your jacket."

"Wow! Thanks! I've been sleeping in this for like five days straight!"

"Must be a nice jacket," Arthur said, looking at the jacket with an impressed expression on his face. Making everyone except for the gym leader to have sweat drop on their heads.

"It is!". The Gym leader of the yellow-themed people then looked back at Arthur as he ate his snack. "So you want a challenge, huh? How many badges do you have?"

"I got zip. You're my first battle!"

Apollo's smile seemed to grow brighter even after hearing that. "Really!? That's super cool! Alright, let me get you, my no-badge team!" He then spun on his heel and pointed towards a door that led to the back.

Arthur blinked in surprise. "No-badge team?"

Apollo seemed to pause at the question before a huge grin came across his lips. "It's my team to fight trainers based on the number of badges they have. As a Gym Leader, I have to prepare a team accordingly to meet their strength level."

Arthur never really bordered on learning about the system that much. Too much paperwork.

Mest looked happy. "You finally remembered your role. I guess your wives can stop yelling at you now."

Arthur gave a small laugh and rubbed the back of his head. "Hey! Fighting and training are a lot easier to understand than all those formalities Remy and Eda do."

"Wait so," Arthur began, making everyone look at him. "I'm fighting you at your weakest?"

Arthur surprised the leader of the yellow gym for a moment. "Yes!" He said honestly. "You want me to fight at full power?"

Mest sighed when she saw the blonde-haired young man in the suit was about to say yes. And spoke up after hearing that. "What is your name, challenger?"

"Huh? Oh, it's Arthur Pendragon." Arthur replied with a smile that never fails to entertain the female guests at the parties his dad made him go to.

The female members of his family always liked it.

She acknowledged his name before continuing with a slight blush on her cheeks. "Believe it or not, the three gym leaders of York New are all basically at the level of Elite Four and Champion with their best team."

Arthur and his team seemed surprised at such a statement, and then they looked at the gym leader, who was scratching his cheeks. "Oh, come on, Mest. You're too kind.."

She seemed to give a look of disbelief to her leader. "Sir, I am not. Ask anyone else, and they'll say the same thing."

The eighteen-year-old was shocked at the revelation. The young man in front of him was just as good as some of the best trainers in Europe.

"You're as good as the Elite Four!?"

Apollo seemed actually embarrassed by the question before answering. "… I am confident enough to battle them toe to toe."

The young dude was in awe of someone. Then, however, he turned to look at both Raph and Longfang. "What do you two think?"

Raph slept on the floor.

"He doesn't seem very warrior-like at all!" Longfang began before staring hard at the blonde gym leader. Apollo noticed this and gave a kind smile, and waved at the Dire wolf. "He reminds me of my father now."

Then he must be strong!

But if he was powerful, it meant that Arthur was basically fighting him with a handicap. That did not settle well with the boy. If he wanted to be the best, like no one ever was—then how could he fight someone of the skill of the Elite Four with a stupid trick.

"Hey, my dude, how many badges do I need to fight at your best?"

"What? Well, my best team? The rule between the three of us and our teacher was ten badges would be needed to challenge our best teams, but the highest record of getting badges in a Continent was ten in one League period. So far, no one has got all 10."

"Ten badges…" Everyone turned to Arthur as he repeated it out loud. They all then saw him smile with a bright fire in his eyes. "Alright, I will do this! I will get ten badges! Fight you and her and her. Then the rest of the gyms before the Battle League starts!"

Arthur's declaration stunned even the people outside.

However, Apollo seemed to be the only one reacting differently as he suddenly laughed a bit. "Whoa! I've never heard of determination like that for quite some time. But there is an interesting rule about the three gyms here. If you take one of the gym challenges of the three, you can only take that one and not challenge the other two. So it's preventing trainers from getting three badges in one area. Which means you might have to go somewhere else if you really want to battle my best team."

"... New Plan! "Where's the closest gym besides York New City?" Arthur instantly asked.

"Hey, blondie?" Mest spoke up to catch the teen's attention. "I like ambition as much as the next person, but I think there are some things you're overlooking. For example, are you even aware of Teams Strength, Technique, and Speed?"

The young boy and Longfang tilted their heads in sync.

"I got this," Mest said, turning the computer screen to the trainer.

Apollo's teacher is a renowned scientist that Arthur heard his dad talk about several times. So naturally, like most scientists, he wanted to research specific topics. However, instead of being like everyone else, he had the idea of spending his funding on his three promising assistants, the Gym Leaders of the three teams. They created organizations: Team Strength, Team Technique, and Team Speed. to help with that goal.

The total sum of members that The Three Teams has totaled around four million, and they've only been active for a few years in Europe alone.

Trainers joining the teams get a lot of cool perks, such as discounts on trainer goods, access to team databases that include battle records, battle data, and great information and tips in areas worldwide.

"Wow! You get all those gears and perks for joining one of the teams?" Arthur cooed in awe. Forgetting that he doesn't really use modern technology much.

Apollo nodded a dazzling smile. "Yeah, we're kinda like sports teams for Adventuring and Stuff!"

"Sir," Mest sighed for the fifth time today. "That is a gross simplification of what the three teams stand for."

"It is?" Both blondes asked.

"Yes!" Mest shouted.

"Well, tell that to my wives! They've been bragging about which of their trainers are going to win the Battle League this year, and none of our members have ever made it to the league of the previous few!" Apollo pouted after saying that. It obviously peeved him that no one from his team made it that far yet. He loves his wives, but sometimes they are really annoying.

"Can I join this team?" Arthur asked.

"Wait," Apollo interrupted him with a curious look on his face. "I'm just curious. Why did you choose the Speed Gym when, in reality, both my wives' Gyms are more popular?"

"It's closer?"

"What!?" Apollo seemed shocked and insulted after hearing that. "Now, hold on a second! I admit I used that same excuse all the time. But you should make your choices like that. I would like you to choose my team after seeing what the others have to offer fully!"

"Apollo!?" Mest said, surprised as she yelled to her leader. "Are you sure it's a good idea to turn away potential new members when Instinct has the lowest membership for all three teams?"

"Come on, Mest, Arthur here should have a proper non-biased choice on which team he wants to join, and that means that he should see the best of what my totally hot wives have to offer!" Apollo turned to Arthur. "Please allow me to take you to meet them. I wouldn't want you to make a hasty decision without knowing everything about all three teams since we don't allow anyone to switch over even if they quit."

"I see..." Arthur said. "Weird... Ok onward!"

"I know, right!" Apollo agreed with him. "Let go with Remy first. She is a strong one. But also a furious woman."

Most people have their vices.

Some drink, some smoke, and watch shows about fat idiots, but Tony had a completely different sort of vice.

Making plans in dark alleys.

There were three figures in a dark alleyway.

"Ugh! Why are we doing this in the middle of the day!? There are too many trainers, and the Gym Leaders of all three teams are only a few blocks from each other!" One shouted before kicking a can with enough force to pierce a hole through a solid brick of an abandoned house.

"He is right, you know,"

"More fun this way. Now just up and make you two do your jobs!" Tony replied. Smashing his fist against the walls of the abandoned house, destroying it to pieces. "We are not here to make any mistakes. OR to question to my orders!"

The other two remained silent after that.

"Good. We will wait for the other numbers to secure an escape route and then proceed as planned. Are we clear?"

They nodded.