94. Private Gymnasium
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"There really is a gymnasium!" It was around noon when they finally came across the strange building after battling Trainers along the way.
A tall wooden wall stood in front of it, with a matching wooden gate. Above the gate, an electronic scoreboard prominently displayed a record of 91 consecutive victories.
"It's not an official League gym, but it's won 91 matches in a row! Looks pretty legit!" Brock observed the sign, impressed. If the gym's owner didn't have real strength, they wouldn't dare to display such a record!
The gym's construction was also impressive. Inside, they could see a large tent, like the kind used by circuses, though its entrance was currently closed.
Ash glanced up at the scoreboard. "Ninety-one consecutive wins? I think it was 98 wins in the anime. Even with daily training, this gym's progress is faster than expected."
"Ash, this guy must be strong. Should we go in?" Misty asked, a bit concerned. Although Ash had over 30 wins himself, the opponent was close to a 100-win streak.
Suddenly, they heard a noise. The wooden door in front of them opened, and a figure emerged. He looked about the same age as Brock, with spiky green hair.
He was carrying a backpack and seemed to be heading out. When he noticed the three standing outside the door, he paused.
"Who are you?"
Misty and Brock's expressions changed slightly. This guy felt different from the other Trainers they had encountered along the way.
"We're just passing Trainers. We heard there's a private gym run by someone named A.J., a real powerhouse!" Ash replied.
"You must have heard that from the local Trainers. I'm A.J. Do you want to challenge me?" The man looked at Ash with a smile.
"That's right, but you seem like you're about to head out."
"It doesn't matter. A match won't take long. I want to hit my 100-win streak as soon as possible. Come on in!"
A.J. responded confidently. To him, every Trainer was just another step toward his goal of 100 consecutive victories.
After A.J. turned and walked back inside, Misty frowned slightly.
"This guy is on a real power trip!" Misty muttered, feeling annoyed at how dismissive he seemed of Ash.
"He is confident, but he has a reason to be," Brock added, narrowing his eyes. "Winning streaks like his don't happen by accident."
As an official League gym leader, even Brock had never won 100 matches in a row. While roadside Trainers might not be as tough as those who challenge gyms, there were still plenty of skilled ones among them.
"Let's go!" Ash said, undeterred, and led the way inside.
Once inside, they found a different world. Beyond the large tent, there was still plenty of space. In front of the tent was a huge, convex stone that had been polished flat, resembling a battlefield.
It was clear that A.J. had put a lot of thought into his private gym. He walked ahead, set down his backpack, and pulled out a long whip from it.
"Alright, which one of you is going to be the next step toward my 92nd consecutive victory?" A.J. asked confidently, glancing at the three of them.
"This guy is way too cocky!" Misty grumbled, sounding irritated.
"Don't worry about it," Ash replied, waving his hand dismissively. He handed his backpack to Misty, then stepped forward, climbed the wooden stairs onto the battlefield, and stood opposite A.J.
"What are the rules?" Ash asked, his eyes fixed on A.J.
"I'm in a hurry, so let's keep it simple—one-on-one. The first Pokémon to fall loses the match. How about it?" A.J. still carried his air of confidence.
"No problem!"
"Then let's get started. Go, Sandshrew!" A.J. cracked the whip in his hand and threw out a Poké Ball.
With a burst of light, Sandshrew appeared on the battlefield. Its khaki-colored scales, resembling bricks, looked tough and sturdy. Its limbs appeared strong, and its nails looked sharp. The Pokémon's face had an aged appearance, but its body was reminiscent of a pangolin.
"It's Sandshrew. Electric-type moves won't work on it!" Brock said, frowning slightly. The only Pokémon Ash had that could potentially benefit from a type advantage was Gyarados.
Since Gyarados evolved, it wasn't purely a Water-type anymore, so it didn't rely on water as much. However, its large size made it a poor choice for a venue like this.
Sandshrew's defense was formidable, and Ash didn't have many Pokémon that could deal effective damage against it. Iron Tail, which Pikachu could use, was only effective against Rock-type Pokémon, making it less effective against Sandshrew's Ground-type. This put Pikachu at a disadvantage.
"Come on out, Axew!" Ash decided not to use Gyarados. He knew that A.J.'s Sandshrew wasn't afraid of water, so he had planned from the start not to use Gyarados.
Having traveled through time, Ash understood that battles weren't just about type matchups. Even if the type disadvantage was significant, there was still a chance to win. Instead of Pikachu, Ash sent out Axew.
"Axew!" The Axew appeared on the battlefield, letting out an excited Growl. A.J. was a bit surprised to see Axew.
"A Pokémon I've never seen before! It seems you're not an ordinary Trainer." A.J. remarked, impressed by Ash's rare Pokémon.
Rare Pokémon are typically hard to find and even harder to tame. A Trainer who could do both wasn't just any ordinary Trainer. Despite this, A.J.'s confidence remained unshaken.
"Better be careful, or your winning streak will end today," Ash said with a confident smile.
In Ash's mind, there was no doubt—this streak would end here. He was confident, just as A.J. was, but while A.J. wore his confidence on his sleeve, Ash's confidence was deeply rooted within.
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