Johan – How About a Bet?

A Gym Challenge?

Wearing a work jacket and safety goggles, Volkner looked up, slightly surprised.

And…

Everything had been fine just moments ago, so why did the Gym's electricity suddenly vanish?

Compared to the challenge, this issue concerned him more.

His carefully designed Gym circuitry shouldn't have any problems, unless—

Then, he saw Johan, Flint, and Buck standing at the entrance.

"Flint, Buck… and Johan?" Volkner frowned.

"Pika~"

Pikachu ran up to Volkner, gesturing excitedly—there was a strong challenger here.

A Gym challenge?

Sitting on the floor, Volkner took off his goggles and lazily scratched his head.

"The badges should be outside the Gym. If you want one, just take it."

"Volkner!"

Flint called out sternly, "Someone's challenging the Gym—get up and react! Where's your energy?!"

Volkner glanced at his passionate friend and gave a mild smile.

"Aren't I already up?"

Flint clenched his jaw.

"Battle me, Volkner!"

Volkner ignored him.

"Hmm… He doesn't seem quite like the rumored eighth Gym Leader of Sinnoh," Buck remarked.

Neither Flint's encouragement nor Buck's provocation worked.

Meanwhile, Johan, who had just shouted about a Gym Challenge, was now casually surveying the battlefield.

He nodded approvingly.

"This arena looks good."

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar nodded along.

It seemed sturdy—less likely to be destroyed.

"Volkner," Johan suddenly called out.

"Hm?"

Volkner frowned.

They had met in Rustboro City and even worked together.

Later, Johan participated in the Indigo League and speedran the Battle Frontier. Volkner hadn't watched much, but he had heard about him.

He wasn't too familiar with Johan, but he wasn't a stranger either.

"Let's make a bet," Johan said.

"A bet?"

Volkner chuckled. "If I lose, I have to 'get my spirit back'? I think I'm doing just fine."

"No, no, no."

Johan waved a finger, smiling.

"If you win, I'll tell you why your Gym's electricity suddenly disappeared."

Volkner paused.

That actually caught his interest.

He was confident there were no issues with his Gym's electrical system, yet it had completely blacked out. That meant there was a flaw somewhere.

"You know electricity?" Volkner asked, his tone gaining a bit more energy.

"Electricity?"

Johan's mind flashed back to the horrors of Ohm's Law, resistance and conductance, electrical work and power, Joule's Law…

He smirked.

"I know a little."

Flint nudged Buck and whispered, "Why does Johan always 'know a little' about everything?"

Buck adjusted his glasses.

"When most people say 'a little,' they mean it literally. When Johan says it, he's just being humble."

Flint looked enlightened.

Johan felt a bit embarrassed.

This time, he really only knew a little.

But he ignored them and continued,

"Also, if you win, I can introduce you to a few people. In the field of high-tech electrical devices, they're among the best in the world."

Considering the trio's ability to build a mecha by hand, calling them "top-tier" wasn't an exaggeration.

If Volkner teamed up with them…

Johan wasn't sure what kind of wild inventions they'd create.

"Top-tier?"

Were there electrical experts out there he didn't know about?

Seeing Johan's confident expression, Volkner chose to believe him.

"And if you win?" Volkner asked.

"If I win…"

Johan glanced around the Gym's large battlefield and grinned.

"I'd like to borrow this place for a few days."

Volkner blinked.

"That's it?"

Johan nodded. "Yep, that's all."

"No problem!"

Volkner agreed immediately.

For more knowledge about electricity, what was one battle?

"He… agreed just like that?"

Flint watched as Buck pulled him toward the spectator seats.

He had yelled so much earlier, yet Volkner didn't care. But Johan only said a few sentences, and Volkner was in?

"It's psychology," Buck muttered.

He was starting to understand.

Johan had approached Volkner from his biggest interest—electricity—and slowly piqued his curiosity.

To Volkner, the bet seemed slightly unbalanced, but Buck had a feeling Johan might just take over the entire Gym…

He needed to start reading up on psychology—otherwise, he might get manipulated without even realizing it.

Though Volkner hadn't done Gym battles in a while, Sunyshore Gym was still fully equipped.

Hearing there was a battle, the chubby referee rushed back from outside.

"T-The rules for this battle…"

The referee hesitated for a moment before officially announcing the match.

Volkner stood with Pikachu at his side, while Johan's Gengar floated beside him, bouncing lightly on its feet.

"Alright, you're up."

Volkner tossed a Poké Ball.

"Garrr!!"

Out came one of his signature Pokémon—Electivire!

Unlike Volkner's laid-back attitude, his Electivire was brimming with energy. The two cables on its back crackled with sparks.

Johan also threw a Poké Ball.

"Alright, it's you—Tinkaton!"

"Cha!!"

Tinkaton landed with a commanding presence, hammer resting on its shoulder.

Another door to smash?

Wait—

It blinked.

This time, it wasn't breaking doors—it was battling!

"Cha! (Excited!)"

"…Tinkaton?"

Volkner squinted.

That door earlier had been smashed by this seemingly cute little thing, right?

A tiny, pink, twin-tailed Pokémon… with that much strength?

"Volkner seems to be getting serious," Flint observed from the stands, noticing Volkner's shift in expression.

Buck, legs crossed, said casually,

"Well, it is Johan."

That Tinkaton had recently smashed a Regigigas into the ground.

"Battle, begin!"

With the referee's announcement, the battle officially started.

But—

The battlefield fell silent.

Neither Johan nor Volkner made the first move.

Both stood still.

"This isn't an opening attack?!" Flint gritted his teeth.

This was the perfect opportunity! Volkner had really changed.

He felt frustrated.

"Not every opening attack is an advantage. It could also be a trap. Volkner is calmer than you," Buck said.

Johan chuckled.

"So, you're confident that Tinkaton isn't good at ranged combat?"

Then, he commanded,

"Tinkaton, Flash Cannon!"

"Cha!"

Tinkaton's hammer glowed silver, gathering metallic energy before firing a concentrated beam.

Volkner's eyes narrowed as the metallic beam approached.

His expression tensed. He was entering battle mode.

"Electivire, Thunder Punch!"

Electivire's back cables sparked violently, electricity surging like golden serpents into its fists.

"Garrr!!"

With a roar, it threw a punch infused with crackling electricity, colliding directly with the Flash Cannon.

"Interesting," Buck murmured.

Flint clenched his fists.

Boom!

Electivire shattered the beam with its electrified punch and charged forward, electricity crackling from its back, making it move even faster.

"It's here!" Flint whispered. "Volkner's signature Electric Engine acceleration!"

[Electric Engine: This Pokémon is immune to Electric-type moves. When hit by one, its Speed increases by one stage.]

Volkner's Electivire constantly discharged electricity to boost its speed—mimicking the Speed Boost ability.

"Electivire, Wild Charge!"

"Garrr!!"

Electivire became a blur of golden electricity, its amplifier at full power.

Finally interested?

Johan's eyes narrowed.

But this wasn't enough.

"Tinkaton, Play Rough!"

"Cha!"

Tinkaton didn't flinch. It gripped its hammer and swung without hesitation.

Golden lightning clashed with a storm of pink energy.

BOOM!

Electricity and shockwaves exploded outward, sending both trainers' clothes fluttering.

In Volkner's pale blue eyes, a glint of battle spirit finally emerged.

This was…

A real opponent!

Electivire grinned viciously, its eyes burning with excitement.

It had been too long.

Too long since it had faced a fight like this!

"Garrr—!!"

Electivire roared, its body erupting with golden light, illuminating the battlefield.

Even the Gym's power—previously drained by Rotom—started to flicker back on.

"Nice one, Electivire!" Flint stood up.

"Volkner! Look at your Pokémon—it craves battle!"

Volkner inhaled sharply.

"In that case…"

"Electivire, Gigavolt Havoc!"

Zzzzt—

Its amplifier roared at maximum output.

"Now that's more like it," Johan grinned, turning serious.

"Tinkaton, Gigaton Hammer!"

This wasn't about strategy anymore.

It was a direct clash of power!

"Cha!"

Tinkaton stomped forward—

CRACK—

The ground beneath it fractured.

With a mighty swing, its hammer became a blur, meeting Electivire head-on.

Lightning and steel collided.

BOOM!

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Powerstones?

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