Chapter 210: The Sudden Gym Battle

"Blaine?!"

Misty and Brock stared in shock after hearing the old man introduce himself. Meanwhile, Ash, though already expecting this, pretended to be equally surprised.

Blaine smirked, adjusting his sunglasses. "Yes, that's me. And now that you know, tell me… who among you has come to challenge my Gym?"

His gaze swept across the three of them before settling on Ash.

Of course, he recognized Brock. Even though they had never met in person, Blaine knew that Brock was the former Gym Leader of Pewter City before handing the title over to his younger brother.

As for Misty, Blaine didn't know her, but it was easy to tell she wasn't a challenger. The way she stood protectively holding Togepi in her arms made it clear she wasn't here for battle.

That left only one option.

"...It's me!" Ash stepped forward confidently, his fists clenched in excitement.

Blaine chuckled. "I thought as much."

Misty, however, was still confused. She glanced around at the underground battlefield before speaking up.

"Wait—hold on a second! Why is a Gym Battle happening here?!" she asked, looking at Blaine incredulously. "Isn't the Cinnabar Gym supposed to be next to the laboratory?"

Blaine waved a hand dismissively. "I'll explain all that later. For now, let's focus on your friend's Gym Challenge!"

Misty sighed in exasperation. "Figures…"

Blaine wasn't forcing Ash to battle here. If Ash wanted, he could wait until the next day and challenge Blaine at the official Cinnabar Gym instead.

But battling here, in this hidden underground arena, came with an extra reward.

If Ash won here, not only would he earn the Volcano Badge, but Blaine would also give him a personal reward.

However—there was a catch.

Unlike in the official Gym, where Blaine would use Pokémon that matched the challenger's level, this secret battlefield was different.

Here, Blaine's Pokémon would be stronger—much stronger.

The only trainers who had a chance of winning this battle were either exceptionally skilled or had Pokémon strong enough to be considered at the Great Ball level or higher.

And Blaine was about to see which category Ash Ketchum fell into.

A Battle Above the Magma

Ash and Pikachu stepped onto the platform suspended above the battlefield.

The moment he set foot on it, he could feel the intense heat rising from below.

Looking down, he saw a churning pool of magma beneath the arena, glowing a dangerous red-orange.

Thick metal cables connected the floating platforms to the walls, allowing them to remain suspended over the lava. The heat was so strong it warped the air, creating an unsettling illusion that made the battlefield seem even more treacherous.

Misty shuddered. "This whole setup is insane… How is this even allowed?!"

Ash, however, wasn't fazed. He stood tall, his eyes locked on Blaine.

Blaine raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Most trainers get distracted by the magma below… but you don't even flinch."

He smirked. "I like your spirit, kid. You might actually put up a fight!"

Ash didn't say anything. He just grinned, ready for whatever was coming.

The Rules of the Battle

"The rules for this battle are three-on-three!" Blaine declared. "The challenger can switch Pokémon at any time, but I cannot. The battle ends when one side loses all three Pokémon!"

"Works for me!" Ash replied confidently.

Beside him, Pikachu clenched its tiny fists, sparks crackling from its cheeks.

This was going to be its first battle in an environment like this, and the electric-type Pokémon was excited.

Blaine's First Pokémon: Ninetales!

"Well then!" Blaine grabbed a Poké Ball from his belt, twirling it between his fingers before tossing it high into the air.

The Poké Ball spun gracefully, bursting open in a flash of white light—

And from it emerged…

A majestic Ninetales!

The elegant fox Pokémon stood proudly on the battlefield, its golden-beige fur shimmering in the light of the magma below. Its nine long, flowing tails swayed behind it like golden flames, and its piercing red eyes locked onto Ash and Pikachu with a calm, intelligent gaze.

Ninetales let out a soft, graceful cry, the air around it subtly distorting as heat radiated from its body.

Ash took out his Pokédex to scan it.

Ninetales, the Fox Pokémon. It is the evolved form of Vulpix. It is said to live for a thousand years, and each of its tails holds a different mystical power.

"Wow… It looks so cool!" Misty gasped in admiration.

Brock nodded, crossing his arms. "Ninetales is powerful… and cunning. It's not just strong—it's also known for its tricky battle tactics."

Ash grinned. "Sounds fun!"

Blaine smirked. "Oh, trust me, kid. You'll learn soon enough that Ninetales is more than just 'fun.'"

Ash's hand hovered over his Poké Balls.

Choosing His First Pokémon

He needed to choose wisely.

Pikachu was tempted to jump in first, but Ash knew this battle wasn't just about type advantage. Ninetales was a tricky opponent.

"Alright…" Ash muttered, before grabbing a Poké Ball from his belt.

"Charizard, I choose you!"

In a flash of light, Charizard emerged, letting out a thunderous roar as it spread its massive wings. The fire on its tail burned even brighter, reflecting in the glow of the magma.

"Charizard, huh?" Blaine chuckled. "A Fire-type battle, then? Very well… Let's see whose flames burn brighter!"

The tension in the air intensified as both trainers locked eyes.

Misty and Brock held their breath.

The battle was about to begin!