Chapter 62: Erika

After two days of travel, Ace bypassed Saffron City and arrived in Celadon City.

During those two days, Ace focused on training Weepinbell. If he was going to challenge Erika, he wanted to try using a Grass-type Pokémon against another Grass-type to better identify Weepinbell's weaknesses.

After a brief rest in Celadon City, Ace headed straight for the Celadon Gym.

When Ace arrived, he saw a notice on the Gym's front door stating it would be closed for the day.

"What bad timing?" Ace was a little stunned; he hadn't expected Erika to be unavailable.

He frowned slightly. If Erika wasn't there, he'd have to wait for Ash and the others to arrive before he could meet her. However, Ace was definitely unwilling to waste so much time waiting around.

"Instead of wasting time, I might as well go train my Pokémon elsewhere."

Ace shook his head and turned to leave the Celadon Gym.

Just then, a group of people passed by on the street, led by none other than Erika, who was supposedly "out on urgent business."

"Tsk, another rich young lady."

Looking at Erika's grand entourage, Ace instantly lost the desire to battle her. He shook his head and walked away from the Celadon Gym.

"Young man, please wait."

However, Ace hadn't gone far when a female voice called out to him. Ace turned around and found that it was Erika who had called him.

"Can I help you?" Ace asked flatly. Although he knew Erika was the Celadon Gym Leader, this wasn't the time to show off his "prescience."

"Are you looking to challenge the Gym?" Erika approached Ace with her entourage. "I'm Erika, the Celadon Gym Leader. If you'd like, I can have a battle with you before I leave."

"That would be much appreciated." Ace nodded, a little unclear about what Erika was up to.

The group opened the Gym doors, and Ace followed Erika inside.

Erika walked to the main position and said to Ace, "I have an urgent matter, so let's make it a single match to decide the winner."

"No problem."

Ace nodded, tossed a Poké Ball, and Weepinbell landed on the battlefield.

"I'll use Weepinbell for the battle."

Erika smiled faintly, took out a Poké Ball, and when it opened, a Gloom appeared on the field.

"You're the challenger, please make the first move."

"Vine Whip."

Ace didn't stand on ceremony with Erika. The moment her words fell, Weepinbell's two Vine Whips swiftly moved to entangle Gloom.

"Razor Leaf."

Gloom shook its body, and several leaves sliced towards the Vine Whips, striking them continuously and suppressing Weepinbell's momentum.

"Acid!"

"Acid!"

Weepinbell and Gloom both immediately spewed Acid. The two streams of liquid collided in mid-air, splashing everywhere and corroding the battlefield with sizzling sounds.

Weepinbell's Vine Whips acted like its two arms, quickly gripping the ground. With a spring, Weepinbell shot towards Gloom.

"You want to fight up close? That's a bit naive. Gloom, Petal Dance!"

Erika saw Weepinbell lunging at Gloom and immediately had Gloom counterattack.

Gloom danced, sending a large number of petals surging towards Weepinbell. At the same time, a smaller amount of petals gathered around Gloom, forming rapidly spinning flowers like a shield, protecting Gloom.

"An offense and defense in one... I didn't expect you to think of that too."

Ace's eyes lit up when he saw Gloom's Petal Dance. However, compared to the elegant Petal Dance, Ace's approach was a bit more direct and brutal.

Weepinbell sprayed Acid in the air, then deliberately crashed into its own Acid. The Acid clung to Weepinbell's body, and driven by Weepinbell's momentum, it directly slammed into the petals.

"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle..."

The petals were corroded, and Weepinbell crashed into Gloom's petal shield almost unharmed. It was then thrown aside by the rapidly spinning flowers, but the splashing Acid corroded a large hole in Gloom's shield.

"It wasn't damaged by the Acid?" Erika was stunned, seeing no sign of corrosion on Weepinbell after it landed.

Ace smiled confidently. This was the result of the special training he had given Weepinbell over the past two days.

Weepinbell was different from all other Grass-type Pokémon. Its pitcher plant-like body allowed it to store Acid inside, which was its primary method of attracting prey in the wild.

And in Weepinbell's training manual, there was a unique training method:

Making Weepinbell itself secrete an oil film, similar to the one inside its body, to cover its exterior.

Because this outer oil film was the same substance as the inner one, Weepinbell wouldn't be corroded by Acid at all.

This was a tactic Ace had devised: using the immunity to Acid, he would have Weepinbell coat itself in Acid, thereby achieving an effect of both offense and defense.

However, if it encountered a Fire-type Pokémon, this oil film would act as an accelerant, doubling the Fire-type damage Weepinbell received, so it had to be used cautiously.

But currently, Ace was facing Erika, a Gym Leader who only used Grass-type Pokémon. Ace could confidently and boldly use this tactic!

As Acid was secreted, Weepinbell was once again enveloped in the liquid, making Erika's scalp tingle. This tactic was practically cheating, especially effective against trainers without Fire-type Pokémon.

"Razor Leaf to stop it!"

Seeing Weepinbell about to charge at her Gloom again, Erika immediately had Gloom defend.

Gloom shook its head, clearing its dazed state from using Petal Dance. Facing Weepinbell's renewed charge, a large number of leaves sliced towards Weepinbell.

The leaves were corroded upon contact with Weepinbell's body. Weepinbell was now in a "pseudo-invincible" state and completely unfazed by Gloom.

With a flick of its Vine Whip, the Acid-coated whip lashed out at Gloom. Gloom was instantly terrified, scattering and dodging far away.

"Come back, Gloom."

Seeing this, Erika recalled Gloom. Looking at the slightly frowning Ace, Erika said, "I concede. With Gloom's strength, it can't defeat your Weepinbell."

"Boring."

Ace recalled Weepinbell, turned, and walked towards the Gym exit.

"Young man, don't you want your badge?" Erika called out, trying to stop Ace who was leaving so abruptly.

"No, you keep it."

Ace said without looking back, "This kind of boring battle isn't what I'm looking for at all. When you're ready to really put your skills to the test against me, if I win, then give me the badge."

With that, Ace walked straight out of the Celadon Gym, leaving without a backward glance.

"Ace, huh... an interesting fellow."

Erika watched Ace disappear, then smiled faintly. It was clear she knew who Ace was; otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed to test his strength.