Chapter 10: Ren

The afternoon sunlight streamed weakly through the patched skylight, casting long shadows across the gym floor. It would have been peaceful—almost cozy—if not for the glaring countdown hovering in my vision.

[Random Event: Mysterious Challenger Approaching]ETA: 00:43:17

Less than an hour left. And I still had no idea who—or what—was coming.

Squirtle stood in the middle of the arena, tossing a Poké Ball from one hand to the other like he was warming up for a game. His eyes were sharp, but I could tell from the way he flicked his tail that he was as curious as I was.

We'd done some preparation in the last hour—moved the heavy equipment against the walls, checked the protective net for weak points, and, at Latina's insistence, set up a "welcome snack table" by the entrance. The snacks were questionable at best—dried berry mix, three energy cubes of unknown origin, and a cup of tea that looked like it had been steeping since yesterday—but Latina swore it would make a good impression.

"What if it's a customer?" she asked, balancing on the arm of the couch while twirling a wrench in one hand.

"If it's a customer, the system wouldn't call it a 'mysterious challenger,'" I replied, leaning against the wall. "Best case scenario, it's someone looking for a battle. Worst case, it's… you know… another mythical Pokémon dropping in uninvited."

Her eyes lit up. "Like Latias?"

"Exactly like Latias," I muttered. "Which, if you recall, nearly blew up the MK-II."

Latina opened her mouth to say something else but stopped when the gym door creaked. Slowly, it swung open—though the radar in my interface still showed the "challenger" dot several hundred meters away.

A gust of wind swept through the entrance, carrying with it a faint metallic tang, like the smell of rain on steel. Squirtle tensed immediately.

Then the figure appeared.

He stepped inside with the kind of casual confidence that made the room feel smaller. Tall, with messy black hair and a jacket that looked custom-made for traveling, he carried a single Poké Ball clipped to his belt. His gaze swept across the room once before settling on me.

"You the gym owner?" he asked, voice low and even.

I straightened instinctively. "That's me. And you are…?"

"Call me Ren." His eyes narrowed slightly. "I heard this place offers… unconventional training."

I didn't need the system to tell me this guy wasn't just here for a casual workout. His posture screamed "battle-ready."

"You could say that," I replied. "Depends on what you're looking for."

"A real challenge," he said simply. "Not the League-regulation stuff. I want to test my partner's adaptability."

The system chimed.

[Event Objective: Defeat the Challenger]Reward: Random high-grade item ×1Failure: Arena damage and loss of reputation

No pressure.

We squared off in the center of the arena. Latina scrambled to the sidelines, wrench still in hand, clearly ready to "assist" if things went south. Squirtle stepped forward, his shell gleaming under the lights.

Ren unclipped his Poké Ball and tossed it upward. In a flash of white, a sleek, blue-and-black Pokémon materialized—Lucario. Its crimson eyes met Squirtle's with cool intensity.

"Oh, great," I muttered. "Of course it's a Lucario."

The system offered its oh-so-helpful analysis: High speed, high offense, steel-fighting type. Squirtle is at a disadvantage.

Like I needed reminding.

The match started fast. Lucario dashed forward with a burst of speed, fist glowing with Force Palm. Squirtle sidestepped, countering with a quick Water Gun aimed low. The stream hit the floor in front of Lucario, sending it skidding slightly—but it recovered instantly, flipping backward into a perfect landing.

Ren's voice was calm. "Close the gap. Quick Attack."

Lucario blurred forward. Squirtle spun, withdrawing into his shell, and let momentum carry him into a sliding spin, catching Lucario's ankle. The blow wasn't strong, but it was enough to buy breathing room.

From the sidelines, Latina shouted, "Activate the floor hazard!"

I hesitated only a moment before grabbing the MK-II remote. The cleaning robot roared to life, mop spinning like a war fan as it zipped across the arena. Soap and water splattered everywhere, instantly turning the floor into a slick mess.

Ren didn't even blink. "Adapt."

Lucario planted its feet with surprising balance, then used the slippery floor to its advantage, gliding forward into a devastating Aura Sphere.

Squirtle barely rolled out of the way. The sphere exploded against the wall, leaving a charred mark dangerously close to the snack table.

"That's coming out of your deposit," Latina muttered under her breath, though she was grinning.

The fight escalated. Squirtle switched to a defensive rhythm, forcing Lucario to commit before countering with rapid Bubble bursts aimed at its eyes. Ren responded by pushing Lucario into a series of feints, each one faster and sharper than the last.

Then Lucario leapt high, spinning midair for a High Jump Kick. Squirtle dropped low, sliding under the blow and firing a point-blank Water Pulse. The impact sent Lucario tumbling back, water dripping from its fur.

For the first time, Ren's expression shifted—just a fraction.

"Good," he said quietly. "Again."

The final exchange came faster than I could track. Lucario darted forward, fists glowing, while Squirtle feigned left, then pivoted into a spinning shell tackle. The two collided with a sharp crack that echoed through the gym.

When the dust settled, both stood frozen for a second… and then Lucario dropped to one knee, breathing heavily. Squirtle, though clearly winded, straightened his stance and gave a triumphant nod.

[Event Complete: Challenger Defeated]Reward: High-grade Recovery Module ×1

Ren recalled his partner, clipping the Poké Ball back to his belt. "Impressive. I'll be back."

Before I could say anything, he turned and walked out, as if the battle had been nothing more than a friendly warm-up.

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving only the faint smell of ozone and wet floor soap in the air.

Latina bounded into the arena, eyes wide. "That was amazing! And terrifying. But mostly amazing!"

Squirtle just grinned, leaning against the MK-II like a champion posing for a victory photo.

I looked at the new Recovery Module in my hand, feeling its faint hum. Whatever Ren's deal was, something told me this wouldn't be the last time we saw him.

And next time… I'd better be ready.