Pokemon: Skybound

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After sailing westward all morning, Kai and Erika finally stepped off the ferry and arrived at Cianwood's dock.

Nestled on the western edge of the Johto region, Cianwood was a tranquil island city close to the Whirl Islands.

Though small, its crystal-blue waters, gentle breezes, and scenic charm made it a favored vacation spot.

Without wasting time, the two headed straight toward the Cianwood Gym.

But just as they exited the harbor, they heard a burst of loud martial arts shouts "Heeyah! Hah!" coming from the beach.

The sound was so striking that it was impossible to ignore.

Turning to look, they saw a Machoke locked in a sparring match with a shirtless man.

The man had a wild hairstyle and a thick mustache. He wore loose white GI pants, and his bronzed muscles gleamed under the sunlight. He looked like someone who lived and breathed strength.

What stood out most, however, was that he was holding his own in a fight with Machoke not backing down even once.

Erika glanced over, then lost interest quickly and continued walking. But after a few steps, she noticed Kai wasn't following. She turned around with a curious look.

"Something wrong?"

"I don't think we need to look for the Gym anymore," Kai said, tilting his chin toward the sparring man. "That guy's got to be the Gym Leader."

Erika raised an eyebrow and gave the man another look. "Really? Him?"

Kai nodded.

Chuck, the Cianwood Gym Leader, was known to be a martial arts expert and a master of Fighting-type Pokémon. Kai didn't remember his face exactly. Chuck wasn't a major figure in the League, but someone with his build and style in a small town like this? The odds were pretty good.

Besides, not many regular people could go toe-to-toe with a Machoke. That kind of raw power was almost… inhuman.

They waited politely. Once the man and his Machoke took a break, Kai and Erika approached.

Chuck had already noticed them. He wiped the sweat off his face with a towel and looked their way.

"You Chuck, the Gym Leader?"

The man nodded calmly. "That's me. Who are you two?"

"I'm Kai," he said directly. "This is Erika, my traveling partner. We're here to challenge the Cianwood Gym."

"Kai…" Chuck rubbed his chin. "That name rings a bell…"

He shrugged off the thought and gave Kai a closer look.

"A Trainer, huh? You look young but more than that, you look tired. Where's your energy? Your fire? You don't have any presence at all!"

"Presence?" Kai blinked, confused.

Truthfully, Kai was worn out. He'd spent the night with Maya, and barely caught any sleep. Then came the rocky boat ride. No wonder he looked like a mess.

Still, what did "presence" have to do with battling?

Chuck crossed his arms and declared, "Presence means spirit! Energy! As a Trainer and a man, you should train alongside your Pokémon. Build strength together! That's the mark of a true Trainer!"

Kai: …

He chose not to argue. Everyone had their own training methods. Sure, it made sense for someone who specialized in Fighting-types to think that way. But for Trainers with Ghost- or Psychic-types? What, should he become like [Gengar] or [Gardevoir]?

Chuck, however, took his silence as agreement. He clapped Kai on the shoulder with a wide grin. "Glad to see you get it! Now—let's jog to the Gym!"

"Huh?"

"Let's move!" Chuck laughed as he and Machoke took off at a sprint. "You want a shot at the Badge? Show me some grit!"

And with that, he was gone.

Kai stared blankly after him.

Erika walked up beside him and smirked. "So… you joining them?"

Kai sighed and handed her his backpack. "Every Gym has its quirks. If this is part of the challenge, I've got no choice. Catch up when you can."

He took off jogging after the human freight train that was Chuck and Machoke.

As they dashed through the streets of Cianwood, the locals barely reacted. They just smiled and waved as Chuck ran past, and he waved back cheerfully.

Clearly, Chuck was well-loved here.

Unfortunately, Kai was in no shape for this. A few minutes in, he was already lagging far behind.

That's when [Gengar] floated out of his shadow, twirling lazily in the air with a grin.

"Old-school training, huh? Want me to carry you? That guy's long gone no one would notice."

Kai shook his head between gasps. "No. I need this. It's been a while since I pushed myself physically."

His body could usually handle a lot more. But after last night and the rough boat ride, he was far from peak condition.

Still, he adjusted his breathing, slowed his pace, and settled into a steady jog.

Chuck hadn't said it was a race. He just said to run to the Gym. No need to push himself past his limit.

It took about twenty minutes, but Kai finally reached the Cianwood Gym, drenched in sweat.

And yet, despite the exhaustion, his mind was sharper, his body more alert. The fog from the morning had lifted.

He was ready.

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