Pokemon: With Title System

Chapter 113 – Huh? This Outfit Is…

The mental pressure between the two Psychic-types intensified.

It wasn't a full-blown fight yet, just a simple test.

Even so, both Gardevoir and Alakazam recognized each other as equals.

Seeing Sabrina send out Alakazam, Asahi focused.

With Sabrina's psychic abilities enhancing Alakazam, their combined strength was much more than just their individual power levels.

Without hesitation, Asahi launched the first attack.

"Gardevoir, Psychic!"

With a wave of its hand, Gardevoir's attack flew—not toward Alakazam, but directly at Sabrina!

Sabrina: "...?"

She may have suggested a no-rules battle, but Asahi targeting the trainer so naturally—why did it feel like he was the one acting like a member of Team Rocket?

Still, she reacted swiftly.

Her eyes flashed blue, and Alakazam instantly erected a Light Screen, shielding both of them.

Gardevoir's Psychic struck the Light Screen, making it tremble violently.

Though the barrier blocked the attack, it only bought Sabrina and Alakazam a brief moment to react.

[Alakazam, Teleport!]

The spoons in Alakazam's hands bent, and both trainer and Pokémon vanished just as Psychic broke through the Light Screen.

But Gardevoir didn't stop—she immediately redirected another attack to where they had reappeared.

Seeing this, Sabrina's expression remained calm.

"Alakazam, Psycho Cut!"

The battle was just getting started.

Hearing this, Sabrina chuckled softly and said meaningfully, "That's not what your Gardevoir thinks."

Hearing Sabrina's words, Gardevoir's grip on the Psychic Plate tightened as she looked at Sabrina even more warily.

Bad woman!

"She's always been like this." Asahi coughed lightly and quickly changed the topic. "Since you initiated this battle, are you planning to continue?"

Sabrina glanced at her Alakazam, then smiled and shook her head. "No, I think I've already gotten the answer I wanted."

"Oh?"

"I originally thought that, in a battle of extraordinary abilities, my Alakazam, with my assistance, would have an advantage."

"But after seeing your Gardevoir and her connection to that Psychic Plate, I've changed my mind."

Sabrina sighed lightly and continued, "If I were to continue fighting, it wouldn't be a test of your abilities, but me forcing a battle I can't win."

She was confident in her own strength, but she wasn't arrogant.

She could feel that Gardevoir's enhancement from the Psychic Plate was beyond her expectations. If she continued, it would be nothing more than a futile struggle.

That being the case, there was no need to persist.

"If you want to stop here, then I won't force it." Asahi spread his hands.

The battle ended, and the tension in the air dissipated.

At that moment, Gardevoir let out a soft breath, carefully storing away her Psychic Plate, then raised her hand to tidy the strands of hair that had been slightly tousled by the battle.

Sabrina watched her actions and couldn't help but smile.

For a moment, she even felt a little envious of Asahi.

Her Alakazam was strong, but compared to Gardevoir, there was an obvious difference in the level of mutual trust and connection they had with their trainers.

She didn't have such a deep bond with her Pokémon.

Sabrina shook her head, putting aside the stray thoughts in her mind.

She then took out the badge representing Saffron Gym's recognition and handed it to Asahi.

"This is your Marsh Badge."

"Thanks." Asahi took the badge, took a glance at it, and then stored it away.

With that, the Gym Challenge officially ended.

---

As they spoke, Sabrina's eyes suddenly glowed blue, launching a psychic attack directly at Asahi.

Beside her, Alakazam waved its spoons and unleashed Psychic to restrain Gardevoir, clearly a premeditated ambush.

But…

[I was already prepared for this!]

Signaling Gardevoir to focus on Alakazam, Asahi activated his Aura.

Though Aura Sphere is classified as a Fighting-type move, the essence of Aura is an external manifestation of mental power, making it attribute-neutral.

A barrier of Aura formed around Asahi, blocking Green's psychic control.

"Attacking mid-conversation… Miss Sabrina, you truly understand the essence of no-rules battles," Asahi remarked meaningfully.

Failing to subdue Asahi, Sabrina didn't catch the deeper meaning in his words. Her full attention was on the abilities he had just displayed.

"…What kind of power is this?"

It felt similar to psychic energy, yet upon closer inspection, it was distinctly different.

"This?" Asahi formed an Aura Sphere in his hand and smiled slightly under Sabrina's expectant gaze. "Guess."

Asahi wasn't the type to explain his abilities mid-battle.

With that, he hurled the Aura Sphere at Alakazam, who was locked in a mental duel with Gardevoir.

Sabrina gritted her teeth. Being toyed with like this multiple times, she could no longer keep up her pretense.

Using her psychic power to shatter the Aura Sphere, she linked her mind directly with Alakazam, their combined psychic energy making its aura surge dramatically.

"Wow, second stage now?" Asahi mused with interest as he observed the intensified aura of Alakazam.

There was not a hint of nervousness on his face.

Sabrina ignored his remark.

Just as she was about to command Alakazam to attack Asahi, the door at the side of the arena suddenly cracked open.

"Ee-vee!"

Eevee's small head poked through the gap, seemingly holding something white in its mouth.

Hearing Eevee's cry, Sabrina initially paid no mind, but her expression quickly changed.

Because the door Eevee emerged from was not the entrance to the main hall but a passage leading deeper into the Gym. And as for what Eevee had in its mouth…

It was too late for Sabrina to stop it. Eevee had already trotted over to Asahi.

Asahi shot Sabrina an 'apologetic' look and then pretended to scold Eevee. "Eevee, you're too mischievous. Running into someone else's place like this is not good behavior."

Eevee tilted its head in confusion.

Clearly, its trainer had sent it in.

Besides, this thing…

Eevee dropped the item it was carrying in front of Asahi.

While using telepathy to reassure Eevee, Asahi simultaneously 'scolded' it aloud: "Look at you, even taking someone else's belongings. Hurry and return it… Huh? This is…?"

Asahi picked up the white garment with a red "R" emblem on the chest, unfolded it, and put on a look of 'shock.'

"…A Team Rocket uniform? What's going on here?"

Holding the uniform, Asahi turned his gaze to Sabrina, only to see her staring intently at him.

"Asahi, Investigator, that is a trophy from my previous battle against Team Rocket. Please return it to me."

Though she wore a bright smile, her gaze was as cold as ice.

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