Pokemon: This Ash Is Too Versatile-Chapter 713 - 381: Serena Battles Falkner, Ash’s Prophetic Insight! (Part 2)

Serena: ...

So Ash, you started the challenge assuming I would lose the match! Isn’t that a bit too malicious?

...

The next morning at ten o’clock, the group arrived in front of the Violet Gym in full force. The staff who greeted challengers almost mistook Ash and the others for troublemakers, but fortunately, Ash’s face was somewhat recognizable. Just as the staff was about to call the police, they recognized Ash, had a little chat with him, and then let everyone in.

The Violet Gym is a huge tower, and the battle area is on the top floor of the tower.

The group took the elevator straight up to the top floor, and the scene inside surprised them somewhat because the Violet Gym’s field was not only spacious but also lacked a canopy.

Most gyms Ash had challenged in the past were indoors, and it was his first time seeing a gym like this with no overhead coverings.

Serena, seeing a real gym battle arena for the first time, couldn’t help but open her little cherry mouth in shock at the grandeur of the Violet Gym.

"Welcome to Violet Gym, I’m Falkner, the Gym Leader here. Are you the one here to challenge the Gym, Ash?" Upon first meeting, Falkner’s gaze locked onto Ash.

Though this was their first offline meeting, he’d seen countless news about Ash online, and with reports from the lower-level staff, recognizing Ash was only natural.

As for why Falkner thought Ash was here to challenge the Gym... well, Falkner naturally hoped Ash was the one coming for the challenge.

Every trainer dreams of battling strong opponents. Among the six people who came, Falkner only knew Ash as a relatively strong Trainer.

"No, the person here to challenge Violet Gym is not me, it’s my partner." Ash stepped aside to let Serena step forward.

"She’s still a Newbie Trainer, and she only has one Pokemon. Her journey time has been less than two months, so Falkner Gym Leader, please go easy on her."

Upon hearing this, Falkner looked up and down at Serena without showing much disappointment. Although Serena indeed seemed like a Newbie Trainer based on her aura, Falkner could sense a trace of hidden danger from her.

"Alright then, let’s go with the lowest level criteria for the battle. But let me say this upfront, even if you pass the lowest level fight and earn the Violet Gym Badge, prepare yourself for future Gym challenges. On one hand, the more Gym Badges you collect, the harder the challenges will get. On the other... no one holds back at the Silver Conference."

Just as Ash had thought, even with only one Pokemon, Falkner had his strategies in place, similar to when Ash challenged Brock initially. Gym Leaders have a specific difficulty level to counter Newbie Trainers, so no need to worry about facing overly strong opponents.

Though the Pokemon’s power may be similar, the strategies, command levels, etc., are areas with significant gaps. Even though Falkner has only recently become a Gym Trainer, it doesn’t mean his trainer level is ordinary.

Anyway, Falkner is a Trainer with Elite-level Pokemon, naturally stronger than a newcomer like Serena. If both dispatch Pokemon of the same Level, then Falkner is indeed the favored side.

"Please, both sides step into the battlefield. Observers, please move to the back of the field and don’t get too close to avoid being affected by the fallout. The match is about to begin." A referee standing in the middle of the arena first directed Ash and the others, along with the Violet Gym’s trainees, to step back and leave the field for Serena and Falkner.

Once both parties had retreated to a safe distance, the referee then waved the flag, directly announcing the start of the match.

"Alright, I’ll use this one, go, Noctowl!" As Falkner threw the Pokeball, a gray-brown Pokemon with a cat-like head and an owl’s body appeared on the field.

"Noctowl, the Owl Pokemon, the evolved form of Hoothoot, with uniquely capable eyes that can perceive the night like daytime with just a sliver of light, possessing high intelligence, it sometimes rotates its head 180 degrees to stimulate brain activity." Serena took out her rarely-used Pokedex to check Falkner’s Noctowl data.

Previously with Ash by her side, no matter what unfamiliar Pokemon she encountered or what knowledge she didn’t understand, Ash was always able to clear her doubts immediately. But this fight is hers alone; Ash has already laid everything out for her last night. The rest is up to her.

"So it really is Noctowl. If Ash is correct, then I should be able to catch him off guard and gain an early advantage... Let’s do this, Serena!" The earlier part was Serena muttering to herself, only the latter was shouted out. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Along with Serena’s shout came the Pokemon she threw out. In a flash of light, a fox with yellow fur, standing on two feet with a fluffy long yellow tail on its back, appeared on the field.

This is Serena’s Starter Pokemon, and also her sole Pokemon, Braixen!

"A Pokemon I haven’t seen before... It must not be native to the Kanto or Johto regions, right?" Falkner scrutinized Braixen and, ultimately, commented with surprise.

He was familiar with Kanto and Johto region Pokemon, but he had never seen or heard of the Pokemon Serena released, indicating it likely belongs to a distant region.

"Yes, this is one of the Kalos Region’s Three Starters and my Starter Pokemon. I’m going to start, Falkner Gym Leader! Braixen, use Flamethrower!" She skipped pleasantries with just a greeting before decisively commanding Braixen to attack with Flamethrower.

Her decisiveness took Falkner aback; is this what a Newbie Trainer can do? The decisiveness is a bit too much.

Upon receiving the command, Braixen did not hesitate; she took a deep breath and then fiercely expelled a stream of searing flames, which transformed into a long line directly aimed at Noctowl in midair.

If Serena’s decisiveness in command surprised Falkner first, then the advancing speed of Flamethrower was the second shock to Falkner!

"This speed... how is that possible, at Advanced Peak level?! Noctowl, dodge quickly!!" Falkner’s voice echoed, but it was too late.

The Flamethrower hit Noctowl in the air at a very fast speed, turning Noctowl into a roasted bird.

Moments later, Noctowl finally darted out from the flames, looking somewhat bedraggled but not too seriously harmed.

Falkner’s Noctowl was at Intermediate level, two Levels lower than Braixen. But the gap between lower Levels isn’t excessively large, so even with the gap of two Levels and direct hit by the opponent’s type skill, it couldn’t rob Noctowl of fighting ability.

However, this initial attack directly put Falkner on the defensive.

"Unbelievable, within two short months, you trained a Pokemon to Advanced Peak level. It seems a new star is rising... But don’t think you can easily secure the Violet Gym Badge! Noctowl, use Air Cutter!" Falkner praised Serena briefly before decisively counterattacking.

In the sky, Noctowl decisively flapped its wings, sending several piercing Air Cutters slicing through the space towards Braixen on the ground!

Facing the dense array of sharp blades, Serena’s face showed no panic, just surprise and decisiveness: "It is... exactly as Ash said... Braixen, use Fire Spin to surround yourself and defend!"

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