Walking into the Saffron Gym, Red found the interior decorated like an ancient temple, subtly exuding an eerie aura. With no one to greet him, he explored on his own. He soon came across a window and peered inside, where a group of people in white coats were practicing psychic exercises.

It was a pathetic display. These acolytes had no real talent; psychic power was mostly innate, inherited through bloodlines, and rarely mastered through simple training. Their “practice” was absurd—guessing patterns on flipped cards and staring intently at spoons, trying to bend them with their minds. In reality, any bending was more likely due to their faces turning red from holding their breath, their thumbs instinctively forcing the metal.

“What are you doing here?”

A ginger-haired man in a white coat and mask approached him.

“What do you think?” Red looked at him coolly. “Besides challenging the League Gym, am I here to learn how to bend spoons with my mind like you?”

“Hmph! So you’re here to challenge Miss Sabrina!” the man said contemptuously. “Since you’re a new trainer, I’ll kindly remind you that you don’t understand Miss Sabrina’s strength at all. Her powerful psychic abilities are not something a person like you can contend with!”

After his speech, the man took out a spoon and stared at it intently, his face turning beet red as he held his breath. Finally, whether through a flicker of psychic power or the sheer force of his thumb, the spoon bent slightly.

“…?” Red just stared at him speechlessly, remaining silent.

“See? This is the power of a psychic. People without these abilities can never defeat Miss Sabrina!”

Seeing Red’s blank expression, the man thought he was shocked and began to show off.

“Most psychic abilities are innate, not something you get by holding your breath and hurting yourself,” Red said dryly.

His eyes glowed blue. The spoon in the man’s hand floated inexplicably into the air. Under Red’s mental control, it was effortlessly squeezed into a silver needle, faint wisps of steam rising from its superheated form. The previously smug acolyte was also lifted into the air by Red’s psychic power.

“This… my lord! Please forgive my ignorance!” the man said in horror, quickly apologizing. He feared Red’s personality might be as eccentric and dangerous as Sabrina’s. If it weren’t for his desperate desire to master psychic power, he never would have risked joining the Saffron Gym.

“Take me to Sabrina.”

Red withdrew his power, and the man fell to the ground on his backside. Showing no displeasure, he scrambled to his feet and led Red to the arena. Pushing open two large doors, they entered the vast battle chamber. The Saffron Gym’s arena was lined with imposing stone pillars, with ceremonial braziers at the far end, resembling a temple from a myth.

“Miss Sabrina, a challenger requests a formal Gym battle!”

After receiving a silent, psychic reply, the man fled, fearing Sabrina might turn him into a doll if she was displeased.

“You’re here… You’re finally here.”

The lights gradually brightened, revealing Sabrina sitting in the shadows. She stared deeply at Red, the doll in her arms holding a Poké Ball.

“After we battle, I’ll be taking your Marsh Badge,” Red said calmly, unbothered by her strange, intense gaze.

“A Pokémon battle is fine,” Sabrina said, her voice a monotone whisper. “But you must agree to one condition: if you lose to me, you must stay by my side forever. You will never leave.”

“…?”

Red looked at her, confused. The condition for his loss seemed a bit different from the usual, but he didn’t pay it much mind. He knew he wouldn’t lose.

“Go, Abra.”

Seeing Red nod, a flicker of something akin to joy crossed Sabrina’s face. She used her psychic power to release Abra from its Poké Ball.

“Gyarados!”

Red threw his own Poké Ball. The Blood-Red Gyarados appeared, its massive body almost too large for the arena. Before the battle could even begin, another Poké Ball on Red’s belt popped open on its own. The Millennium Gengar appeared, looking at Red with a puzzled expression.

“I’d have the advantage battling a Psychic-type! Why won’t you send me out, kid?” Gengar complained.

Before the words had even fully formed, the Blood-Red Gyarados turned its head, its eyes filled with murderous intent. A fierce roar forced Gengar’s mouth shut. Gyarados couldn’t stand the newcomer’s disrespectful attitude toward their Master. Even the Abra napping nearby was startled awake by the roar.

“Until you’ve fully integrated into the team, you will watch how your companions battle. I don’t have time to cater to your eccentric temper,” Red said coldly, glancing at the displeased Gengar before ignoring it completely. He had no obligation to lower his standards for a new recruit.

Gengar said nothing. Under the stern gazes of Red and Gyarados, it silently submerged into the shadows, a wave of grievance washing over its previously playful expression.

“What a strange fellow. Ghost-type Pokémon clearly have the advantage,” Sabrina murmured.

The battle officially began. A psychic link flared between Sabrina and her Pokémon, and in a flash of light, Abra evolved into Kadabra.

“Synchronized mental power? An interesting fighting style,” Red mused, slowly pulling down his hat. “Too bad… that trick won’t work on Gyarados.”

The Blood-Red Gyarados roared ferociously, its Intimidate forcibly weakening Kadabra’s attack power. It then unleashed a Hydro Pump. The blast was so powerful that Sabrina had to command Kadabra to Teleport to evade it.

“What terrifying power!” Sabrina exclaimed in surprise as the stone pillar next to the arena was pulverized by the attack.

“Confusion!” she commanded.

Kadabra’s eyes glowed blue, and a psychic energy enveloped Gyarados. But before the psychic power could even lift the massive Pokémon, it broke free with its own brute force, turning sideways and lashing out with an Aqua Tail that sent Kadabra flying.

“Use Recover, now!” Sabrina said with a hint of urgency, the battle already slipping from her control.

Gyarados did not stop Kadabra from recovering. In its opinion, a Pokémon relying on such weak psychic power could never defeat it.

“Crunch,” Red commanded.

“Teleport!” Sabrina countered instantly.

Gyarados opened its gaping maw, lunging forward to end the match. The terrified Kadabra vanished just in time. The spot where it had stood was crushed, leaving a deep crater in the floor. A cold sweat broke out on Kadabra’s brow. If that attack had landed, its bones would have been shattered.

“If your strength is this weak, then I’ll be taking that badge,” Red provoked, pushing Sabrina to further synchronize with her Pokémon.

“Don’t be so arrogant!” Sabrina said angrily, just as Red expected. Her eyes glowed blue, strengthening the psychic link. “Psychic!”

A much more powerful telekinetic force gripped the Blood-Red Gyarados. This time, it took some effort for the massive creature to break free.

“It seems your Gyarados isn’t all that great, is it?” Sabrina retorted.

“Is that so? Despair after a glimmer of hope is the most fatal,” Red said calmly. “Gyarados, show them your other form.”

The pale yellow skin of the Blood-Red Gyarados gradually turned pitch black. A ferocious, dark aura slammed into the entire arena, and the psychic hold on Gyarados suddenly vanished.

“How is this possible?! My psychic power isn’t working!” Sabrina exclaimed in horror, her cold expression shattering, replaced by fear.

“The Dark-type completely counters the Psychic-type. I can only say your luck is a bit bad.”

Gyarados opened its gaping maw and attacked Kadabra again. Paralyzed by Sabrina’s own inner fear, Kadabra couldn’t use any moves. It was bitten fiercely and defeated in an instant.

“Gengar, I have a mission for you now,” Red said, glancing at the shadow at his feet and signaling it to emerge.

“What’s the matter… L-Leader!” After sensing the coldness in Red’s eyes, the Millennium Gengar quickly changed its address.

“If you can make that person smile, I’ll forgive your past mistakes,” Red said. The mischievous smile returned to Gengar’s face. How could such a small matter stump him?

***

(End of Chapter)

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