A tense silence hung in the air between the three of us. Then, without warning, Khan sprang up from his seat and marched straight toward me.
"What the hell were you thinking?" he snapped, grabbing me by the shoulders. "Why the fuck did you trigger him like that? What would you have done if you failed the challenge?"
I brushed his hands off, calm but firm. "We had to start from somewhere," I said, exhaling. "And from the looks of it… I still have no idea what his problem is."
Khan gave me a critismed look as he sat next to me. "So you did that for nothing?"
I gave a sigh as ı talked. "Kinda yes,but there is still a question carving my mind"
I gave Khan a light push on the shoulder before rising to my feet. "If Wild really hated being a Gym Leader that much, he could just step down. The Pokémon League would assign a new one, wouldn't they?"
Khan didn't answer at first. He just rubbed his chin, eyes narrowing in thought. Finally, he murmured, "You're right…"
Sammy blinked, glancing between us. "What the hell are you two talking about?"
Khan and I exchanged a look for a second. Then I nodded and started to explain.
"Look, Sammy. We told Surge we'd talk to Wild. Try to get him to stay on as a Gym Leader. But first, we need to understand something. If Wild really hates the position, then why hasn't he just walked away?"
Sammy's eyes widened. He leaned forward, his voice rising with surprise. "Wait, wait! Are you talking about Lieutenant Surge? The former Gym Leader?!"
We both nodded.
Sammy threw his hands up and let himself fall back into his seat, wide-eyed. "You've got to be kidding me…"
He looked at us, eyebrows raised in disbelief. "So what's the plan? Or do you guys even have a plan?"
I scratched the back of my head, frustration tingling in my scalp. "Honestly… I don't know," I admitted. "I know Wild hates Electric-types because of his childhood. But other than that…" I trailed off, unsure how to even finish the sentence.
Before I could think of anything else, Will's voice boomed over the speakers.
"Now!" he declared, standing tall at center stage, his yellow suit gleaming under the lights. "The final act of our Gym Challenge, just before our concert begins will be a battle between the remaining trainers and our LEAD SINGER… WILD!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, stamping their feet and chanting Wild's name as Will stepped aside.
Wild strode forward like a performer at curtain call, the spotlight catching the silver streaks in his white hair. Poké Balls gleamed at his belt, and his guitar was slung across his back like a sword. He spun to face the crowd, flashed a devilish smile, and raised the microphone.
"LET'S GET THIS OVER WITH AND START HAVING FUN!!" he roared.
Then, he turned sharply and pointed the microphone at Sammy.
"NUMBER ONE! COME HERE" He shouted looking at Sammy.
The stage lights pivoted, locking onto him. Sammy blinked, startled, then nodded and rose, reaching for the Poké Balls at his waist.
"Let's get our third badge," he whispered to himself, brushing a finger over Tusk's Pokéball.
As he climbed onto the stage, Wild spun in place and faced the roaring crowd once again.
"NOW!" he bellowed. "ALL OF YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS GUY, RIGHT?!"
The crowd replied in perfect unison: "YES!"
Wild's grin only widened. He pointed the microphone directly at Sammy.
"THEN SHOUT YOUR FULL NAME, BOY!"
Sammy froze for half a second, his breath catching in his throat. But then he stepped forward, fists clenched at his sides, and shouted with all the force he could summon.
"IT'S SAMUEL MASAKI!"
My eyes widened slightly. "So… Sammy's short for Samuel," I murmured under my breath. The crowd shouted his name back at him again and again, like a wave crashing across the stage.
Beneath their feet, the stage suddenly glowed with a soft green light. A fresh, earthen scent wafted upward like crushed leaves and spring rain. The floor felt alive, almost breathing.
Sammy glanced down, confused, as Wild stepped forward and raised the mic once more.
"NOW!" he howled. "WHAT'S MY NAME?!"
"WILD" the crowd chanted, fists pumping in the air as the green glow shimmered into a bright yellow, flickering like sparks underfoot.
Wild laughed, clearly enjoying every second of the moment. Then he swung the microphone back to his mouth.
"I THINK YOU'VE STARTED TO CATCH ON," he said, pacing the edge of the platform like a showman. "BUT LET ME SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU!"
He pointed at the glowing tiles beneath them. "THIS STAGE HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO REACT TO FANSUPPORT! IF YOUR CROWD BEATS MINE, THE FIELD BECOMES GRASSY TERRAIN! DON'T WORRY—MY POKÉMON WON'T GET THE EITHER HEALING OR POWER BOOST FROM IT."
He turned, his fur flaring out behind him as he raised a single finger.
"BUT! If my beautiful, loyal fans outmatch yours…" He paused, letting the anticipation build, then stabbed the air with his finger. "The terrain shifts to Electric Terrain! and the person who defeats two Pokémon that his foe has wins the battle!"
The lights on the stage flared once more and then slowly faded to white. Wild let out a sharp whistle and plucked a Poké Ball from his belt.
"Now then," he said, clicking the button with a quiet tick, "let's get started."
The light burst forth from the Poké Ball, spiraling into shape. At first, it looked like jagged lightning—but then it took form, heavy and stomping.
A massive, armored creature stood at the ready. Its grey plates shimmered beneath the stage lights. A pointed horn jutted from its nose, its tail swayed like a wrecking ball.
"Is that… a Rhydon?" I whispered, taken aback. The stage had gone still but the battle was just about to explode.
Will leapt onto the stage, his voice straining with more force than his old frame should've been able to muster.
"MR. WILD!" he shouted, gripping the edge of the platform as he climbed. "This is an Electric-type Gym, and you're the Gym Leader! You cannot use a Ground-type!"
The crowd murmured, startled by the sudden interruption.
Wild just shrugged, hands raised in mock innocence. "I know, I know. That's why I taught him Thunder Punch." His smirk gleamed as he casually rested a hand on his guitar. "Loopholes, my friend."
Before Will could retort, Sammy stepped forward and threw his Poké Ball into the air. It cracked open mid-flight, releasing a burst of brilliant red light that twisted and surged into a serpentine form.
The huge Gyarados roared to life above the stage, scales shimmering like storm-tossed waves under the lights. It floated with menacing grace behind Sammy, glaring at Wild and Rhydon with unmasked bloodlust.
"See?" Wild said, grinning up at the beast. "He's fine with it. So let me have my fun!"
He pointed at the Gyarados, eyes glinting.
"Let's start,Rhydon! Thunder Punch that snake!"
Rhydon roared and launched itself across the stage, its fist crackling with electricity. The punch lit up the space around it like lightning striking twice in the same spot.
"Rage—dodge it! Fly to the sky!" Sammy called out, slashing a hand through the air.
Rage twisted its long body and soared upward just in time, the electrified punch missing by inches. The shockwave from the swing cracked the stage beneath where Gyarados had floated a moment ago.
The crowd roared, chanting Sammy's name. Slowly, the stage lights shifted. White turning into a soft, pulsing green.
Grassy Terrain
"Ahh, it's not cool of you to steal my fans, you know!" Wild said, raising a hand toward Sammy with a theatrical pout. Then he jabbed a finger down.
"Rhydon—Rock Polish, then Rock Blast! Take that overgrown snake down!"
Rhydon's body shimmered as its rocky skin glistened and compacted, the excess weight seemingly vanishing. It moved faster now, smoother. With a snarl, it slammed its fists into the ground. Five jagged boulders burst from the floor and hovered for a moment before Rhydon grabbed them, hurling each one like cannon balls toward the airborne Gyarados.
Sammy didn't flinch.
"Rage—Aqua Tail to block, then spin down while using the Aqua Tail "
Water surged around Gyarados's tail, coiling like a tidal whip. With a cry, it spun midair, smashing each boulder with crushing precision. The shattered pieces flew back toward Rhydon, but the Pokémon stood its ground. Then, like a descending missile, Rage spiraled downward, its soaked tail turning the beast into a swirling vortex of water and force.
Wild's grin sharpened.
"Thunder Punch! again!"
Rhydon stepped directly beneath the incoming Gyarados. Its fists burst into electric fury as the terrain beneath them shimmered gold shifting from green to yellow. Sparks danced across the field. Electricity surged through the air.
The timing was perfect.
The punch met Gyarados's belly mid-spin.
CRACK.
The blow echoed through the stadium, slamming Gyarados upward with raw, electrified force. The platform beneath Rhydon cracked violently as the massive Pokémon kept punching again and again! Each strike echoing like a drumbeat of thunder.
"Rage break through!" Sammy shouted, desperate now.
Water spiraled upward from Rage's body, the spinning column growing wider, more volatile, pressing back against Rhydon's fists.
But Wild didn't waver.
"RHYDON! FINISH IT!" he howled.
With one final bellow, Rhydon roared and leapt into the air, its fist glowing brighter than before charged with the full power of the Electric Terrain. Then it brought it down.
BOOM
The punch connected squarely with Gyarados's side. A burst of lightning exploded across the field, snaking over Gyarados's body in wild arcs. Its roar was choked out by the impact. The energy pulsed through its muscles, locking its massive frame midair.
Then, like a falling skyscraper, Rage collapsed.
The light faded from the stage. Smoke curled up from the scorched tiles. Gyarados lay sprawled, unconscious, its eyes blank and its body twitching from residual shocks.
Will raised his hand.
"Gyarados is unable to battle! The winner is Rhydon..."
Wild stepped back, snapping his fingers with a smile.
"Encore!" he whispered.
The crowd erupted.
Wild bowed his head, a lopsided grin on his face as the cheers of the crowd pulsed around him like static. His eyes flicked toward Sammy, who had just returned his fainted Gyarados.
"Hey!" Sammy called, gripping another Poké Ball tightly in his hand. "I can switch my Pokémon between turns, right?"
Wild gave him a playful shrug, still smiling.
"Sure," he said, his voice calm but filled with challenge. "As long as only one of your Pokémon is down, you're still in the game. But if another one bites the dust…" He held up two fingers, then crossed them like an "X." "The song ends early for you."
Sammy didn't respond. He tossed the second Poké Ball into the air. It burst open in a flash of silver light, revealing Tusk whose metallic scales catching the stage lights like polished blades. Tusk landed hard, claws scraping the surface.
"Tusk Dragon Rage!" Sammy commanded sharply, not even blinking.
The instant its claws hit the ground, Tusk launched forward with blazing speed. A deep, violet flame erupted from its jaws, coiling into the shape of a phantomdragon. The spectral beast roared through the air before slamming into Wild's already-wounded Rhydon.
BOOM
The Pokémon let out a stunned grunt before collapsing backward in a cloud of dust. It didn't even get the chance to move. The stage's lights flared red for a moment then dimmed. Rhydon was down.
Wild raised a brow as he slowly returned his fallen Pokémon without a word. The crowd gasped. Many had expected a longer fight. But just like that, the tide had shifted. The once-yellow, crackling Electric Terrain dimmed, replaced by a vibrant wave of green as the Grassy Terrain flared back to life.
"Now we're even," Sammy muttered, his tone clipped, annoyed. He didn't smile. Not even a twitch of satisfaction.
Wild stared at him, the smirk finally slipping from his face.
For a moment, the rockstar expression cracked.
His eyes narrowed in disgust. Not at Sammy, but at the Poké Ball he held. He tossed it lazily toward the field without even calling the name.
A flash of red light.
A small shape hit the stage.
A Pikachu with a light ball in his hands.
The rodent Pokémon stood proudly, fur bristling, cheeks sparking as it stepped forward with a kind of frustrated determination almost like it had expected this.
"Tusk—Dragon Dance, then Dragon Claw!" Sammy shouted swinging his hand.
Glowing purple spirals began to swirl around Tusk as he prepared his boost, eyes locked on Pikachu. Then, with a roar, it surged forward, claws glowing with draconic energy.
But before Wild gave any command, Pikachu moved.
On its own.
It didn't receive any order.
Electricity surged around its tiny form, the voltage crackling with frightening intensity. With every step it took, the electric field thickened,denser, hotter and alive.
On stage, Tusk slashed forward with glowing claws but Pikachu dashed to the side at the last second, leaping into the air with a burst of speed.
It hit.
VoltTackle collided with Tusk's body, sending the small dragon flying across the stage, crashing into the opposite edge of the stage. Sparks rippled across the platform. The crowd roared louder, some shouting Sammy's name, others Wild's, until the stadium was a blur of noise and flashing lights that went from yellow togreen and green to yellow in every passing seconf.
Sammy stood still, eyes fixed on Wild.
Wild, for his part, hadn't moved.
He just watched.
No smile. No commands. Just silence, as Pikachu turned to face Tusk again its eyes burning with something deeper than electricity.
Sammy swung his arm forward sharply, his voice cutting through the electric tension in the air.
"Tusk! Just because the trainer's worth nothing doesn't mean the Pokémon is too! So go! Fight with everything you got! Dragon Claw, now!"
His eyes didn't waver from Wild. The jab was intentional, loud, and aimed like a dart. But Wild didn't even blink. He stood calmly, arms crossed, face unreadable beneath the lights. If the words got to him, he didn't show it.
Tusk growled low, nodding once before breaking into a sprint. His claws gleamed, energy swirling around them as he closed the distance. Pikachu, unfazed by the incoming attack, smirked clearly more than happy to hear Sammy's words. The little mouse dashed forward, leaping high into the air. Its tail sparked and crackled, lightning coiling at the tip until it formed a dense, glowing sphere.
Electro Ball.
Pikachu spun mid-air, launching the charged orb straight at the charging Axew. Tusk didn't dodge. He jumped head-on into the attack, roaring as he raised his claws.
"Now! CUTIT!" Sammy shouted, his voice nearly drowned out by the rising crowd.
Tusk slashed through the air with all his might, his claws glowing with focused Dragon energy. The Electro Ball met him square in the face...
...and split in two.
For a second, Pikachu's smirk faltered.
The cleaved halves of the Electro Ball arced away, sizzling through the air before slamming into the stage and exploding with twin bursts of electricity and smoke.
"ScaryFace! Slow him down—then finish it!" Sammy ordered, his hand slicing the air again.
Tusk landed gracefully as his eyes glowed red. Pikachu flinched, visibly startled by the aura of intimidation. It hesitated, it was only for a heartbeat but that was enough.
Tusk dashed forward, claws raised, and slammed into Pikachu with a clean, brutal Dragon Claw that sent the Electric mouse tumbling through the air, crashing hard near Wild's feet.
The crowd hushed.
Pikachu groaned, tried to get up but Wild wordlessly lifted a Poké Ball and recalled it in a flash of red light. Even though Pikachu wanted to fight more Wild didn't even looked at him.
Silence
Then Wild stepped forward and opened his arms wide with a theatrical grin.
"Now, how about a round of applause for our winner, huh?!" he roared into the microphone.
The arena erupted in cheers and whistles. Sammy stood still in the middle of the stage, eyes cold and unreadable as the roaring praise washed over him. Wild reached into his pocket, pulled out a small, jagged badge in the shape of a lightning bolt, and tossed it casually through the air.
Sammy caught it one-handed.
"Good job," Wild said, the grin still painted across his face. "You're now the proud owner of the Lightning Badge."
Sammy didn't respond.
He walked off the stage in silence, placing Tusk gently on his shoulder, the dragon looked both proud and worn. As Sammy reached us, he barely glanced to us.
"He's all yours," he muttered, eyes still distant, voice flat.
Khan and I exchanged a look, our gazes locking to Wild as he talked with the crowd.