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"Battle begin!" the disembodied voice echoed through the dimly lit gym.
Koga's first Poké Ball materialized in his hand, a swift, almost imperceptible flick of his wrist. "Go, Venonat!"
A purple, insect-like Pokémon with large, multifaceted eyes appeared, hovering defensively. It was a familiar sight for Gilgamesh, but he knew not to underestimate any of Koga's Pokémon.
"Venonat, Stun Spore!" Koga commanded, his voice as steady as ever.
Venonat immediately began to flutter its wings, dispersing a cloud of fine, paralyzing dust towards Gilgamesh's side of the arena.
Gilgamesh, having anticipated a status-inflicting move, acted quickly. "Nidoking, come out and use Poison Jab!"
With a powerful roar, Nidoking appeared, shaking off the lingering mist. It was a formidable sight, its purple hide gleaming, its horn pointed menacingly. Before the Stun Spore could fully envelop it, Nidoking charged, its horn glowing with toxic energy.
"Venonat, evade and use Supersonic!" Koga ordered, attempting to disorient Nidoking.
Venonat was quick, darting to the side, and unleashed a high-pitched, chaotic sound wave. Nidoking, however, was already committed to its attack.
The Supersonic hit, causing Nidoking to flinch slightly, but its momentum carried it forward.
Nidoking's Poison Jab connected squarely with Venonat, a direct and devastating hit. Venonat cried out, reeling from the super-effective attack, its purple body visibly shaking. The poison took immediate effect, causing it to glow faintly with a sickly hue.
"Now, Nidoking, Earthquake!" Gilgamesh pressed, wanting to finish the first opponent quickly.
Nidoking slammed its foot down with immense force. The gym floor buckled and cracked, sending a powerful tremor across the arena. Venonat, already weakened and poisoned, was unable to withstand the ground-shaking attack. It was thrown into the air, landing with a soft thud, completely defeated.
Koga remained impassive, despite the swift loss of his first Pokémon. "A strong start, challenger. But my true strength lies in perseverance." He retrieved Venonat's Poké Ball. "Go, Golbat!"
A large, purple bat-like Pokémon with massive wings and a gaping maw appeared, letting out an ear-splitting shriek. Golbat was a potent threat, known for its speed and ability to inflict status conditions.
"Golbat, confuse ray!" Koga ordered, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Golbat's eyes glowed with an eerie light, and a disorienting beam shot towards Nidoking.
"Nidoking, Sludge Wave!" Gilgamesh countered, prioritizing offense.
Nidoking roared, unleashing a wide, viscous wave of purple sludge. The Golbat, in its attempt to land the Confusion, was caught squarely by the toxic attack. The Sludge Wave splattered against its leathery wings and body, causing it to shriek in pain as the super-effective poison began to take its toll. The Confusion Ray dissipated as Golbat reeled, clearly in distress.
"Now, Ice Punch!" Gilgamesh commanded, seizing the opportunity.
Nidoking charged, its fist glowing with chilling blue energy. Golbat, still disoriented and writhing from the poison, was too slow to react. Nidoking's Ice Punch connected with a sickening thud, sending Golbat crashing to the floor, where it lay motionless, defeated.
Koga's stoic demeanor finally cracked, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He quickly recalled Golbat. "You are more resourceful than I anticipated. But this next one... this one will test your resolve." He took a deep breath, and his next Poké Ball seemed to hum with a quiet, menacing energy. "Behold, my master of illusions and toxins: Weezing!"
A large, purple, two-headed Pokémon, constantly emitting noxious fumes, materialized with a low, gurgling sound. Weezing was a formidable defensive Pokémon, known for its high Special Defense and the ability to inflict crippling status conditions. The air in the gym immediately grew heavier, thicker with the pungent scent of poison.
"Weezing, Smog!" Koga ordered, the mist in the gym visibly thickening around the Poison Gas Pokémon.
Weezing began to belch out thick, dark clouds of smog, quickly enveloping the arena in a vision-obscuring haze.
"Nidoking, stay focused! Earthquake!" Gilgamesh commanded, hoping to cut through the smog with sheer power.
Nidoking slammed its foot down, creating another powerful tremor. The ground shuddered, and the smog briefly parted, but it quickly reformed, making it difficult to pinpoint Weezing's exact location. Weezing, however, was clearly affected by the super-effective ground attack, letting out a pained cough from within the toxic cloud.
"Weezing, self-destruct!" Koga's voice cut through the smog, sharp and unyielding.
Gilgamesh's eyes widened. A self-destruct! This was a desperate, high-risk move, but if it landed, it could deal massive damage, potentially knocking out Nidoking and leaving Gilgamesh's team vulnerable.
"Nidoking, quick, use Horn Drill!" Gilgamesh roared, gambling on a swift, decisive blow. Horn Drill was a one-hit knockout move, but it had notoriously low accuracy. It was a risky play, but it was their best chance to avoid the explosion.
Nidoking, sensing the impending danger, let out a primal roar. Its massive horn began to spin rapidly, glowing with an intense power. It charged blindly into the swirling smog, its momentum carrying it towards the last known position of Weezing.
The gym held its breath. The smog thickened, the air crackled with energy, and then...
Koga's stoic face remained unreadable within the swirling mist. There was a moment of agonizing silence, broken only by the low hum emanating from Weezing as it prepared its explosive attack.
Then, with a furious grunt, Nidoking burst through a particularly thick patch of smog. Its horn, a blur of spinning energy, connected with something solid. There was a sickening thud and a surprised, gurgling gasp from within the Weezing's cloud.
The smog began to dissipate almost immediately, revealing a scene that made Gilgamesh let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Weezing was there, still intact, but it was now lying on its side, its two heads drooping limply, a faint swirl of stars above them. Nidoking's Horn Drill, against all odds, had landed, knocking out the powerful Poison-type in a single, desperate strike.
A heavy silence descended upon the gym. Koga's eyes, for the first time, widened visibly. He stared at his fallen Weezing, then at the triumphant Nidoking, then back at Gilgamesh. The impassive ninja master finally showed a crack in his composure.
"Impossible," Koga murmured, his voice a low, raspy whisper. "A one-hit knockout... against Weezing. My most resilient Pokémon." He slowly retrieved Weezing's Poké Ball, his movements less fluid than before.
Gilgamesh offered a tired but proud smile to Nidoking, who let out a satisfied rumble. "Sometimes, you just get lucky, Koga. Or, more accurately, sometimes you've got a really determined Nidoking."
Koga took a deep breath, regaining some of his previous composure, though a flicker of respect now shone in his eyes. "Very well, trainer. You have proven your skill and your fortune. You have defeated my three chosen Pokémon." He reached into his belt and pulled out a badge, dark green with a stylized eye in its center. "For your victory, I award you the Soul Badge."
Gilgamesh walked forward and took the badge, its weight solid and satisfying in his hand. "Thank you, Koga. That was an incredible battle. Your illusions and strategies were truly challenging."
Koga gave a slight nod. "You possess a keen mind, Gilgamesh. Your ability to adapt and to risk... it is commendable." He paused, then added, "You may leave the gym. The path to the Pokémon League is clearer now."
As Gilgamesh and Misty exited the Fuchsia Gym, the bright daylight outside felt almost jarring after the dim, smoky interior. Gilgamesh held up the Soul Badge, examining it closely.
"You really did it, Gilgamesh!" Misty exclaimed, a wide smile on her face. "Koga's a tough one, especially with those illusions. And that Horn Drill was insane!"
"I know, right?" Gilgamesh chuckled, a surge of adrenaline still coursing through him. "Nidoking really pulled through. This badge feels hard-earned." He pinned it alongside his other four, a growing collection that marked his journey. "So, that's five badges. We're getting closer to the Pokémon League."
"We certainly are!" Misty agreed, pulling out her map. "Now, the traditional route would be to head back to Celadon for the Grass badge with Erika. But knowing you..." she gave him a playful jab with her elbow, "you'll probably want to do something unexpected."
Gilgamesh grinned. "You know me too well, Misty. While a Grass Gym would be interesting, I'm thinking of something a little different. How about Cinnabar Island?"
Misty's eyes widened. "Cinnabar Island? That's way out in the ocean, and it's home to Blaine, a Fire-type Gym Leader! And his gym is famous for its quiz questions and puzzles."
"Exactly!" Gilgamesh's eyes
sparkled with anticipation. "A test of knowledge and strength. Sounds like the perfect next challenge before the final stretch. Plus, a good Fire-type battle would be great practice for Charizard to really shine again."
Misty shook her head, a fond exasperation in her expression. "Alright, Gilgamesh. Cinnabar Island it is. But don't come crying to me if you get burned!"