Pokemon Battle System: I Reincarnated As A Charmander

The next day, after waking up, Kalia received news that due to Moran's prolonged absence, the Pokemon League had dispatched a Trainer from the Pokemon Academy to temporarily serve as Pearl City's Gym Leader until her return.

During this interim, new Trainers could continue challenging the Pearl City Gym and earn the Surf Badge.

The temporary Gym Leader was named Sia, specializing in Water-type Pokemon. However, there was no information available about his team, leaving everyone uncertain of the Pokemon he would use.

Kalia felt fortunate; just as they were planning to sail back today, the temporary Gym Leader arrived in Pearl City, allowing them to challenge the gym immediately.

"Charmeleon, we're heading back to Pearl City today. The League has sent a temporary Gym Leader," Kalia informed Lian while packing, as he groggily woke up.

Temporary Gym Leader?

Finally, it's time to challenge the gym again.

Lian rubbed his sleepy eyes, feeling instantly cheered by Kalia's words. Ever since earning over ten thousand Combat Points at the Falcon City Gym, he developed a strong affinity for gym battles, knowing each challenge represented substantial Combat Point rewards.

"Charmeleon, how did you suddenly get so much bigger?" Kalia scrutinized Lian closely, puzzled.

It wasn't just getting fatter, but noticeably taller and larger. Compared to yesterday, Charmeleon's size had significantly increased, making it quite evident. When standing upright, his height was nearly matching Kalia's.

Lian felt a sudden unease, realizing that rapidly boosting his Stamina ability value must have caused this growth spurt. It would likely raise suspicions with Kalia now.

Feigning confusion, Lian examined his enlarged body, feigning surprise as if he too were unaware of what happened.

Kalia remained perplexed; she couldn't understand why Charmeleon's size had abruptly changed overnight. It seemed odd, especially since even Charmeleon appeared clueless about the transformation.

While the sudden increase in Charmeleon's size puzzled Kalia, another more pressing concern came to mind.

With a serious expression, she said, "Charmeleon, have you ever considered entering a Poké Ball? Your size is growing rapidly. Before, when you were smaller, not using one might have been fine, but now, constantly staying by my side will become increasingly inconvenient."

"Now I can't even lift you anymore. If you were injured and unconscious in the wilderness, unable to enter a Poké Ball, what would we do?"

Lian fell silent for a moment, realizing Kalia's concern made sense. Having been with her for over a month, they had developed some emotional attachment, yet he still hadn't entered a Poké Ball.

Leaving now seemed impossible, not just because of the food and care provided by Kalia but also because she was an exceptional Trainer who accelerated his growth significantly.

Considering if Lian trained alone in the wild and got injured, there would be no system-based healing available. Could he go to a Pokémon Center himself? Clearly not feasible; recovering from injuries alone would take too long, let alone improving through battles.

In reality, at this point, Lian didn't need to worry about entering a Poké Ball. A ball cannot restrain someone determined to leave, nor will it prevent them from staying if they wish to remain.

After careful thought, Lian concluded that leaving Kalia anytime soon was unlikely. He wasn't sufficiently strong yet, and encountering other Trainers in the wild couldn't guarantee better treatment than Kalia offered.

Entering a Poké Ball could indeed be a good choice with some benefits. It meant not having to walk everywhere and avoiding seasickness on boats—there seemed no downside.

Additionally, Lian could choose not to enter the Poké Ball during regular times but occasionally use it for resting or sleeping, which would still be quite convenient.

"Charmeleon, are you willing to enter a Poké Ball?" Kalia asked while retrieving a red-and-white ball from her bag, pressing a button to enlarge it to its normal size.

Lian nodded slightly, deciding to give it a try. He had never been inside a Poké Ball before and was curious about what it felt like.

"Wonderful!" Seeing Charmeleon's agreement, Kalia smiled, feeling validated by his acceptance.

"Come on in, Charmeleon."

Kalia opened the Poké Ball, releasing a beam of red light that enveloped Lian. A mysterious force transformed him gradually into energy, and he was then absorbed into the Poké Ball.

Lian did not resist, allowing his body to enter willingly. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself already within the Poké Ball.

The interior of the Poké Ball wasn't anything extraordinary; it simply provided a small, spacious enclosure.

There was nothing else inside, allowing Lian to walk around freely but ultimately feeling quite bored, with only sleep as an option.

Lian recalled that different types of Poké Balls had varying internal spaces, and the red-and-white ball was the cheapest and most basic version.

Considering this, he felt slightly disappointed. If he had known earlier, he would have insisted on Kalia purchasing a Luxury Ball instead. The interior of a Luxury Ball would undoubtedly be more comfortable.

Suddenly, Lian's surroundings lit up as the Poké Ball opened, releasing him automatically onto the ground.

"Charmeleon, do you like staying inside the Poké Ball?"

Lian shook his head. Other than sleeping, there wasn't much to do, making it rather uninteresting. He had initially hoped for a mini-television inside, which could at least pass the time by watching shows.

"Don't worry, I'll get you a better Poké Ball later," Kalia reassured him. There were various types of Poké Balls available, but since Kalia followed an elite path and rarely captured Pokemon, she typically carried the cheapest red-and-white balls.

"So, do you want to stay with me on the ship or enter your Poké Ball now?" Kalia asked.

Lian pointed towards the Poké Ball; he already had reservations about boats, so it seemed better to sleep inside the ball. By the time he wakes up, they should be near Pearl City.

"Try entering voluntarily," suggested Kalia. Once a Pokémon is captured by a Poké Ball, it establishes a connection, allowing the Pokémon to freely enter and exit at will.

Lian attempted it and indeed felt a connection forming. In the next moment, the Poké Ball automatically opened, and Lian willingly entered.

Inside the Poké Ball, Lian could still open it himself to come out, simply by thinking of leaving.

It became clear why some Trainers merely toss their Poké Balls for their Pokémon to emerge, while others prefer pressing the release button before summoning them.

Once inside the Poké Ball, Lian promptly fell asleep. Despite being enclosed, he could sense some activity outside and even hear Kalia's conversations.

This was quite convenient, preventing him from getting too bored, as occasionally he could listen in on Kalia chatting with others.

***

Upon returning to Pearl City, Kalia headed straight for the Pearl City Gym. If possible, she planned to challenge it immediately, allowing her to leave Pearl City swiftly.

The overall level of Trainers in Pearl City was too weak; not only did it hinder the growth of her Pokemon, but also limited her own progress. Constantly battling against trainers weaker than herself could not improve her skills.

Kalia aimed to reach Ruby City, home to the first Silver Rank gym, where numerous beginner and even mid-level trainers were present. Only by facing strong opponents could she achieve greater development. Although likely encountering frequent defeats, Kalia believed these experiences were essential for advancement.

The exterior of Pearl City's Water Gym featured a vibrant blue hue with beautiful decorative patterns, centered around a Poké Ball emblem as its distinctive symbol.

After the gym reopened, many new trainers gathered nearby, clearly eager to challenge it and earn the Surf Badge. However, several newcomers appeared disheartened.

As Kalia entered the gym, a familiar figure emerged - it was Mani, whom she had met on Fossil Island earlier. However, Mani's face bore tear-streaks, indicating she had just been crying.

Kalia found this peculiar; even if her challenge failed, it seemed excessive to cry so intensely. Typically, Gym Leaders were quite friendly towards new Trainers and would encourage them despite their defeat.

"Mani, what happened?" Kalia approached and asked concernedly.

Mani looked up at Kalia but didn't respond. She wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes, shook her head, and walked away without speaking.

Seeing Mani's distressed appearance, Kalia suspected that the Gym Leader might be the issue. It was rare for a Trainer to cry so bitterly after failing a challenge, especially since Mani was not someone who expressed herself easily. Something must have deeply hurt her, leading to such emotional outburst.

Upon reaching the battle arena, Kalia quickly understood the situation. Many novice trainers were glaring angrily at the temporary Gym Leader standing there.

Sia, a top student from the Ruby Emerald Pokemon Academy, held a strong sense of superiority over new Trainers. Upon becoming the temporary Gym Leader in Pearl City, he discovered it was filled with inexperienced newcomers, which greatly displeased him.

He envisioned his gym as the pinnacle, a prestigious red-star Gym, and aimed to become its most formidable red-star Gym Leader.

Consequently, his guardian Pokémon were exceptionally powerful, easily defeating the typical novice Trainer's Pokémon without any chance for victory.

In contrast, former Gym Leader Moran had primarily used Water-type Pokémon like Staryu and Piplup. With diligent training, rookie Trainers could usually win battles and earn the Surf Badge.

However, since Sia took over, hardly any Trainers have succeeded in their challenges, and he has yet to award a single Surf Badge. According to him, losers simply do not deserve the badge.

This behavior naturally infuriated all the rookie Trainers. Originally, Pearl City Gym was considered the most accessible for newcomers, but now, under Sia, it had become the most challenging gym to overcome.

Sia, a young man with purple hair, stood in the battlefield, indifferent to the furious gazes of the rookie Trainers.

"Anyone else wants to challenge me? If not, I'm taking a break. My advice would be to start at Kana City Gym first, come back here once you've earned two Badges."

Kalia observed Sia; most Trainers from the Pokemon Academy were quite proud, and he was no exception. The academy's scope extended beyond just the Sebas Region, attracting students from various regions worldwide.

However, Kalia disapproved of Sia's actions. The Pearl City Gym's level of difficulty was intentionally set by the League to cater to novice Trainers, allowing them to gradually improve their skills step by step.

The progression begins in Pearl City, followed by Kana City, and finally Falcon City. This is why Falcon City attracts numerous beginner trainers.

By altering this balance, Sia disrupted the intended order. Eventually, the Pokemon League will undoubtedly mandate him to switch his guardian Pokemon for weaker ones. As a former Gym Leader herself, Kalia fully understood these regulations.