Pokemon: I'll Exchange Everything

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Liam followed Koga into the ancient mansion.

As soon as he stepped inside, Liam was stunned by the interior design. The entire place was a traditional Japanese-style building, with every surface crafted from solid wood.

The floor was covered with neatly arranged tatami mats, and the spacious room was divided by layers of elegant paper sliding doors.

Various antique decorations were scattered throughout the space, giving it a historic charm that left Liam clicking his tongue in amazement.

"Hmph, what? Never seen such an old house before?"

Noticing Liam's expression from the corner of his eye, Koga let out a disdainful snort and mocked him.

"Yeah, it's my first time seeing so many antiques in one place. I wonder how much they'd sell for if I took some out."

Liam made no attempt to deny it. Instead, he flashed a mischievous grin as he scanned the decorations, as if seriously evaluating their worth.

"Heh, if you think you can pull that off, feel free to try."

Koga sneered but didn't pursue the topic further. Instead, he led Liam swiftly through a series of paper doors, down a long corridor, and into a large room.

"This is the battle arena of the Fuchsia Gym."

Upon entering, Koga walked to the far end of the room, turned around, and announced.

"Huh? This is the battle arena? Isn't this just a regular room? It just happens to be a bit bigger, that's all. Are you sure we're supposed to battle here? If anything gets broken, I'm not paying for it."

Liam looked around skeptically at the traditionally styled room.

"Heh, this room isn't as ordinary as it seems. And don't worry—any damage from a proper battle won't be on you." Koga chuckled.

"That's a relief. In that case, let's get started already. We've wasted enough time."

Feeling reassured, Liam breathed a sigh of relief before impatiently urging Koga to begin.

"Before we start, let me explain the battle rules of the Fuchsia Gym. Both trainers may use two Pokémon each, and they are allowed to switch Pokémon at any time. The battle continues until one Pokémon is knocked out and unable to fight, at which point the other trainer is declared the winner. Do you understand?"

The Fuchsia Gym's battle rules were somewhat unique, so Koga made sure to clarify them.

"Oh? That's an interesting rule. Even the Gym Leader can switch Pokémon freely? You're not doing this just to target me, are you?"

Liam found the rule rather unconventional but specifically questioned the part where the Gym Leader was also allowed to switch Pokémon. He wasn't afraid of Koga, but in most regions, Gym Leaders typically refrained from swapping Pokémon during official battles.

This was both a concession to challengers and a way for Gym Leaders to uphold their prestige.

Koga stared at Liam for a moment before scoffing, his eyes full of contempt.

"Targeting you? Don't flatter yourself. I know what you're thinking—you think I lack the dignity of a Gym Leader. But let me tell you something: I am a ninja. Ninjas dwell in the shadows and will use any means necessary to complete a mission. Concepts like pride, honor, and appearances mean nothing to me."

"Heh, I see. Well, I understand the rules now. Can we begin?"

Liam nodded in agreement before turning to Koga.

"Heh, we could have started long ago. Also, in the Fuchsia Gym, we don't use referees. But don't worry—I won't go back on my word, whether I win or lose. Now then... let the battle begin!"

With a sudden stomp, Koga triggered a mechanism beneath his feet. Instantly, the floor trembled as large sections of tatami mats flipped over.

Within seconds, the previously flat battlefield transformed into a rugged, uneven terrain.

"What the—!"

Liam was caught off guard by the sudden change and stared at Koga with newfound curiosity.

Somewhere in his memory, he had a vague impression of this type of battle arena.

"This is the true form of the battlefield. Let me also warn you—beneath these platforms are hidden chambers, each containing one or more Voltorb. If you fall in, you won't be getting out easily. Don't say I didn't warn you! Now, let's begin! My first Pokémon is—Golb—"

"Waaaaahhhh!"

Just as Koga raised his PokeBall and was about to release his Pokémon, a loud wail of a baby echoed throughout the entire mansion.

Both Koga and Liam froze on the spot.

Liam: "..."

Koga: "..."

Liam: "Uh... maybe you should check on that first?"

Koga: "..."

Liam: "I mean, I'm not in a hurry. I can wait a bit."

Koga: "…Fine."

The sound of the baby's cries grew louder and louder until Koga, his face dark with irritation, put away his PokeBall. He then walked over to a wooden pillar and knocked on it, triggering another mechanism.

The battlefield instantly reverted to its original flat state.

"Wait here. I'll be back soon. Heh, if you want to leave now, I won't stop you."

After restoring the battlefield, Koga turned back to Liam with a sinister smile before pushing open a sliding door and disappearing into another room.

Left alone, Liam awkwardly stepped outside and sat on the wooden steps, staring idly at a small pond where water trickled gently.

A few minutes passed, and the cries of the baby gradually faded. Liam then heard the sound of a paper door sliding open behind him.

Turning around, he saw Koga returning, standing tall and unmoving like a spear.

Though they were indoors, his long red scarf fluttered dramatically behind him as if caught in an invisible breeze.

"All settled?"

Liam asked as he stood up and walked back inside.

"Hmph. That's none of your concern. Now, let's get back to battling! Go, Golbat!"

"Gol!"

Koga threw his PokeBall, and a Golbat emerged, flapping its wings in the air while baring its eerie, oversized mouth.

Clearly, Koga wasn't in the mood to waste more time. He didn't even bother resetting the battlefield, opting instead to start immediately.

"Heh, trying to wrap this up quickly? Works for me! Come on out, Nidoking!"

Liam smirked, tossing his own PokeBall into the air. With a heavy thud, Nidoking landed on the ground, muscles flexing as it let out a fierce roar.

"ROAR!!"

From the moment Liam threw his PokeBall, Koga had a bad feeling.

The moment Nidoking hit the ground with a heavy impact and followed it up with an intimidating roar, a bead of sweat formed on Koga's forehead.

"Waaaaahhhh!"

Sure enough, Nidoking's powerful entrance once again triggered an ear-piercing cry from the baby.

Liam froze, suddenly realizing he might have just made things worse. With an awkward expression, he glanced at the now visibly sweating Koga.

"Uh... should I come back another time?"

"NO! YOU STAY RIGHT THERE! I'LL BE BACK!"

Leaving Golbat completely unattended, Koga spun on his heels, stormed through the sliding door, and disappeared once more.

Liam stood there, utterly at a loss, unsure whether to stay or leave. In the end, he decided to just wait.

"Nido? (What's going on with your trainer?)"

"Gol... (Sigh...)"