Chapter 117: Goldenrod Gym

“Let’s start with the matter of the ‘Undying Flame’! About eight hundred years ago, Madara Uchiha, after acquiring a portion of the power from Hashirama Senju, inadvertently fused it into an entirely new force. Essentially, it differs from a simple Divine Beast blessing, so it may require a unique method to activate…”

Dr. Komaki emphasized this point first—because with ordinary Divine Beast blessings, the effects are innate and activate naturally; one doesn’t suddenly find oneself unable to use them after acquisition.

The current ‘Undying Flame,’ however, feels more like a power Madara Uchiha crafted himself using the strength of the Divine Beasts, so there may be some technique involved.

“Of course, it’s also possible that too much time has passed and it’s now incomplete or dormant. You should be prepared for that! Since Nana advised you to visit the Golden Psychic Gym, then you should go and see for yourself. It’s quite likely… that it requires psychic energy to awaken. Given your innate Fairy-type talent, you should find it relatively easy to evoke psychic powers.

“But I must remind you… as I’ve said before, special abilities are only supplementary. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that simply possessing a special ability makes you the next Madara Uchiha. Besides, there is no definitive proof of how strong Madara was as a Trainer; perhaps ancient tales have exaggerated his prowess.”

Dr. Komaki made sure to stress this, lest Am become fixated on “special abilities” and lose sight of his true path.

“Don’t worry, Professor Komaki, I understand,” Am solemnly promised.

Just one ‘Undying Flame’ wasn’t enough to throw Am off course after all. As long as he continued advancing along the Divine Path, his special abilities might multiply beyond measure.

…

Year 200 of the Alliance, May 22nd, 9 a.m.

Am stood hesitantly before the Golden City Psychic Gym.

He had visited major gyms in Tokiwagi City and Nibi City before, but…

In terms of sheer scale, it was hard to compare, yet in terms of overwhelming presence, the Golden City Psychic Gym was undoubtedly the most imposing.

The entire gym consisted of seven towering spires. The central tower was the tallest and largest, surrounded by six others arranged in the pattern of a hexagram, guarding the heart tower.

Whether due to the many Psychic-type Trainers meditating day and night within, or Am’s nervousness causing illusions, he felt an eerie distortion permeating the gym’s space.

Solemnity.

The gym before him felt like a sacred sanctuary…

No wonder it had become Golden City’s premier landmark in modern times.

To be honest, before arriving in Golden City, Am hadn’t even planned to challenge this gym.

Though badge challenges typically vary within a certain range, and as the seeker of the fourth badge, Am’s strength was enough to conquer any gym, Golden City’s gym was different.

The gym’s rules stipulated that for the first eight badges, there were only two ways to challenge—either by battling the gym trainers with Psychic-type Pokémon, or by the Trainer personally undergoing tests of psychic ability.

This made it very friendly to Psychic Trainers, especially the latter method… some Trainers who succeeded were even gifted Psychic-type Pokémon!

However, for Trainers outside of the Psychic type, it was utterly unfair—often, they weren’t even welcomed.

As for challenges beyond eight badges, it wasn’t out of leniency that Naza allowed them, but because beyond eight badges, the gym itself could no longer set the rules; it could only accept challengers.

After all, challenges past eight badges, especially at ten, were essentially challenges against the gym itself!

Rules couldn’t be dictated, but everyone knew that without Psychic Pokémon, you wouldn’t even get the first badge at Naza’s gym. She would send out gym trainers far above your level: at nine badges, she’d deploy a ten-star gym trainer, who would fight with full force.

If any other gym acted this way, even Tokiwagi Gym would have lost its license long ago due to complaints.

But Naza was clearly “special.” As the world-class queen of Psychic types, no matter how outrageous she got, as long as she didn’t cross the line, the Alliance wouldn’t trouble her. Across the globe, when people thought of the Kanto region, most first imagined Tokiwagi Forest; second was the “Psychic Queen” Naza.

Even without considering Naza’s own strength, her influence alone made the Quartz Alliance accommodate her. The Junsha Clan wouldn’t dare to offend her lightly.

The Psychic-type Pokémon Naza trained might not be the strongest—she was barely over twenty, and across types, it was hard to name an undisputed strongest trainer.

But as for her own psychic abilities, Naza was the uncrowned queen.

Hence, everyone believed she would become the strongest Psychic Trainer.

Now, in Am’s heart, there was a duality: one side yearned for the ‘Undying Flame’—having obtained it with such difficulty, it would be a waste not to know how to use it; the other side was wary of the mysterious Nana and the hidden threat of Naza, the “Lady Demon.”

Though Nana had said something to Am before leaving, considering her nasty temperament and uncertain allegiance, Am hadn’t wanted to come.

It was only Professor Komaki’s suggestion this morning that made him decide to take the trip.

Before entering, Am steeled himself—this was an official gym, not a den of criminals; could they really detain him openly?

Thinking this, Am recorded a video of himself entering the Golden Psychic Gym and sent it to Misty and Yumi…

Upon entering, Am first approached a row of small front offices—unlike other gyms, most Trainers here entered by swiping a card, with only a few registering in person.

Compared to badge challenges, the gym’s greater role was as a sanctuary for Psychic Trainers. More came here to train than to challenge; only challengers needed to register.

After scanning Am’s Pokédex, the staff asked as usual, “Mr. Am, are you here to challenge the gym or to enroll?”

“To challenge the gym,” Am replied directly.

“Understood. Will you be challenging with Psychic Pokémon or through your own psychic powers?”

“Through my own psychic powers,” Am said without hesitation.

If he chose the Psychic Pokémon challenge, his only option would be Amen, and he wasn’t here for the badge anyway.

The staff was inputting the information when they suddenly paused, then said, “Mr. Am, please wait for your challenge at the Tower of Truth.”

Am noticed the slight oddness and realized he was being “watched,” because…

Other challengers had been assigned numbers!

Only he was directly sent to the Tower of Truth…

But Am wasn’t surprised; after all, from Nana’s hints, she wanted him to awaken the ‘Undying Flame’ through a psychic challenge, so a special arrangement was natural.

“Hey? Why didn’t that person get a number and was sent directly to the Tower of Truth?” a nearby Trainer overheard and questioned the guide at the adjacent window.

“That’s how it is. Do you have any concerns you’d like me to report?” the staff replied kindly.

“No…”

Only the Golden Psychic Gym could be so “understanding” to neurotic psychic Trainers…