Given the current level of Butterfree, it's still a bit lacking. Tailwind might have to wait until Butterfree reaches Advanced Peak before it can learn it, and right now it's only at Advanced Intermediate.
Looks like Gastly might become a great teacher in the backyard in the future...
A moment later, Professor Oak brought Gastly to the phone. Gastly leaned close to the camera, showing an exaggerated expression: "Is it my turn to go on stage?"
"Yes, Gastly, it all depends on you. This time, the battle is against a Psychic Type Pokemon, and its strength is estimated to be about the same as yours. Can you win?"
"Hey, that's something you, the Trainer, should ask!"
"True enough."
After a brief chat, Professor Oak put Gastly into the Pokeball and sent it over, while Ash sent Pidgeotto back.
"I've received Gastly's Pokeball." Ash raised the Pokeball with Gastly in it and said to Professor Oak.
"Okay, I've got Pidgeotto's Pokeball on my side. Best of luck to you now. Remember, if you lose, use your Aura Power to get Misty and Brock out of there, okay? Sabrina's superpower isn't just ordinary; she has some eerie skills. Even if you have Aura Power, if you get caught in it, it might be impossible to recover."
After another worried reminder, Professor Oak hung up the phone.
With Gastly in hand, the three of them set off for the Saffron Gym.
As the three of them arrived at the Saffron Gym, a man in work clothes stopped them.
"Are you here to challenge Sabrina? I advise you not to go. Sabrina is not like other Gym Leaders."
The three of them exchanged glances, realizing this gym was indeed quite dangerous, with someone at the door specifically to intercept and deter challengers—far more extreme than previous gyms.
However, before Ash could say anything, a doll-like girl quietly appeared beside the man in work clothes.
"Don't meddle~ I've been waiting for someone to play with for a long time."
The man in work clothes showed a hint of surprise on the half of his face visible under his hat upon seeing the doll-like girl, then disappeared instantly.
This scene was quite bizarre, with both the little girl and the suddenly disappearing man resembling supernatural phenomena.
Misty instinctively moved closer to Ash, gripping his arm tightly, finding solace only in him at the moment.
"Don't worry, Misty, I won't let her harm you at all!" Ash, sensing Misty's fear, turned to her with a reassuring smile, his words filled with determination.
Under Ash's reassurance, Misty's anxious heart finally calmed a bit, although she still didn't release her grip on his arm.
After the man in work clothes vanished, the doll-like girl glanced at everyone, then slowly faded from their sight.
At the same time, the doors of the Saffron Gym gradually opened. No one was behind them, as if some mysterious force had opened them.
"Is this also Sabrina's handiwork?" Brock rubbed his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Sabrina's abilities as displayed seemed to far exceed those of the Superpower Users he was familiar with. Her powers seemed to set her apart, much like Ash.
"Yes, I can sense traces of superpower up there. Let's go in." Ash said, leading Misty, who clung to his arm, and Pikachu by his feet, inside, with Brock following behind.
Soon, Ash and the others arrived inside the Saffron Gym, where there were many apprentice gym members, all who had been drawn to Sabrina by her superpower!
Despite Sabrina's notorious reputation, the allure of superpower was simply too great!
Rumor had it that joining the Saffron Gym would grant one the ability to learn superpowers!
How could ordinary people, dreaming of becoming superhuman, resist such an opportunity?
So even with Sabrina's fearsome reputation, many still joined the Saffron Gym to learn superpower.
Moreover, after joining, they did learn some things from Sabrina, but the pressure she brought was real as well.
In the gym, there were many apprentices who became mentally unstable under Sabrina's tutelage and pressure.
But it's a willing choice on both sides, so there's no reason to complain. Where in the world does power fall from the sky?
As Ash and the others were about to reach the gym's inner area, a young man wearing a mask stood in their way,
He first asked Ash and the others about their purpose. Upon learning that they came to challenge Sabrina, he showed a disdainful expression.
"Do you have superpower?"
All three, including Ash, shook their heads. Honestly, Aura Power isn't superpower, so he wasn't lying.
"Do you dare challenge our leader without superpower? Do you know what happens to those who challenge her?"
"No, but it doesn't matter, I'll win." Ash shrugged, speaking with a nonchalant expression.
"You're bold to say that, you haven't witnessed the horror of superpower. Let me show you what the leader's personal training can do... Whoa!!"
Just as the masked man was about to demonstrate his so-called personal training, his face suddenly showed a pained expression, his hands clutching his throat as if he were choking!
This startled the three of them, but Ash quickly reacted, showing an angry expression: "Hey! What are you doing, let go of him!"
As Ash spoke, Aura Power surged around him, directly breaking the superpower restraints on the masked man.
With the restraints lifted, the masked man kneeled on the ground, panting heavily, feeling a lingering fear.
He really thought he was about to suffocate just now, with no doubt that his action of stopping these people had angered Sabrina.
If only you'd said earlier that you were coming on behalf of the leader! Why would I bother stopping you otherwise?
Initially wanting to show off his newfound superpower to ordinary people, he ended up getting into trouble.
He's been at this gym for so long, yet this is the first time the leader has taken such interest in a challenger.
Usually, when he blocked others here, the leader wouldn't be like this towards him, otherwise, he wouldn't have been so brazen...
Afterward, the masked man respectfully led the three to the gym area door, stepping aside and making a gesture of invitation.
"The leader is inside; please, go ahead."
Having angered Sabrina just now, he dared not enter; if Sabrina saw him and suddenly became unhappy, he'd endure suffocating pain again.
Ash nodded, pushing the double doors open with one hand, and slowly walked inside.
Inside was a gigantic arena, bigger than Vermilion Gym's. Opposite the arena was a curtain, with a silhouette lurking behind it—the Gym Leader of Saffron Gym, Sabrina!
As the three entered, the doors behind them closed with a boom, startling them all. Misty's grip on Ash's arm tightened, pressing herself closely to him.
A faint fragrance wafted to Ash's nose, but he was completely unaware, intently watching the silhouette behind the curtain.
Judging from Aura Power observations, Sabrina's superpower was indeed strong, almost giving Ash a feeling of nearing a Champion.
It's the first time he's encountered another Special Ability User with such powerful strength aside from himself.
"You've arrived."
A cold voice echoed as the curtain gently opened, revealing Sabrina's true appearance.