"Wow! Is this the gym you mentioned?!" Luffy's eyes widened with wonder as he took in the imposing structure before them.
"It's really... so huge!"
When they arrived at Pewter City, Akira and Luffy explored the town like eager tourists discovering a new world. They passed various buildings that captured the essence of the mountain town's character—sturdy stone architecture that seemed to grow from the earth itself—before making their way directly to the largest structure in the city besides the Pokémon Center: Pewter Gym.
Just as Viridian Forest had become a vast, living wilderness beyond its pixelated origins, Pewter Gym had transformed into something far more magnificent than the simple stone room depicted in the games. This architectural marvel stood as a testament to the Rock-type specialty housed within its walls.
From a distance, two massive Onix statues flanked the gym's entrance like ancient sentinels, their imposing presence filling the entire structure with an aura of majesty and power. The rock serpents seemed to watch over all who approached, their stone eyes gleaming with an otherworldly authority that made even Luffy pause in respect.
Even standing at the entrance, they could feel a deep, earthen energy radiating from within—the essence of mountain stone and ancient bedrock that spoke to the very foundations of the world.
Through the heavy gym doors, muffled sounds of training and battle echoed outward, proof of the vibrant life and endless activity that thrived within these walls.
"Let's go!" Akira stepped forward and pushed against the two massive stone gates that appeared intimidatingly heavy but were actually equipped with hidden electric tracks for smooth operation.
The moment they crossed the threshold, the gym's interior revealed itself in all its Rock-type glory. Every surface—from the polished stone floors to the carefully carved walls—displayed the deep, earthy brown tones that defined the Rock-type aesthetic. The craftsmanship was simple yet elegant, speaking to generations of masters who had shaped stone with both power and artistry.
The central training area sprawled before them like a miniature mountain range, filled with towering rock formations and massive stone pillars that reached toward the ceiling. These weren't mere decorations—they were training obstacles designed to test both trainer and Pokémon in the harsh realities of Rock-type combat.
Near each formation, trainers wearing identical green uniforms worked diligently with their Rock-type partners. The sight immediately triggered Akira's gaming instincts—these were clearly the gym trainers who served as stepping stones before challenging the leader himself.
Perfect experience grinding opportunities, he thought with growing anticipation.
On either side of the main floor, enormous spectator stands rose like amphitheater seating. A modest crowd had gathered to watch the various training sessions, their excited murmurs adding to the gym's energetic atmosphere.
"It's just a group of trainers working with their Pokémon," Akira mused, studying the scene with an analytical eye. "Why do they need so many spectators?"
"The game system really went all out with the details here," he added with genuine appreciation.
Luffy spun around, taking in every detail with obvious excitement. "Wow! There are so many people here! This place feels so alive!"
The game console had clearly invested significant effort into making Pewter Gym feel like a genuine Pokémon training facility rather than a simple boss room. The attention to detail was remarkable—from the authentic training equipment to the realistic crowd reactions.
Hearing Luffy's enthusiastic observation, Akira's expression shifted into something resembling Nami's money-loving grin. His eyes practically sparkled as he considered the implications.
"Yes, there are indeed a lot of people here," he agreed, his voice carrying the satisfaction of someone who'd just discovered a treasure trove.
The experience points and rewards provided by gym trainers were traditionally much higher than those from wild encounters or random trainers. If his calculations were correct, this single gym challenge could provide more advancement than their entire journey through Viridian Forest.
His strategic mind was already cataloging potential opponents and calculating optimal battle sequences when he suddenly called out to his eager captain.
"Luffy!"
"Do you see those trainers over there who are dressed in green?" He pointed toward a cluster of gym trainers working near a particularly impressive rock formation.
"Let's go harvest some experience!"
"Are we going to fight again?!" Luffy's grin widened as he cracked his knuckles and rolled his shoulders in preparation. "Leave it all to me!"
Despite the relatively low-level opponents they'd encountered so far, he continued to find genuine excitement in battling these unique creatures. Every encounter offered something new and interesting, keeping his fighting spirit burning bright.
Following the rocky pathway deeper into the gym, Akira and Luffy approached a female trainer who was working intensively with her Geodude. The spherical Rock-type was practicing defensive maneuvers, its arms folded protectively as it weathered simulated attacks.
The moment they drew close, before Akira could even introduce himself, the girl's expression shifted into the serious, focused demeanor of a professional trainer. Her posture straightened, and her voice rang out with confident authority.
"Who are you?!"
"This is Pewter Gym! It's not a place for casual visitors!"
"Hmph! You're still ten thousand light years away from being ready to challenge Gym Leader Brock!"
"Let me test your strength first!"
"Go, Geodude!"
Without giving them any opportunity to respond or explain their intentions, she threw her Poké Ball with practiced precision. The familiar battle arena materialized around them, creating the isolated combat zone that had become so characteristic of their virtual adventures.
"They really are weird!" Luffy muttered, his expression showing the same bewildered confusion he'd displayed during every NPC encounter so far.
The predictable, scripted nature of these interactions never failed to perplex him, no matter how many times they occurred.
However, Akira found the girl's challenge perfectly expected. A slight smile played at the corners of his mouth as he decided to play along with the dramatic atmosphere.
"A mere Pewter Gym trainer dares to say such things!" he responded with theatrical arrogance, matching her energy with his own over-the-top declaration.
After delivering his dramatic retort, Akira stepped back and gestured confidently toward his "Pokémon."
"Go, Luffy! Show her the true meaning of power!"
"Yeah!" Luffy's battle cry echoed throughout the arena as he leaped from Akira's side to the center of the combat zone, taking his position opposite the floating Geodude.
The familiar status display materialized above his opponent: [LV: 7, HP: 28/28]
The moment Luffy entered his combat stance, the entire gym underwent a dramatic transformation. Every conversation halted, every training session paused, and every head turned toward their battle arena. The NPCs responded as if they'd received some invisible signal, their attention focusing completely on the unfolding confrontation.
Deep, resonant background music began playing from unseen speakers, filling the air with epic battle themes that made every heartbeat feel more intense. The drum beats seemed to synchronize with the pulse of adrenaline, creating an atmosphere of legendary conflict.
The spectators in the stands began cheering with genuine enthusiasm, their voices rising in support of what appeared to be a routine training battle between gym members.
"Seriously? It's just a regular gym trainer," Akira thought with mild exasperation, even as he felt his own excitement building. "Is all this fanfare really necessary?"
Despite his rational understanding that these were merely programmed responses from artificial beings, the sheer energy of the moment was undeniably infectious. The atmosphere was so perfectly crafted that it made him feel like the protagonist of his own epic adventure.
"Well, if they're going to put on such a show," he murmured to himself, "I guess I should play my part properly."
Adopting the authoritative tone of a seasoned trainer, he called out his first strategic command:
"Luffy, use Soru! Circle around behind Geodude!"
"Huh?" Luffy's expression showed momentary confusion at receiving direct tactical instructions instead of being left to fight independently.
However, his trust in Akira's judgment was absolute. Without questioning the strategy, he immediately activated the high-speed movement technique they'd practiced countless times.
His feet became a blur of motion as he executed the Rokushiki technique with perfect precision.
A dark streak shot across the arena as Luffy appeared behind the unsuspecting Geodude in the span of a single heartbeat. The Rock-type's limited mobility and processing speed made it impossible to track such rapid movement, leaving it completely vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
The opposing trainer's eyes widened in shock as she struggled to comprehend what had just occurred. Her Geodude was simply too slow to react to such overwhelming speed.
Akira's voice rang out again, carrying the confidence of someone who had already calculated the battle's outcome.
"Now! Strike its weak point!"
Luffy's arms stretched backward like rubber bands storing kinetic energy. "Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!"
"No! Dodge it, Geodude!" the trainer desperately commanded, her voice carrying genuine concern for her partner's wellbeing.
For a brief moment, she seemed to transcend her NPC programming, displaying tactical awareness and emotional investment that felt remarkably human. Her attempt to coordinate a defensive response showed the kind of quick thinking that would serve her well in a real battle.
Unfortunately, no amount of strategy could overcome such an overwhelming difference in raw power and speed.
WHAM!
Luffy's rubber-enhanced fist connected with devastating force, striking with the precision of a bullet and the impact of a cannonball. The sound of the collision echoed throughout the gym like thunder, drawing gasps of amazement from the watching crowd.
"Geodude!" the trainer cried out as her partner let out a pained wail.
The HP bar above Geodude's head vanished instantly, indicating a complete knockout from a single devastating attack.
The battle arena began to dissolve around them, but Akira's attention was immediately captured by an unexpected notification that appeared in his mental interface:
[Complete command evaluation: Average][Additional reward gained: Experience +8]
"What is this? A bonus reward?!" His eyes widened with surprise and growing excitement as he processed this new information.
Focusing his consciousness on the notification, he froze the disappearing message in place to study it more carefully. The implications of this discovery sent his strategic mind racing through countless possibilities.
"Come to think of it," he realized with dawning understanding, "this is the first time I've actually given Luffy tactical commands during combat."
"Could it be that the quality of my instructions determines whether we receive additional experience bonuses?!"
"I didn't expect the system to have such an intricate feature. This is excellent—it gives me a much more active role in our battles!"
His analytical nature immediately began forming hypotheses about the mechanics involved. If his commanding skills could directly impact their progression, then developing those abilities should become a high priority.
"As for whether my theory is correct..." Akira's gaze shifted toward another trainer near a different rock formation, his eyes gleaming with the anticipation of someone about to test a promising experiment.
"Time to find out!"
First Test Battle:
[Monkey D. Luffy defeated gym trainer's Geodude. Experience gained: +38][Command evaluation: Ineffective][No additional reward]
Second Test Battle:
[Monkey D. Luffy defeated gym trainer's Geodude. Experience gained: +38][Command evaluation: Average][Additional reward gained: Experience +8]
After deliberately giving Luffy contradictory and wasteful instructions during the first test—making him perform unnecessary acrobatics and take completely avoidable damage before winning—Akira received the "Ineffective" evaluation he'd expected.
The second test followed their proven strategy of rapid positioning and immediate knockout, earning the same "Average" rating as their initial battle.
These controlled experiments confirmed his theory about the command system's mechanics.
"Perfect! So my role isn't just to provide warm bodies for the gaming sessions," he thought with satisfaction, feeling a sense of purpose he'd been lacking since discovering his unusual abilities.
"That's right—as a trainer, how could I not be actively commanding my Pokémon during battle!"
"It looks like I can't slack off in the future. I need to develop my tactical skills seriously."
The system provided no additional experience for ineffective commands, while average tactical decisions awarded a bonus equal to approximately one-fifth of the base experience gain. The mathematical precision of this reward structure suggested there might be even higher evaluation tiers waiting to be unlocked.
"No reward for poor commands, and a twenty percent bonus for average tactics," he calculated mentally. "There must be 'Good' and 'Excellent' ratings that provide even better rewards."
Unfortunately, with Luffy's overwhelming level advantage making every opponent trivial, demonstrating superior tactical brilliance was essentially impossible. The gap between level 46 and level 7 was simply too vast for strategy to matter significantly.
His expectations for higher ratings would have to wait for more challenging opponents in future content.
"Well, we do have more important objectives to focus on right now," he reminded himself, turning his attention back to their primary goal.
After all, they had a gym leader to defeat and their first official badge to earn!