Ecruteak City is a place steeped in legend, where Lugia and Ho-Oh once coexisted. Long ago, humans constructed two magnificent towers to honor them. One was the Bell Tower, a place of rest for Pokémon where Ho-Oh resided at its peak. The other was the Burned Tower, originally known as the Brass Tower, where Lugia made its home, a structure meant to awaken Pokémon.
Centuries ago, a devastating thunderstorm ignited a fire that consumed the Brass Tower. Disheartened by humanity's carelessness, Lugia departed, retreating to the depths of the sea. Ho-Oh, too, left the Bell Tower but, before leaving, resurrected three Pokémon that perished in the fire. These Pokémon—Entei, Suicune, and Raikou—were reborn and left alongside Ho-Oh, never to be seen again.
Today, only the ruins of the Burned Tower remain, a haunting reminder of the past, alongside the still-standing Bell Tower.
When John first arrived in Ecruteak City, his first stop was the Pokemon Center to heal his team and unlock the city as a Fly destination on his map. After taking care of business, he headed straight for the Ecruteak Gym. Bell Tower and the Burned Tower could wait—his priority was confirming a theory about this gym's leader.
The Ecruteak Gym specializes in Ghost-type Pokémon, and its leader, Morty, is known for his expertise with the enigmatic Gengar. Legend has it that Morty's bond with the spectral energies of the Bell Tower gives him a unique connection to his Pokémon. The Bell Tower, after all, was once a resting place for Pokémon who had passed on, though now it teems with Ghost-types like Gastly.
John, however, wasn't worried about Morty's Ghost-types. His Greninja and Tyranitar—both packing Dark-type moves—were more than prepared to take them down. His real concern was Morty's skill level. Would Morty's strength be on par with the gym leaders John had faced before, or would he surpass them?
As John entered the dimly lit gym, a shiver ran down his spine. The floor beneath him was cloaked in darkness, with only a few faintly glowing platforms floating in mid-air. Elderly women stood silently on some of the platforms, their hands clasped behind their backs. The gym's design forced challengers to navigate a labyrinth of shadows to reach Morty.
John wasn't fazed. He methodically challenged the elders one by one, defeating their Pokémon with ease. By observing their Pokémon's levels and tactics, he pieced together a rough estimate of Morty's skill level.
Finally, he reached Morty, who stood in the center of the battlefield. The gym leader was a striking figure, dressed in black with a flowing purple scarf. His blond hair, tied back with a headband, framed a confident yet mysterious expression.
"Welcome, challenger from the Hoenn region," Morty greeted, his voice calm but commanding. "I sensed your arrival the moment you entered this city. Are you drawn to Ecruteak's history, or are you simply here for a battle?"
Without waiting for an answer, Morty continued, "They say the legendary Pokémon appear only to those with true strength. I've dedicated my life to this legend, training relentlessly to prove myself worthy. Let's see if you're strong enough to challenge me!"
Morty struck a dramatic pose, his scarf billowing as he threw out his first Pokeball.
"The match will now begin!" declared the referee. "Challenger John versus Gym Leader Morty! Each side may use three Pokémon, and substitutions are not allowed. The battle ends when all of one side's Pokémon are unable to continue!"
Morty's Pokeball opened mid-air, releasing his first Pokémon—a Mismagius. Its ethereal form floated gracefully, its robe-like body shimmering as if made of stardust. The three red gems adorning its chest glowed faintly, and its hat-like head tilted menacingly toward Greninja.
John studied the Mismagius intently. "Level 60," he murmured to himself. "Looks like Morty adjusts his Pokémon's levels based on the challenger's progress. If he knows I've already beaten six gyms, this is going to be a real challenge."
He grabbed a Pokeball from his belt and released Greninja onto the field. The agile Water-type Pokémon landed silently, its sharp eyes locked onto Mismagius.
The referee signaled the start of the battle.
"Mismagius, use Magical Leaf!" Morty commanded.
Mismagius twirled gracefully, summoning a storm of glowing green leaves that spiraled toward Greninja at high speed. The attack was swift and precise, but John was ready.
"Greninja, counter with Surf!"
Greninja slammed its hands onto the ground, summoning a towering wave that surged forward. The water swallowed the Magical Leaf attack and kept advancing, forcing Mismagius to retreat upward.
"Dodge it, Mismagius!" Morty shouted.
The Ghost-type floated higher, narrowly avoiding the cresting wave. But John wasn't done yet.
"Now, Water Shuriken! Aim high!"
As the wave began to dissipate, Greninja leapt into the air, launching a series of spinning water blades directly at Mismagius. The attack was lightning-fast, and Mismagius barely had time to react.
"Protect!" Morty called out.
A shimmering barrier formed around Mismagius just in time to block the Water Shuriken. The water blades dissipated harmlessly, but Greninja used the momentary distraction to close the distance.
Before Morty could issue another command, Greninja was already in position. It brandished a dark, blade-like energy in its hand—a move imbued with Dark-type power.