Upon arriving in Tenken City, Ichigo and the others met Sajin and his Lycanroc. Ichigo is all set for his gym battle against Sajin, the Tenken Gym Leader. With his fifth badge on the line, what kind of battle can we expect?

Ichigo and the others arrived at the gym and Ichigo was set for his battle.

"The time has come for my fifth gym battle." Ichigo said.

"I wonder what kind of gym this one will be." Orihime said.

"Since he had a Lycanroc in Midnight Form, I think I would be correct to assume he specializes with rock-types." Rukia said. "Ichigo, do you have a plan?"

"You don't need to worry. I'm getting that badge." Ichigo said.

Pokémon!
It's a battle, win or lose
It's the friends you make, it's the road you choose
You've got the right stuff
So make your mind up
Find the courage inside of you
If you're strong you'll survive
And you'll keep your dream alive
Let the battle begin
Pokémon!
Be the best you can be
And find your destiny
It's the master plan
The power's in your hand
Pokémon!

(Ichigo's voice) The Midnight Rocker

Ichigo and the others walked in and made their way to the battlefield. Once they entered, Sajin was waiting for them on the other side of the battlefield as he was expecting their arrival.

"I'm glad to see you arrived." Sajin said. "Are you ready for a tough battle, Ichigo? I'm warning you that I won't be going easy."

"I don't want you to." Ichigo said as he took his position.

"I'm a little concerned." Rukia said. "Sajin saw what Ichigo can do, but we haven't seen what Sajin can do."

"I'm sure Ichigo isn't too concerned about that." Chad said.

"Yeah. He's going to win regardless." Orihime said.

"The gym battle between Sajin, the gym leader, and Ichigo, the challenger will now begin." The referee said. "Each side will use three pokemon. The battle will be over when all three of one side's pokemon are unable to battle. Furthermore, only the challenger can substitute pokemon. You may both begin."

"Here goes. Onix, rise!" Sajin said as he released his first pokemon.

"Ro!"

"It's huge!" Orihime said.

"Looks like I hit the nail on the head. His specialty is with rock-types." Rukia said.

"Palpitoad, let's do this." Ichigo said.

"Palp!"

"Using Palpitoad already?" Sajin said. "Let's see if that will really make a difference. The first move is all yours."

"Thanks. Palpitoad use Mud Shot." Ichigo said. Palpitoad jumped in the air and launched the attack.

"Dodge it and use Flash Cannon." Sajin said. Onix was able to maneuver away from the mud. Then, it powered up energy in its mouth and fired a blast of light with Palpitoad getting hit. "Now use Stone Edge."

"Ro!" Onix slammed its tail against the ground and glowing blue rocks rose out of the ground and slammed into Palpitoad.

"Don't light up. Onix use Double Edge." Sajin said. Onix glowed yellow and was going for a direct attack.

"He's not giving Ichigo a chance to even fight back!" Orihime said.

"Palpitoad, you've got to use Rock Smash." Ichigo said. Palpitoad was able to pull itself together and attacked as it slammed its tail against Onix. The collision caused both of them to be pushed back.

"Doesn't Double Edge cause damage to the one who uses it?" Orihime asked.

"That's true, but Onix's ability is rock head. That ability can prevent damage like that from happening." Rukia said. "All of Onix's attacks are highly powerful."

"You see, it's not really my style to use defensive moves." Sajin said. "Some say that a good defense is a good offense, but I think it can be true the other way around. If you're feeling overwhelmed already, you lost."

"So you do total offense. That's fine by me." Ichigo said. "It's not going to stop us. Palpitoad, can you keep going?"

"Palpitoad!"

"Onix use Stone Edge." Sajin said.

"No you don't. Palpitoad use Hyper Voice." Ichigo said. Palpitoad unleashed the sonic attack and it hit Onix before Onix could even attack. "Now blast it with Hydro Pump." Palpitoad shot out all that water and hit Onix right in the head. That attack was all that was needed to end this battle as Onix collapsed.

"Onix is unable to battle. Palpitoad is the winner." The referee said.

"That shows water beats rock." Chad said.

"Ichigo can win with Palpitoad alone." Orihime said with full confidence.

"Let's not get our hopes up." Rukia said.

"You did great, Palpitoad." Ichigo said and Palpitoad was proud of itself. "I think I better save you for later. Come on back." He got Palpitoad back in its pokeball.

"On with the battle. Gigalith, rise!" Sajin said.

"Gigalith!"

"Looks like we have another powerhouse. You want to get in there?" Ichigo asked Absol. Absol agreed and went on the field. "Let's do this. Absol use Dark Pulse."

"Absol!" Absol unleashed the blast of dark rings and blasted Gigalith.

"Gigalith use Earthquake." Sajin said. Gigalith stomped on the ground and the whole place was starting to shake. "Now use Power Gem."

"Gigalith!" Gigalith unleashed a powerful beam and blasted Absol.

"Power Gem one more time." Sajin said.

"I don't think so. Absol use Swords Dance." Ichigo said. Gigalith unleashed the same attack, but Absol created swords around himself and was able to block the attack.

"What?!" Sajin said as he and Gigalith were surprised by that.

"Good work. Now Absol use Night Slash." Ichigo said. Absol charged in and slashed against Gigalith and got behind Gigalith.

"Impressive, but you'll need more than that." Sajin said as Gigalith was turning around to face Absol. "Gigalith use Rock Blast."

"Dodge it!" Ichigo said. Gigalith shot out silver blasts from the crystal on its head, but Absol was able to dodge each of the attacks and slid under Gigalith. "Nice work. Now let's finish this up with Night Slash."

"I don't think so. Gigalith use Earthquake." Sajin said. Gigalith stomped on the ground again and the whole place was shaking with Absol loosing balance. "Now use Rock Slide." Gigalith generated glowing blue rocks above it and had them rain down on Absol.

"Absol!" Ichigo called out as everyone was worried Absol was hurt. The rocks cleared away and showed Absol was taken down.

"Absol is unable to battle. Gigalith is the winner." The referee said. Ichigo ran over and lifted Absol in his arms.

"Are you okay, pal?" Ichigo asked.

"Absol." Absol was able to wake up, but still seemed to be in bad shape as Ichigo carried him back to Ichigo's side.

"It will be okay. We're not beaten yet." Ichigo said. "Tauros, you're up next."

"Roo!"

"Your Tauros learned Earthquake to help you out last time. Let's see if that will help you this time." Sajin said.

"Tauros use Earthquake." Ichigo said.

"You use Earthquake too." Sajin said. Both of them used the same attack and the entire building was starting to shake.

"Are they trying to bring the place down around our heads?" Rukia said.

"I know normal-type moves won't do much, but they will still do damage." Ichigo said. "Tauros use Horn Attack." Tauro charged right at Gigalith with his horns out.

"Use Rock Blast." Sajin said. Gigalith shot out the attacks and they blasted Tauros back.

"We're not giving up. Tauros use Iron Head." Ichigo said. Tauros was covered in the white aura and charged right in with him slamming against Gigalith.

"Gigalith use Power Gem." Sajin said. Gigalith fired the beam at close range and it caused an explosion. Both pokemon ended up sliding back and were both taken down.

"Both pokemon are unable to battle. This match ends in a draw." The referee said.

"A draw? That means they're down to just one pokemon." Orihime said.

"And we know who both are." Rukia said.

"Palpitoad, one more time!" Ichigo said.

"Palpitoad!"

"Lycanroc, rise!" Sajin said.

"Lycanroc!"

"Palpitoad might not have much power left. We better end this fast. Palpitoad use Rock Smash." Ichigo said.

"Lycanroc use Crunch." Sajin said. Both of them went to attack as they both jumped in the air, but Palpitoad missed. Lycanroc sank its teeth in Palpitoad and tossed Palpitoad to the ground. "Now use Brick Break." Lycanroc's paw glowed and it came down for an attack.

"Palpitoad, dodge it." Ichigo said. Palpitoad was able to get up and moved out of the way.

"You're not getting away. Lycanroc use Rock Climb." Sajin said.

"Lycanroc!" Lycanroc's nails glowed and slammed its arm against the ground. Palpitoad rose by a rock pillar with Lycanroc climbing up it.

"Stop it with Mud Shot." Ichigo said. Palpitoad shot out all that mud, but Lycanroc dodged each attack until it reached Palpitoad and slammed its claw against Lycanroc.

"They can't get an attack in." Orihime said as none of them were liking this.

"Lycanroc is just so fast and fierce. I always believed the Midnight Form was frightening." Rukia said. Palpitoad wasn't giving up as it stood back on its feet.

"That's it, Palpitoad. Don't give up and use Hydro Pump." Ichigo said.

"Stone Edge!" Sajin said. Both of them used their attacks and they slammed against each other and canceled each other out. Ichigo was starting to get frustrated.

"Lycanroc is moving so fast. There's got to be a way to slow it down." Ichigo said. "How am I going to do that? Palpitoad can't hold out much more." Ichigo tried to think of something and he got an answer if he can do this just right.

"It's time to finish this. Lycanroc use Brick Break." Sajin said and Lycanroc attacked with the aim to end this.

"Palpitoad, slow it down with Hyper Voice." Ichigo said. Palpitoad unleashed the powerful sound attack and tried to push Lycanroc back, but Lycanroc did its best to resist the attack. "Now grab it with your tongue." Palpitoad stretched out its tongue and wrapped it around Lycanroc.

"What's this?" Sajin said.

"Blast Lycanroc with Hydro Pump." Ichigo said. Palpitoad unleashed the powerful blast of water and Lycanroc had no escape. Lycanroc took the attack at full force.

"Lycanroc!" Sajin called out. When Palpitoad stopped the attack, Lycanroc dropped down and was defeated.

"Lycanroc is unable to battle. Palpitoad is the winner. Victory goes to Ichigo, the challenger." The referee said.

"Yes!" Ichigo cheered.

"He won again!" Orihime said.

"And again he surprises me." Rukia said as all of his friends were glad for his victory. After the battle, Ichigo was being rewarded his badge.

"Ichigo, you and your pokemon certainly are strong and you all certainly hold something special." Sajin said. "This is proof that you won at the Tenken Gym. This is the Land Badge." The badge was brown and gold in the shape of a crystal.

"Thanks a lot, Sajin." Ichigo said as he took the badge. "That makes number five. I'm only three badges away now." Ichigo's goal is close and is now more than halfway there.

Ichigo has triumphed over Sajin's gym and his powerful pokemon. With his fifth badge in his hands, there are only three of gym remaining before he enters the Unova League. We'll see more as the journey continues.

To Be Continued….