Update time!
I knew my next target was Morty and after reading my new rules, I decided to take my time, make a detour or five, build up a couple of mons to sacrifice and try something ambitious after only being able to sacrifice 1 Pokémon at the first two gyms combined, and then the third leader only having a team of two.
I got my Drowzee up to lv.20+, then I waited till morning and headed all the way back to Dark Cave to find a Teddiursa. There is method in my madness...
I also needed a lv.40 Pokémon that could OHKO a gym leader's healthy Pokémon to lift the last of my Divine Shield rules... hm... The next gym is a great opportunity with a psychic mon, but lv.40 by then would be crazy... or would it?
Abra is a real pain to raise in the early levels, but I still decided to attempt getting one up to lv.40 before Ecruteak in a game famous for poor EXP. Am I insane? Quite possibly.
I also remembered about the Gold Berry I took off my sacrificed Machop. That could very well come into play too ... options!
After eventually getting back to Dark Cave - via Sprout Tower to earn Flash which I'd skipped earlier - I managed to snag myself a Teddiursa before the clock trickled over into daytime.
I then grinded like crazy to get Teddiursa over lv.22 to learn Feint Attack, and then my Abra to become a lv. 40 Kadabra! I used every scrap of land available to me, even open routes I wasn't "supposed" to do until after the gym. I will likely suffer for that later.
I caught Sudowoodo on the way to Ecruteak, because I might need it later, you never know, and I tested out my new team vs Silver in the Burned Tower before heading to the gym.
My team to face Morty consisted of Drowzee holding Machop's Gold Berry, Teddiursa, my seriously over leveled Kadabra, Quilava, and two suicide lead Pinecos equipped with Protect.
I started with Teddiursa who beat Gastly using Feint Attack which has no side effects to lift "Divine Warrior"!
Up next was Pineco for Protect, then a switch to Drowzee who I let get hurt until it ate the Gold Berry. It then beat Haunter to become worthy and lift "Fair Play 2" for the team!
Another Protect switch, and then Kadabra made short work of Morty's healthy Gengar in one hit with Psychic to completely free my team of "Divine Shield 3"
Protect one last time, then Quilava finished the job!
Thanks to my 3 sacrifices - including giving up a lv.40+ Kadabra ;( I am virtually Pokémonless again, so I will have to build up a team once more!
Some souvenir photos including the promised one from the last segment!