I quickly navigated through all the Gym Trainers and usually repetitive garbage switches to face Lt. Surge in combat. For someone with an intimidating name like Lt. Surge this was a surprisingly easy battle.
VS Lt. Surge
VS
Okay, I sent out Mr. Mime here, just because I haven't battled with it much and wanted to see what it was capable of. Lt. Surge sent out a Voltorb, and I used Confusion. Sonic Boom in return and one Confusion later it was knocked unconscious.
VS
Pikachu was next, and I kept Mr. Mime on the field. I used Substitute on a whim, which luckily intercepted an incoming Thunder Wave. Three turns later of Pikachu Quick Attacking me and it was down.
VS
This was pitiful. Riachu repeatedly tried to paralyze me with Thunder Wave, but I still had a sub up. Riachu was down to red health and restored with a Super Potion. Luckily, my sub broke on the turn I KO'd Riachu, claiming me the Thunder Badge and TM Shock Wave.
VS
With my third Gym Badge in tow, I traveled to Route 9 (adjacent Cerulean City) and battled all trainers in the vicinity. I healed up at the Route 10 Pokecenter and entered the Rock Tunnel. It was hell.
I had to backtrack with Escape Ropes three times to heal all my Pokemon before blacking out, and most of my Pokemon had ineffective moves against most of the common cave dwellers. Mr. Mime, the only Pokemon with a grass move (Magical Leaf) leveled up to 30, making it disobey me. Which was just what I needed.
Some how I made it through the agonizing levels and arose in Lavender Town. I battled the lingering trainers near the exit of the Rock Tunnel then healed at the PokeCenter, wondering what was to happen next. Lavender is a Gymless town, so I traveled down to Route 12 and battle all the Fishermen until that fat Snorlax blocked my way.
After trying to kick it for five minutes I had no choice to backtrack and continue via Route 8. Through the underground passage and I came to Celadon City. There were Team Rocket Grunts roaming the streets, but I just wanted to gamble. I entered the Game Corner and to my dismay I needed a Coin Case. There was a poster with information on it, but there was a Team Rocket grunt in the way, I politely asked him to move but he charged into a battle. One Raticate and a Zubat later I discovered a secret stairway, which was opened with the switch behind the poster. That makes sense.
I descended the stairs into Team Rockets hidden hideout and beat four floors of grunts, taking a Lift Key in the process and taking the elevator to Giovanni, the apparent Leader of Team Rocket. He was waiting leisurely on the couch, a nice position for me to battle him.
VS Giovanni
VS
Okay, I sent out a Dunsparce to tango with his Onix. I started off with a Glare to Paralyze it, but Onix still managed to retaliate with a Rock Throw. I then Defense Curled into a little ball while Onix was Paralyzed. Then I unleashed my combo through Rollout. On my fourth Rollout Onix perished, and I still had most of my health and one last Rollout to instantly KO what comes out next.
VS
As I predicted, Rollout was a OHKO on Rhyhorn, who fell faster than it got out of the Pokeball. It wasn't very effective, but it works wonders.
VS
Dunsparce leveled to 35 and I switched out to Yanma, who faced a mean Kangashan. I quickly hypnotized the Kangashan and tried to Sonic Boom and Quick Attack it. The moves did little damage and the Kangashan quickly awoke and hit with a Mega Punch, landing me in the orange zone. I fervently switched out to Mr. Mime after I put Kangashan back to sleep with Hypnosis.
VS
Mr. Mime ignored my order to attack, and Kangshan seemed to sense it. It woke up and delivered a critical Mega Punch to OHKO Mr. Mime. How rude.
VS
I sent out Pikachu to Paralyze the Kangashan, who shrugged it off and sent me into the orange zone with a Mega Punch. Luckily, karma came back and I managed to KO it with a critical Thunderbolt. Sucked in.
VS
Giovanni lest in a flash of blinding light, leaving a Silph Scope behind. Now this can grant me access to the Lavender Tower, but I am going to defeat Erika before traveling away from Celadon City. So I traveled to the Pokemon Center and then walked to the Gym, wondering why there was an old man perving through the windows.
I must admit, as I travel further through the game the difficulty is increasing. I guess that's why they call it a challenge.
Current Team Order
Pikaptor the Pikachu, level 34
Yanmyst the Yanma, level 32
Dunspecial the Dunsparce, level 35
Mimien the Mr. Mime, level 32