After resting at home for a day, Liu Qing finally decided to set out again. But when he saw the Huayu-brand sedan parked in front of him and Mili sitting inside, dressed like a wealthy lady, he asked curiously, "Mom, where are you going?"
"To Celadon City, of course!" Mili winked. "I make all my perfume there myself, and I've just run out. Since you're going there anyway, we might as well go together. Besides, I'd like to watch your Gym battle."
"Uh, all right." At a loss for words, Liu Qing nodded, opened the door, and sat in the passenger seat. They sped off toward Celadon City.
A little over two hours later, Mili and Liu Qing arrived in Celadon City. A lovely perfume scent lingered throughout the city, which was also highly developed, with facilities such as a department store and a game corner.
With a screech of tires, the sedan stopped outside a perfume shop. Through the glass, they could see a pretty sales assistant recommending perfumes to customers.
"What a lovely fragrance. It really clears your head." Following Mili inside, Liu Qing couldn't help sniffing the air.
"Oh? Does this young man know about perfume too?" A sweet voice rang out as a black-haired girl emerged from the back room. When she saw Mili, she immediately greeted her. "Mrs. Wave Wind! Welcome. And this young man is...?"
"Hehe, Erika, this is my son, Bofeng Liu Qing," Mili said with a smile. "It seems he really likes your perfume. He started praising it the moment he walked in."
"Hehe, what an honor," Erika said, smiling. "I happen to have a few men's fragrances here. Would you like to try them?"
"No, thank you, Gym Leader Erika. I'm here for a Gym Challenge..." Seeing the sales assistant approach with the men's perfume, Liu Qing hurriedly explained why he had come.
"Oh? How did you know I was the Celadon Gym Leader? Unfortunately, today won't work. I'm developing a new perfume, and I've reached a crucial stage." Seeing Liu Qing's disappointed expression, Erika giggled. "But I'll finish it today. If you want to challenge me, come tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you at the Gym."
"Great! I'll come to the Celadon Gym tomorrow morning," Liu Qing said eagerly.
"Erika, what new perfume are you developing? Could you let me have a look first?" At Erika's words, Mili perked up and immediately asked.
"Of course. You're an expert at making perfume yourself, Mrs. Wave Wind." With a bright laugh, Erika led Mili into the back room, leaving Liu Qing forgotten.
Women and their perfume! Liu Qing sighed inwardly, then remembered the city's game corner. In the game he had played in his previous life, he could exchange his winnings for Pokémon. He wondered whether that reward existed here too.
When Liu Qing reached the game corner's service counter, he saw a large banner hanging on the wall behind it. At the top, it listed the game corner's grand prize: one mysterious Pokémon.
I wonder what Pokémon it is. Curious, Liu Qing exchanged some money for game coins, found a machine, and sat down.
Liu Qing had already figured out the pattern when playing the game in his previous life, and it clearly worked here too. After a few initial rounds to get a feel for it, he created a legend. For a long time afterward, people would tell the story of a blond, blue-eyed boy who won the game corner's grand prize with just ten coins.
As he left the game corner, he couldn't help laughing at the memory of the assistant's stunned expression when he claimed his prize, and the miserable smile of the fat manager who had rushed over.
"Come out. Let's see what Pokémon you are." Reaching a patch of grass in Celadon City's park, Liu Qing tossed out the unregistered Poké Ball he had received from the game corner.
"Oh, I never expected it to be Porygon!" When the newly emerged Pokémon immediately tried to flee, Liu Qing released Scyther to block its path, a slight smile appearing on his face.
This world differed from the anime. The Pokémon that only appeared when Ash reached a new region in the anime were merely species first discovered there, or those most commonly found there. After so many years, every region also had some Pokémon from other regions living in it, though they were harder to find. Thus, every issued Pokédex contained the full database, except for Pokémon that had yet to be discovered. For instance, Liu Qing hadn't found any Eevee evolutions in his Pokédex beyond its Water, Fire, and Electric forms. Even so, people generally knew more about their own region's Pokémon, while few understood those from elsewhere. Porygon, however, was an artificial Pokémon from the Kanto Region that had first appeared less than a year ago. He had planned to release the prize if it was an ordinary Pokémon, but now there was no need.
"Scyther, Brick Break!" At Liu Qing's command, Scyther flew swiftly to Porygon, its scythe turning white before slamming down hard and knocking Porygon away. Porygon's face twisted in pain, but it wasn't defeated. Enduring the pain, it formed a triangular mass of yellow energy in front of itself and fired it at Scyther.
"A stubborn fighter. Interesting." Watching Scyther evade the Tri Attack with an elegant aerial turn, Liu Qing said, "Once more, Brick Break!"
"Scy!" Scyther flew up to Porygon again and struck it hard, drawing a shriek of pain.
"Go, Poké Ball!" Liu Qing took out one of his own Poké Balls and threw it at just the right moment. It struck Porygon squarely, flashed a few times, then settled before disappearing from the grass.
"It must have been sent to the Pokémon Day Care back home!" Unsurprised by the disappearing Poké Ball, Liu Qing returned to the perfume shop.
The next day, at the Celadon Gym, Liu Qing and Erika took their positions on opposite sides of the battlefield and listened as the referee explained the rules. It would be a three-on-three battle.
"Your mother may be a customer at my perfume shop, but I won't go easy on you," Erika said seriously, releasing her first Pokémon. "Go, Tangrowth!"
"So it's Tangela's evolved form." Liu Qing took out a Poké Ball and tossed it into the air. "Scyther, I choose you!"
"Go, Liu Qing!" Mili called encouragingly from the spectator seats as the challenge began.
"Tangrowth, strike first! Hit hard with Vine Whip!" At Erika's command, Tangrowth immediately extended two purple-glowing vines toward Scyther!
"Dodge, then Aerial Ace!" Liu Qing ordered calmly.
"Scy!" With a low cry, Scyther flapped its wings and dodged the sweeping vines. White streaks of light enveloped its body as it appeared before Tangrowth in an instant, landing a hit that sent it flying.
"X-Scissor!" Seeing Tangrowth fall to the ground in pain, Liu Qing pressed his advantage.
"Tangrowth, Protect!" As Scyther doubled back in midair at Liu Qing's command and charged toward Tangrowth with glowing white arms, Erika shouted urgently.
Boom! Although the super-effective Aerial Ace had hit Tangrowth, it still managed to use Protect quickly enough to block Scyther's potentially decisive strike, leaving the two locked in a stalemate.
"That was close!" Erika sighed in relief. Seeing the two Pokémon still locked together, she called again, "Tangrowth, Ancient Power!"
Boom! At Erika's command, the green barrier around Tangrowth vanished. White light shone across its body, rapidly gathering before its chest before shooting straight at Scyther. Though X-Scissor blocked part of the attack, the remaining force still blasted Scyther away. The super-effective attack dealt quadruple damage, and Scyther's face immediately contorted in pain.
"Tangrowth, grab it and bring it down!" Erika seized the opening and issued another command. Two vines lashed toward Scyther.
"Scyther, pull yourself together! Use Swords Dance!" Liu Qing knew that the point-blank Ancient Power had dealt tremendous damage, but it also presented an opportunity. With Swarm activated and Swords Dance boosting its attack, just one more hit would be enough to finish Tangrowth.
"Scy!" Encouraged by Liu Qing, Scyther brought its arms together and used Swords Dance, spinning rapidly and deflecting both vines.
"Perfect!" Seeing Scyther use Swords Dance gave Erika an idea. She hurriedly shouted, "Tangrowth, Stun Spore!"
As soon as she spoke, Tangrowth shook its entire body, releasing countless motes of yellow powder. The suction from the whirlwind created by Swords Dance drew them in, soon turning it into a yellow cyclone.
"Hehe, Liu Qing, you're out of options now, aren't you?" Erika laughed as her plan succeeded.
"Heh, a clever strategy indeed, Gym Leader Erika. The instant Scyther stops using Swords Dance, Stun Spore will affect it. Then, I imagine, Tangrowth will deliver a devastating blow," Liu Qing said evenly. "But you've miscalculated one thing. My Scyther doesn't necessarily need to stop Swords Dance to use another move."
"Scyther, X-Scissor!" he commanded loudly as Erika stared in bewilderment.
"What? A combination move?" At Liu Qing's command, the yellow Swords Dance whirlwind became like a yellow drill, appearing before Tangrowth in an instant. Under Erika's astonished gaze, it blasted Tangrowth away. Tangrowth hit the ground and was knocked out on the spot.
"Scy..." Returning to Liu Qing's side, Scyther was now affected by Stun Spore too. Yellow sparks crackled over its body as it dropped to one knee, panting heavily.
"Tangrowth is unable to battle!" the referee immediately announced.
"Brilliant! Well done, son! Well done, Scyther!" Mili applauded.
"That was amazing!" Some of the young female apprentices in the stands chattered excitedly in praise as well.
"Thank you for your hard work, Tangrowth." Erika gently recalled Tangrowth, then looked across at Liu Qing. "You really surprised me."
"Not at all. You caught me off guard too, Gym Leader Erika!" Liu Qing smiled and recalled Scyther.
"Liar. You looked perfectly confident to me." Erika gave him a coquettish look, then took out her second Poké Ball. "Come out, Victreebel!"
"Come out, Arcanine!" At the same time, Liu Qing released his recently evolved Arcanine, and both Pokémon appeared on the battlefield. Seeing that Liu Qing had sent out a Fire-type, Erika knew she was at a disadvantage. Without hesitation, she ordered a powerful move. "Victreebel, Leaf Storm!"
"Vree!" At Victreebel's cry, countless green-glowing leaves appeared around it, forming a storm that swept toward Arcanine.
"Arcanine, Fire Blast!" At Liu Qing's command, a crimson pillar of flame shot from Arcanine's mouth, forming a huge 大-shaped blaze that blocked the Leaf Storm.
"Charge in with Flame Wheel!" Liu Qing's next command came as soon as the fiery shape formed. Without hesitation, Arcanine spewed flames to envelop its body, then leaped into the center of the Fire Blast. It quickly absorbed those flames too, becoming a massive ball of fire four or five meters tall. With terrifying heat, it swallowed the Leaf Storm and struck Victreebel...
"Victreebel is unable to battle!" When the flames finally disappeared, Victreebel lay on the ground, its entire body burned and steaming, unable to continue.
"Uh, I'm sorry, Miss Erika. I went too far." Seeing Victreebel's sorry state, then the scornful looks from every woman present, Liu Qing swallowed nervously and hurriedly apologized.
"Hmph, forget it. That's how Gym Challenges work. I can hardly believe you're a Trainer who has only just started traveling. You can already use two combination moves. That alone puts your strength at the elite level. This is my last Pokémon, so be careful. Come out, Vileplume!" After recalling Victreebel, Erika spoke expressionlessly, then threw out her final Poké Ball.
"Arcanine, finish this quickly! Earthquake!" From watching television in his previous life, Liu Qing knew how terrifying the stench of Erika's Vileplume had been when it was still a Gloom, so he hurriedly gave the command.
"Roar!" At Liu Qing's command, Arcanine roared, raised its forelegs off the ground, and slammed them down. Terrifying cracks spread outward as the entire battlefield shook. Vileplume struggled to keep its footing, crying out in alarm.
Suddenly, a soft puff came from Vileplume's flower, followed by a cloud of yellow-green gas...
"Urgh... Awooo..." How could the smell be described? It was like socks left unwashed for thousands of years, mixed with stinky tofu, rotting refuse, and garlic. The odor spread throughout the battlefield. Liu Qing immediately doubled over, looking ready to vomit up the previous night's dinner. Arcanine fared even worse. With its keen canine nose, it passed out directly from the stench and lay twitching on the ground. Erika, Mili, the referee, and the young female apprentices all seemed to have anticipated it and put on gas masks. Seeing Liu Qing's deathly pale face, they burst into peals of laughter.
"Hehe, Liu Qing, how is it? Quite an experience, isn't it? Hmph, that's what you get for bullying my Victreebel! Hehe..." Erika kept giggling, clearly feeling thoroughly vindicated.
"Urgh... Come back..." Only after the stench had finally thinned a little did Liu Qing recover enough to take out a Poké Ball and recall Arcanine, who had suffered a humiliating defeat.
"Liu Qing, what will you do now? Vileplume still has plenty of stench left!" Erika giggled.
"Damn it... Urgh... Come out, Haunter!" Fortunately, Liu Qing had a Haunter that didn't need to breathe. Otherwise, the rest of the battle would have been miserable.
"Hmm, Haunter isn't afraid of the stench. Ah, what a shame." Erika sighed as she looked at Haunter floating in the air, then grew serious. "Vileplume, Petal Dance!"
Another puff sounded, but this time, countless pink petals emerged and flew toward Haunter.
"Confusion!" At Liu Qing's command, multicolored light appeared across the petals, and they flew back toward Vileplume.
"Acid!" Erika said calmly. Gloom then sprayed a large quantity of purple liquid from the flower on top of its head. As the spray met the petals, it hissed corrosively, dissolving the reflected Petal Dance outright.
"What powerful Acid! Haunter, Hypnosis!" Liu Qing exclaimed, then immediately gave his command. Haunter acted without hesitation. Its hands detached from its body, appeared before Vileplume's eyes in an instant, and released a red orb of light.
"Oh no! Vileplume, wake up!" As Vileplume fell asleep, Erika grew anxious and shouted.
"It's over. Haunter, Confusion!" Unfortunately, Vileplume didn't wake up. Instead, Liu Qing's command reached it. A flash of multicolored light passed over Vileplume's body, which jerked violently before it was knocked out.
"Vileplume is unable to battle. The winner is the challenger, Liu Qing," the referee announced.
"You defeated me completely. That was a wonderful battle." Erika accepted a badge and held it out to Liu Qing. "The Rainbow Badge, proof that you defeated the Celadon Gym, is yours."
Taking the sun-shaped badge, Liu Qing smiled happily. "Thank you, Gym Leader Erika."
Before you continue