March 31, Tuesday.
Because of the time difference, while the sun was just rising in Paldea and Qingyu was still lost in sweet dreams, it was already noon in the Kanto Region.
Blue, who had made his presence known in Qingyu's livestream yesterday, arrived at the Cinnabar Gym right on time as promised.
"No wonder Pallet Town is so close to a volcano... It feels several degrees hotter than other cities."
Before entering the Gym, Blue looked around at the sea of hot spring inns and the billowing steam that rose overhead from time to time, voicing his impressions.
Less than three months had passed since he left Pallet Town, yet the Cinnabar Gym was already the seventh Gym he had challenged.
As long as he conquered this place, returned to Viridian City by water, and successfully challenged the Viridian Gym once it reopened, he would have all eight of the toughest, most prestigious Gym Badges and be the first to challenge Victory Road at the Indigo Plateau!
Although he had hit plenty of bumps along the way, Blue's overall progress was already astonishing.
Aside from his archrival Red, no one should have been faster than him!
"For someone like me who specializes in Fire types, this environment is definitely a good thing."
"It's just a contest of raw strength... It's only a Gym battle. Surely Blaine won't bring out his entire main team against me!"
"So, no big deal!"
After quietly psyching himself up, Blue quickly broke into a confident smile and walked into the Cinnabar Gym with his hands in his pockets.
"Hello, you're Blue, the young man who booked a challenge against our Gym Leader in advance, right?"
A female Gym apprentice immediately noticed his arrival and approached him.
But after Blue nodded, she quickly revealed a