After several days on the road, Xiao Yan and his companions finally arrived in Vermilion City. It was a large city divided into two main districts, the Central District and the Harbor District. Walking along the bustling streets of the Central District, they followed their map to the Pokémon Center.
"Rattata, hang in there." As they entered the Pokémon Center, they saw a little boy sitting on a bench, waiting his turn with a battered Rattata in his arms.
"This is already the twenty-sixth one this month." The beds in the Pokémon Center were filled with Pokémon. Some had finished treatment and were resting, while others were still waiting to be treated. A trace of sadness lingered in Nurse Joy's eyes.
How awful...
"You're a Trainer, aren't you?" Suddenly, a man dressed in black appeared beside him, his face completely hidden behind a mask.
"What do you want with me?" Xiao Yan kept a wary distance from him, gripping a Poké Ball in his hand.
"Take this Pokémon Egg. I don't need it." The man in black stepped forward and handed the Pokémon Egg to Xiao Yan, who cradled it carefully.
When someone offered you something good, you had to check whether they were normal first, then accept it without wasting any words.
"Thank you. May I ask your name?"
In the blink of an eye, the man in black disappeared.
"Did any of you see that man in black?" Xiao Yan asked the people there, but
The entire room fell silent.
"What man in black? Kid, you must be dreaming. Stop making a racket here. My Pidgeotto is sleeping soundly. Go on, get out." A bystander impatiently shooed Xiao Yan and his companions away.
"What are you acting so cocky for?" Xiao Yan looked at the bystander with disdain, ready to argue with him.
Seeing this, Xiao Lan immediately grabbed the hem of Xiao Yan's shirt and tugged it tightly.
"All right, I get it." Xiao Yan gently stroked Xiao Lan's head. After getting their Pokémon healed, they left the Pokémon Center.
With their Pokémon fully recovered, naturally, it was time to challenge the Vermilion Gym.
"Boss, we've got another punching bag." The moment Xiao Yan entered, the Gym Leader's apprentice came over to mock his height.
Adults in their thirties comparing their height to a ten-year-old kid... Xiao Yan was utterly speechless.
"Let me have a look. So our challenger is still a baby." A tall, heavily built man with blond hair and sunglasses looked Xiao Yan up and down, then burst out laughing.
"...I'm not a baby. My name is Xiao Yan." Xiao Yan really wanted to ask whether there was something wrong with his eyes.
"Then prove it to me, baby," the muscular Gym Leader said.
"This match will be between Xiao Yan from Pallet Town and Lt. Surge, the Vermilion Gym Leader. Each side will use one Pokémon in a one-on-one battle. Let the match begin!" The referee raised his flag.
"Raichu, prove to me that they're still babies."
"Dragonite, sorry for the trouble." Xiao Yan was determined to challenge the Electric-type Gym with Dragonite, a Dragon- and Flying-type Pokémon.
"Dragonite, stick your tail into the ground and fight." As soon as Dragonite took the field, Xiao Yan had him drive his thick tail into the ground. Across from him, Raichu watched in confusion, unsure what he was trying to do.
"Raichu, Thunderbolt!" Knowing that Dragonite was a Flying type, Lt. Surge immediately ordered an Electric-type move, but the current flowed down Dragonite's tail and into the ground.
"So that's how you avoid Electric-type attacks... But it also limits your Dragonite's mobility quite a bit. That's why I said you're still a baby. Raichu, finish him with Brick Break!"
Raichu immediately charged over, unaware that Xiao Yan had previously given Dragonite a TM and taught him...
"Dragonite, now! Fire Punch!" Flames enveloped Dragonite's fist. As Raichu rushed in, the Fire Punch sent him flying. Raichu slammed hard into the wall, leaving a Raichu-shaped hole in it. Xiao Yan had now witnessed just how powerful this Dragonite was.
"Dragonite, pull your tail out! Dragon Claw!"
Dragonite spread his enormous wings and charged at Raichu with Dragon Claw. Raichu fainted, unable to battle any longer. Lt. Surge recalled Raichu and looked shamefacedly at the Poké Ball holding him.
"You win. This is proof that you defeated the Vermilion Gym." Lt. Surge handed Xiao Yan an orange badge.
"Congratulations. You really got my blood pumping just now. I hope you never forget the thrill of this battle." Lt. Surge took off his sunglasses and looked earnestly at Xiao Yan.
"Yes, sir!!!" With that, Xiao Yan said goodbye to Lt. Surge and walked down the road beneath the setting sun.
"Xiao Yan, you're so strong! I'm starting to look up to you." Xiao Lan kept praising him as she walked beside him. Xiao Yan felt a little embarrassed, especially since she was also stroking his head. Why does it feel like she's treating me like a little kid? Next, let's catch a ship. I kept challenging people to one-on-one battles earlier and earned a lot of money-five hundred thousand. Why does it feel like I've got a cheat? No, this is plot armor. With that thought in mind, I headed toward the next destination.
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