Heading to the Vermilion Gym

At Lorelei's house, Gary sat upright at the dining table. In front of him was a bright-eyed... Psyduck.

"So you not only solved your headache problem, but also gained psychic power far beyond others of your kind?" Gary asked uncertainly.

"That's exactly right, my dear Trainer~" Psyduck picked up an Oran Berry from the table and swallowed it whole.

"And you little fellow were actually born in the Sevii Islands~" Lorelei remarked as she packed her luggage.

"That's right, madam. In the Orange Islands near the Sevii Islands, I have a friend-a Slowking of great wisdom.

"As you know, Slowking can see just a little of the future, so I asked my friend to show me the path ahead." Blue light filled Psyduck's eyes as the Pokémon used Telepathy with effortless ease.

"I think I know which one you mean." Lorelei nodded without commenting further.

"Why me, though?" Gary still found it strange.

Psyduck sighed helplessly and looked at Gary earnestly. "My esteemed Trainer, you were born extraordinary. You're destined to keep climbing higher, and I deserve a place up there. You know-the six at the top. I'll be one of them."

"Sounds good." Gary smiled. "Then show me what you can do later."

Psyduck smoothed the three strands of hair on that head. "No problem. You'll see. Ouch! You naughty little girl, stop biting my tail!"

Behind Psyduck, Eevee stuck out her tongue adorably.

"What an adorable little girl. I think I should catch an Eevee too. I'll be staying at my old home in the Sevii Islands for a few days next. Maybe I'll come away with a beautiful Glaceon." Ever since Lorelei had learned that Ice Island back home had the right conditions for Eevee to evolve, she had been eager to expand her team.

"Are you leaving?" Seeing that Lorelei had finished packing, Gary rose as well.

"It's all right. You can rest here for a while." Lorelei glanced at the sky. It was already afternoon.

"I'd better not." Gary shook his head. "You know that soldier, Lt. Surge. I don't want him chasing me down two streets with a rocket launcher or something later."

"Pfft~ All right. Gary, here, take this." Lorelei smiled and took out a small USB drive.

"This is..." Gary took it.

"My notes on raising Ice-type Pokémon. There are tutorials for some commonly used moves in there too, like Ice Beam," Lorelei explained casually.

Gary froze for a couple of seconds, then put it away. "Have a safe trip, Lorelei."

Seeing the touched expression on the boy's face, Lorelei stepped forward and gently ruffled his short hair. "Don't get so sentimental. We'll still see each other often when we get the chance."

The hardest debt to repay is a beautiful woman's kindness... This wasn't something you could find just anywhere. These were the training notes of an Elite Four-level Trainer-and not just anyone, but Lorelei, a top Elite Four member who specialized in a single type.

If these notes were put up for sale, even a conservative estimate would put their value in the seven figures! Yet Lorelei had simply bundled up that priceless knowledge and given it to Gary.

Moved, Gary thought for a moment, then secretly spent 100 Achievement Points in the system shop to exchange for an Ice Gem.

Although it was a consumable, it was still a rarity, since Kanto didn't produce them.

Pretending to pull the gem from his pocket, Gary smiled and handed it to Lorelei. "Here, a gift in return. Don't worry, it's something you can use."

Taking the cool Ice Gem, Lorelei's lips curved upward slightly. She discreetly slipped it into the fourth-dimensional storage pouch at her chest. "Thank you, Gary. I really like this keepsake~"

After a brief, polite hug, the two left Lorelei's villa.

Lorelei was headed to the harbor, while Gary was going to the Vermilion Gym.

So one went left and the other went right. Gary stood at the intersection, listening as the clicking of her high heels faded into the distance.

"Nice chick... That's my Trainer for you." The Poké Ball at Gary's waist opened by itself, and Psyduck appeared behind him, sounding like a seasoned ladies' man.

Gary's face darkened. "How the hell did you get out?"

Psyduck gave Gary a smug look. "Is it that hard? It's my own front door. You think I don't know how to open it?"

"Come out on your own again, and I'll have Eevee bite your ass." Gary's mouth twitched.

"All right... Relax. Young man, women only slow down your sword draw.

"Especially a top-quality woman like that. You need better status-Champion, perhaps~? Get it?

"So let's find a Gym and kick the Gym Leader's ass." Psyduck spread both hands, activated Confusion, then turned into a beam of red light and returned to the Poké Ball.

Speechless, Gary rubbed between his brows. This duck was like an Alakazam living inside a Psyduck's body. It was incredibly jarring...

Before the sun set, Gary first stopped at the Pokémon Center, then headed straight to Vermilion City's Electric-type Gym.

The decor had a heavy-metal death-rock aesthetic, and the sign was a massive lightning bolt. Just looking at it made him feel numb all over.

The two delinquents guarding the entrance stepped forward and brazenly sized Gary up. "Hey, brat. This isn't a place for weaklings like you. Get lost."

Gary was so irritated he laughed, baring his teeth in a grin. "I thought Lt. Surge's place would be more orderly. I didn't expect this kind of atmosphere. What a disappointment."

"What did you say?" The two delinquents, their messy hair dyed in garish colors, immediately flew into a rage. Armed with a baseball bat and an expandable baton, they closed in on him.

"Hey, are you serious?" Gary sneered without a trace of fear. He flicked his wrist, and two Poké Balls appeared between his slender fingers.

If those two idiots dared take another couple of steps, Gary would make sure Rhydon and another horned Pokémon punched a couple of holes in their asses to teach them a lesson~

"Hey, you two, stop!" Fortunately, the Gym doors opened before Gary could act.

Lt. Surge's Gym assistant, whom Gary had seen outside the park at noon, stepped out. He was a Black man with the two China Region characters for "loyalty" tattooed on his right arm.

Apparently, this former gang leader from the Unova Region had once been a good-for-nothing who drifted through life-until he met the soldier Lt. Surge and turned over a new leaf~

Smack! Smack! After slapping both young doormen on the backs of their heads, the man flashed eight gleaming white teeth in a smile. "Mr. Gary, Gym Leader Lt. Surge has been waiting for you all day. Please come in. These two little punks just joined the Gym and don't know the rules yet. Please don't hold it against them."

Gary shrugged. There was no need to lash out at someone offering a smile, and he wasn't about to make things difficult for two young thugs who wanted to reform. "I'll let it slide for your sake, Mr. A Kou. Now, let's get to the battlefield. I hope Lt. Surge isn't in the habit of going to bed early."

"This way, please." Opening the doors and shooting another fierce glare at the underlings outside, A Kou gestured for Gary to follow him down the corridor to the Vermilion Gym's battlefield.

On the brightly lit battle platform, Lt. Surge had his head tipped back, gulping down a drink. The moment he saw Gary, he sprang up excitedly. "Hey, boy! I've been waiting ages!"

Gary glanced at the bottle in Lt. Surge's hand. "I hope you haven't had too much to drink."

Lt. Surge curled his lip and tossed the bottle aside. "It's soda water, young Gary. Alcohol affects your judgment."

Gary nodded with a hint of admiration. This hulking man had the face of a drunk, yet he was a soda-drinking soldier. The world really was a strange place.

"I'm very sorry. I had something to take care of earlier. Is it still possible to challenge you now?" Gary asked seriously.

"Of course. Boy, I am waiting for you!" Lt. Surge replied excitedly.

Gary frowned. "I am not a boy. I am a man."

"Oh-ho, you speak the Unova dialect!" Lt. Surge's eyes lit up.

"It's a required course at Rainbow University. The curriculum includes, but isn't limited to, the Unova Region's language. If you want to hear them, I also speak the China Region's language, the Alola Region's dialect, and the Galar Region's language. Bonjour~ Привет~ Hallo~" Several more languages spilled from Gary's mouth.

Lt. Surge looked utterly bewildered. "Fine, I hate brainiacs. Let's settle this with a proper battle! If you win, I'll acknowledge you as a real man-a tough man."

Gary flexed his fingers. "No problem. You've got the Badge ready, right?"

"Hahaha, of course! A Kou, go get Pix to come watch!" Lt. Surge ordered.

A Kou nodded and left.

Soon, a tan-skinned girl with well-defined muscles and short white hair ran in, carrying a Pikachu.

Yes, carrying! Without the slightest grace, the girl ran in holding Pikachu by the tail. Pikachu not only offered no resistance, but was actually trying to do pull-ups with that tail...

"This is my apprentice, Pix. She's from the Unova Region, just like me. Is it all right if she referees?" Lt. Surge asked.

"No objections." Gary spread his hands.

"All right, Pix, train later. Get over to the referee's station and keep an eye on things," Lt. Surge bellowed.

"Yes, sir!" The girl snapped to attention and saluted, then set Pikachu aside and jogged over to the referee's position.

Good grief. This girl was the most soldier-like apprentice in the whole Gym!

Pix gave Gary a curious glance and frowned. For this man, her master had actually used Charge on all three of his Pokémon yesterday-something he almost never did. She wondered whether Gary really had the skills to justify it.

With the referee in place, Gary took out his Poké Ball, and he and Lt. Surge took their positions.

Pix announced the rules in a slightly low but commanding contralto. "The Vermilion Gym challenge will now begin. The rules are as follows: each side may use up to three Pokémon. When all three Pokémon on either side are unable to battle, the other side wins.

"Only the challenger may switch Pokémon during the match. Begin!"

Gary nodded to Pix in satisfaction.

Finally, a reasonably professional referee. That alone put the Vermilion Gym ahead of the Pewter Gym and the Cerulean Gym!

Lt. Surge eagerly tightened his grip on his Poké Ball and hurled it hard. "Come on, young Gary. Show me what you can do. First up is this guy!"

"Electabuzz!" A fierce-looking Electabuzz appeared on the field, electricity crackling all over that body.

Gary bounced his Poké Ball in his hand, then flung it out. "You've had your Moon Stone. Now show me what you learned at Grandpa's place. Take the field, Nidoking!"

"Roaar!" Dust scattered across the ground as a powerfully built beast appeared on the field, muscles bulging and a sharp horn crowning that head.

It was Nidoking, back from training in the backyard-once Gary's ace attacker!

The battle had officially begun!

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