The Next Day
Indigo League - Water Venue - Third Round
"This is the third-round battle at the Water venue! On the red trainer's platform, we have Lord Red from Pallet Town! And on the green platform, contestant Naoto from Cerulean City!"
"What rare Pokémon will Lord Red reveal this time? What tactics will Naoto employ to withstand his fierce attacks? Let's give both trainers enthusiastic applause!"
As the announcer's voice echoed through the stadium, the crowd erupted in cheers. Red's fan club hoisted massive flags, chanting his name with fervent devotion.
"Red's fan club is as intense as ever," Gary muttered from the stands, shaking his head. His own supporters didn't number even half of Red's following.
"It's weird—big brother and I aren't that different, so how come I don't have a fan club?" Ash wondered aloud, conveniently ignoring the incredulous looks from his companions.
"Ash, if you had even half of Red's discipline, you wouldn't be..." Leaf trailed off with exasperation.
Looking across at Naoto on the opposite platform, Red felt a flicker of nostalgia. He'd battled this trainer before and still remembered him clearly.
The black-haired boy with white-framed glasses and stylish black-and-white summer clothing had once challenged Red and earned his respect with genuine skill.
"I didn't expect to face you here, Lord Red," Naoto said with emotion, gripping his Poké Ball tightly. His excitement was palpable.
Their acquaintance traced back to Red's early travels. After challenging the Cerulean Gym and obtaining the badge from eldest sister Sakura, Red's blood-red Gyarados had been eager for battle. The three Cerulean sisters convinced Red to serve as a substitute gym trainer for one day.
"Ever since I lost to your Gyarados that day, I've been training relentlessly. I wanted nothing more than to stand before you again and rechallenge that battle," Naoto explained, his eyes distant with memory. That encounter with the blood-red Gyarados had fundamentally changed his understanding of what true strength meant.
"But regrettably, you vanished the next day, as if you'd never been at the Cerulean Gym at all. The other challengers who came with me were devastated."
"Your powerful display as substitute gym trainer even spawned an urban legend in Cerulean City—the 'Blood-Red Evil Dragon.' But those of us who challenged you know it wasn't legend. It was real."
Through Naoto's explanation, Red learned his actions that day had temporarily transformed the Cerulean Gym—long regarded as the weakest League facility—into the second most popular gym in Kanto.
Trainers flocked there with one purpose: to encounter the blood-red Gyarados and test themselves against it.
Unfortunately, no one had encountered the legendary Pokémon since, which troubled the three Cerulean sisters, who simply wanted to perform their water ballet in peace.
After the reminiscing concluded, the battle was ready to commence.
"Both sides may use three Pokémon. The third-round Water venue battle officially begins!"
After the announcer explained the rules, the referee rang the bell and waved the flags, signaling the match's start.
"Let's have an excellent match, Omastar," Red said.
"I'm counting on you, Seaking!" Naoto called out.
Both trainers threw their Poké Balls simultaneously.
White light burst forth, revealing Omastar with its spiked shell and razor-sharp teeth, quickly positioning itself on the Water venue's battle platform.
Simultaneously, Seaking appeared with its prominent tail fin, chest-like fins, a medium horn protruding from its head, and small fangs visible on its lips.
The moment Seaking materialized, it swiftly dove into the pool, its serious gaze locked on the Omastar radiating faint predatory menace.
"Lord Red has deployed another ancient Pokémon! This time it's Omastar, a deadly marine predator from the same prehistoric era as Kabutops. Famous for its impenetrable shell and devastating bite force, it's a truly fearsome opponent!" the announcer shouted.
Despite featuring another rare ancient Pokémon, Omastar's appearance generated notably less surprise. Evidently, some audience members had grown accustomed to Red's spectacular reveals and developed immunity to the shock factor.
Omastar touched its shell with a tentacle, looking somewhat puzzled.
Why does Kabutops get such enthusiastic welcomes when it appears?
Seeing Omastar hadn't initiated an attack, Naoto immediately seized the opportunity.
"Seaking, use Water Pulse!"
Water coalesced around Seaking's mouth, rapidly forming into a sphere crackling with vibrational energy.
Seaking launched the Water Pulse, sending it hurtling toward Omastar at tremendous speed.
"Ice Beam," Red stated calmly.
A frigid beam erupted from Omastar's mouth, instantly freezing the incoming Water Pulse into a solid ice sphere radiating cold vapor.
Omastar extended a tentacle to playfully bat the ice ball around. After growing bored, it crushed the frozen sphere between its razor-sharp teeth and swallowed the fragments.
Witnessing this display, Seaking visibly trembled, terrified its own body might be crushed just as easily by those menacing jaws.
"Seaking, don't let fear control you. I believe in your strength," Naoto encouraged firmly.
"Omastar, use Pin Missile," Red commanded.
Omastar extended multiple tentacles, unleashing countless sharp needles toward Seaking's position.
The Pin Missile barrage rushed toward Seaking like artillery fire. Fortunately, Naoto's timely warning snapped the momentarily dazed Water-type back to alertness.
Seaking dove toward the pool's bottom, narrowly evading Omastar's Pin Missile assault.
Observing Seaking submerging underwater, Red adjusted his tactics, planning to restrict the Water-type's mobility first.
"Omastar, dive underwater and use Whirlpool," Red instructed.
Upon hearing the command, Omastar immediately plunged into the pool, extending its multiple tentacles to manipulate the water currents with practiced precision.
Within moments, Seaking felt a mysterious force seizing control of the surrounding water. The powerful vortex Omastar generated had already begun trapping it in its swirling grip.