After spending the night at Brock's house, Alex woke up the next morning feeling quite refreshed. The early sunlight streamed through the small window, shining onto the dining table where Brock had already prepared a simple but warm breakfast. When the meal was over, the two stood at the door to say goodbye.
"Alex, be careful on the road," Brock said with his familiar smile, his eyes curving into thin lines—so much so that when he smiled, you could hardly see his pupils at all.
Alex returned the smile sincerely. "I will. If you ever need help, don't hesitate to contact me."
"Alright, and remember to send my regards to Professor Oak."
"No problem. Goodbye."
"Goodbye!"
The journey from Pewter City to Viridian City required Alex to pass through Viridian Forest — the most famous forest in the Kanto Region. The place was known not only for its beautiful scenery but also for the diversity of Pokémon that lived there.
Viridian Forest was like a natural maze, with countless winding paths and unexpected turns. Most of the area was covered in lush green grass, thick bushes, and the sound of leaves rustling in the wind. Bug, Grass, and Flying-type Pokémon often gathered in these parts, while Ground, Rock, and Steel-types tended to be found in the rocky hills near the forest's edge. In the small lakes hidden deep within, Water-type Pokémon swam freely.
From what Alex had read online, Viridian Forest contained many different terrains: plains, basins, dense tropical woodland, large lakes, and even sandy clearings. This diversity allowed many unique Pokémon species to inhabit the deeper areas.
Because of Brock's warning from the night before, Alex decided to let Gardevoir and Lucario out to accompany him for the entire trip through the forest. He wanted them to both relax and stay alert, ready to deal with any enemy that might appear.
Brock had once mentioned a man named Lance—someone with the rank of an Elite Four—who had easily defeated him. This made Alex realize that in this land, danger could strike at any time, and preparation was never excessive.
Still, throughout the journey, Alex didn't encounter anyone suspicious. The forest was eerily quiet, with only the sound of footsteps and the faint calls of Pokémon echoing between the treetops.
Eventually, after several hours of travel, Alex stepped out of the forest's shadow and entered Viridian City.
But what greeted him made him pause — this was not the bustling city he had imagined. Instead, Viridian looked desolate and aged.
Alex had visited many places on his travels, from tiny towns to large cities, but this was the first time he had seen a city that felt… decayed.
Compared to Pewter City, which could be considered a second-tier city, Viridian was perhaps worse than a fifth-tier one. Many houses had peeling walls, broken windows covered with old wooden boards, and only a few stores on the street remained open while the rest stood shut and silent.
In terms of size, Viridian was even smaller than Alex's hometown — Oldale Town. If it weren't for seeing people still carrying Poké Balls, he might have thought he was in a rural area on Earth in the early 1990s.
While observing his surroundings, Alex approached a man holding a small Rattata in his arms and politely asked, "Hello, may I ask where the Viridian City Gym is?"
The man immediately took a step back, his eyes filled with wariness. "Are you a traveling trainer?"
Such an overreaction surprised Alex, but he still replied with a smile, "Yes, I'm traveling in Kanto from another region."
The man relaxed a little, but his tone remained stern. "Can you show me your badge?"
"???" Alex froze for a moment. Did he really need to show a badge just to ask for directions? Still, he understood that this man must have gone through something bad to be this cautious.
Alex didn't dwell on it, simply opening his badge case to show the Pewter Rock Badge he had received from Brock.
The man examined it closely before finally letting out a sigh of relief. He muttered, "So he really is a trainer… If it were Team Rocket, they wouldn't bother challenging Gyms."
Alex heard that clearly, and his expression grew serious. For an ordinary citizen to be this on guard meant that Team Rocket had caused significant harm to the city.
The man then gave directions. "Just go straight down this road, then turn left at the fork and you'll reach the Gym. But… the Viridian Gym has been closed for years. Its leader is mysterious and rarely shows up."
Alex nodded in thanks. The Gym's closure was something he had already expected, since he knew its leader was Giovanni — the boss of Team Rocket. He only wanted to confirm the current situation.
As Alex turned to leave, the man called out, "Hey, wait a second!"
"Hm?" Alex turned his head.
"You should be careful… Team Rocket shows up here often. They're bold. Never let them see your Pokémon, or they'll take them in an instant." His voice trembled slightly. "My Pidgeot… they took it from me just like that."
Alex placed a hand on the man's shoulder, giving a reassuring nod, before leaving the street.
On the way, Alex thought to himself: Where there is light, there is shadow.
In the Pokémon world, almost every region had its own large criminal organization. In his home region of Hoenn, there were Team Aqua and Team Magma — always fighting to expand the seas or the land. In Sinnoh, there was Team Galactic, aiming to create a new world without emotions. In Unova, Team Plasma. In Kalos, Team Flare.
Compared to those organizations, Team Rocket in Kanto was far more dangerous, both in scale and in cruelty. Everything Alex had witnessed since arriving in this region was enough to prove it.
I need to grow stronger, and faster… Otherwise, I won't be able to survive in this world — a world that hides chaos beneath a peaceful facade.
Knowing that the Viridian Gym wouldn't be open, Alex didn't linger. He turned and continued down the road toward Pallet Town.