Chapter 63: New Bark Town! The Town Where the Winds of Beginning Blow
"New Bark Town, the town where the winds of beginning blow. Looks like we've arrived—the starting point of the Johto League journey," Ryan said, backpack strapped to his shoulders as he gazed at the distant town.
In their previous battle, Ash's Charizard had truly impressed Ryan, and Ash's various strategies had left him marveling at his rapid progress. However, Ryan had ultimately won their match. They agreed to battle again in the future before Ash departed.
Originally, Ryan had wanted to travel to Johto with Ash so he could encounter Suicune and register it in his Pokédex, which would hopefully earn him some extra income from his system rewards. But then Ryan realized he didn't have a Johto Pokédex yet, so the system hadn't issued any data collection tasks.
Therefore, Ryan had to leave early, determined to upgrade his Pokédex with Professor Elm before Ash arrived, then return to wait for him. He had his sights set on Suicune's reward!
Three Months Earlier - Training Montage
Before departing for Johto, Ryan had spent three intensive months preparing his team at his ranch...
The morning sun cast long shadows across Ryan's private training grounds as he watched Larvitar eagerly devour another pile of soil mixed with rare minerals. The little Rock/Ground-type had grown considerably since Ryan first caught it, and its appetite seemed endless.
"That's it, Larvitar! Keep eating those calcium-rich deposits," Ryan encouraged, checking his notebook where he tracked each Pokémon's progress. "According to the system data, you need to consume at least 200 pounds of soil daily to reach evolution threshold."
Larvitar chirped happily and dove into another mineral pile, its body already showing signs of the incredible strength that would define its evolved forms.
Meanwhile, across the training field, Charizard was engaged in intense aerial combat drills with a mechanical target system Ryan had installed. The orange dragon's flames burned hotter than ever, and its flight patterns had become more sophisticated during their time training together.
"Charizard, try the new combination we practiced - Flare Blitz into Heat Wave!" Ryan called out.
Charizard roared in acknowledgment, wreathing itself in flames before charging forward, then immediately transitioning into a devastating Heat Wave that melted three training targets simultaneously.
Greninja emerged from the nearby pond, having completed its underwater endurance training. The Water/Dark-type had been working on perfecting its bond phenomenon with Ryan, and their synchronization had reached new heights. Without needing verbal commands, Greninja could now anticipate Ryan's strategies almost telepathically.
"Excellent work, Greninja. Your speed underwater has increased by 40% since we started this regimen," Ryan noted with satisfaction.
But the most dramatic change was happening with Larvitar.
Two months into training:
"Larvitar, you're looking bigger every day!" Ryan observed as his Pokémon had grown nearly a foot taller. The Rock Skin Pokémon had been consuming massive quantities of soil, and Ryan could sense it was approaching its first evolution.
Larvitar's appetite had become legendary among the ranch staff. It could devour an entire mountain of earth in a single day, and its strength had increased exponentially. During sparring sessions, it could now create small earthquakes with its stomps.
One month before departure:
The day finally arrived. Ryan was conducting morning training when Larvitar suddenly began glowing with brilliant white light.
"This is it! Evolution time!" Ryan exclaimed, quickly calling his other Pokémon to witness the transformation.
The light intensified, and Larvitar's form began changing dramatically. It grew taller, more humanoid, developing the distinctive cocoon-like shell that marked its intermediate stage.
When the light faded, a powerful Pupitar stood before them, its gray shell gleaming in the morning sun.
"Pupitar! Welcome to your new form!" Ryan cheered. "But I know you're not stopping here, are you?"
Pupitar's shell cracked ominously as tremendous pressure built up inside. The Pokémon had been so well-nourished and trained that it was ready for its final evolution almost immediately.
Two weeks before departure:
The ground shook violently as Pupitar's shell finally shattered completely. From within emerged a massive, imposing Tyranitar - standing nearly seven feet tall with armor-like green hide and a crown of spikes.
"Incredible! Tyranitar, you're magnificent!" Ryan marveled at his newly evolved powerhouse.
Pokémon: Tyranitar
Level: 45
Gender: Male
Height: 2.1m
Weight: 202kg
Ability: Sand Stream
Moves: Stone Edge, Earthquake, Crunch, Dark Pulse, Rock Slide, Sandstorm
The pseudo-legendary's presence was overwhelming. When it roared, windows rattled in the ranch buildings half a mile away. Tyranitar's Sand Stream ability kicked in automatically, creating a perpetual sandstorm around the training area.
"Now this is what I call championship-level power," Ryan grinned. "With Charizard, Greninja, and now you, Tyranitar, we're going to dominate the Silver Conference."
During the final weeks of training, Ryan's team reached peak condition:
Charizard had mastered several new aerial maneuvers and could maintain Flare Blitz for extended periods
Greninja achieved perfect synchronization with Ryan, their bond phenomenon now activating instantly
Tyranitar learned to control its immense power and could create strategic sandstorms
Dragonite (recently caught) had quickly adapted to Ryan's training style and bonded with the team
Gyarados had overcome its initial arrogance and developed better battlefield awareness
Pheromosa remained as fast and elegant as ever, now with improved battle tactics
"Alright, team," Ryan announced on their final training day, "tomorrow we head to Johto. Our goal is the Silver Conference championship, and with the strength we've built together, I know we can achieve it!"
His Pokémon roared, chirped, and cried out in unison - they were ready.
Present Day - New Bark Town
Arriving at the Pokémon Center, he had Nurse Joy register his Pokédex and confirm his entry for the Silver Conference. Then, without stopping, he headed to the Elm Research Lab to meet with Professor Elm.
"Professor Elm, I'm Ryan from Pallet Town. I'm here to..." Ryan began.
"You're from Pallet Town?! Then you must know Professor Oak, right?" Professor Elm excitedly interrupted.
"Well, um, actually..."
"Professor Oak is my mentor! He was the first to approve my research thesis back then!"
"Well, I..."
"Don't interrupt me! My main research areas include Pokémon evolution, breeding patterns, and..."
Who am I? Where am I? Ryan was completely bewildered. It wasn't until he had received his upgraded Pokédex and walked a considerable distance that he remembered: he was supposed to be gathering data on Suicune!
But looking back at New Bark Town and remembering how Professor Elm had been talking at him for a full three hours, Ryan couldn't help but shudder. Professor Elm is terrifying! I can't afford to get on his bad side. Let's get out of here!
Unable to even stay at the Pokémon Center overnight, Ryan immediately set off for Violet City after dinner, even if it meant camping outdoors for the night!
"Ding. You have entered a new region, triggering the side quest: Pokémon Data Collection. You have successfully logged 93 Pokémon species, excluding legendary Pokémon from the Johto region. Reward: 10,000 points and a random Evolution Stone set. If you manage to collect legendary Pokémon data, you'll receive additional rewards," the system prompted Ryan.
He smacked his lips thoughtfully. After all, there weren't as many Pokémon species in Johto as in Kanto, so the rewards were smaller. However, there weren't any particularly rare species—just common ones. He already had quite a few at his ranch back home, so he finished cataloging a small portion quickly.
Ryan found a flat spot in the wilderness, set up camp, and released his Pokémon to rest. For the Silver Conference, Ryan could use six Pokémon: Charizard, Greninja, Pheromosa, Dragonite, Gyarados, and his newly evolved Tyranitar. Currently, Ryan had Charizard, Cosmog, Pheromosa, Dragonite, Gyarados, and Tyranitar with him. Cosmog was a legendary Pokémon—even if it evolved to its final stage, Ryan couldn't use it according to League regulations.
Charizard and Greninja were already decided core members, and now with Tyranitar's incredible power, he had his three strongest fighters ready. He was still considering his final three team members, but felt confident in his current lineup.
Honestly, Ryan thought as he watched Tyranitar casually lift a boulder twice its size, those three months of intensive training were worth every minute. Now we're truly ready for whatever Johto throws at us.
Rubbing his eyes, Ryan tightened his sleeping bag and, satisfied with his team's progress, fell into a deep sleep.
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