"Brother Yozora, can I travel with you?" Jun tilted her head up, blinking her eyes with a pleading look.
"That won't do. The wilds are far too dangerous for kids. Maybe when you're older." Yozora reached out and ruffled Jun's hair, then walked away under her aggrieved gaze.
Soon, he arrived at Vermilion Gym.
The moment he stepped inside, Yozora felt waves of cold, oppressive auras.
The gym itself was vast, filled with many disciples.
Those apprentices were practicing one-on-one battles, mostly using Magnemite and Voltorb. When Yozora entered, they all turned toward him in unison.
Their eyes were icy, their faces curling into cruel smiles.
"Another one with a death wish. How many is that today already?"
"Judging from his age, he's just a rookie brat. Dares to challenge Vermilion Gym without even asking around about our reputation?"
"Hey, Gym Leader! Another challenger's here for you. Come out and give him a welcome!"
The group of apprentices all looked like delinquent street punks. Their hair was dyed all sorts of colors, styled into mohawks and bizarre cuts.
"These guys… don't tell me they're Team Rocket?" Yozora muttered in his heart.
After all, he knew very well—Lt. Surge might be a Gym Leader, but he was also a Rocket executive.
Recruiting disciples under the guise of the gym, then funneling them into Team Rocket… that was hardly unthinkable.
And just by sensing their aura, Yozora could tell—even if these apprentices weren't Rocket members, they were definitely not good people. Their aura was far too dark and twisted.
Before long—
Amid the jeers of the apprentices, a towering man nearly two meters tall, with a muscular build, strode out from the inner chamber.
Golden buzz-cut hair, sharp eyes like lightning—none other than Vermilion City's Gym Leader, Lt. Surge.
"This guy…" The instant Yozora laid eyes on him, his heart shook. He could feel it—Lt. Surge's aura was frighteningly powerful.
Surge was just a human. No psychic powers, no aura manipulation. Yet his aura alone rivaled that of Senior-level, even Elite-level Pokémon…
In other words, this man's sheer physical strength had reached a monstrous level!
And beyond that, his aura wasn't just strong—it was chilling, sinister.
Truly worthy of being a Rocket executive. Not a simple man by any means.
"Oh? Little brother, you're the one here to challenge Vermilion Gym?" Surge asked with a hearty smile.
He looked for all the world like a warm uncle, sincerely eager to teach a junior.
But—
The apprentices around him all sneered knowingly.
Tch tch. The Gym Leader was pulling this act again. Friendly and cheerful on the outside, but once the match started, he was ruthless—battering his opponent's Pokémon into serious injury without a second thought.
Cruel.
The boss was just too cruel!
"Yes, it's me," Yozora replied calmly.
His even tone made the crowd of apprentices pause. Then their smirks grew sharper.
Go on, kid, keep pretending to be cool. When the Gym Leader crushes your Pokémon, let's see if you can still keep that face…
"Good. Our Vermilion Gym's battle format is one-on-three! I'll use just a single Pokémon, while you're allowed up to three!"
"And since I'm that confident, I'll even tell you in advance which Pokémon I'll use. Come out, Raichu!"
With an arrogant grin, Surge released a stocky, powerfully built Raichu onto the battlefield.
[Pokémon]: Raichu
[Type]: Electric
[Level]: Senior Peak
[Potential]: Lord-tier
[Notes]: Surge's ace Pokémon for Gym matches. Packs immense power, though its speed is limited due to forced evolution.
…
"One-on-three, huh? Pretty arrogant," Yozora frowned slightly.
He had originally thought of letting Machop and Geodude gain some battle experience.
Geodude was a Shiny, worth millions…
But considering Surge's shady Rocket background, Yozora decided it was safer not to expose it here—he didn't want Surge setting his eyes on it.
As for Machop, he had wanted to give it a try…
But facing an opponent like this Raichu? That wouldn't be training, it'd be abuse.
No point.
Soon, both Yozora and Surge stepped onto the battlefield stage.
"My Psyduck's also Shiny, so better not send it out either…" Yozora thought with a wry smile. Having too many Shinies could be troublesome.
On any other day, he wouldn't mind showing off his Psyduck or Geodude.
But here, in the Rocket man's own lair, flaunting them in his face felt unwise.
Yozora wasn't afraid, but it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. A little low profile wouldn't hurt.
With that decision made, Yozora released Pidgeot.
"Pidgeoooot!"
The majestic bird let out a fierce cry as it soared into the air, brimming with power.
"A Pidgeot?" Lt. Surge's eyes flickered with surprise.
From Yozora's age, there was no doubt he was a rookie. Yet he'd already raised a Pidgeot? That was no small feat.
His apprentices were even more shaken. Their eyes widened, sweat dripping down their faces.
"Damn it! We thought he was just a rookie, but he's got a Pidgeot?!" curses rang out among them.
They had assumed, based on Yozora's age, that the Gym Leader didn't even need to lift a finger—that they themselves could have crushed him.
Now they were glad they hadn't tried.
Against a Pidgeot, what could their little Magnemite or Voltorb possibly do?!
"Haha! Kid, I'm impressed—you've got a Pidgeot already? That's something."
Surge suddenly changed his tone, no longer calling him "little brother" but "kid," showing a sliver of respect. But then he smirked.
"Too bad, though. Seems you don't even understand basic type matchups. Don't you know? Flying-types like Pidgeot are terrified of Electric-types!"
"Raiii!" Raichu crossed its arms and nodded smugly, striking the pose of a true master.
"Heh. My Pidgeot isn't just any ordinary Pidgeot. A little electricity won't be enough to bring it down," Yozora said with a light smile.
…
…
(End of Chapter)