Chapter 22: Promotion Match? I'm an Old Hand at Sniping.
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
The group was still making their way toward Vermilion City.
Ash had two Electric Mouse Pokémon perched on his shoulders. If another one stood on his head, they'd have enough for a game of cards.
Speaking of which, what was the deal with this Pikachu?
"Right, I should try this."
Something suddenly occurred to him. Ash pulled out his Pokédex and gave the round-faced Pikachu a full-body scan.
"Pokedex Beep. Pikachu, a dime-a-dozen Electric Mouse Pokémon. Bad-tempered."
Ash smacked the Pokedex hard and reminded it:
"Hey, hey, hey, that's not what I'm asking! Give me the other stuff!"
Pokedex: "..."
After a long pause, the mechanical voice vibrated and finally gave a response.
"Pokedex Beep. Pikachu, Nickname: Pika. It is the Pokemon of the UR Level Trainer, Red."
"Red?"
Hearing this, all three of them leaned in, staring wide-eyed. None of them had ever heard of a Trainer named Red.
To be able to raise such a powerful Pikachu, he couldn't possibly be a nobody.
How could there be no mention of him in the battling world?
"Could he be a senior Trainer who has already passed away?"
"That's highly possible."
Red: "..."
"By the way, what does that UR mean?"
Ash was more interested in the other keyword. Do Trainers have English titles like this now?
"Pokedex Beep. UR Level, an extremely rare Trainer. It is the highest-tier title."
Seeing this, Ash's interest was piqued, and he eagerly asked:
"What about me, what about me?"
"Pokedex Beep. Trainer: Ash, is an SR Level Trainer."
The Pokedex reported with meticulous precision.
Hearing this, Brock and Misty beside him revealed expressions of disbelief.
Although they didn't know who was bored enough to create this ranking from the void, they had played enough games to know that UR was the top tier, followed by SSR.
And below that was SR.
Super rare.
Even though it was third, there was still a huge pile of Fodder titles below it. Being third was already an incredibly high rank, especially since Ash was still a Novice Trainer.
"Am I really that amazing...?"
Learning the full story, Ash showed a bashful expression for the first time, scratching his head, unsure of what to do.
"Actually, it's normal. I'm not trying to brag, but I am a man with two Badges, after all. This Level seems about right, hehe..."
He said, his face flushing red.
The Pokedex's voice sounded again, interrupting his self-praise with a somewhat cold and piercing tone.
"Pokedex Beep. SR: Street Rate, meaning 'a dime a dozen.' It is currently the lowest Level."
Ash: "..."
Never mind, then.
For a moment, the other two burst into laughter, and the air was filled with merriment.
However, after walking for a while, the round-faced Pikachu suddenly patted Ash's head, and its body turned into a red light, returning to its Poké Ball.
After all, not all Pokemon like to stay outside.
What if it caught rheumatism from the high-altitude wind?
A Pikachu that likes to stay outside is the real Abnormal Variant.
High-Level Pokemon are able to enter and exit their Poké Balls at will like this.
Seeing this, Ash didn't think much of it and rallied their spirits, saying:
"The harder you work, the luckier you get. Let's keep heading for Vermilion City!"
Not long after, the three arrived at a Wilderness Rocky Area.
The surroundings were empty, but in the center, a huge, makeshift fortress shaped like a Tent had been bizarrely erected. A sign hung at the entrance.
"Private Gym. Challenge me if you dare. If you're gutless, pretend I said nothing."
"Yo, you're testing my temper!"
At the sight of this, Ash's anger flared up. He planned to teach the arrogant Gym Leader of this Private Gym a good lesson.
"Wait a minute, Ash..."
Brock quickly pulled him back, pointing to the words below the sign.
"99-win Streak"!
However, it had been crossed out with a red pen, and next to it was a new "99-win Streak."
Seeing this, Ash's expression turned grim, and he swallowed hard.
He hadn't even had 9 Battles since he started his journey, yet this person already had a 99-win Streak?
This guy's a beast.
He then took a deep breath, his anger gradually dissipating, and said in a heavy tone:
"Teacher Brock, are you telling me not to be careless? I understand..."
Brock frowned and moved his finger down one more unit.
"No, I'm telling you to read the line below that one."
Ash followed his finger and looked down, and sure enough, he saw another line of large words. The handwriting was crooked and twisted, but the strokes were heavy.
Every stroke seemed to carry endless resentment.
"Trainers from Pallet Town, crawl."
Ash: "???"
What did Pallet Town ever do to you?
"What do we do? Should we still go in? It seems this person has a huge grudge against Trainers from Pallet Town," Misty asked worriedly.
If a hothead like Ash went straight in, he'd probably introduce himself immediately.
"Hey, hey, hey, my name is Ash, and I'm a Rookie Trainer from Pallet Town."
They'd probably skip the Pokémon battle and go straight to a Trainer brawl.
"But in that case, Ash's Win Rate might be higher...?" Misty muttered to herself.
In the end, Ash still walked in.
It wasn't for any other reason than to seek justice for Pallet Town.
It held titles like Top Ten Towns in the Kanto Region, Town with the Most Potential, Key Economic Experimental Zone, and so on...
Its reputation could not be tarnished by an outsider.
Soon, a Youth with black Spiky Hair walked out of the Tent.
He held a Long Whip in his hand and wore a ferocious expression.
At his feet followed a rather sturdy-looking yellow Mouse.
"Pokedex Beep. Sandshrew, a dime-a-dozen Mouse Pokémon. Uncouth, likes to dig holes, not tasty."
The man: "..."
He glanced at the three of them, very alert.
"Where are you three from?"
"We're from Pewter City. We're city folk, good people," Ash replied smoothly, without missing a beat.
Brock: "..."
Hearing this, the other party let down his guard, though his expression was still not very pleasant.
"Hello, my name is Xiao Ming. I'm the Trainer of this Private Gym, and I'm currently undergoing Training to achieve a 100-win Streak."
Misty couldn't help but ask:
"Then aren't you about to complete it? I saw on the sign that you're already at a 99-win Streak."
"That's right, just one last battle to complete my goal. What, you want to be my final prey?"
Xiao Ming's gaze swept over to Misty. His sharp eyes made her quickly back off.
At this time, Brock also quietly probed:
"Actually, we're more interested in why you want Trainers from Pallet Town to crawl. You know, Pewter City is just one, two, three, four streets away from Pallet Town."
Ash quickly added:
"Yeah, I'm just a Neutral Bystander (Netizen). The people from Pallet Town are all pretty nice, good-looking, and pleasant to talk to. Why would you want them to crawl?"
Xiao Ming: "..."
Seeing that he wouldn't be getting his 100th person anytime soon, Xiao Ming sighed, led the group into the Tent, and casually explained:
"Sigh, the story begins a week ago..."
Ash and the other two instantly switched into Spectator mode, ready for the drama.
"My Sandshrew and I made an Oath. After completing the 100-win Streak, I would officially set out on a journey to challenge the Pokémon League. When I had already completed a 30-win Streak, that man appeared..."
Xiao Ming frowned.
"He and I talked late into the night, discussing Pokémon Training methods and battle techniques, from which I benefited greatly. He was especially interested in my Sandshrew's training method and boldly reformed it, proposing the groundbreaking 'Type Disadvantage Strategy' method of raising it. It was a revelation. Now, my Sandshrew can even break through the confines of Type Effectiveness and has developed a Resistance to the Water Type."
Hearing this, all three were incredulous, thinking to themselves, was someone really dabbling in a Type Disadvantage Strategy?
And from the looks of it, he had succeeded!?
"He even made a pact with me that when I reached my 100-win Streak, he would travel and grow with me, to accomplish the great feat of Type Disadvantage battling together. I gladly agreed."
"Then, when I reached my 99-win Streak, I joyfully went to find him, telling him that I only needed one more person to complete my 100-win Streak and set out on our journey."
"It was then that he finally showed his true colors, stating that he would be that 100th person, helping me achieve my Dream..."
Xiao Ming's face instantly turned ashen.
"I didn't mind. He had always presented himself as a theorist with no Combat Power. The Pokémon he always carried with him was just an ornamental Eevee. I figured he wanted to give me a free win, so I agreed."
"When he took out a Wartortle, I started to panic a little, but it wasn't a big problem. I still believed that my dear friend wouldn't do such a cruel thing to me."
"When his Wartortle used the Move Hydro Pump and knocked out my Sandshrew in One Move, I was finally dumbstruck."
Brock and Misty: "???"
Would someone really be so bored as to wait in this godforsaken place for a week just to snipe someone's 100-win Streak Promotion Match?
Ash: "..."
Why does this feel so familiar?!
At that moment, Xiao Ming suddenly hugged his Sandshrew tightly, his resolute eyes glistening with countless tears.
In his mind, he recalled the arrogant face of that man as he left, and his ugly posture as he threw his head back and laughed.
"You didn't really think a Type Disadvantage Strategy could work, did you? I was just making it up, and you actually believed me! I'm about to die laughing, oh, ahahahahaha!!!"
The trio: "..."
This guy's a villain for the ages. Not just defeating him, but twisting the knife in his heart.
Ash couldn't help but pat his chest and say with an air of righteousness:
"So did that person say what his name was? That guy's a lost cause. I'll help you snipe him too!"
Xiao Ming collected himself and slowly replied, "Yes, he left his name at the end. He's called..."
"Ash, from Pallet Town."
The trio: "..."
Ash: "?"