Chapter 78 Reaching the Pinnacle of Kanto!
"I'm really looking forward to that day."
Bai Yu took back the badge he had handed over and looked at Red.
Red had a handsome face, but his eyes burned with an intense intensity. This indomitable spirit was exactly like Ash's, but then again…
in a way, they were one and the same.
Ash's traits would naturally be reflected in Red.
"I believe that day isn't far off."
Red's tone was full of confidence, absolutely certain of his abilities.
Having just left Pallet Town for a six-month trip, he had already swept through many trainers. He firmly believed that he would stand at the highest point in Kanto.
A single defeat wouldn't affect his determination to become stronger; it would only fuel his fighting spirit. Red firmly believed that he would be the victor in the next battle.
"Red… the Pokémon you encounter in the next battle won't be as simple as they seem now."
Bai Yu said softly, walking towards Sabrina.
This time, the team he fielded was Aggron and Swampert.
Next time…
the Pokémon Bai Yu brings out will most likely be a legendary Pokémon.
A true legendary Pokémon!
"Hmm?"
Red's expression changed slightly as he looked at Bai Yu's figure.
What else was he hiding? What exactly was the third Pokémon? Besides the Spikes team, did he have other tactics? Bai Yu's words completely disrupted Red's already calm mind.
He had already gone all out in the battle, so was he holding back? "Red, are you alright?"
Gary ran up to him, a little worried about Red's condition.
In Gary's memory, Red had never lost a match; no trainer in Pallet Town was his match.
Even his grandfather gave Red high praise,
calling him a 'battle master.'
Gary had always wanted to become a trainer like Red since he was a child.
Unexpectedly, even a powerful trainer like Red lost to White Feather.
Previously, Gary had only seen the Gym Leader as someone who relied solely on tactics.
The fact that his former idol had lost to him was bound to have a significant impact on Gary's mindset.
However, the person Gary truly cared about was Red!
This defeat would undoubtedly have a negative effect on Red's mentality.
Even the once-spirited Red
was devastated after losing to White Feather. If it weren't for the encouragement from his brother, Green, and Shinji, he would have returned to Pallet Town to become his grandfather's research assistant, having long since given up on being a trainer.
Gary's appearance interrupted Red's thoughts.
He slowly came back to his senses, focusing his gaze on Gary, and softly asked, "Gary…you're also in Goldenrod City?"
Red was completely focused on the battle.
His only thought was to find his opponent's weakness, to find that sliver of hope for victory. Only then did Red notice the large number of trainers gathered around
him watching his match with White Feather. "I also came by boat from the resort island to buy some TMs in Goldenrod City." "I happened to see your match with Bai Yu in the backyard of the Pokémon Center." Gary's gaze turned towards Bai Yu when he mentioned him. To be honest, as Professor Oak's grandson, Gary's perspective far surpasses that of most trainers. How did Bai Yu, a gym leader, manage to achieve such strength? When he competed in the gym before, his Pokémon weren't as powerful as they are now. In less than half a year, he had raised his Pokémon to such a level. The Aggron from before. The Swampert on the field now . Both of those Pokémon were ones he had never seen before. Not to mention, he still had an Electivire that hadn't appeared yet. "I lost this match." A hint of fire flickered in his crimson eyes, but his heart remained resolute. "I won't lose next time. I will take that gym badge from him with my own hands." It wasn't that he had never lost a match before. On the day he left Pallet Town, he had sparred with his rival, Shigeru. In that match, Crimson lost decisively. Afterwards, Crimson and Green met many times, with each winning and losing against the other, neither willing to concede defeat, until Green met the former Crimson Gym Leader, Kikko.
That match utterly shattered Qinglv's proud spirit.
After that, Qinglv didn't win a single match. Every time he faced off, the scene of his battle with Aju would replay in his mind; that defeat had a profound impact on him.
When Qinglv finally emerged from the shadow of that defeat, Red believed he would become even stronger.
Defeat itself isn't terrible; what's truly terrible is the inability to admit defeat.
Qinglv was now trapped in this vicious cycle, unwilling to acknowledge his loss.
"Red..." Xiao Shi was slightly stunned.
This defeat hadn't affected Red at all.
He had been depressed for days after losing the match before recovering.
Red, however, had emerged directly from the shadow of defeat; this alone was enough to show the vast difference between them.
Xiao Shi wanted to offer some words of comfort, but the words wouldn't come out.
"Xiao Shi...strive to become stronger."
"I'll be waiting for you at the summit of Kanto, and Ash too..."
Red's lips unconsciously curved into a smile as he mentioned his younger brother, Ash.
He always believed his younger brother, Ash, would become an outstanding trainer.
Ash possessed boundless trust in his Pokémon, and this alone destined him for great achievements; perhaps he truly would become the Pokémon Master he had mentioned.
"Ash… I won't lose to that idiot Ash,"
Gary said defiantly, though a little nervous inside.
Not only Red, but even Gary's older brother, Green, had mentioned Ash.
Everyone said Ash would become an excellent trainer.
Gary said he looked down on Ash, but deep down he was still wary of him.
He didn't want to be overtaken by that loser.
"The match is over, we should go," Shinji said calmly.
He still had that expressionless face.
No matter the battle, it was difficult to arouse Shinji's interest.
But those who knew Shinji knew…
he just wasn't good at showing his emotions; he kept them deep inside.
"Shinji, we'll face off at the Indigo League."
"Yes."
"That'll be the time to decide the winner."
"Okay!"
"Couldn't you say a few more words?"
"Okay."
...
Saffron City, Pokémon Center.
Bai Yu handed the Poké Ball to Nurse Joy for treatment.
Bai Yu had thoroughly enjoyed the match.
In the game,
Aggron and Swampert were used to deal with the Hoenn Elite Four and Hoenn Champion Steven.
Even in the final moments, when Steven used a Mega Key Stone to evolve his Shiny Metagross, Swampert seized the last chance.
One Hammer Slam, a single, decisive blow, annihilated the Shiny Metagross.
In terms of strength, Steven in the game was stronger than Red.
In reality, the pressure Red put on Bai Yu far exceeded that of Steven in the game.
"This world is getting more and more interesting,"
Bai Yu said with a smile.
If a suitable opponent didn't appear, Bai Yu wouldn't experience the fun of this world.
Using dirty tricks for too long didn't align with Bai Yu's original intentions.
"Bai Yu... I have something to tell you..."
Just then, Naz, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke up.
One more chapter to go -
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