A small lake at the foot of Mt. Moon.
Adrian sat for a long time, fishing out several Magikarp and Goldeen, and gaining a few energy cubes.
However, the Marill family he had been hoping for never reappeared.
"As expected, I've been stood up again!"
Adrian sighed inwardly, resisting the urge to release Gyarados and blast the fish pond, and silently reeled in his fishing rod.
Not blasting the fish pond was Adrian's bottom line as a fisherman.
Immediately after, Adrian's consciousness sank into the fishing space, looking at the two tm rewards he received when he caught Marill.
"help: A Normal-type move that helps an ally, making the assisted pokémon's moves more powerful than usual."
"Draining Kiss: A Fairy-type move that drains the opponent's HP with a kiss and restores some of its own HP."
"I didn't expect to even get 'Draining Kiss'!"
Adrian's face showed delight.
Draining Kiss is a move that combines offense and recovery, which can significantly enhance a pokémon's endurance, even allowing it to grow stronger the longer the battle continues; its importance is self-evident.
Most critically, Draining Kiss's HP recovery efficiency is 50% higher than moves like Drain Punch, Giga Drain, and Dream Eater.
According to the game, it can restore 75% of the damage dealt, and the only move that can sit at the same table with it is Yveltal's exclusive move, 'Oblivion Wing'.
This shows how terrifying it is!
As for the 'help' move, it is also quite practical in double battles or group battles, making it the best support move.
"Pichu! I'll give you two more good things…"
Adrian called Pichu over and immediately taught him these two moves.
After Pichu had fully assimilated them, Adrian then sternly said, "But next, I will put you through high-intensity battle training. You must raise your battle will as quickly as possible."
Pichu's current situation was more than enough for him to be a pet, but as a battle pokémon, he was still far from it.
"Pichu~"
Pichu clenched his fists upon hearing this and nodded solemnly.
Although he was naturally timid, deep down he also yearned to become stronger.
Just then, a couple dressed in green arrived nearby, preparing to set up a tent for a picnic and camping.
The boy among them glanced at the Pichu in Adrian's pocket, his eyes seemingly burning with fire.
He loudly proclaimed, "I am June, a Trainer from Pewter City. Are you interested in having a pokémon battle with me?"
After speaking, June threw out a poké ball.
A red light flashed, and a pokémon appeared, looking like a large gray rock with bulging rocky eyebrows, trapezoidal eyes with coffee-colored irises, and a pair of muscular arms.
It was Geodude, a Rock/Ground dual-type pokémon!
Facing the sudden challenge, Adrian raised an eyebrow, sizing up June, and thought, "This appearance… he must be one of those Youngsters in shorts or Camper-type NPC Trainers in the Pokémon world, right?"
"However, he's just right for Pichu to practice with and develop his battle will."
Adrian put away his fishing gear and stood up, meeting June's gaze, and nodded, "I accept your challenge."
...For three consecutive days, Adrian camped at the foot of Mt. Moon.
He seemed to have become a hybrid of a fisherman and a Youngster in shorts; when no one was around, he would fish for rewards to nourish his two pokémon, and when Trainers passed by, he would challenge them to train Pichu's battle will.
In just three days, Adrian challenged over a dozen passing Trainers, accumulating considerable battle experience for Pichu, especially experience in dealing with Geodude.
Pichu: Stop, Trainer!
Pewter City is full of Geodude!
"It's time to go to Pewter Gym!"
Early this morning, Adrian packed his luggage, put on his Pichu hat, and rode his beloved bicycle.
After more than an hour of cycling, Adrian finally arrived at Pewter Gym.
It was a venue shaped like a giant rock, with steel-forged gates, looking very rugged.
When Adrian arrived, the figure crouching in a nearby corner immediately stirred, though his gaze towards Adrian was somewhat unfriendly.
Seven days!
For a full seven days, this 'Fishing Dreamer' had not accepted her friend request.
Thinking of this, Clair, dressed in a handsome cloak, couldn't help but grit her teeth, her knuckles gripping the whip turning white.
She, the distinguished disciple of the Dragon Master Family, Ms. Clair, the Gym Leader of Ecrutek Gym in the Johto Region, couldn't even get a friend request accepted by a small internet celebrity with 100,000 followers—it was an utter disgrace.
Not even a Champion would be so aloof, would they?
The key was that as a Gym Leader, she was also very busy.
During these seven days of staking out in Pewter City, the phone calls from Blackthorn City had been non-stop, demanding that she return quickly to preside over the Gym, otherwise, she would face a League complaint.
However, remembering that she had a favor to ask of Adrian, Clair ultimately suppressed her anger and followed him in.
Moreover, Clair was actually quite curious about Adrian challenging Pewter Gym with Pichu.
Could Pichu really win?
"First, let's start the live stream!"
Adrian at the entrance was the first to open his phone and start streaming.
"Brothers, I've arrived in Pewter City. Next, I'm immediately starting the Pewter City Gym challenge."
Adrian greeted the camera, and the adorable Pichu also appeared from behind his head at the opportune moment, looking utterly charming.
"Time to eat, time to eat!"
"Mmm~ Pichu, Pichu, my Pichu, you're so cute. Mama loves you!"
"Hey, you shameless person in the camera, please move aside. You're blocking my cute Pichu Streamer."
...Since the live stream time had been announced in advance, there were many netizens waiting, and as soon as the stream started, a large number of bullet comments flooded in.
"Huh? Have I been stripped of my Streamer status?"
Adrian scratched his head, seeing that the netizens' attention was mostly focused on Pichu.
"Then you host it!"
Adrian seized the opportunity to hand his phone to Pichu, asking him to help co-stream for a while.
As for himself, he forcefully pushed open the steel gates of the Gym and stepped inside.
"Pi?"
Pichu, holding the phone, looked bewildered, his flustered appearance incredibly cute, which further delighted many netizens, causing the bullet comments to continuously scroll.
"Hello, I'm a Trainer here to challenge. Is anyone here?"
Adrian pushed open the door and entered the Gym, only to find the venue completely dark, seeing nothing.
Clap!
Just then, a light suddenly came on.
Under the light was a rock platform, on which sat a middle-aged man who bore a 90% resemblance to Brock, with a rugged and resolute face.
"I am Flint, the Gym Leader of Pewter Gym."
Flint sat cross-legged, his eyes unclear whether open or closed, and loudly said, "Are you today's challenger?"
"That's right! I am Adrian from Cerulean City, and this is my partner Pichu, specially here to challenge."
Adrian took back his phone, aimed the camera at Flint, while Pichu immediately climbed onto Adrian's head.
"Huh? Isn't the Gym Leader of Pewter City Brock? How did it become a middle-aged uncle?"
"Brother, your information is outdated. This uncle is Brock's father, the previous Gym Leader. Do you see his appearance? Father and son are cut from the same mold."
"That's true, with that look, a paternity test isn't even needed."
"Brock's father? The previous Gym Leader? Doesn't that mean he's much stronger than Brock?"
"Streamer, with such a powerful opponent, are you sure you still want to send Pichu out?"
...In the live stream, many netizens discussed animatedly, with quite a few even pleading with Adrian not to send Pichu out.
With a snap of his fingers, all the main lights on the ceiling of the venue lit up.
Flint leaped up, jumped to the command area of the battleground, took out a poké ball, and shouted, "Pewter Gym's rules limit it to two pokémon; the battle is lost when all are unable to battle. Is that clear?"
As soon as his voice fell, the large doors on both sides of the venue opened, and numerous rocks moved in from both sides, quickly forming a standard rock field.
"No problem! My first pokémon is him, Pichu!"
Adrian took Pichu down with his hand, patted the latter's little backside, signaling him to bravely step onto the field.
"Pi~"
Pichu nodded solemnly and stepped onto the field with renewed vigor.
After these past few days of training, Pichu's battle will had significantly improved; he was no longer so timid about battling.
"Not long ago, a Trainer with a Pikachu came to challenge, and now another Pichu has arrived. How interesting!"
Upon seeing Pichu, Flint first paused, then a playful smile appeared on his face.
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