"Wait a second! According to this schedule, why is my Vermilion Gym in the last batch of Gyms approved for Dynamax?"
"We're willing to pay for it too!"
"This is completely unfair!"
Looking at the furious Ma Zhiji, the League staff exchanged glances before one of them replied perfunctorily,
"Maybe your Gym's recent review score has been a bit low?"
"What?! Low reviews?"
"Those people actually left me bad ratings?!"
Ma Zhiji immediately gritted his teeth in anger.
Especially when he imagined a future where every Gym in Kanto had a Dynamax Device except his.
The thought made him feel like ants were crawling all over his body.
Just as Ma Zhiji was stewing in frustration, a burly man arrived at Rapid Gym.
The doors swung open.
Seeing the muscular man in a green military uniform, Ma Zhiji's eyes lit up.
"Cousin!"
The newcomer was none other than Ma Zhishi—Lt. Surge—the Gym Leader of Vermilion Gym and Ma Zhiji's older cousin.
The moment Lt. Surge saw his cousin, he felt his blood pressure rising.
Especially after hearing him call out "Cousin."
Without hesitation, he smacked Ma Zhiji across the head.
"Don't call me cousin!"
"I don't have a cousin as stupid as you!"
"C-Cousin? Why did you hit me?! What did I do wrong?"
"Are you a pig?!"
"Think carefully!"
"Where do you think the Dynamax project started?!"
"You offended the inventor of the Dynamax Device and still expect to get priority testing access?"
"Why don't you just go dream about it?!"
Hearing that, realization finally dawned on Ma Zhiji.
"You mean... Red?!"
"Exactly!"
"You already failed as a Gym Leader by bullying rookie trainers all day!"
"And then you had to go and offend that little monster!"
"Now not only has your Gym lost Dynamax privileges, you've dragged me down too!"
"How did our family produce someone this stupid?!"
The more Lt. Surge thought about it, the angrier he became.
He grabbed his belt and started whipping Ma Zhiji.
"AHHH! Cousin! I was wrong! I was wrong!"
"But I'm the one who offended him!"
"Why are you getting dragged into this too?"
That only made the belt swing faster.
"Because everyone in the League knows you're one of my people!"
"If Red was willing to give me Dynamax access after what you did, that would be the miracle!"
"It's all my fault!"
"I dragged you down too, Cousin!"
Seeing his cousin finally realize the consequences, Lt. Surge sighed helplessly.
"So what do we do now?"
"Should I go apologize to him?"
"But even if I apologize, will I get Dynamax access?"
Lt. Surge shook his head.
"Apologies won't fix this."
"There's only one solution."
"You have to defeat Red in the Eight Gym Selection Tournament."
"Become one of the Eight Major Gyms."
"Then the two of us can work together."
"Maybe we won't be able to crush him, but at least we can protect ourselves."
Ma Zhiji looked embarrassed.
"But... Cousin..."
"I'm not his opponent."
"Even after using Dynamax, his Marshtomp still beat my Electabuzz."
"You useless idiot!"
Lt. Surge kicked him in the shin.
"I told you not to slack off after becoming a Gym Leader!"
Watching Ma Zhiji kneel and apologize repeatedly, Lt. Surge finally sighed.
"Forget it."
"You're still my cousin."
"I'll think of something."
"Vermilion Gym is one of the Eight Major Gyms."
"We still have some resources."
"I'll lend you a Level 55 Pokémon."
"That should be enough to deal with him, right?"
"Enough!"
"Absolutely enough!"
"His strongest Pokémon are only in their thirties!"
"They'll never beat a Level 55 Gym-class Pokémon!"
Kanto Region — Indigo Plateau
Standing on the main stage of the Indigo Conference was the diminutive League Chairman, Damaranch.
With a solemn expression, he addressed the thousands of trainers who had gathered after earning all eight Gym Badges.
"Trainers!"
"Welcome to the Pokémon League Conference!"
"Welcome to Indigo Plateau!"
"This is the stage where dreams bloom!"
"The battlefield where strength is tested!"
"I can see the desire for victory shining in the eyes of every trainer standing here beside their partners."
"Now!"
"Let your passion ignite the arena!"
"Let the power of Pokémon shake the world!"
"The battles are about to begin!"
"May the strongest champion emerge!"
In the VIP spectator section, Ninetales looked around excitedly like a curious child.
"Master! Master!"
"So this is the famous League Conference?"
"It's so lively!"
"This is the first time I've ever seen so many humans together!"
Red gently rubbed her head.
"Of course."
"This is Kanto's greatest annual event."
"There's bound to be a lot of people."
At that moment, Ninetales suddenly felt a warmth spreading from her forehead.
The flame she had inherited from Moltres began to tremble.
"Huh?"
"What's happening?"
"Why is Moltres's flame reacting like this?"
Red immediately understood.
"The Sacred Flame Torchbearer is probably approaching."
"The Sacred Flame used by the League comes from Moltres."
"And not just any Moltres."
"Most likely one of the Legendary Birds from Shamouti Island."
"Oh!"
"As expected, Master knows everything!"
Ever since receiving that fragment of Moltres's flame, Ninetales had become even more dependent on Red than before.
But when the torchbearer finally appeared, Red nearly jumped out of his seat.
"Wait!"
"Why does that torchbearer look ridiculously familiar?!"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Running along the Sacred Flame pathway was a young man dressed in the official torchbearer uniform.
Gary Oak.
Above him, Ash rode on Charizard, keeping watch from the sky.
"Those Team Rocket idiots!"
"They actually dared try stealing the Sacred Flame!"
"And why are their robots so much stronger than before?!"
"And when did they get so powerful?!"
Red's mouth twitched.
"What exactly happened here?"
Just then, the missing Team Rocket trio finally sneaked back into the VIP section.
Covered in soot and dirt, they looked utterly miserable.
Red stared at them.
"Don't tell me..."
"You three actually tried to steal the Sacred Flame?"
Meowth quickly wiped dust off his face.
"N-No such thing, meow~"
Even Red couldn't help giving them a thumbs-up.
"You three should probably seek employment elsewhere."
"I don't think Mossweed Gym can handle talents like you."
After witnessing their destructive capabilities firsthand, Red decisively fired Team Rocket from the Gym once again.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations! A Gym disciple has obtained the special achievement: Sacred Flame Torchbearer.]
[Congratulations! Another disciple has obtained the special achievement: Sacred Flame Raider.]
[Sacred Flame Torchbearer: Grants 5% Fire Immunity.]
[Sacred Flame Raider: Courage +100%.]
[Evaluation: Zhao Zilong was famous for being all guts. You, however, are made entirely of Zhao Zilong.]
As Gary raised the torch and lit the giant Sacred Flame atop the platform, the entire Indigo Plateau erupted into cheers.
The Pokémon League Conference had officially begun.
Gary holding the torch.
Ash riding Charizard.
Paul standing quietly among the competitors.
And the thousands of trainers gathered there.
Every one of them felt a blazing fire ignite within their hearts.
Because everyone who had reached this place shared a single goal:
Become Champion.
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