"Master, let's go!"
"I can't wait to watch you show everyone what you're capable of!"
Outside the hotel, Ash looked at Red with unconcealed excitement.
Although Ash had been eliminated from the tournament, it meant he now had plenty of time to observe and study Red's battles in person.
Gary and Shinji, standing nearby, couldn't help feeling a little jealous.
After all, it had been quite some time since they'd last seen their master fight at full strength.
As Swampert, Pupitar, and the others grew increasingly powerful, Red rarely used them in ordinary Gym battles anymore.
Most challengers were handled by the Gym's resident Pokémon instead.
Even then, Red still overwhelmed the vast majority of challengers with ease.
Looking at Gary and Shinji's envious expressions, Red smiled.
"You two only need to win one more match to reach the finals."
"Focus on your own battles."
"I'll have Ash record my match so you can watch it later."
Gary nodded.
"Understood, Master."
"It's a shame I can't watch your battle live, but it can't be helped."
"After all... I'm the one who won."
The instant Gary said that, the smile vanished from Ash's face.
Standing beside Gary, Shinji added,
"Yeah."
"We still have matches to fight."
"We'll leave the recording to you."
Ash's temper flared immediately.
Just as he was about to settle things with the legendary fists of a Super Pallet Town Native—
Delia and Professor Oak walked out of the hotel.
Seeing his mother, Ash instinctively became a little embarrassed.
Even so, his eyes remained firmly fixed on Gary and Shinji.
It was obvious.
Once everyone returned to the Gym, those three were going to battle each other countless more times.
Just then, Red noticed something.
"Shinji."
"You seem to be in a particularly good mood today."
For perhaps the first time in a long while, Shinji actually smiled.
"Yes, Master."
"My brother sent me a message this morning."
"He's about to challenge Brandon for the second time."
"He says he's fully prepared this time."
"He'll definitely defeat Brandon."
"When that happens, I'll win the Kanto League... and my brother will conquer the entire Battle Frontier!"
Looking at the excited Shinji, Red merely nodded.
He neither agreed nor disagreed.
Brandon...
He couldn't help recalling what had happened in the anime.
I hope Reggie wins.
At the very least... I hope he doesn't give up so easily.
He needs to set a good example for Shinji.
In the anime, Brandon had utterly crushed Reggie.
The defeat shattered Reggie's confidence so completely that he abandoned his dream of becoming a Trainer altogether.
That event also transformed Shinji into someone obsessed solely with victory.
He became cold toward Pokémon.
Almost emotionless.
While training Chimchar, he even resorted to relentless pressure tactics, pushing it to its absolute limits in hopes of awakening its extraordinary Blaze ability.
The end result?
Ash inherited all the rewards.
Thanks to Red's guidance, however, the future had already begun diverging.
What kind of person would Shinji eventually become?
Who would Chimchar end up with?
Even Red found himself curious.
Especially that unusually powerful Blaze...
He'd be lying if he claimed he wasn't tempted.
After all...
His sandstorm team already had Pupitar.
Swampert counted as half a member.
Combined with Castform's weather support, it was more or less complete.
His rain team was even stronger.
Mega Swampert served as its ultimate powerhouse, while Castform remained its premier support.
Only the sun team still lacked members.
At the moment, it consisted solely of one adorable little Ninetales.
If everything went according to plan, Red wanted his next main Pokémon to be a Fire type.
As for a hail team...
He intended to wait until Ninetales' egg hatched.
Depending on what kind of Vulpix emerged, he'd decide then.
Although Chimchar interested him...
Searching through forests in Sinnoh—or wherever Chimchar happened to live—for a single Pokémon simply wasn't worth the time.
The opportunity cost was too high.
"Besides..."
"When I accompany Ash to Charicific Valley..."
"Maybe I'll find a suitable Charmander."
Who could possibly resist Charizard?
Especially if it happened to be a shiny one capable of Mega Evolving into Mega Charizard X...
Just imagining it made Red grin.
Of course—
He could simply collect them all.
Eventually gather every Fire-type starter and let them live inside the volcanic area behind the Gym as resident Pokémon.
As a Gym Leader...
That actually sounded completely feasible.
Thinking about starter Pokémon inevitably reminded him of Professor Oak standing nearby.
...
After saying goodbye to Gary, Shinji, and Professor Oak outside the hotel, Red headed toward the Eight Gym Leader Tournament venue together with Ash, Clair, Xiaowen, and the others.
Coincidentally, Ma Zhiji and Lt. Surge arrived at almost the exact same time.
Ma Zhiji carried himself with obvious arrogance.
He casually glanced at Red out of the corner of his eye before immediately shifting his attention elsewhere.
To the spectators.
Although...
Calling them spectators wasn't entirely accurate.
Almost nobody present was an ordinary audience member.
Virtually everyone held considerable influence.
The moment they spotted the Surge brothers, numerous distinguished guests hurried over.
"Gym Leader Ma Zhiji!"
"What an honor! I'm the general manager of Dragon Power Plant..."
"Gym Leader Ma Zhiji!"
"Long time no see..."
As Ma Zhiji became the center of attention, someone lightly poked Red on the shoulder.
"Hehe."
"Gym Leader Red."
"Did you read the information I sent you last night?"
It was Joy Xue.
"Of course."
"It was extremely helpful."
While influential figures crowded around Ma Zhiji, two even more important individuals appeared beside Red.
Elite Four members Bruno and Agatha.
Bruno slapped Red's shoulder enthusiastically.
"Kid!"
"Don't spend all your time training Pokémon!"
"Building your own body is just as important!"
Agatha snorted.
Clearly, she had zero appreciation for Bruno's philosophy.
She narrowed her eyes at Red.
"The tournament's about to begin."
"Get moving."
At that moment, League Chairman Charles Goodshow called out to the two Elite Four members.
After Bruno and Agatha finally left, Red quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Only then did he finally meet his first opponent.
A young woman dressed entirely in white.
Her expression was icy.
Her complexion almost unnaturally pale.
Like a snow spirit who had wandered out of a frozen wilderness.
Just looking at her made Red feel cold.
Much like her appearance, she specialized in Ice-type Pokémon.
She was also one of the three Gym Leaders possessing a true Gym Leader-level ace.
Both Sabrina's and Joy Xue's reports had highlighted her as a priority threat.
Red remembered her name.
Mixue.
She was none other than Elite Four Lorelei's disciple.
More importantly...
Unlike Ma Zhiji's borrowed ace, Mixue's Gym Leader-level Pokémon had clearly been raised from scratch.
The bond between Trainer and Pokémon was obvious.
Very few people knew about her connection to Lorelei.
Most people present had absolutely no idea.
Only someone like Joy Xue—
The treasured heir of the Joy family—
Or Sabrina—
A Team Rocket operative—
Could obtain information like that.
Just then, Mixue noticed Red as well.
She walked over.
Her voice remained calm and cold.
"Gym Leader Red."
"Hello."
"My name is Mixue."
She extended her hand.
Red quickly accepted the handshake.
"Nice to meet you."
"Just call me Red."
His very first impression?
Her hand is freezing...
It genuinely felt like holding a snow doll.
But before he could think further—
A sharp gaze suddenly made the back of his neck turn cold.
Its owner...
Was Sabrina.
"Uh-oh..."
...
After exchanging brief greetings, the Eight Gym Leader Tournament officially began.
The opening match would set the tone.
The tournament used a 3-on-3 battle format.
The first competitors to step onto the field were the smug Ma Zhiji and another Gym Leader possessing a Gym Leader-level Pokémon.
Red remembered his name.
Xin Ze.
A specialist in Bug and Flying types.
His strength wasn't bad at all.
His ace was a Level 51 Pinsir, whose massive horns possessed terrifying offensive power.
Unfortunately for him...
His opponent was Ma Zhiji.
A Trainer commanding a Level 55 Ampharos.
An Ampharos personally raised by Lt. Surge himself.
While Ampharos wasn't especially close to Ma Zhiji...
Its combat ability was unquestionably terrifying.
Far beyond anything a Pinsir several levels weaker could hope to overcome.
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✨ Bonus Chapter Goals ✨
10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter