Although he felt a bit dejected, Brock still wore a cheerful smile as he joined Ryuuske in the center of the battlefield and bowed to the audience in all directions. The two shook hands, and at the same time, Brock handed over an octagonal, light gray badge.
Its design and color, much like the city of Pewter itself, were simple and unadorned—no flashy colors or decorations. It also embodied the same rocky resilience as the people who lived here.
"Thanks, Brock… The people here are really warm and welcoming. I like it."
"..."
Brock gave an awkward smile, inwardly grumbling, Of course you like it—you won and got cheered like that. Hearing the high-pitched screams from the young women in the crowd, Brock felt a twinge of jealousy. I've fought in so many Gym battles in this very arena and never got that kind of reception… Why aren't there any cute girls screaming that they want to have my babies?
Damn this shallow, looks-obsessed world!
Ryuuske curiously touched the badge after receiving it, prompting Brock to explain, "...The original badge isn't actually a product of this era. It's said to come from ancient times—or even an earlier civilization.
The original badge is a symbol of the Gym Leader's identity. When a new Leader takes over, they inherit that badge. The ones given to Trainers are replicas made by the League using special metals, making them nearly impossible to forge."
"I see. I thought this thing would boost a Pokémon's power or something."
Ryuuske spoke with a bit of disappointment.
"Haha, the original badge is said to have some kind of special power, but the League still hasn't figured out exactly what it does. As for increasing a Pokémon's strength—just training hard is enough. If you're looking for shortcuts, then there's no future in it!"
Brock wasn't a genius; he'd gotten this far through hard work. That's why he really respected people like Ryuuske—someone who dared to train in the wild right after starting his journey. He patted Ryuuske's shoulder and offered his words sincerely, worried that the younger Trainer might be tempted by the wrong paths.
"I already know that without you telling me."
"..."
Shot down in one sentence, Brock gave an awkward smile again. How should I describe this guy? Sometimes he's really polite, and other times he doesn't give you any face at all.
"Alright then, I've still got seven more matches to go. Ryuuske, you can watch from the challengers' seats if you'd like. Or, if you're tired, feel free to rest. You're heading to Cerulean City next, right?"
"Yeah, I plan to rest here for two days, then head east. I'll train in Mt. Moon a bit before going to Cerulean."
Ryuuske chatted a bit more with Brock, and only when he heard the announcer calling in the next contestant did he finally leave the field.
Ryuuske had a good impression of Brock—the Gym Leader was a decent person with no ill intent. Even though Ryuuske had embarrassed him a bit, the guy didn't seem to care. That alone showed he was someone worth befriending.
Afterward, Ryuuske sat in the challenger's area and watched the rest of the matches. With Ryuuske gone, the battles returned to normal. The first few were a bit dull, but the last two became three-on-three showdowns.
Brock even used his true main team. Though the challengers still lost, the matches were both entertaining and instructive—enough to make Ryuuske watch them with full focus.
While Ryuuske was participating in the Pewter Gym challenge and appearing on television screens watched by millions, reactions from all corners began to emerge.
In a detached house in the suburbs of Viridian City, a cute little girl had been sitting in front of the TV early in the morning. When she saw Ryuuske easily defeat Pewter's Gym Leader in record-breaking fashion, she cheered while lying on her bed, kicking her feet excitedly and hugging her plush toy tightly.
"Big bro is so awesome~!"
Then, she sank into a moment of gloom. She still had a few years to go before she could legally become a Trainer. Even when she did reach that age, she doubted she could become an outstanding Trainer. She just didn't believe she had the talent.
...
Meanwhile, in Pewter City itself, a handsome and aloof-looking teenager watched the Gym challenge being broadcast in every shop window on the street. He raised an eyebrow and muttered to himself, "...Wasn't he supposed to go to Viridian first before Pewter? He actually got ahead of me. Now I have to wait another week to enter the next challenge."
...
On the edge of Viridian Forest heading toward Pewter City, a dirt-covered boy in a hat looked at the live broadcast on his Pokédex. He smiled brightly and said to the electric mouse beside him, "...Pikachu, look! That's Ryuuske! He said he wanted to become a Trainer too. I didn't think he'd be ahead of me on his journey… Oh wait, that's right, you've never met him and don't know who Ryuuske is… Eh? W-Wait! Don't shock me again—aaaah!"
...
The tsundere electric mouse turned its head away arrogantly and zapped its Trainer, but it wasn't a real Thunderbolt—not even a proper Thunder Shock. It was just a mild jolt that left a tingling sensation and no lasting pain or side effects.
"Pika pi~ka~~"
Pikachu cried out triumphantly.
...
Near Cerulean City, above Mt. Moon, a charming young girl sat in a hot air balloon lifted by a Jigglypuff's balloon-like abilities. She closed her tablet, her lively eyes sparkling with interest as a silver bell of a voice echoed through the skies.
"...Eh? Isn't that the cute guy I saw at the lab?"
...
In the Rocket Team's secret base in Goldenrod City, a middle-aged man rested his hands on his chin. His gaze was calm, and his expression as solemn as the earth beneath his feet.
"...Now that he's chosen to become a Trainer, there's no room to delay. Fine, I'll handle this personally. If Mewtwo falls into the hands of a mere civilian, that's one thing. But in the hands of a skilled Trainer... I'll need to reassess the potential consequences."
He stood up, put on his coat, and slowly walked out of the chamber.
...
"Ryuuske? Hahaha… This is interesting. So very interesting!"
Massive dragon wings blotted out the sky. A lone figure rode atop the dragon, disappearing in an instant, leaving behind nothing but a shadowy blur across the horizon.
To be continued…