After a few days' journey, Xiaoyan and his companions finally arrived in Vermilion City. It was a large city divided into two major districts: the Central District and the Seaport District. As they walked on the bustling streets of the Central District, they followed the map and reached the Pokémon Center.
"Rattata, hold on," a young boy with a bruised Rattata in his arms was sitting on a bench, waiting in line.
"This is the twenty - sixth one this month," murmured Nurse Joy, with a tinge of sadness in her eyes. The beds in the Pokémon Center were full of Pokémon. Some had finished treatment and were resting, while others were still waiting.
(How tragic...)
"You're a Trainer, right?" A mysterious man in black suddenly emerged, his face completely covered by a mask.
"What do you want with me?" Xiaoyan asked warily, keeping a distance and gripping a Poké Ball tightly.
"Here's this Pokémon egg. I don't need it," the man in black stepped forward and handed the egg to Xiaoyan, who took it carefully.
When someone offers you something good, first check if they're normal, and then just take it without hesitation.
"Thank you. May I know your name?"
In the blink of an eye, the man in black disappeared.
"Does anyone here know who that man in black is?" Xiaoyan asked the people around, but everyone remained silent.
"What man in black? You must be dreaming, kid. Stop making a ruckus. My Pidgeot is sleeping soundly. Shoo!" A passer - by waved them away impatiently.
"What are you so cocky about?" Xiaoyan retorted with a look of disdain, ready to argue back.
Xiaolan quickly tugged at Xiaoyan's shirt.
"Okay, I got it," Xiaoyan gently stroked Xiaolan's head. After getting their Pokémon healed, they left the Pokémon Center.
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After restoring their Pokémon's energy, it was time to challenge the Vermilion Gym.
"Boss, we've got another punching bag," sneered an apprentice of the Gym Leader as soon as Xiaoyan entered.
(They're grown men in their thirties comparing their height with a ten - year - old kid...) Xiaoyan was utterly speechless.
"Let me take a look. So the challenger is just a baby," said a tall, yellow - haired man wearing sunglasses, sizing Xiaoyan up and down before bursting into laughter.
"... I'm not a baby. My name is Xiaoyan," Xiaoyan wanted to ask if the man was blind.
"Then prove it to me, baby," said the muscular man (the Gym Leader).
"The match between Xiaoyan from Pallet Town and Vermilion Gym Leader Lt. Surge will now begin. Each side will send out one Pokémon for a 1 - on - 1 battle. Let the battle commence!" The referee waved the flag.
"Raichu, show them they're just babies," commanded Lt. Surge.
"Dragonite, it's up to you," Xiaoyan decided to use his Dragon/Flying - type Dragonite to challenge the Electric - type Gym.
"Dragonite, dig your tail into the ground," Xiaoyan immediately instructed as soon as Dragonite took the field. Raichu on the other side looked at Dragonite in confusion, not knowing what it was up to.
"Raichu, Thunderbolt," Lt. Surge saw Dragonite's Flying type and quickly commanded an Electric - type move. But the electric current flowed into the ground through Dragonite's tail.
"So you're using this method to dodge Electric - type moves... But your Dragonite's mobility has been greatly reduced. I told you, you're still a baby. Raichu, use Brick Break to finish it," said Lt. Surge.
Raichu rushed forward, not knowing that Xiaoyan had previously given Dragonite a TM, teaching it...
"Dragonite, now use Fire Punch," Fire enveloped Dragonite's fist. As Raichu charged in, it was immediately sent flying by the Fire Punch and slammed into the wall, leaving a Raichu - shaped hole. Xiaoyan was amazed by Dragonite's power.
"Dragonite, pull out your tail and use Dragon Claw," Xiaoyan continued.
Dragonite spread its huge wings and rushed towards Raichu, using Dragon Claw. Raichu lost its ability to fight and fainted. Lt. Surge recalled Raichu and looked at the Poké Ball in his hand with a look of shame.
"You win. This is the proof of defeating the Vermilion Gym," Lt. Surge handed Xiaoyan an orange badge.
"Congratulations. You've just got my blood boiling. I hope you never forget the thrill of this battle," Lt. Surge took off his sunglasses and looked at Xiaoyan sincerely.
"Yes!!!" With that, Xiaoyan bid farewell to Lt. Surge and walked on the road under the setting sun.
"Brother Xiaoyan, you're so amazing. I'm starting to admire you," Xiaolan kept praising him. Xiaoyan felt a bit embarrassed because Xiaolan was stroking his head, making him feel like a little kid. "Let's go take a boat next. I've been challenging others and earned a lot of money, 500,000. It feels like I've got some kind of cheat code, but no, it's the protagonist's aura," he thought to himself as he headed towards his next destination.
To be continued...