Hearing Red's words, Leah really couldn't move her feet.
Her two rivals were about to battle! How could she leave?
Dylan noticed Ilene looking at Red in surprise. This young man sure had guts.
They had just returned to Vermilion City, and he was already challenging him?
"Betting on a badge?"
Dylan wasn't too surprised and smiled in response.
The S.S. Anne incident didn't really affect him, and he believed Red felt the same way.
Red's eyes were blazing as he nodded.
Seeing this, Dylan couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"As a qualified gym leader, I won't refuse any challengers. So, Red."
"I accept your challenge as the leader of the Rota Gym."
Dylan looked directly into the young man's scarlet eyes, speaking clearly.
Yes, as a gym leader, he had the duty to accept any challenger's challenge, even if they weren't in the Rota Gym at the moment.
Red's lips curled slightly, though very faintly.
"Alright!! I'll be the referee for your battle! Where should we fight?"
Leah cheered, seemingly more excited than the two combatants.
"Let's borrow the battle field from Nurse Joy."
Dylan suggested. In fact, every Pokémon Center had a training field in the backyard.
It was available for trainers who came to the Pokémon Center to use for special training.
"Great! I'll go ask!"
Leah eagerly ran to the front desk.
"Miss Joy~ My two friends want to use the backyard battle field. Is that okay?"
Leah asked sweetly, her big, watery eyes giving a hint of a playful tone.
"Of course, would you like me to arrange a referee for you?"
Nurse Joy, with her pink hair and gentle smile, replied softly.
She was actually very busy at the moment because the S.S. Anne was docked, and many injured Pokémon were brought to the Pokémon Center.
"No need, thank you, Miss Joy."
"You're welcome~"
Leah thanked Nurse Joy and then turned to Dylan and Red, giving them an OK gesture.
At the Pokémon Center's backyard.
Dylan and the others arrived there. As a rest and treatment station set up by the Pokémon League for travelers, Pokémon Centers were established in almost every region, city, town, and village.
The facilities were comprehensive, and so were the battle fields. Some scattered trainers were also training there.
Choosing an unused field, Dylan and Red stood at opposite ends.
Ilene, along with Ash's group, who had heard the news, stood on the sidelines as spectators.
"Go for it, Red! Pikachu, cheer too!"
"Pika~ Chu!"
Ash cheered enthusiastically for his dear brother and even forced his electric mouse to cheer.
Pikachu rolled its eyes before reluctantly shouting.
"Brock, who do you think will win?" Misty asked curiously about the battle between the two.
"Definitely Red!"
"Family members of the combatants, please be quiet!"
Misty glared at Ash, making him shrink his neck. Misty's temper still left a shadow.
"A battle between Dylan and Red..."
Brock looked at the two standing apart, squinting his eyes in contemplation.
"Honestly, if it were before, I would have believed Red would win. You might not understand; I've never seen such an outrageous rookie trainer."
Brock gazed at the boy with pure red eyes under his hat, feeling both impressed and emotional.
"He has incredibly striking qualities. Red's absolute sincerity in battle is something I've never seen before. He's a born trainer!"
Brock's evaluation of Red was astonishingly high, but since he had battled Red, he felt qualified to say such things.
Only someone who truly and deeply loved Pokémon, loved battling, and enjoyed it immensely would possess such a quality—the passion for battle!
Brock remembered vividly that before Red, another trainer from Pallet Town had also crushed him and taken his badge.
That trainer's Pokémon were so strong they didn't seem like a rookie's. The trainer's innate arrogance and pride were unforgettable.
But that trainer was completely different from Red.
This sincerity for battle, combined with Red's monstrous talent, would undoubtedly create a terrifying trainer. Brock believed this firmly.
"The Rota Gym... I hate to say it, but I remember its reputation wasn't very good, right, Ilene?" Brock looked at Ilene, trying to be polite.
"Yes, a little over a month ago, the Rota Gym was rated one of the weakest gyms in Kanto."
Ilene spoke gently.
So it was true.
Brock nodded. He remembered because Rota wasn't far from Pewter City, so he had seen the reviews of the Rota Gym on the Kanto League's official website.
"Really? But Dylan is very strong."
Ash was puzzled.
"The Rota Gym was inherited by Dylan from his father. Back then, Dylan had just graduated from Pokémon School."
Ilene shook her head.
"At that time, Dylan only had a newly received Sprigatito and a few friendly Pokémon from his backyard."
"During that period, no matter who the challenger was, Dylan couldn't win, and the gym's reputation declined."
"No matter how hard Dylan tried, he couldn't win."
As Dylan's companion, Ilene witnessed that period firsthand. Her tone turned somber.
"..."
Ash and Brock were silent, while Misty's expression grew complex, seemingly empathizing deeply.
Why did she leave Cerulean Gym in a fit of anger? It was because she wanted to travel and train herself.
Her sisters had no talent as trainers. Though their water ballet performances kept Cerulean Gym popular, it was a gym, not a dance hall!
Challengers mocked the badge as being practically given away, which was a huge insult to a gym meant to train challengers.
So Misty traveled to become stronger and then return to revive Cerulean Gym.
"But half a month ago, it was as if Dylan had an epiphany. He became... very strong."
"He told me."
Ilene looked at Dylan in the arena with gentle eyes.
"He will make the Rota Gym the strongest gym in Kanto!"
Ilene's lips curved into a happy smile.
Ash blinked, Brock seemed thoughtful, and Misty was a bit stunned.
What could they say? They were all quite moved.
In the arena.
"Now, let's start the battle for the Rota badge! The challenger is Red from Pallet Town."
"The battle will be 4 vs. 4. If all four of the challenger's Pokémon are unable to battle, the challenge is over."
"Begin!"
Leah raised a small flag, announcing the battle rules clearly, which Dylan had just told her.
"Well said. If you want, you can apply to be a referee at my gym."
Dylan clapped his hands, not sparing any praise for Leah.
"Humph~ Of course. How much would you pay me to work for you?"
Leah crossed her arms with a proud expression.
"I'm a super-rich second generation."
Dylan couldn't help but laugh. Sorry, money was just a number to him.
"Really?" Leah doubted his words.
"My dad is the largest shareholder of Silph Co. What do you think?" Dylan casually flaunted his wealth.
"No way!" Leah was stunned and instinctively blurted out sweet words.
Wait, wasn't Dylan just a gym leader? Was he really a rich second generation?
"What?!" Misty and Brock were also surprised, while Ash didn't quite understand the significance.
Red remained silent, his sharp eyes fixed on Leah, wondering why she hadn't left the field yet.
"We can talk later; it's battle time now."
Seeing Leah's eyes gleaming as if she was about to pounce on him, Dylan laughed.
Leah blinked and then wisely left the battlefield.
Red: (ˇ︶ˇ)
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Red."
Dylan smiled at the red-eyed boy opposite him.
"Before the battle, let me formally introduce myself."
"My name is Dylan, the leader of the Rota Gym."
Dylan slowly adjusted his collar, his movements casual yet inexplicably free-spirited.
"My current specialty is the Poison type. Have you ever battled against Poison-type Pokémon?"
"Poison will leave you helpless and miserable!"
Dylan's lips curled into a smile as he took out a minimized Pokéball, twirling it deftly.
"It's not just about absolute power. Experience the fear and horror of Poison-type Pokémon!"
Facing Dylan's declaration, Red's eyes grew even brighter.
"Bring it on!"
Red slightly lowered the brim of his hat, the shadow covering his blazing red eyes, gripping his Pokéball tightly.
He couldn't wait!
Trainer Red! Here to challenge!