Professor Oak nodded as Ash prepared to leave, but he didn't let him go just yet.
Instead, he walked with Ash to the door, treating Ash like a true student.
"Be careful on your journey," Professor Oak began, his voice a bit grave.
"This world... it's not as simple as it seems."
Ash blinked, looking at the professor with a puzzled expression.
"What do you mean?"
"There's a lot you don't know yet," Professor Oak said seriously.
"While the Pokémon League provides a structure of safety, there are still many unexplored and dangerous areas in this world.
If you venture too far off the paths the League has established, you may encounter things even a seasoned trainer would struggle to face."
He glanced at Pikachu, who stood alert on Ash's shoulder.
"Even gym leaders don't always make it out unscathed in certain areas. So, don't take unnecessary risks, especially while you're still inexperienced."
"Pika...Pikapi," Pikachu nodded in agreement, remembering the wild dangers it had faced before meeting Ash.
The untamed world was full of powerful and unpredictable Pokémon.
"I understand,"
Ash said, his tone serious as he took the professor's words to heart. He wouldn't risk anything foolishly until he and Pikachu had become stronger.
"Good. Now go on, and be careful. Gary's waiting for you outside.
" Professor Oak smiled, pointing towards Gary standing by the stairs, his arms crossed, clearly waiting for Ash to come down.
Ash nodded.
"Thank you, Professor." He gave a respectful bow and then turned to face Gary, who was eyeing him with a fiery gaze.
As Ash approached, Gary smirked.
"So, you got yourself a Starter Pokémon too, huh?"
His voice held a hint of pride, but there was also a serious undertone.
Gary's eyes shone with intensity, and Ash could feel the unspoken rivalry between them.
Ever since childhood, Gary had always viewed Ash as a rival.
Though their relationship was complicated, Gary had always wanted to best Ash in every possible way. Ash, on the other hand, was more focused on improving himself than one-upping Gary.
"Pikapi—!" Pikachu's cheeks sparked with tiny arcs of electricity, sensing the tension between the two trainers.
Its competitive spirit was ignited by the growing anticipation of battle.
Gary pointed confidently at Ash, his tone defiant.
"Even though Pikachu isn't what I expected, I'm still going to win! Let's settle this, Ash. This time, I'll take back all the victories you stole from me."
Ash couldn't help but chuckle at Gary's dramatic words, but they stirred something inside him too.
This was going to be his first real Pokémon battle, a moment he had only experienced through video games in his previous life.
Now, it was real — no data, no calculated turns, just instinct and strategy.
"Come on, Gary Gary! You're the best!"
Cheers erupted from the nearby fence, where the members of Gary's fan club and townspeople had gathered.
Everyone wanted to see the match between Pallet Town's two newest trainers.
Gary turned and walked to the small makeshift battlefield outside.
It was about 20 meters long and 5 meters wide — far from an official arena, but good enough for a friendly battle.
Ash took his place on the opposite side, taking a deep breath. He looked at Pikachu on his shoulder.
"Pikachu, this is our first battle. We're still getting to know each other, but I trust you. Let's do this together!"
"Pika...pika!" Pikachu nodded firmly and leaped down from Ash's shoulder, landing on all fours, ready to fight.
"Go, my ace, Squirtle!" Gary yelled, throwing his Poké Ball into the air with all his might.
A beam of light shot from the ball, and Squirtle, the Water-type starter of Kanto, materialized on the battlefield.
The blue turtle Pokémon blinked its large purple eyes, standing on its two short legs, its hard brown shell gleaming under the sun.
Squirtle
Type: Water
Category: Tiny Turtle Pokémon
Ability: Torrent (Hidden Ability: Rain Dish)
Torrent: Increases the power of Water-type moves by 1.5x when at one-third or lower health.
Strength: Starter level
"Let's go, Ash! I'm not holding back. Squirtle, use Water Gun!" Gary commanded, wasting no time.
Squirtle inhaled deeply, then released a powerful stream of water directly toward Pikachu. The water shot forward like a jet, aiming to overwhelm Pikachu from the start.
___________
Adios