Gary had just decided to focus on training Squirtle as his main Pokémon. After acquiring the Silver Crown, which could enhance the potential of any Pokémon below the Champion level, he planned to use it to increase Squirtle's potential.
"System, how do I use the Silver Crown?" Gary asked, ready to boost Squirtle's potential.
[The host only needs to silently recite what kind of item to use on which Pokémon, and it will be applied automatically.]
"Then I'll use it on Squirtle," Gary said silently to himself.
[Ding! Use successful. Squirtle's potential is now increased to Champion level.]
"Not bad," Gary muttered with a grin. He knew that with this enhancement, Squirtle's potential had significantly increased, and it would allow for faster progress in training.
In the Pokémon world, the potential of a Pokémon directly influenced its growth. The potential levels are as follows: Normal (LV1–29), Elite (LV30–39), Gym (LV40–49), Quasi-Elite (LV50–59), Elite (LV60–69), Champion (LV70–79), Quasi-Legend (LV80–89), and Legend (LV90–99).
"Now that it's Champion-level potential, by the time the Silver Conference comes around, Blastoise will surely be strong enough to defeat Ash's Charizard." Gary was determined not to repeat his previous failures at the Silver Conference. His goal was clear: he wanted to win the Quartz Conference and eventually become the strongest trainer.
With his plan set, Gary prepared to leave. He had decided that Squirtle would be his primary partner for now, using both training and resources wisely.
Squirtle was still at a low level, so Gary planned to help it grow using his own methods before applying any low-level Rare Candies. The Rare Candies were useful for Pokémon below level 30, and Gary knew it would be more effective to wait until Squirtle reached level 20 before using them.
Gary had been using the system for a while, but the tasks it gave him were random. There was no clear pattern yet, and Gary still had a lot to learn. For now, he was focusing on maximizing the potential of his Pokémon.
He made his way out of his room, ready to begin his journey. As he opened the door, he saw his grandfather, Professor Oak, who was waiting for him.
"Gary, are you sure you don't want to take an assistant with you?" Professor Oak asked, his voice full of concern.
Professor Oak was fond of his grandson, which was evident from the original stories. In the past, Gary had traveled in luxury, with a special assistant and many admirers. However, this time, Gary had a different plan. Even without the system, he intended to travel on his own. He wanted to experience the joys and challenges of being a Pokémon trainer, not relying on others.
"I'll be fine, Grandpa. I want to experience the journey on my own. But I'll call for help if I run into any trouble," Gary assured his grandfather with a smile.
Professor Oak nodded but still seemed worried. "Take this," he said, handing Gary a red Pokémon Pokédex. "It's a device I developed to help trainers record Pokémon information. It will tell you about any Pokémon you encounter."
Gary took the Pokédex, examining it carefully. It was still a basic model, designed primarily for Pokémon found in the Kanto region. While it did have pictures and names of Pokémon from other regions, it lacked detailed data on those Pokémon.
"Thanks, Grandpa. This will be useful," Gary said. "By the way, why not try incorporating Rotom into the Pokédex? I've heard it can make electronics smarter."
Professor Oak blinked in surprise. "Rotom and a Pokédex? That's an interesting idea. I'll have to think about it." The idea seemed to intrigue him, and he began pondering it deeply. Gary, feeling satisfied with his suggestion, turned to leave.
As he walked out, Gary couldn't help but think that his grandfather might be on the verge of creating something groundbreaking. Rotom's ability to possess electronics and enhance their functions could revolutionize the Pokédex.
The sounds of cheering reached Gary's ears as he left Professor Oak's laboratory. He could hear the voices of the people in Pallet Town, who had gathered to send off the new trainers, including Gary, who was considered the most promising of the lot.
A group of girls, all from Pallet Town, had even come to cheer for him. As Gary pushed his mountain bike towards the crowd, they shouted excitedly.
"Go Gary! You're amazing!"
Gary chuckled to himself. "Ah, I'm still so cool," he thought, playfully flicking his bangs to draw more attention. His charisma was undeniable, especially as the grandson of the famous Professor Oak.
But Gary was no fool. He knew that these girls were enamored with his looks and status, not with him as a person. They admired him for superficial reasons—something Gary had no interest in. He wasn't looking for a girlfriend in Pallet Town; he had bigger goals in mind.
After a brief moment of admiration from the crowd, Gary turned to look around for his rival, Ash. However, Ash was nowhere to be seen. "Ash is late again," Gary muttered to himself. He wasn't surprised; after all, the delay had become somewhat of a tradition for Ash.
Gary knew that if Ash had been on time, he wouldn't have met Pikachu in the original timeline. As a time traveler, Gary was aware that the events would unfold similarly to how they had in the past. However, his goal was to ensure that he would be the one to win, not Ash.
A few moments later, Ash finally arrived, squeezing through the crowd in his signature green pajamas. Gary couldn't help but laugh. "Ash, you were late right from the start. You've already lost the first round."
Ash, still a bit disoriented from his rush, looked up and saw Gary. "Gary!" he exclaimed, recognizing his rival immediately.
Gary smirked. "You know, as my rival, you were late from the very beginning. Looks like you've lost already."
Instead of taking the bait, Ash ignored the teasing and asked, "So, Gary, what Pokémon did you choose?"
Gary was a bit taken aback by Ash's focus on Pokémon despite the ridicule. It was one of Ash's redeeming qualities: his genuine love for Pokémon, something Gary secretly admired. Still, Gary wasn't interested in talking about his Pokémon just yet.
"Instead of asking me, you should go talk to my grandfather. You're late, and there's a chance you won't even be able to get a Pokémon now," Gary teased.
Ash's face dropped in panic. "What! I'm late?!" Without wasting another second, Ash rushed toward Professor Oak's laboratory, hoping he wasn't too late to get his own starter Pokémon.
Gary watched him run off with a grin. "That's Ash for you. Always rushing headfirst into things," he thought before hopping onto his mountain bike and riding off toward his own adventure.
It was the start of a new journey, and Gary was determined to make this one his victory.