"If you beat me first, I'll tell you," the boy in the baseball cap said with a confident grin.
"Alright, let's get started," Gary replied. He wasn't in a rush to reach Saffron City anyway, so a quick battle would help relieve his boredom.
"Okay, here we go!" The boy wasted no time and threw a Poké Ball, releasing his Pokémon onto the field.
Out came a small, purple mouse.
[LV15 Rattata♀ / Normal]
Gary sighed, shaking his head. This was exactly why he didn't want to fight street trainers—most of them were too weak.
"Scyther, you're up!" Gary called, tossing his own Poké Ball.
"Zha!!" Scyther emerged, raising its scythe-like arms in an imposing display. The mantis Pokémon made a threatening gesture, causing Rattata to freeze in nervousness. Its small frame clearly didn't stand a chance against the towering insect.
"Quick Attack!" The boy and Gary issued their commands at the same time.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Both Pokémon darted forward at incredible speed. In a split second, Scyther's Quick Attack landed with a sharp thud, knocking Rattata out cold.
Bang!
It was over just as quickly as it had begun. The boy stared, wide-eyed. "So... so strong..." he muttered, unable to believe how easily his Rattata had been taken down.
Gary called Scyther back. "Thanks, Scyther. Now, can you tell me who this Trainer you mentioned is?"
The boy recalled his Rattata and, after a pause, answered, "The man is called A.J., known as the Beast Master by nearby Trainers. He's won 77 consecutive battles so far."
Gary raised an eyebrow. A.J.? The name sounded familiar. Gary had heard about A.J. before. He had a reputation for being a tough Trainer, especially because of his strong Sandshrew. A.J. was known for his strict training methods and had made it clear that he planned to reach 100 consecutive wins before starting his journey properly.
Gary admired A.J. The dedication and strength of A.J.'s Pokémon were something to be respected. His own Pokémon, like Ash's, had a long way to go to match A.J.'s level of discipline.
But strangely enough, A.J. never showed up at the Indigo Plateau Conference. Gary couldn't help but wonder why.
[Ding! Published task: Interrupt the 100-game winning streak of Beast Master A.J./Reward: Intermediate Rare Candy (for Pokémon below level 50, level +1) x5]
A task popped up in the system, and Gary couldn't ignore it. Interrupting A.J.'s impressive streak wouldn't be easy, especially considering how much effort it had taken him to reach 77 wins. But the reward was tempting—Intermediate Rare Candies could be very useful for leveling up his Pokémon.
Still, Gary didn't want to ruin A.J.'s streak. A.J. had worked hard for this achievement, and stopping him would be a blow to his pride. But as a Trainer, Gary knew he couldn't turn down the task. Besides, winning against someone like A.J. would be a great way to prove his own skills.
"Where can I find A.J.?" Gary asked, knowing that the answer would lead him to a big challenge.
"Follow this road, and you'll find the dojo built by A.J.," the boy said, pointing down the path.
"Thanks!" Gary nodded, grateful for the information. He hopped onto his mountain bike and rode down the indicated road. It wasn't long before he saw a wooden fence.
"Wartortle, come out for a moment," Gary said, releasing Wartortle from its Poké Ball.
"Kami?" Wartortle looked around, noticing there were no enemies in sight. It was confused, unsure why Gary had called it out.
Gary smiled and gently patted Wartortle's head. "I'm going to face A.J. soon. I want to help you improve your strength for the battle."
With that, Gary used a low-level Rare Candy on Wartortle.
Wartortle LV22 → LV30!
Wartortle's level surged to 30 in an instant. Gary checked its stats to see if any new skills had been awakened.
Pokémon: Wartortle♂
Attribute: Water
Level: LV30
Potential: Champion
Ability: Torrent (Power of Water-type moves increases when HP is low.)
Skills: Tackle, Tail Whip, Water Gun, Shell Smash, Rapid Spin, Water Pulse, Protect, Rain Dance.
Professor Skill: Water Stream Burst.
Intimacy: 255 (max)
Gary noticed that Wartortle had learned Rain Dance, which was a useful support move. While Wartortle had yet to learn Aqua Tail, its new skill, Water Stream Burst, was much more powerful. Aqua Tail wasn't necessary for this battle.
"Wartortle, you're ready. Do your best in the upcoming fight!" Gary said, handing his Pokémon the Mystic Water to boost its Water-type moves.
He felt confident. A.J.'s Sandshrew might be strong, but with Wartortle's improved abilities, Gary believed it could stand its ground.
Gary recalled Wartortle and rode his mountain bike up to the entrance of the dojo. There, he saw a large electronic screen showing the current streak—78 consecutive wins. The boy in the baseball cap had been off by one win, but it was clear that A.J. had just added another victory to his impressive record.
Gary didn't rush in but instead called out, "Excuse me, is anyone here?"
After a few moments, a young man in an orange and brown shirt emerged from the dojo. His face was strong and resolute, exuding an air of confidence. This was A.J., the Beast Master.
"You don't look like a local Trainer," A.J. said, observing Gary closely.
"That's right. My name is Gary, and I'm from Pallet Town," Gary introduced himself. "I heard a lot about you from the Trainers around here. They say you're very powerful, so I came here to challenge you."
A.J. smiled warmly, his demeanor calm but sure. "No problem. Come on in."
Gary followed A.J. into the dojo, which was surprisingly simple. A mud-built arena stood at the center, surrounded by a large tent. While the setup wasn't extravagant, it was clear that A.J. had created a space that was both practical and functional for his training purposes.
Gary couldn't help but admire the setup. A.J. had clearly invested a lot into this dojo, and it was a testament to his dedication to his Pokémon. Despite the simplicity of the place, it was clear that A.J. was serious about his craft.
The tent, Gary noticed, was probably a place for Pokémon training. Though it looked basic, it was likely equipped with everything needed for intense practice.
Gary wondered about A.J.'s future plans. Once he reached his goal of 100 consecutive wins, A.J. would probably leave this place to embark on a journey for badges. At that point, this dojo would likely be abandoned, which seemed like a waste of resources. Still, A.J. seemed confident in his path.
Gary wasn't here to discuss A.J.'s future, though. He was here to challenge him—and he wasn't going to back down.
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