The day after Red set out.
Wanting to do independent training, Ash's trio wandered through mountains and seas everywhere, yet achieved very little. Seeing that the Indigo League was approaching, they could only shamelessly head to Professor Oak's Laboratory, hoping to receive guidance from Professor Oak.
"So, we wanted to ask Professor Oak what kind of independent training would be best?" Brock asked sincerely.
"Yeah... tell us a good method." Ash said expectantly.
However, Professor Oak looked helplessly at the trio.
"Ash, what are you saying so leisurely for? The Indigo League opens next week!"
"Eh?!"
"Pika?!"
Ash and Pikachu cried out in shock at the same time.
"Gary and Leaf already departed long ago. Your brother Red also left for the Indigo Plateau yesterday. With your terrible habit of getting lost, I suggest you hurry and leave already." Professor Oak said leisurely.
"Oh no, I can't keep dragging this out!"
Ash hurriedly rushed out from Professor Oak's Laboratory and happened to see Delia waiting for him outside.
"Our Ash is really way too carefree!"
Delia said helplessly while helping Ash organize his backpack.
"Thank you for taking such good care of us!" Misty said gratefully.
"Thank you for everything!" Brock added.
During this period, the two of them had been staying at Ash's house and had constantly received Delia's attentive care.
"Come visit again sometime." Delia smiled.
"We're heading out!" X3
Just like that, Ash's trio turned and left Pallet Town, looking back to bid farewell to Delia and Professor Oak.
"Ash, do your best!" Delia encouraged.
...
After several days of travel, Red arrived at the path leading toward the Indigo Plateau. With about half a day more of travel, he would reach his destination.
But before that, an unexpected Pokémon battle was unavoidable.
"Come out already. I noticed you a long time ago." Red said calmly, glancing toward the rustling bushes on his left.
"I never expected your eyesight to be so sharp. This truly earns my admiration!"
After speaking, a young samurai with a braid and a wooden sword hanging at his waist walked out.
"If my guess is correct, you are also a participant in this year's Indigo League, correct?" the samurai youth said leisurely.
Red said nothing and silently nodded.
"In that case, how about a duel with me, Saizō? I secluded myself deep in the mountains to train diligently, and before participating in the Indigo League, I wish to have one final duel. What do you say?"
Saizō formally challenged Red, as if his words genuinely reflected his intentions.
Red looked at Saizō with displeasure. He knew very well what motive this guy truly had for challenging random travelers.
"If you agree by default, then allow me to explain the rules of the match. The loser must hand over all the League badges they possess. Can you accept that?" Saizō explained.
"What a childish trick."
Red frowned and prepared to turn away.
"Are you trying to avoid battling me? Losing your badges here is really no different from losing in the first round of the Indigo League."
Saizō provoked him while turning to look at Red, who was preparing to leave.
"Do you want to avoid the challenge and be called a coward by others?"
Red paused briefly and looked back at Saizō in surprise.
"I have to admit, you've got guts. Since you want a battle, then do your best to defeat me."
After speaking, Red threw out the Poké Ball at his waist. As the dazzling white light faded, Marowak appeared while gripping a thick bone club.
"Since it's Marowak, there's no way I'll lose!" Saizō declared confidently as he also sent out his own Marowak.
Marowak was an extremely battle-loving Pokémon, especially toward its own kind. Upon seeing another of its species, Saizō's Marowak immediately charged at Red's Marowak, intending to launch a fierce assault.
"Marowak, calm down first!" Saizō shouted, not expecting Marowak to lose control like this.
"What an impatient guy. Marowak, use Bone Club." Red said calmly.
Unlike Saizō's Marowak, Red's Marowak respected Red greatly. If Red did not issue an attack command, Marowak would never blindly brawl with its own kind.
Red's Marowak disdainfully watched its approaching counterpart while gripping the bone club in a sword-drawing stance.
"Gala!"
Under Saizō's horrified gaze, his Marowak was knocked to the ground in a single Bone Club strike from Red's Marowak, without even the strength left to struggle.
"So this is the extent of your ability..."
Red shook his head while Marowak also looked at its own kind with disdain.
Marowak had originally thought this would be an excellent battle, but it turned out to be nothing more than one-sided bullying, leaving Marowak deeply disappointed.
"How is this possible?! My strongest Pokémon, Marowak, was defeated in one hit?! Get up, Marowak!"
Saizō shouted, encouraging the fallen Marowak.
Whether for pride or simply unwillingness to lose to the Marowak before it, Saizō's Marowak slowly stood back up again and barely stabilized itself.
"That's it, Marowak! Keep up that spirit and use Headbutt!" Saizō ordered.
"Take Down." Red said calmly.
The two Marowak charged toward each other simultaneously, but Saizō's Marowak was clearly intimidated by the overwhelming presence of its counterpart, a trace of fear appearing in its eyes.
"Bang—"
A violent crash echoed out as Saizō's Marowak was sent flying. The impact directly created a spiderweb-shaped crater in the ground, clearly demonstrating the terrifying power of the Take Down attack.
"Pokémon battles aren't won just by shouting loudly."
Red said calmly while looking at the panicked Saizō.
"Don't worry. I have no intention of taking your League badges. Besides, you don't even have a single one on you, right?"
After speaking, Red withdrew the visibly disappointed Marowak into its Poké Ball and turned to leave.
"No, I originally had League badges too. My Marowak and I worked together wholeheartedly to collect them after enduring countless hardships. We challenged multiple League Gyms and kept whipping our nearly broken hearts onward."
"For the sake of participating in the Indigo League, we desperately gathered badges. In the end, we finally collected all eight badges and completed our special training together with Marowak."
"While descending the mountain, we were lured by fruit that suddenly appeared on the road. Unable to resist the temptation, we fell into an obvious trap and dropped into a pit, where our League badges were stolen."
(So it really was those three idiots. I can't believe someone actually got tricked into losing their League badges that way...)
Red glanced at the utterly dejected Saizō. He truly hadn't expected the guy to be such a talent. Even such an obvious trap managed to fool him, and he was even powerless to reclaim his League badges from Team Rocket's trio.
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