Six days had passed since Eric decided to rest in Cerulean City. While Eric spent most of this time relaxing - training only from time to time, some notable things did happen.
Firstly, his system finished upgrading and became more powerful. It can now process data much faster and it's analysis ability had also improved quite a bit.
It no longer needed a Pokémon to be caught to check their energy grade. It could do so now the moment a Pokémon used a move.
Secondly, his Haunter had now absorbed 70% of the unknown fragment.
This pushed his potential from Purple to Deep Purple, and his Ghost-type energy to middle of Grade 4!
Additionally, Shadow Ball had finally reached the intermediate level - making Ghost Ball redundant.
This was yet another leap in his strength, but also increased the imbalance in his team, with Haunter pulling even further ahead of the two.
His Pokemon did level up as well.
Haunter: Lvl 36
Poliwhirl: Lvl 33
Fearow: Lvl 32
Growlithe: Lvl 5
Poliwhirl had now surpassed Fearow in level, her lower potential dragging her down.
In addition, Growlithe had now also reached maturity and entered its rapid growth phase.
He now looked about as big as a normal Growlithe, and could go into his Pokéball!
Overall, despite not training extensively, Eric's team had improved quite a bit.
Currently, Eric was in a facility called the Battle House in Saffron City, which was the largest City in all of Kanto - even bigger than Celadon.
The Battle House was a place where trainers could come and test their strength - after paying an entrance fee.
Trainers were matched randomly based on their level, and after each match, the winner would get prize money and can continue fighting, whereas the loser will have to pay the entry fee again and start from catch.
After 10 consecutive victories, a trainer could challenge a House Master - which was a trainer working for the Battle House.
Winning against him would earn the trainer a whopping million Pokedollars, and a chance to become the next House Master - if they wanted.
Currently, Eric had defeated his 9th consecutive opponent. The crowd roared out his name as he did so.
"Eric! Eric! Eric!"
Of course they did. The battle house promoted gambling, and after seeing his strength, many had bet on him to see how far he goes.
Eric didn't pay attention to any of that - his eyes focussed on another battlefield beside his.
He still couldn't believe who was standing there.
Dressed in a long Red Jacket, Dark Blue Jeans, and a Red Cap, was none other than the living legend of the Pokemon Franchise, Red!
(Look up Sygna Suit Red from Master Ex. That's what he looks like.)
Surprised? I know.
Eric was too when he saw him.
As Eric looked at him, Red did the same. Both trainers acknowledged each other.
They did not encounter one another in their challenge, both beating the House Master with ease.
After collecting their prize money, ignoring the crowd and the organisers who kept pushing them to become House Masters, both of them left the Battle House.
For once, it was Eric who approached someone first.
Still, he had no idea what to say.
So, after some deliberation, he simply asked,
"Since we didn't get a chance to battle in the Battle House, want to go at it now?"
Red didn't expect a challenge out of nowhere, but he wasn't the type to decline. If anything, he preferred battling over talking -- especially after seeing Haunter in action.
"Sure. But let's keep it a 1-on-1."
Eric agreed.
The two then headed over to an open field and stood opposite to each other.
Without further delay, Eric sent out Haunter, meanwhile Red sent out Eevee!
Eric wasn't surprised as Red had used only Eevee throughout the Battle House challenge.
Pokémon: Eevee
Gender: Female
Level: 35
Type: ??? (Erratic)
Ability: Run Away
Held Item: Soothe Bell
Potential: Purple
Energy Grade: Testing...
'It's type is unknown?'
Eric contemplated what that means. Remembering her strangeness, and what he knew from the manga, Eric could make a guess.
'If that's the case, she shouldn't be immune to Ghost-type moves...'
On paper, Eric's Haunter was stronger than this Eevee, but after watching her battle, he knew better than to underestimate either her or Red.
"Haunter, Twin Shadow Ball!"
"Eevee!"
Two incredibly powerful spheres of condensed Ghost energy shot toward Eevee, but she dodged both gracefully while closing the distance between them.
'Fast...'
Despite Haunter's Shadow Ball being at the Intermediate level, Eevee avoided every attack with ease. It looked as though Haunter would never be able to hit her.
This was the result of Red's training.
"Haunter, Clear Smog!"
"Eevee, Flamethrower!"
There it was -- the abnormality of Red's Eevee. Eric had already seen it during the Battle House challenge, so he wasn't caught off guard.
Haunter cancelled Clear Smog and dove downward to avoid the beam of fire racing toward him, but—
"Surf!"
A massive wave surged toward Haunter at incredible speed.
"Haunter, keep going! Merge with the shadows!"
Haunter quickly dashed downward and disappeared into the shadows on the ground, barely avoiding being swept away.
"Eevee, sharpen your senses and stay alert."
The battlefield fell silent, leaving only Eevee standing in the open with her eyes closed in concentration. Small sparks of electricity crackled around her body.
The silence was shattered when Haunter suddenly emerged a few meters behind Eevee and launched a Shadow Ball.
Without even turning around, Eevee leapt into the air and somersaulted gracefully, her body glowing with electricity.
A split second later, she fired an incredibly fast bolt of lightning at Haunter, who barely had time to retreat into the shadows before being struck.
"Tch-- Haunter!"
Eric immediately realized that ordinary attacks wouldn't work against this Eevee.
He hated to admit it, but Eevee was better trained than Haunter. Even her battle instincts surpassed his.
It reminded him of when he had fought Maverick's Deino.
Still, Eevee wasn't necessarily stronger.
She couldn't withstand many direct hits from Haunter, whose Ghost-type energy had already reached Grade 4.
They just needed to land one.
Suddenly, Eric got an idea.
"Haunter, fly up!"
"Don't hold back! Keep firing Shadow Balls!"
From high above, Haunter unleashed a barrage of Shadow Balls. Eevee dodged every single one, but she was never the real target.
The ground was.
The Shadow Balls slammed into the battlefield like cannon fire, tearing apart the terrain and completely changing the landscape.
Red immediately understood Eric's strategy.
'He's trying to restrict Eevee's mobility by destroying the field.'
Haunter's attacks weren't random. He was systematically destroying the battlefield in a way that left Eevee with less and less room to maneuver.
It was only a matter of time before one attack connected.
"Eevee, let's go on the offensive."
Eevee fired a Thunderbolt at the airborne Haunter, who narrowly dodged.
The battle instantly shifted from evasive maneuvering to an all-out exchange of attacks as both Pokémon relentlessly fired move after move at one another.
Haunter was still at a disadvantage. He had only managed to land one hit, while Eevee had struck him three times.
However, Haunter's single attack dealt far more damage.
In the end, the battle concluded in a draw, with both Pokémon fainting simultaneously.
But Eric didn't feel satisfied.
For the first time in a long while, he felt as though he had lost as a trainer.
Red's Eevee was more skilled than his Haunter - and she wasn't even Red's main Pokémon.
The last person who had surpassed Eric in battle sense was Maverick. But Maverick had been an experienced veteran trainer.
Red, on the other hand, was the same age as Eric and at a similar level.
"It was a good fight. Let's battle again."
Red walked up to Eric, a newfound respect visible in his eyes.
"It was."
The two trainers shook hands and exchanged contact details.
"Eev!"
Eevee trotted over and rubbed her head against Red's leg.
"Eevee?"
Red immediately understood.
A white light surrounded Eevee as she began to evolve.
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