"Gym Leader, should we take a break? That was already the twentieth challenger today."
Watching yet another defeated trainer rush toward the Pokémon Center, Xiao Wen couldn't help but speak up.
Only then did Red realize—
Aside from Tyranitar, and Larvitar who had just hatched and wasn't ready for battle…
The rest of his Pokémon—Mudkip and Castform—were already completely exhausted. Only Poliwrath was still holding up relatively well.
Seeing this, Red nodded.
"Alright, let's call it for today."
Hearing that, Mudkip and Castform finally let out a sigh of relief.
Mudkip collapsed into a jelly-like puddle, while Castform's cloudy body thinned out—clear signs of total exhaustion.
Red smiled and walked over, placing his hands on them.
He gently massaged their sore, overworked muscles, helping them recover.
Though the battles had been intense, under Red's heavy resource investment, both Pokémon had improved rapidly.
Mudkip had reached Level 12.
Castform had reached Level 11.
Of course, it wasn't just the battles.
Red took out a portion of energy cubes, his expression showing a hint of reluctance.
The moment they saw them, both Mudkip and Castform's eyes lit up instantly!
These weren't ordinary energy cubes.
They were deep blue, like the ocean itself—vast and unfathomable.
Inside, liquid starlight shimmered, as if an entire galaxy had been sealed within. Every movement caused ripples of light like tides across a sea of stars.
They looked less like food—and more like gemstones.
This was a special formula accumulated by the Songzao Gym over generations, specifically designed for early-stage Water-type Pokémon development.
Its advantage: gentle energy, extremely easy absorption.
And this was Red's first time making such high-grade energy cubes.
The reason?
One word—expensive.
Because aside from numerous costly materials…
They required one key ingredient:
The Water-Type Permanent Evolution Stone.
That very same stone Red had used to threaten his father.
Even though Red now had Tyranitar as his ultimate trump card—
It wasn't truly his Pokémon.
He needed to raise his own team as fast—and as efficiently—as possible.
To achieve that, resources were meant to be spent.
Unspent resources were nothing more than junk in storage.
Watching the two Pokémon devour the cubes, Red smiled, gently patting their heads.
"Eat up. There's plenty. How else are you going to get stronger?"
The effects were immediate.
At a visible rate, their exhausted bodies and minds recovered rapidly.
Half an hour later—
Under Poliwrath's stunned gaze—
Mudkip and Castform's auras suddenly surged.
They leveled up again.
Seeing this, Poliwrath felt like its entire life had been a lie.
At this rate… how long before these two surpassed it?
Three months? Two?
Still, looking at the two Pokémon—barely recovered yet already thrown back into training—
Then glancing at its own carefully saved stash of energy cubes…
Poliwrath decided… this life wasn't so bad after all.
Meanwhile, Larvitar toddled over to Red, hugging a special bottle filled with mineral powder, clearly wanting to train too.
Red picked it up with a smile.
"You're still too young. Once you grow a bit more, I'll start your training."
"But when that time comes, no complaining about how tough it is."
Larvitar nodded vigorously.
Nearby, Gary was also training hard with Wartortle, Pidgeotto, and Eevee.
After Red's guidance, he had abandoned his old strategy of tailoring teams for each Gym.
Instead, he was focusing on elite training.
Red nodded in satisfaction.
Gary still had his spiky hair—but his temperament had completely changed.
Gone was the arrogance and frivolity.
He had become steady.
Under this positive competitive atmosphere, even Xiao Wen—who usually liked to slack off—joined in, training her Riolu and Togepi.
And every time Red saw her team, he couldn't help but marvel.
Togepi and Riolu—
Each was nearly as rare as pseudo-legendaries.
Yet she had both.
Still, Red had no habit of prying into others' secrets.
If she didn't say anything, neither would he.
After all—
No matter how rare they were, they were nothing compared to his Shiny Larvitar.
Just as the Gym was thriving with energy—
Xiao Wen suddenly looked up.
At the same time, Red's incomplete Viridian Power sensed something.
"Who's outside?!"
At his shout, a pink-haired head quickly disappeared from the window.
Joy Xue, who had been secretly observing, slipped and fell when she was discovered.
Rubbing her sore backside, she glanced helplessly at Chansey beside her.
"Weren't you supposed to catch me?"
Chansey waved its tiny arms apologetically.
Hearing approaching footsteps, Joy Xue quickly recalled Chansey into its Poké Ball.
Moments later, Red, Xiao Wen, and Gary arrived.
Seeing her, they were surprised.
"Miss Joy? What are you doing here?"
Joy Xue's mind raced.
"I—I…"
"I just came to take a look. Thanks to a certain Gym Leader, the Pokémon Center was almost overwhelmed today. If another Joy from a nearby city hadn't come to help, I'd have been swamped."
Red immediately looked embarrassed.
Xiao Wen giggled beside him.
Gary looked like he wanted to laugh—but didn't dare.
"Sorry about that, Miss Joy. I didn't coordinate in advance."
"I'll try to stagger challengers better from now on."
Neither Red nor Xiao Wen had Brock's keen observation skills—
Neither realized this Joy wasn't the local one.
Red extended his hand.
"Are you hurt?"
After a brief hesitation, Joy Xue took it.
"I'm fine. You can continue your training—I was just passing by."
To prove it, she tried to walk—
But the moment she did, the pain hit again.
She stumbled—and fell right back down.
Her face flushed bright Red as she clutched her backside.
Just as she wished the ground would swallow her—
A sharp, familiar screech echoed from the Gym entrance.
The sound of high-end tires grinding against the ground.
A young man stepped out of a luxury sports car—
Even more arrogant than Gary had been.
"This is the Songzao Gym?"
Seeing this scene, Red and Xiao Wen both glanced at Gary with strange expressions.
Gary lowered his head awkwardly, biting his tongue to keep from laughing.
Was I really that embarrassing back then…?
But clearly—
This newcomer was even worse.
"This is the Songzao Gym?"
"I am Meng Hua!"
"I've come—to challenge the Gym!"
The moment those words were spoken—
Gary froze.
Xiao Wen's eyes widened.
Even Joy Xue, still sitting on the ground, looked up in shock.
Only Red's gaze turned sharp.
At his waist, Tyranitar's Poké Ball trembled slightly.
Fine sand on the battlefield stirred without wind.
"Challenge the Gym…?"
◇ You can read 60+ chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ElaraVance1
✨ Bonus Chapter Goals ✨
10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter