Red bit into a piece of bread as he leisurely sat on the ground, casting his fishing rod into the water. The rod and bait in his hands were both high-end items, so there was naturally no awkward situation of "coming up empty."
After a short while, Red reeled in many Water-type Pokémon one after another, but without exception they were all Magikarp. There wasn't a single Water-type Pokémon worth training.
Just as Red was about to give up on adding a Water-type Pokémon to his team, he suddenly sensed a powerful Aura abilities drawing near. The Magikarp that had been lingering scattered in terror, leaving only the lake's surface gradually covered by an approaching shadow.
"This kind of Aura abilities?" Red frowned. The approaching Aura abilities seemed to be mixed with an evil presence, yet it felt more like a mentality of vengeance.
Before Red could reel in his fishing rod, a blood-red figure suddenly burst out from the lake. Fortunately, Red reacted in time and stepped back several paces to maintain a safe distance.
The splashing lake water fell like fine rain. Though it would have made for a beautiful photograph, Red had no mind to appreciate it.
As the lake's surface calmed once more, a massive creature had already claimed the entire expanse. Standing at a full nine meters tall, it inspired instinctive fear. The blood-red figure conjured the image of an evil dragon in one's mind. The one now standing before Red was a blood-red Shiny Gyarados.
"This isn't an ordinary Shiny Gyarados," Red concluded. A typical Shiny Gyarados was merely red, but this one was a far more sinister blood-red. Even the pale yellow skin on its belly and sides had turned pitch black, striking terror at first glance.
The blood-red Gyarados locked its crimson eyes onto Red, as if intending to tear him to pieces. A ferocious roar echoed across the surroundings, sending countless weaker wild Pokémon scrambling in panic. Even the four Pokémon at Red's side were affected by the blood-red Gyarados' Intimidate Ability.
(Intimidate: When a Pokémon with this Ability enters battle, it intimidates the opponent, causing them to cower and lowering their Attack by one stage.)
"Looks like we've got a new companion joining us!" Red said joyfully, showing not the slightest fear at the blood-red Gyarados' appearance.
Upon hearing this, Beedrill, the team's strongest combatant, took the initiative to move to Red's side, preparing to battle the blood-red Gyarados. Charmander and the giant Onix quietly moved to the rear, intending to watch the battle between Beedrill and the blood-red Gyarados.
Pidgey looked at Beedrill with confusion, not understanding why its Trainer trusted this seemingly weak Bug-type Pokémon. It wasn't surprising—Pidgey had never witnessed Beedrill's true strength, and having once hunted Beedrill itself, it instinctively regarded the one before it as an ordinary specimen.
The blood-red Gyarados had no intention of waiting. Having identified Beedrill as its enemy, it directly fired a Water Gun from its mouth. The thick stream of water was comparable to a Water Cannon.
"Dodge," Red commanded.
The powerful Water Gun shattered the rock behind Beedrill, its terrifying force heightening Beedrill's vigilance once again.
"Twineedle!"
This time, Red directed Beedrill to use Twineedle to wear it down. Countless stingers struck the massive body of the blood-red Gyarados, once again provoking its fury.
The blood-red Gyarados spun its body and used Dragon Rage. The lake water was transformed into a swirling vortex, dispelling the Twineedle attack. Immediately after, a thick fireball shot toward Beedrill. Clearly, this blood-red Gyarados could skillfully wield two forms of Dragon Rage.
"This guy seems overly concerned about the damage from Twineedle?" Red muttered in confusion. Normally, Gyarados was a Water- and Flying-type, meaning Twineedle would only deal half damage. Red had merely used it to drain stamina, yet the blood-red Gyarados was desperately trying to defend against it.
"Could it be that its typing has been..."
Red tentatively attempted to control it with psychic power, only for the effort to be shattered by the blood-red Gyarados' roar.
"So it's Dark-type!" Red exclaimed in surprise. Only the Dark-type could completely block Psychic-type damage.
"This is definitely not an ordinary Shiny Gyarados. It must have been privately modified by some organization!" Red concluded, his gaze filled with disgust, though he also felt sympathy for the blood-red Gyarados' experience.
(That look again! That look again! You humans are all hypocritical fools!)
Red's sympathy ignited the fragile heart of the blood-red Gyarados. It lashed its tail like a raging tidal wave, accompanied by a torrent crashing toward Red's position—but Red easily evaded it.
"Is that so? It seems you're a Pokémon with a strong heart. I apologize for what I did just now!"
The blood-red Gyarados was stunned upon hearing Red's apology. It was the first time it had ever heard a human apologize to it. Yet this alone could not calm its rampaging emotions. If Red wanted it to submit, he would have to defeat it completely.
"Beedrill, use Swords Dance to boost your power, then follow up with Brick Break!" Red ordered. Through the Pokédex scan, Red had already learned that the blood-red Gyarados was Water- and Dark-type, meaning Fighting-type moves would deal double damage.
The blood-red Gyarados fired an Ice Beam in an attempt to freeze Beedrill, but the agile Pokémon easily avoided it. After completing a Swords Dance boost, Beedrill's twin stingers shone white as it struck repeatedly with Brick Break, causing the blood-red Gyarados to roar in pain.
"I don't know what you've been through, and I won't pity you, because I know you have the heart of the strong. The strong don't need pity. The strong use their own power to shatter their past nightmares!" Red slowly extended his right hand. "Come with me on the journey to become the strongest in the world, Gyarados!"
The blood-red Gyarados trembled. It had waited too long to hear those words. It had never needed pity—only someone who could make it stronger, someone who could help it take revenge.
Its rampaging emotions gradually subsided. With a resolute gaze, it looked at Red and Beedrill. Yet its pride would not allow it to be subdued so easily. Beedrill would have to demonstrate strength worthy of its respect.
"I like that personality. Beedrill, use X-Scissor!" Red commanded.
Beedrill's crossed twin stingers suddenly appeared behind the blood-red Gyarados. Clearly stirred by Red's words as well, Beedrill brought out its best state to defeat the blood-red Gyarados.
The blood-red Gyarados used Aqua Tail to strike the lake surface, raising a wall of water, then opened its jaws to unleash an even more powerful Water Cannon.
This time, Red gave no command, allowing Beedrill to fight on its own. Beedrill used Agility to evade the attack, then forcefully broke through the water column with its own strength. A decisive X-Scissor struck the blood-red Gyarados' head. The massive creature swayed, then after glancing at Red—who nodded in approval—it revealed a faint smile before collapsing.