Viridian City
It was now dusk. With no means of transportation, Red and Ash, who was holding the injured Pikachu in his arms, hurried along the road toward Viridian City. Fortunately, they arrived in time, but Officer Jenny, who was on duty, stopped them.
It was no surprise. Recently, Viridian City had frequently suffered thefts by Team Rocket, so security had naturally been heightened. What they did not know was that Viridian City was in fact Team Rocket's base in the Kanto Region.
"Please wait. Suspicious individuals are not allowed to enter Viridian City!"
Officer Jenny stepped forward to block the two brothers from entering. Pikachu in Ash's arms was still aching faintly, which further aroused her suspicion.
"You two, if you don't have identification, according to Viridian City's regulations, suspicious individuals are not allowed inside!" Officer Jenny explained.
"There's nothing suspicious about us at all! I need to take my Pokémon to the Pokémon Center for treatment right now!" Ash said anxiously.
"Such a serious injury… how pitiful!" Officer Jenny looked at the injured Pikachu with concern, but bound by her duty, she still did not let Red and Ash pass.
"Officer Jenny, we're rookie Trainers from Pallet Town. This is my identification."
Red took out his Pokédex from his pocket and opened it. The screen displayed Red's photo. He pressed a button, and the Pokédex emitted a mechanical voice: "This Pokédex is presented to Red of Pallet Town. Do your best, Pokémon Trainer! Additionally, if the Pokédex is lost or stolen, it cannot be reissued, so please take good care of it! Message left by Professor Oak of Pallet Town!"
"This Pokédex is the best proof of a Trainer's identity!" Officer Jenny pointed at the Pokédex in Red's hand and explained to the confused Ash.
"Officer Jenny, please take my younger brother to the Pokémon Center first. I'm worried Pikachu's injuries might…" Red requested.
"I just happen to be getting off duty. I'll give you a ride on the way!"
She activated the rolling shutter door and mounted her motorcycle, preparing to take Ash to the Pokémon Center. Before leaving, she glanced back at Red.
"I didn't expect you two to be twins. If you don't look closely, it's really hard to tell!"
...
Red did not go to the Pokémon Center with Ash. Before heading there, he planned to challenge the Viridian Gym once. To keep Ash from worrying, Red agreed to meet him at the Pokémon Center that evening.
Arriving outside the Viridian Gym, it was undoubtedly the strongest Gym in the Kanto Region. Its Gym Leader was Giovanni, the mastermind behind Team Rocket, active between the League and the forces of evil.
During his tenure as Viridian Gym Leader, Giovanni secretly used the League and Viridian City to generate massive profits for Team Rocket. He also planted his confidants within the League's official ranks, continuing to pass along intelligence. It could truly be said that he had influence in both the underworld and the establishment.
"I am Red from Pallet Town. I request an official challenge against the Gym Trainer Giovanni!"
Two guards armed with giant axes stood stationed at the entrance. They exchanged glances, intending to advise Red to leave. Few rookie Trainers would challenge the Viridian Gym at the very beginning, and since it was almost nightfall, the two guards were eager to get off work early. However, just as they were about to speak, they saw the fighting spirit radiating from Red's eyes and froze for a moment.
In the end, they relented. The two giant axes struck the ground, and the massive doors behind them slowly opened.
"A challenger?" Giovanni wondered inside the Gym. When he saw Red's image, he smiled faintly. "I didn't expect to meet this boy so soon…"
Red's arrival activated the Gym's lights, illuminating the once-dark interior. After stepping onto the battlefield, he looked up at Giovanni on the second floor.
"I am the Trainer of Viridian Gym, Giovanni!" Giovanni said.
"I am Red from Pallet Town!" Red replied.
"Confident, aren't you? I accept your challenge!"
"Now, the challenger Red from Pallet Town will battle Gym Trainer Giovanni. Each side will use three Pokémon. The side whose three Pokémon all lose the ability to battle first will be declared the loser! There is no time limit! During the match, the Gym Trainer may not switch Pokémon! The official battle begins!"
The two guards outside had now become the referees and announced the rules.
"Go, Rhyperior."
Giovanni sat leisurely on the sofa upstairs, lazily sending out Rhyperior. Seeing this, Red also sent out his Giant Onix.
"I'm counting on you, Onix!"
The enormous Giant Onix's massive body nearly reached the ceiling, threatening to break through it. Upon seeing its opponent, Rhyperior snorted excitedly. Giant Onix let out a fierce roar—this was Red's entrusted first battle, and it swore to win gloriously.
"An impressive Onix. It must have been captured at Mount Hideaway. It's hard to imagine you can command such a powerful Onix. You're an outstanding rookie Trainer!" Giovanni praised, curious about Red's true strength.
(This boy's strength really is something special…)
Professor Hemlock's unauthorized dispatch of Team Rocket personnel to attack Pallet Town had naturally drawn Giovanni's attention. He did not wish to offend Professor Oak unnecessarily. After ordering an investigation, he learned of Red's existence.
Facing this exceptionally talented Trainer, Giovanni felt a momentary desire to recruit him. After all, Red regarded Beedrill as his starter Pokémon. That alone piqued Giovanni's interest.
"Rhyperior, use Drill Run!"
"Onix, use Iron Tail!"
The drill on Rhyperior's forehead spun rapidly. Giant Onix showed no fear. Its powerful tail glowed white and struck Rhyperior squarely in the face, completely undaunted by Drill Run. After a brief clash of raw strength, Giant Onix sent Rhyperior flying backward.
"Rhyperior, use Hammer Arm!"
"Onix, use Double-Edge!"
Once again, the two clashed in sheer power. Neither yielded, determined to defeat the other with brute force. Thanks to its Rock Head Ability, Giant Onix could use Double-Edge repeatedly without concern.
"Mr. Giovanni, Onix's tail isn't idle!" Red said calmly.
Giant Onix suddenly surged forward, forcing Rhyperior back several steps before delivering a direct Iron Tail strike to a vital point.
"Finish it with Stone Edge!" Red commanded.
Countless sharp stone blades, controlled by Giant Onix, rained down and completely defeated the exhausted Rhyperior.
"Roar!" Giant Onix let out a victorious cry and happily leaned toward Red. Most people would be intimidated by the cross-shaped scar on its face, but Red showed no fear and instead patted it in praise.
"Impressive strength. Your move coordination is excellent as well. It's hard to believe you're a newly debuted rookie Trainer!" Giovanni complimented, openly expressing his admiration, which made Red quietly raise his guard.
"Rhyperior is unable to battle!" the referee announced.
"This time, it's your turn." Giovanni took out a Poké Ball. A flash of white light dissipated, and a robust Nidoking appeared on the battlefield.
"Come back, Onix!" Red recalled Giant Onix and took out another Poké Ball. "I'm counting on you, Gyarados!"
Also fighting its first battle, the crimson Gyarados entered with visible excitement. It roared the moment it appeared, activating its Intimidate Ability to lower Nidoking's Attack. However, Nidoking's eyes soon turned red, its muscles bulging as it exhaled murky white breath, glaring furiously at the crimson Gyarados.
"Looks like Rivalry!" Red concluded. His crimson Gyarados was male, and Nidoking, also male, had triggered its competitive spirit upon seeing it.
(Could this Gyarados be Professor Hemlock's Experiment No. 1? I didn't expect this boy to have captured it.)
Giovanni thought to himself but felt no greed toward the crimson Gyarados. As Team Rocket's mastermind, he had seen too many rare Pokémon. Only Legendary Pokémon truly interested him now. As for experimental specimens like this, he could simply have Professor Hemlock create more.
Likewise, the crimson Gyarados had only ever stayed in Professor Hemlock's base and had only encountered Team Rocket members under him, so it had no impression of Giovanni. Otherwise, upon seeing Giovanni, it would have attacked him in a frenzy.
These hidden details were largely unknown to Red.
"Gyarados, use Hydro Pump!"
The sudden Hydro Pump nearly overwhelmed Nidoking, but Giovanni quickly issued a command. An Ice Beam froze the Hydro Pump into an ice pillar.
"Use Mega Punch!" Giovanni ordered.
Enraged, Nidoking shattered the ice pillar. Countless shards flew toward the crimson Gyarados. Just as Gyarados prepared to sweep them away, Nidoking suddenly appeared before it and landed a Mega Punch squarely on its abdomen.
Infuriated, the crimson Gyarados opened its blood-red maw and used Crunch to clamp down on Nidoking's right arm, ignoring its desperate struggles.
"Use Brick Break!" Giovanni commanded coldly, showing no concern for Nidoking's safety.
Hearing the order, Nidoking endured the pain in its right arm and struck Gyarados's head with Brick Break using its left hand. The powerful blow forced Gyarados to release its bite, allowing Nidoking to narrowly escape.
(As expected, its typing has changed. Truly worthy of Professor Hemlock…)
The crimson Gyarados's data had long been reported to Giovanni. To verify its feasibility, he deliberately had Nidoking use Brick Break. Sure enough, Professor Hemlock's modification of its typing had succeeded.
(He truly rivals Professor Oak. Such talent must be firmly kept within Team Rocket!)
At that thought, a fierce glint flashed in Giovanni's eyes. If he could not bind Professor Hemlock tightly to Team Rocket, he would not hesitate to personally eliminate this unpredictable factor.