Pokémon: A Trainer Who Masters the Six Powers from the Start

"Finally, we're here."

Ron swallowed a piece of his homemade dried fish snack in a few quick bites, gazing at the distant city with a murmur.

In a bid to hasten their journey, Ron had led his Machamp and the others through the forest while using their intimidating aura to scare off wild Pokémon.

For the increasingly battle-hardened and eager Machamp and company, this tactic was understandably frustrating. Fortunately, they had finally arrived at Vermilion City.

Once Ron obtained Vermilion City's Thunder Badge, he planned to ramp up their battle frequency for a significant power boost—a prospect that thrilled Machamp and the others. They were eager to earn the badge and move on.

Ron pulled out his map and skillfully located the Pokémon Center, taking a moment to glance at Vermilion City's description.

Although it couldn't compare to the bustling metropolis of Saffron City or Celadon City in terms of prosperity, Vermilion City stood out as an international hub. Travelers and trainers from other regions often gathered here, providing a glimpse of diverse cultures and customs.

Perhaps as a testament to its prominence, Vermilion City boasted state-of-the-art facilities. Items like technical machines (TMs), which were rarely seen elsewhere, were readily available here.

The Pokémon Center in particular was impressive, with a much larger footprint than those in smaller towns, accommodating the influx of trainers.

After booking a room at the Pokémon Center, Ron immediately headed to the Vermilion Gym.

Compared to the Gyms in Saffron and Celadon, Vermilion Gym attracted a higher number of challengers, including many trainers from other regions.

According to League regulations, trainers from other regions were also eligible to participate in Gym battles. Whether they collected all eight badges to compete in the Indigo League was up to them.

Having registered for his Gym challenge, Ron was scheduled for a battle in three days' time.

He then made his way to Vermilion City's department store to buy new TMs for his team.

His Pokémon had already mastered the moves learned from previous TMs, so it was time to add new offensive techniques to their arsenal.

As for items like Pokéblocks and Pokémon food, Shadow had previously given Ron a generous supply, so there was no immediate need to restock.

The only thing Ron regretted was not yet finding a way to purchase top-quality Pokéblocks.

Ron had asked Matthew and Lugo for advice earlier, and they had explained that only Elite Four-level trainers could purchase premium-grade Pokéblocks through the League's internal channels.

The same was true for Team Rocket. Shadow, after being rejected by Ron, had candidly admitted that Ron currently lacked the authority to access such items.

Of course, if Ron accepted Shadow's earlier proposal, there would be no issue. Shadow had even reassured him that the offer would remain open indefinitely, should he ever change his mind.

Besides these options, there was another potential way to acquire premium Pokéblocks, but Ron had yet to find the right channels or build sufficient strength. For now, he decided to put it on hold.

After his shopping trip, Ron returned to the Pokémon Center with a pained expression.

Initially, he had only intended to purchase TMs, but then he came across the TM for Substitute.

Unlike in the games, the move Substitute in this world not only consumed a quarter of the user's maximum HP to create a substitute but also allowed the user to reposition next to the substitute. This added a defensive element akin to Protect, completely nullifying incoming damage. The only drawback was its cooldown time, which prevented consecutive use in a short period.

After spotting this TM, Ron couldn't resist visiting the item counter, where he realized that while Machamp and Nidorino already had held items, Persian and the others didn't.

To balance things out, Ron bought items for them as well:

Persian received a Razor Claw, increasing its critical-hit ratio.

Bellossom received a Miracle Seed, boosting the power of Grass-type moves.

Kirlia received a Twisted Spoon, enhancing the strength of Psychic-type moves.

The result? Ron's contribution points plummeted from over 200,000 to just 120,000.

Thinking about how he would need more items, TMs, and premium Pokéblocks for future team expansions, Ron felt as though his remaining contribution points were trembling in fear.

Returning to the Pokémon Center, Ron focused on training his Pokémon, helping them release their pent-up energy from the lack of battles.

By the afternoon, he took Machamp and the others to the battlefields for a sparring session to conclude the day's training and prepare them for the upcoming Gym challenge.

Upon entering the battle area, Ron saw trainers of all kinds locked in fierce combat.

Scanning the scene, a fiery red and bright yellow caught his attention.

"Is that Flint and Volkner?!"

After closely observing the two uniquely colored individuals, Ron exclaimed in surprise.

While others in the Kanto region might not recognize them, Ron knew exactly who they were. Based on the timeline, Flint would one day become a member of Sinnoh's Elite Four, and Volkner would become the strongest Gym Leader in the Sinnoh region.

For now, though, they were likely still traveling. But it wouldn't be long before they started pursuing their respective goals.

"Get ready, Machamp. We're about to challenge some powerful opponents again," Ron said, giving his partner a heads-up before approaching Flint and Volkner.

The chance to challenge a future Elite Four member and a future Gym Leader wasn't one Ron would let slip by.

"Hello, my name is Ron, a traveling trainer. May I have the honor of battling you both?"

"Of course!" Flint responded enthusiastically before Volkner could say anything.

"I'm Flint, and this is my friend Volkner," Flint added.

True to his fiery hair color, Flint specialized in Fire-types and had a personality as passionate as flames. His enthusiasm for battles often made him impulsive.

Seeing the well-trained Machamp beside Ron, Flint felt a surge of excitement.

With his friend agreeing so quickly, Volkner simply smiled and stepped aside to serve as the referee.

"Let's go, Houndoom!"

Although Flint's strength hadn't yet peaked, he still far outclassed Ron. Knowing Ron planned to use Machamp, Flint sent out his only mid Elite Pokémon, Houndoom.

"Get ready, Machamp," Ron instructed. "Just like I said earlier, never underestimate your opponent."

With Ron's reminder, Machamp steadied itself, though its growing battle spirit was impossible to suppress.

Houndoom (Level 45) versus Machamp (Level 41)—the battle was about to begin!

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