Pokemon: The Controversial World

Section 3: The Shadow of the Cave

The air was dry and dusty on Road 3. The setting sun cast an orange glow over the rocky terrain, drawing long and menacing shadows.

I walked at a steady pace, my gaze fixed on the horizon. The entrance to the cave leading to Road 4 was not far now. I was approaching the next chapter of my journey.

That's when a familiar voice cut through the silence.

— Squirtle, show him!

I turned my head and saw Dagron, looking focused, facing an Ekans that was hissing aggressively.

The battle was nearly over.

Squirtle, his loyal starter, dashed toward the purple serpent, striking it with a swift attack. Ekans rolled over itself, struggling to get back up.

Dagron didn't waste time.

He grabbed a Pokéball from his belt and threw it with precision. The device struck Ekans, engulfing it in a flash of red light. The Pokéball fell to the ground and wobbled. Once. Twice. Three times.

Click.

Capture successful.

Dagron smiled, satisfied, and returned Squirtle to its Pokéball after a brief word of praise.

I watched him in silence.

He captured this Pokémon out of necessity, not for collection.

A Poison-type Pokémon could be a major asset in battle. Poison was a devious strategy—it weakened the opponent slowly but surely, making victory inevitable for those who knew how to use it.

Cunning, but effective.

A calculated choice.

But that wasn't what caught my attention the most.

As he tucked away his Pokéball, Dagron finally looked up and noticed me.

— You beat Brock too? he asked, visibly surprised.

I nodded.

— It wasn't an easy match, but I managed.

He flashed a confident, almost smug smile.

— For me, it was a breeze.

His tone was assured. Maybe a little too much.

I looked at him without responding immediately.

Dagron thought he had defeated Brock. But in reality, Brock wasn't playing to win.

His goal as a Gym Leader was not to crush his challengers but to evaluate them.

His role was to test the strength of trainers, to see if they were ready for greater challenges.

We never had a real chance to beat him at his full potential.

But Dagron didn't seem to realize that.

He thought he was superior.

One day, he would face an opponent who wouldn't hold back. And when that day came, the fall would be brutal.

I knew this kind of mentality. Too much confidence led to arrogance, and arrogance led to far more painful defeats.

Still, he was better than Damian.

Damian relied too much on appearances.

Dagron, on the other hand, knew how to fight.

But that wouldn't be enough if he didn't start anticipating the real obstacles ahead.

As we were about to continue our journey, something caught my attention.

A man, a little further down the path.

His appearance was… strange.

He wore shorts and a simple T-shirt, even though it was autumn and the air was getting noticeably colder in the evening. A cap covered his face, shading it enough to obscure his features.

I stopped in my tracks.

What was he doing?

He was crouched down, digging through the dirt with urgency, as if searching for something extremely valuable.

A trainer losing an item was common.

But why did his behavior seem so suspicious?

I sensed Dagron tensing up beside me. He noticed the man too, and true to his nature, he approached without hesitation.

— Hey, need some help?

The man flinched slightly. He barely lifted his head.

— No, I'm fine.

His tone was too calm. As if reciting a response he had prepared in advance.

Dagron frowned.

— What are you looking for?

This time, the man lost patience.

— Mind your own business, will you?!

His sudden aggression was genuine.

His previous answer had been rehearsed, but this one was real.

Dagron took a slight step back, surprised by the sudden tension.

— Alright, I was just asking… he muttered, frustrated.

The man ignored him.

He had just found what he was looking for.

Between his fingers was a silver Pokéball, slightly larger than usual.

I narrowed my eyes.

A special Pokéball?

Why did it look different?

The man suddenly stood up and started running toward the cave.

Running away?

My mind raced. Too many unknowns.

Who was this man?

Was he part of Team Rocket?

What was this mysterious object?

I hate leaving questions unanswered.

— I'm going into the cave.

Dagron looked at me, intrigued.

— Be careful.

He planned to stay here, probably to train his Pokémon or catch more.

Me, on the other hand…

I wanted to know what that man was hiding.

And I intended to get my answers.