Pokemon: With Title System

Chapter 1: Two and a Half Years of Transmigration

Kanto Region

In the nature reserve, a fierce chase was unfolding.

"Damn it! How did we run into this monster?!"

The poaching leader, riding a Dodrio at full speed, roared internally, his face revealing uncontrollable fear.

He had brought six subordinates out for poaching, but now he was the only one left standing.

"Hm? I think I heard someone cursing me in their head."

A voice from behind made the poaching leader shudder. Losing his grip, he tumbled off the racing Dodrio, rolling over ten meters on the ground before crashing into a tree.

"Yikes... that looks painful." Asahi, who was pursuing from behind, teased as he looked at the poaching leader's arm bent at an unnatural angle.

"Aren't you supposed to be transferred? How are you still here?"

Despite his broken arm, the poaching leader gritted his teeth and asked. It was the biggest mystery on his mind.

He dared to poach here because he heard that this 'Demon'—infamous in the Pokémon hunter community—had been transferred. Otherwise, he wouldn't dare step foot here, even with a thousand lives.

Was the informant who sold him this intel lying?

"Though I don't know where you heard about my transfer, the news is correct. I did receive the transfer order, but I deliberately delayed it by a few days, just to see if any fools would show up. Looks like I caught one."

Asahi walked up to the poaching leader, kicked him aside, revealing a backpack beneath him. He opened it to find a pile of Poké Balls spilling out.

"You've got quite the haul here. This should earn you a good four to five years in prison." Asahi whistled after roughly counting the number of Poké Balls.

"Damn you, couldn't you have just left when you were supposed to?!"

Asahi's words seemed to be the last straw for the poaching leader, who erupted into a frenzy of roars.

As he roared, a dark shadow rushed towards Asahi from the side—a Dodrio with six eyes filled with ferocity, pecking violently at Asahi.

"Die!" This was his final card.

Using his broken arm to numb the opponent and then having Dodrio deliver a fatal blow from the front!

If he could take down this 'Demon', not only could he escape, but he'd also gain fame in the hunter world, becoming a savior to all poachers in Kanto!

However, reality didn't quite align with his expectations.

Seeing this, Asahi's expression didn't waver. Instead, he sighed, "When you can't beat the Pokémon, you go straight for the trainer. You guys never change."

Before his words fully fell, the air beside Asahi twisted, and a blue figure appeared, standing between Asahi and the charging Dodrio, raising an arm.

"Psychic!"

A blue glow lit up.

Buzz!

As if the pause button had been hit, the charging Dodrio was enveloped in a blue light, frozen in mid-air, unable to move. Its six eyes filled with terror.

"Thanks, Gardevoir. It's all yours."

Gardevoir turned to give her trainer a gentle smile before turning back, using Psychic to spin the Dodrio like a pinwheel in the air.

With Dodrio's terrified screeches echoing in the background, the poaching leader's menacing expression turned pale.

"Tut-tut, now there's another charge—attempted murder of a league officer. You're not getting out for at least ten years." Asahi patted the poaching leader on the shoulder.

The poaching leader trembled all over, wanting to say something, but with Gardevoir nearby, he dared not utter a word.

Rumor had it that the 'Demon' had a particularly malicious shiny Gardevoir. It must be this one, right?

Listening to Dodrio's shrieks, the poaching leader figured it must be true.

Asahi wasn't surprised by Gardevoir's antics.

His Gardevoir, besides having a different color than normal, did have a slightly different personality too.

Of course, this had nothing to do with him as her trainer.

Though captured poachers often accused him of corrupting Gardevoir's originally gentle nature into what it is now—a fierce demon.

Only Asahi knew that from the moment he hatched Ralts, it was already chasing around groups of Poliwag with Psychic, stirring up chaos like a little pond tyrant.

Now Gardevoir merely spinning Dodrio around was already a testament to his good teaching.

Not bothering with Gardevoir's play, Asahi called Officer Jenny to collect the poachers while releasing the Pokémon from the scattered Poké Balls one by one.

Vulpix, Jigglypuff, Clefairy... even an Abra!

These were all valuable Pokémon on the black market, collectively worth quite a bit. No wonder these guys were willing to take the risk.

Hearing Dodrio's screams, the released Pokémon were too scared to move, even the best escape artist, Abra, stayed put.

Asahi didn't mind, though. It made things easier for him. He took pictures of the captured Pokémon for evidence, then waved his hand:

"Go on, be careful. Don't get caught again."

At his signal, the Pokémon scattered in all directions.

...

As a newcomer to this world for two and a half years, Asahi had gradually gotten used to chasing down poachers with Gardevoir in the nature reserve.

"After being here for so long, I'm feeling a bit reluctant to leave," Asahi said, looking at the forest.

The poachers, bandaged and handcuffed, shivered at his words, silently pleading for him to leave quickly before someone got hurt.

Officer Jenny, however, seemed to share his sentiment, nodding in agreement: "Yeah, with you around, these poachers wouldn't dare be so rampant."

She, too, was reluctant to see Asahi go.

Having worked together for over two years, Asahi had almost single-handedly wiped out poaching in the reserve, striking fear into poachers and significantly reducing her workload.

"Is it true you're joining the International Police?" Jenny asked.

"Yeah, I don't know what those guys up top are thinking, sending a ranger to the International Police. Isn't that ridiculous?" Asahi said, shaking his head.

Jenny rolled her eyes.

For law enforcement like her, joining the International Police was the ultimate goal, yet Asahi seemed disinterested.

"Maybe they think a trainer as strong as you is being underutilized as a ranger," Jenny suggested.

With Team Rocket becoming increasingly active, the League was spread thin, and they couldn't afford to leave a trainer as capable as Asahi in the reserve.

As the Pokémon Association president put it: "Poachers? Mere pests!"

Team Rocket, with their organization, plans, and resources, posed a far greater threat to the League.

After logging the last poacher, Jenny closed her notebook and extended her hand: "Anyway, I'll take these guys. Good luck with the International Police!"

"Same to you!" Asahi smiled.

As their hands shook, the system's notification sounded in Asahi's mind.

[Justice Served! Seven poachers arrested, bringing the total to 1003. Title unlocked: "Legendary Ranger."]

[Please choose your reward!]

[1: The Power of Viridian]

[2: Jynx (Elite Four level)]

[3: Fist Plate]

"This isn't even a question. Of course, it's the Power of Viridian!"

Such an easy choice. Even a youngster in shorts would know the right pick. Although the Fist Plate was tempting, he only had a Gardevoir.

As for an Elite Four-level Jynx...

Asahi preferred raising his own Pokémon. And it had nothing to do with Jynx not fitting his aesthetic taste. Absolutely nothing!

Feeling a warm current flow through his body, Asahi sensed something new within.

He opened the system panel.

[Name: Asahi

Age: 21

Titles: "Gardevoir's Best Friend," "Legendary Ranger"

Owned Pokémon: Gardevoir

Items: Exp. Share, Dragon Fang, Mega Stone

Special Abilities: The Power of Viridian]

[Pokémon: Gardevoir (♀)

Type: Psychic/Fairy

Ability: Telepathy

Friendship: MAX

Level: 53 (Elite Four level)

Moves: Charm, Dazzling Gleam, Disarming Voice, Heal Pulse, Hypnosis, Teleport, Draining Kiss, Psybeam, Life Dew, Calm Mind, Psychic, Moonblast

Held Item: Gardevoirite]

Chapter 2: The Dratini of Dragon's Den

The title system was Asahi's cheat after transmigrating into the Pokémon world.

Its function was straightforward: fulfill the conditions to unlock a title and choose a reward from three options.

Having acquired the Power of Viridian, Asahi didn't rush to leave the nature reserve. He had one more thing to do before reporting to the League.

He headed to the Safari Zone near the reserve.

From a distance, he spotted Caesar, dressed in cowboy attire, polishing his beloved revolvers.

"Old man Caesar!"

Asahi waved to Caesar in greeting.

Hearing Asahi's voice, Caesar's hand trembled, nearly causing his gun to misfire.

Carefully placing the gun back in its holster, Caesar lifted his head. Upon seeing Asahi, his eye twitched violently as he asked warily, "Asahi, why aren't you in your nature reserve? What are you doing here?"

"Is that how you treat an old friend? We've been neighbors for two and a half years!" Asahi was clearly unhappy with Caesar's tone.

"Spare me. Without you as a 'friend,' I could've lived a few more years." Caesar snapped back in frustration.

Over the past two years, Asahi's mischievous Gardevoir had turned the Safari Zone upside down, causing Caesar to receive numerous complaints from visiting trainers.

As for Asahi... he wasn't much better, often using Pokémon from the Safari Zone to fish out poachers.

Whenever Asahi came looking for him, it never ended well!

Hearing Caesar mention this, Asahi didn't bother to argue—after all, his Gardevoir did have a playful streak.

"Anyway, I'm here to say goodbye this time!"

"Goodbye? You're finally being transferred?" At those words, Caesar instantly jumped from his seat.

Caesar stared at Asahi, his face filled with excitement. If it weren't for the no-fire policy in the wild, he would've lit some firecrackers to celebrate!

God knows how he had suffered under the shadow of Asahi and his Gardevoir for the past two years.

Now, he was finally seeing them off.

"....."

Watching Caesar's exuberant display, Asahi felt his fists clenching.

"Do you have to be this happy... I haven't even left yet."

"Ah, right, right, I shouldn't celebrate too soon."

Caesar quickly restrained his overflowing joy and asked seriously, "So, what are you here for?"

"A Safari Ball. Give me one!" Asahi extended his hand.

After being a ranger for so long, he wasn't going to leave empty-handed. Before departing, he planned to capture his second Pokémon.

Hearing Asahi's request, Caesar became genuinely curious:

"I've been forcing Safari Balls on you for ages, and now you suddenly want one? Why the change of heart?"

Though he was curious, his hands didn't slow down, as he grabbed a pile of Safari Balls from a nearby box.

"We're old friends. Take as many as you want!" Caesar generously offered.

As long as he could get this guy out of here, Caesar was willing to pay any price, even waiving the entrance fee for Asahi.

Seeing the pile of Safari Balls in front of him, Asahi knew exactly what Caesar was thinking.

However, he only took one Safari Ball from the pile, saying, "I don't need so many. One is enough."

"One? You already have a target? Tell me, what Pokémon are you after?"

Caesar was curious about which Pokémon could pique Asahi's interest.

Having known Asahi for so many years, Caesar knew how high his standards were. Ordinary Pokémon simply wouldn't catch Asahi's eye.

Finally hearing Caesar ask, Asahi played with the Safari Ball in his hand, raised his head, and smiled slightly. He then uttered a name that made Caesar's expression drastically change:

"... Dratini!"

Without waiting for Caesar's response, Asahi walked directly towards Dragon's Den.

...

"Asahi... Asahi, wait for me!"

In the Safari Zone, Asahi walked ahead while Caesar waved and called out from behind.

After finally catching up, Caesar panted, "How did you know there's a Dratini in the Safari Zone?!"

Ever since accidentally leaking the information about Dratini in the Safari Zone, which drew a frenzy of trainers, Caesar had kept his mouth shut, never mentioning Dratini to anyone.

How did Asahi know?

"Your photo on the wall," Asahi replied matter-of-factly. "Every time I visit your ranger cabin, I see the photo of you with Dratini on the wall. Only a blind person wouldn't notice."

"....."

The answer was so reasonable that Caesar was left speechless. In this matter, he had indeed been careless.

But Caesar still wanted to salvage the situation.

"Cough, cough, that was decades ago. Back then, there was a craze for capturing Dratini, but with so many trainers failing to find one, it's likely the Dratini have long since migrated."

Caesar tried to dissuade Asahi from searching for Dratini.

Although he didn't believe Asahi could find Dratini, the trauma from that past incident was too great. A horde of trainers had swarmed the zone, capturing nearly every Pokémon. The mere thought still made him uneasy. He didn't want the Safari Zone to experience that again.

Asahi responded to Caesar's caution with just one sentence:

"I've been a ranger here for two and a half years, and you know me well. Do you think I'd do something I'm not confident in?"

Hearing this, Caesar had no rebuttal.

Indeed, as Asahi said, he never did anything he wasn't confident about.

If Asahi was so certain...

"... Could it be that the Dratini from back then never left?"

At this thought, Caesar felt a glimmer of hope. If possible, he too wanted to see that Dratini again!

...

Wild Safari Zone - Dragon's Den

"You're sure Dratini is in Dragon's Den?" Caesar frowned as he looked at Dragon's Den. "Although I did find Dratini here back then, the trainers who came later scoured this place and never found any trace of Dratini."

"They are them, and I am me... Gardevoir!"

Standing by the lake, Asahi called to his Gardevoir.

At Asahi's command, Gardevoir crossed her blue arms over her chest, lifted her head, and began to sing a melodious tune.

Caesar's eyes momentarily glazed over, but since Gardevoir had deliberately avoided affecting Asahi and him, he quickly snapped out of it. "Disarming Voice?!"

Even just the aftereffects nearly entranced him. How strong was Asahi's Gardevoir now?

Was Asahi trying to lure Dratini out with Disarming Voice? Caesar pondered.

The previously calm lake surface began to ripple.

Goldeen, Poliwag, Magikarp...

A swarm of Water-type Pokémon emerged from the water, their eyes filled with admiration as they gazed at Gardevoir.

Even Caesar, the Safari Zone's ranger, was seeing for the first time how many Pokémon lived beneath the lake's surface in Dragon's Den.

But... where was Dratini?

Sweeping his gaze around without spotting Dratini, Caesar was about to speak when the lake surface surged again.

Splash!

Water rose high.

The enchanted Pokémon swiftly moved aside.

Soon after, a large and small figure leapt from the water.

Water droplets, catching the sunlight, formed a rainbow in the sky.

A slender blue body stretched in mid-air, its white wings at its ears glowing a pure white.

"Dratini and... Dragonair?!" Caesar's eyes widened.

Asahi, however, was unsurprised.

After all, this wasn't his first encounter with Dratini and Dragonair!

"Over here!" Asahi waved to the Dragonair and Dratini in the sky.

The Dragonair and Dratini in the sky also spotted Asahi and Gardevoir below.

Dragonair showed no reaction, but Dratini eagerly dove toward Asahi.

"Meekoo!"

Its soft body wrapped around Asahi's neck, nuzzling his cheek with its white snout.

"Long time no see, Dratini. As promised, I've come to take you with me!"

---

Chapter 3: Gardevoir's Reputation

As Asahi hugged Dratini, Caesar was staring blankly at the Dragonair in the sky.

"Is it really you...?"

And in the sky, Dragonair had also recognized Caesar.

The memory of that figure overlapped with the present, and Dragonair slowly floated down from the sky.

As Dragonair got closer, Caesar finally saw the cross-shaped scar on its forehead—the same as the Dratini he remembered.

"Woo~!"

Dragonair also recognized Caesar, nudging its head towards him.

"It really is you! You've grown so much..." Caesar touched Dragonair's head with trembling hands.

He had thought he would never see Dragonair again in his lifetime, but now they were reunited!

Dragonair shed tears of reunion.

Back when it was a Dratini, it was Caesar who had protected it.

Man and Dragon cried in each other's embrace.

After this tearful reunion, Caesar wiped the tears from his eyes, calming his emotions before turning to Asahi with gratitude:

"Thank you, Asahi!"

Without Asahi, he wouldn't have known when he would be reunited with Dragonair!

"Thank me for what? I'm just here to fulfill my promise to Dratini."

Asahi shook the Safari Ball in his hand, looking down at the Dratini perched contentedly on his shoulder.

He didn't think he deserved much credit. Even without him, one day a certain fool with a Pikachu would come here, bringing a reunion between Dragonair and Caesar.

"Dratini is probably Dragonair's child. I was going to ask earlier—what's this promise you mentioned?"

"That's a long story," Asahi calculated.

"Hmm, it was probably last year. This little guy sneaked through the river into the nature reserve, right into a Gyarados's territory, and almost got eaten."

"Gardevoir and I happened to be passing by and saved it. Ever since then, it's been particularly attached to me and lived with me for a while."

"But since I was busy chasing poachers, I sent it back to Dragon's Den. However, I made a promise to it that if I ever left the nature reserve to travel, I'd come here to take it along to see the world."

Hearing Asahi's explanation, Caesar realized there was such a story between Asahi and Dratini.

Just like him and Dragonair, Asahi and Dratini seemed like a cycle of time.

Dragonair nearby also showed a helpless expression. It didn't want Dratini to leave.

But clearly, she couldn't do anything about her disobedient child.

Asahi noticed Dragonair's concern and said to it, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of this child!"

"Whoo~!" Dragonair urged.

With the power of Viridian, Asahi understood Dragonair's meaning clearly and nodded. "Rest assured, I will take good care of it!"

Dragonair then turned its worried gaze to Gardevoir, who stood nearby.

"Whoo—!"

"Uh... watch Gardevoir and make sure she doesn't bully Dratini?"

Asahi's expression stiffened, and he turned to the seemingly innocent Gardevoir, who was now gazing at the scenery, and said in exasperation, "Gardevoir, Gardevoir, I've told you countless times not to bully the wild Pokémon for no reason. Be ladylike! Look at the reputation you've built for yourself in the Safari Zone!"

"You need to feel ashamed!"

Scolded by Asahi, Gardevoir lowered her head silently, putting on a pitiful look.

At this point, an average trainer might have softened up.

But Asahi, who had raised Gardevoir himself, knew exactly what kind of personality his Gardevoir had.

Whenever she caused trouble, she would apologize decisively, but the next time, she'd do it again!

No matter how many times he reprimanded her, had she ever truly changed? It was always the same story!

Especially now that she had reached the Elite Four level, the entire nature reserve and Safari Zone were filled with tales of the "Vicious Gardevoir."

However, Asahi also understood that changing a personality Gardevoir had developed over time wouldn't happen overnight.

Sigh... Asahi sighed deeply and turned to Dragonair, saying, "Don't worry, Gardevoir won't bully Dratini!"

Gardevoir also nodded in agreement, presenting a gentle and ladylike demeanor.

"Really?"

Caesar, a victim of Gardevoir's antics, looked skeptical.

In an instant, Caesar felt two murderous gazes lock onto him.

Caesar quickly shut his mouth.

Dragonair hesitated for a moment, looking at Dratini's expectant eyes filled with hope, and finally nodded.

As a mother, she couldn't refuse her child's hopeful gaze.

Moreover, she believed that with Asahi and Gardevoir, Dratini would be safer and would grow better.

"Meekoo~!" Dratini cheered excitedly.

It rubbed its white snout against Dragonair and then prepared to enter the Safari Ball.

"Wait, don't use the Safari Ball..." Caesar stopped Asahi.

"What's wrong?" Asahi asked, puzzled.

"If you use a Safari Ball and people find out you caught Dratini in the Safari Zone, those crazy folks will surely turn this place upside down again."

"Although this might not be by the rules... to hell with the rules!"

With that, Caesar rummaged through his backpack and pulled out a Poké Ball with a yellow lightning symbol on it.

"Fast Ball?"

Asahi immediately recognized the Poké Ball in Caesar's hand.

"You know it?"

Caesar was surprised that Asahi recognized the Poké Ball, but he didn't dwell on it.

"This was made by a friend of mine during my travels in Johto. It's said to make it easier to catch fast Pokémon. I don't need it anymore, so I'll give it to you!"

"Emmmm...."

Hearing Caesar's explanation, Asahi wanted to point out that even Dragonite, Dratini's final evolution, only had a base speed stat of 80, which was still 20 short of the Fast Ball's 100 base speed requirement.

But considering Caesar's good intentions, and the fact that Dragonite's real-world speed—flying around the Earth in 24 hours—couldn't be measured by base stats, Asahi accepted the Fast Ball.

Even if it wasn't useful, the Fast Ball's appearance was aesthetically pleasing.

With Dratini looking at him expectantly, Asahi smiled and gently tapped the Fast Ball on Dratini's forehead.

Swoosh.

A red light enveloped Dratini and drew it into the ball.

With a soft "click," the Poké Ball stopped shaking.

Dratini's status panel popped up:

[Dratini (♀)]

Type: Dragon

Ability: Marvel Scale

Bond: Trust

Level: LV9 (Beginner Level)

Moves: Twister, Extreme Speed, Aqua Jet

Held Item: None

Compared to Gardevoir's overly flashy status panel, Dratini's attributes were more in line with a typical Pokémon's stats for an average trainer.

However, Asahi believed that under his care, Dratini would one day grow as strong as Gardevoir!

"Welcome to the team, Dratini!"

Chapter 4: Interview with the Dragon Master Lance!

Having captured Dratini and said goodbye to Caesar and Dragonair, Asahi didn't linger in the Safari Zone.

Even though he had expressed reluctance to leave the nature reserve in front of Officer Jenny, that was just sentiment. He wasn't willing to stay there for much longer.

Being a ranger was a tough job; only those who've done it would understand!

After two and a half years, having captured over a thousand poachers, the total salary and bonuses he earned weren't even enough to buy a one-bedroom apartment in Saffron City.

Moreover, being in the forest all the time meant that besides Officer Jenny, he rarely saw any other humans, especially female ones. It had gotten to the point where even Gardevoir was starting to look appealing.

So, even though he liked the Pokémon in the nature reserve, when the opportunity to transfer to the International Police came up, he jumped at it without hesitation.

Goodbye, nature reserve!

He took one last look at the forest before turning away, burying those memories behind him.

...

The interview for the International Police was held at the Indigo Plateau's Pokémon League headquarters.

According to the staff who had notified him, it was just a routine interview, so Asahi wasn't too nervous.

But when he knocked on the office door... there was a surprise waiting for him!

"Come in!"

Asahi pushed open the office door, expecting to see a senior officer from the International Police Department, but instead, he saw the Dragon-type Elite Four member of Kanto, Lance, draped in his iconic cape!

"What's going on?" Asahi muttered to himself.

Nonetheless, he sat down across from Lance as the Dragon Master gestured.

"You must be Asahi!" Lance confirmed.

"That's right, Lance!" Asahi replied formally, unsure of Lance's intentions.

Lance smiled. "No need to be so formal. Due to some unexpected events, I'm filling in as the interviewer today."

"If you're ready, shall we begin?"

There wasn't much to prepare, so Asahi nodded. "Let's start!"

"First question: can you tell me what prompted you to accept this transfer?" Lance asked, flipping through Asahi's resume.

He had already reviewed the resume earlier.

Clean background, simple relationships, strong work ethic!

This young man seemed like the perfect candidate for the International Police—he could have been selected without an interview.

However, Lance wanted to hear the reasons from Asahi himself.

Higher salary, better expense reimbursement, and a generous pension!

Various answers flashed through Asahi's mind, though he couldn't say those out loud.

"It's a sense of justice! It's the sense of justice that compelled me to accept this transfer!"

"A sense of justice?"

Lance was momentarily taken aback, not expecting Asahi to give such an answer.

It wasn't that the answer was bad, but it was... a bit too cliché.

If anyone else had given this answer, Lance would have thought they were just saying what sounded good.

But... looking at the solid resume in his hands, Lance had to admit that with Asahi's track record, his words carried far more weight than others'.

In just two and a half years as a ranger, Asahi had single-handedly captured over a thousand poachers.

Without an unparalleled love for Pokémon and a deep sense of justice, such an accomplishment would have been impossible.

Indeed, it was this sense of justice that made him even more suited to becoming an International Police officer!

Lance had already made up his mind about Asahi, but his expression remained unchanged as he continued:

"I should warn you, if you choose to become an International Police officer, your enemies will no longer be mere poachers."

"You will face cross-regional criminals, individuals you can hardly imagine, and even large criminal organizations like Team Rocket."

"In the course of your duties, you may get injured, or worse, your life could be at risk."

"Many trainers before you couldn't handle such a life and chose to resign."

"So, do you still want to become an International Police officer?"

Lance asked, his gaze scrutinizing Asahi.

With the atmosphere set, how could Asahi possibly back down now?

"Of course!" Asahi replied firmly.

Hearing Asahi's response, Lance smiled, relaxed, and extended his hand. "Then congratulations! From this moment on, you are a full-fledged International Police officer!"

Lance emphasized the word "full-fledged."

With the interview passed, Asahi relaxed as well.

He stood up to shake Lance's hand but asked in confusion, "Full-fledged? Didn't my transfer order mention starting as an intern?"

If he remembered correctly, he had been told over the phone that there would be a six-month internship period before officially joining.

Could it be that Lance was so impressed with his performance that he waived the internship?

Hearing Asahi's confusion, Lance smiled and explained:

"Well... it's mainly because the Kanto International Police Department is currently short-staffed. We didn't mention this before to maintain confidentiality, but your predecessor and even your superior have gone missing during a secret investigation into Team Rocket. For now, I'm temporarily in charge of the Kanto International Police."

"???"

What's going on? His superior vanished right off the bat, giving Asahi a foreboding feeling.

"Um... Mr. Lance, can I ask how many International Police officers are currently in Kanto?"

Upon hearing Asahi's question, Lance didn't answer immediately but instead raised his hand.

"Five? That's manageable..."

Before Asahi could finish, Lance shook his head.

Lance lowered his hand and gently patted Asahi's shoulder. "Not five. What I meant is, right now, the entire Kanto branch of the International Police has only you. Do your best!"

Asahi: "..."

Damn, I've been tricked!

No wonder the interview was so simple!

Is it too late to quit now?

...

It took Asahi half a day to recover from the "surprise" Lance had given him.

Rubbing his stiff face, Asahi leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.

No wonder the League staff who called him was so excited when he agreed to the transfer. No wonder the interview was so easy.

Turns out it was a total mess!

However, Asahi didn't quit.

There were two reasons.

First, he had just firmly declared that he wanted to join the International Police. It would be quite embarrassing to quit at the first "little" setback.

Secondly, Lance did give him some good news.

Since Asahi was the only one in the entire Kanto branch of the International Police, and Lance had other responsibilities, the higher-ups didn't assign him any specific tasks.

As Lance put it:

He could choose to do clerical work in the office, gather intelligence on the streets, go undercover in the black market to crack down on Pokémon smuggling, or, if he wanted a challenge, even investigate Team Rocket.

In short, until the International Police were fully restructured, Asahi could decide his own work direction!

No work direction = no work!

To Asahi, Lance's words were essentially saying...

"I can slack off with pay in the coming days?"

Slacking off and getting paid—this was the perfect life for a promising young man like him.

This is...

Just too awesome!

***

You can read advanced chapters and support me at [email protected]/NahinS77

Chapter 5: Asahi's Slacking (Crossed Out) Work Diary

"May 7th, today is my first day officially becoming an International Police officer. I arrived at the office, and sure enough, there was no one in the entire Kanto branch.

According to Lance, the former department head and colleagues disappeared while investigating Team Rocket. They're probably locked up in some dark room by Team Rocket right now.

Unfortunately, as a rookie, I can't help much. Let's hope Ho-Oh watches over them."

"May 8th, second day on the job.

As expected of the International Police, with 'International' in the name, they are indeed wealthy. Each person is provided with a high-end computer, and the internet speed is incredibly fast. Online battles run smoothly, as if I'm sitting right on the server... wait, I think I am sitting on the server playing games!

This is a must-win!"

"May 9th, bad mood. Lost in an online battle.

That scoundrel named 'FlareonIsNumberOne' not only beat me but also sent taunting private messages. Is this guy an elementary schooler? Used my authority to check the IP address—Stone Town, huh? Hmph, if I catch you offline, you won't be having any fun!"

"May 10th, no more games today. Slacked off in the morning and tried the League's free cafeteria for lunch.

Contrary to my expectations, the League headquarters' cafeteria actually has two sections, one for humans and one for Pokémon. Very... creature-friendly design.

The food for humans is quite delicious, and as for the Pokémon food... I specifically asked Gardevoir and Dratini about the taste, and they gave it high marks.

I'm touched. Thinking back to my days as a ranger, living rough, those were inhumane conditions. Being a ranger is worse than being a dog!

Decision made: all my meals from now on will be at the cafeteria!"

"May 11th, slacking."

"May 12th, slacking."

"May 13th, Asahi, Asahi, you can't keep going on like this! Have you forgotten why you joined the International Police? It's just as well; my bond with Dratini has grown enough. Training starts tomorrow!"

"May 14th, gave Dratini the Dragon Fang. Dratini, you're a mature Pokémon now; you need to learn to train yourself. Good luck! Back to slacking, cuddling with Gardevoir."

"May 15th, during my slacking session, (redacted) said something about me slacking for a week and gave me the title of 'Slacking Immortal.' I feel a bit insulted.

But, since I got a Master-level Pokéblock recipe as a reward, I'll let it slide.

Tomorrow, I'll get serious!"

"May 16th, officially started training Dratini.

I can't help but marvel again at the perks of being in the International Police. There's even a specialized training ground at League headquarters. I can even get TMs from Nurse Joy at the internal Pokémon Center just by showing my ID, free of charge. This benefit is awesome!"

"May 17th, second day of training Dratini.

Even though I had high expectations for Dratini's potential, its performance still exceeded my expectations. It mastered 'Dragon Tail' in just half a day! Its potential is only a tad lower than my unbeatable shiny Gardevoir!"

"May 18th, what a useless AI. Took Dratini for a full-body check-up, and the League's AI system told me it would take at least 20 years to train Dratini into a Dragonite at this rate. 'The future is promising,' they said!

To hell with 'the future is promising,' how many 20 years does one have in life!

But this reminded me: pseudo-legendaries grow slowly, so I need to find a way to accelerate Dratini's growth!"

"May 19th, after researching in the League's database, I found that equipping and feeding Pokémon with attribute-specific items can accelerate their growth! This proves that giving Dratini the Dragon Fang was a correct decision.

But... feeding it? Does that mean I have to grind the Dragon Fang into powder?"

"May 20th, continued training Dratini and decided to test my idea from yesterday.

After consulting Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center and confirming there were no issues, I used a file to scrape a tiny bit of powder from the Dragon Fang and mixed it into Dratini's food.

No immediate changes observed, will check again tomorrow."

"May 21st, exciting news! The system panel shows Dratini leveled up by one. My approach is correct.

However, treating enhancement items as consumables is a bit expensive. The real world isn't like a game... just the price of one Dragon Fang is more than my two-and-a-half years' salary!

But, to get Dratini combat-ready as soon as possible, this is an acceptable 'loss'."

"May 22nd, the improvement continues; Dratini hasn't fully digested the Dragon Fang powder yet."

"May 23rd, another level up! Dratini has leveled up three times already! Should I publish a paper? ...Nah, such a trivial paper would only get me mocked for being naive and rich."

"May 24th, fed Dratini another dose of Dragon Fang powder.

Feeling a bit bored. Although it feels great having no boss above me, it also means no chance for promotion or raise. Maybe I should look into the previous case files. I want to see what kind of case wiped out the entire Kanto branch of the International Police!"

"May 25th, said and done. I requested access from Lance and retrieved the case files my predecessors were investigating. Studying them carefully now."

"May 26th, here... wait, something feels off. Need to study this further."

"May 27th, if I'm not mistaken, this case... could be a huge problem!"

...

May 28th, International Police Kanto Branch

Lance sat behind his desk, going through the files Asahi brought.

After several minutes, Lance looked up and knocked on the desk.

"You mentioned there were issues in the case files, but..."

Lance placed the report on the desk. "Perhaps I'm not familiar with the International Police's workflow, but I didn't notice any problems in the files."

"Asahi, can you explain what you discovered?"

Lance was very straightforward.

If he didn't see any problems, he admitted it. Unlike typical leaders who stubbornly insist on being right, or scold subordinates when they can't find issues, Lance's humble approach earned respect.

---

Chapter 6: Everyone's a Traitor

Asahi was well-prepared. Upon hearing the question, he immediately responded:

"I've reviewed the case file over the past few days and found several discrepancies."

"First is the source of the intel. According to the file, a customs officer at Vermilion Port discovered during a routine inspection that someone was using a cargo ship to smuggle restricted equipment."

"Following this, my former colleague, an International Police officer named Tetsuya, contacted a Team Rocket informant he'd planted. The informant confirmed the cargo was linked to Team Rocket and identified the target of the operation: the Devourer, a freighter owned by Silph Shipping Group."

"On the night of April 17th at 11:00 PM, under the command of the deputy director, 14 International Police officers launched a raid on the Devourer, which was docked at Vermilion Port."

"At 11:15 PM, the team encountered an ambush in the ship's hold. One officer was injured, and a call for backup was sent to headquarters via communicator."

"At 11:20 PM, communication was disrupted, and the team lost contact."

"At midnight, the Devourer experienced a massive explosion. External support personnel reported this incident to the League as an emergency."

"At 12:10 AM, Lt. Surge, the Vermilion City Gym Leader, arrived with reinforcements and secured the scene."

"At around 12:30 AM, the Vermilion City Fire Department arrived and began firefighting and rescue efforts."

"By 1:40 AM, the fire was under control."

"According to Lt. Surge's subsequent report, no survivors or corpses were found during the rescue operation."

As Asahi recited the case file in full, Lance frowned slightly. "What are you trying to say?"

Asahi spread his hands.

"In simple terms, I suspect there's a traitor in our ranks!"

"What!?"

---

To be honest, before seeing the case file, Asahi had fully intended to slack off.

After all, from his perspective, the disappearance of his former colleagues and superior could easily have been due to some unavoidable misfortune. Sending him to investigate would likely lead to the same outcome.

But after reading the file, he was stunned.

The entire case reeked of suspicion from start to finish.

How could an ordinary customs officer detect the smuggling operation of a professional criminal organization like Team Rocket?

Why was the informant allegedly planted by the International Police missing from the informant database?

And most baffling of all—why would his former superior bring the entire department's manpower to such a dangerous operation, leaving no one behind?

It was riddled with flaws!

Honestly, from the customs officer providing the tip-off, to the colleague gathering intelligence through the informant, to the superior recklessly leading the team into a trap—every single person involved looked like a traitor.

Each step of the operation was perfectly orchestrated. If even one link in the chain had failed, Team Rocket wouldn't have been able to annihilate the Kanto branch of the International Police so thoroughly.

But somehow, everything fell perfectly into place, as if everyone was collaborating with Team Rocket. It was absurd.

"Damn it, is this League even salvageable? Has the Kanto branch of the International Police been infiltrated so thoroughly it's like a sieve?"

Utter despair.

Even though Asahi wanted to slack off, he had no choice but to bring this up to Lance.

Otherwise, one day he might wake up to find the Pokémon League replaced by the Team Rocket League.

After Asahi presented his perspective to Lance, the latter fell silent, clearly shocked by Asahi's words.

Recently, Lance had been busy vying for the position of Indigo League Champion, leaving little energy for his "part-time" role with the International Police.

Who would've thought such significant issues were lurking beneath the surface?

Now that Asahi had pointed it out, Lance glanced back at the report in his hand… it was truly alarming.

How had he not noticed before that the League was so deeply infiltrated by Team Rocket?

"Phew…"

Lance took a deep breath, then looked up with a solemn expression. "Thanks to you, Asahi. Otherwise, who knows how much longer I would've been kept in the dark?"

Although he had only temporarily taken over the Kanto branch after the incident, if Asahi hadn't given him this heads-up, he would undoubtedly bear some responsibility should anything go wrong in the future.

Asahi, however, wasn't one to take credit for himself:

"There's no need for me to say anything. Eventually, the League's Strategic Analysis Department or the International Police's headquarters investigators would've discovered these problems. I just brought it to light a bit earlier."

"What I really want to discuss is something else entirely."

Lance: "?"

This wasn't the critical issue? Was there something even more concerning?

Even Lance couldn't help but feel a tinge of unease.

But what's already happened won't change due to anyone's will.

"It's about Lt. Surge from Vermilion Gym. Lance, don't you think the timing of his arrival at the scene was a bit… peculiar?" Asahi asked.

"Timing?"

Lance flipped through the dossier in his hands and indeed noticed something suspicious.

"The explosion occurred precisely at midnight, yet Lt. Surge of Vermilion Gym managed to organize his team and arrive at the scene within ten minutes! Keep in mind, most people were already asleep at that hour."

"I looked up a map of Vermilion City. The straight-line distance between the Gym and the port exceeds ten kilometers."

"Ten minutes—to wake up, assemble his team, and then sprint over ten kilometers to the scene…" Asahi shook his head as he spoke. "It's just too implausible."

"Which is why I have good reason to suspect that Lt. Surge knew about the operation in advance. He might even be one of the masterminds behind the ambush on the investigation team."

Admittedly, Asahi's suspicion was bold, but it was also highly persuasive.

This International Police operation was conducted under the highest confidentiality. As a Gym Leader, Lt. Surge shouldn't have had any knowledge of it. Yet, under such circumstances, he still managed to lead his team to the scene within ten minutes of the explosion. It was deeply problematic!

Lance pondered for a long while before finally shaking his head reluctantly.

"Although you make a lot of sense, I can't just accuse a Gym Leader who has served the League for nearly a decade based on your speculation alone."

As an Elite Four member, Lance had to consider political factors.

Within the Pokémon League's organizational structure, besides the large number of grassroots personnel and the Champions and Elite Four at the top, Gym Leaders in each city were undoubtedly the backbone of the League.

They were often individuals with substantial strength, wealth, or influence in their local areas.

Gym Leaders were responsible for maintaining public order, organizing large-scale events, and attracting visiting trainers to stimulate the local economy and inject vitality into the city.

Although the League had the authority to remove them through annual evaluations, the longstanding neglect of Cerulean Gym was proof enough that this rule was more for show.

It was exceedingly difficult for the League to manage Gym Leaders with strong local influence, at least in the current Kanto region.

Especially without solid evidence!

"In any case, I'm sorry." Lance apologized sincerely.

Asahi wasn't surprised by Lance's response.

To be honest, if he didn't know the storyline, he wouldn't dare suspect a Gym Leader of colluding with Team Rocket within just one month of joining the International Police.

After all, Lt. Surge had covered his tracks exceptionally well. Aside from this barely noticeable "flaw," he had left no incriminating evidence behind.

But as always, Asahi knew the plot.

Lt. Surge?

Heh, he was one of Team Rocket's three top executives.

The reason Asahi brought him up wasn't to topple him immediately.

He just wanted to plant a seed of suspicion in Lance's mind.

So when Lt. Surge's true identity was eventually exposed, Lance would remember it was Asahi who first doubted him.

Of course, Asahi didn't let this intention show on his face. Instead, he acted visibly disheartened.

His fists clenched and then loosened, his gaze wavering for a long time before he finally sighed heavily, as though his spirit had been crushed. "I understand."

If a perfect score was 100, Asahi felt he deserved a solid 99 for his performance.

"Now that I've warned Lance, maybe Team Rocket will tone down their activities for a while. This way, I can go back to slacking off happily."

With that thought, Asahi was quite satisfied with his performance this time.

Next, he planned to see if he could slack off for thirty consecutive days and unlock a higher-level title in the system, like "Slack-Off Sage."

However, lost in his daydream, Asahi failed to notice the hesitation on Lance's face.

Unlike Asahi, who prided himself on being a professional slacker, Lance viewed him as a young man with a strong sense of justice and exceptional abilities.

Whether it was arresting over a thousand poachers in just two and a half years, or uncovering such critical information within a month of joining the International Police, Asahi had proven his worth.

Now, seeing someone like him struggling due to League protocols, Lance couldn't bear it.

How could they so cruelly crush a young person's sense of justice?

After much hesitation, Lance seemed to make a significant decision. He took a deep breath, his eyes resolute, and said to Asahi:

"I can see the justice and frustration in your heart. Here's what we'll do: while I can't formally authorize an investigation against Lt. Surge without evidence, I can grant you permission to conduct a covert investigation."

"This might be a tough process, but for the sake of the League, I'm counting on you."

"Uh… what?" Asahi snapped out of his thoughts, staring at Lance in disbelief.

You're kidding, right? You're actually making me investigate him?

To Lance, Asahi's astonishment looked like joy.

Lance smiled. "Even if this isn't entirely in line with League protocols, flexibility is necessary during execution! Go ahead with your investigation—I'll take full responsibility for the consequences."

"This…"

Asahi froze. He hadn't expected Lance to take the pressure for him. Such a boss was rare indeed—he was truly… moved? Not at all!

At that moment, Asahi had only one thought:

[My acting was too good—it backfired!]

For a brief moment, Asahi could almost see his easygoing days of slacking off waving goodbye to him.

Chapter 7: Being Underestimated

"I'm such an idiot. Really."

All I had to do was leave it at that—why did I have to show off with my acting?

I could've stayed as a bystander, quietly slacking off in the office while watching the League and Team Rocket fight it out.

But now, I've dug my own grave.

From being the one enjoying the drama, I've become part of it.

He was so frustrated he wanted to slap himself. But on the surface, Asahi kept up his composed demeanor, maintaining his image:

"Rest assured, Master Lance, I will bring Team Rocket to justice!"

Lance nodded. A young man facing such a dangerous mission yet still displaying such determination—it only reaffirmed Lance's belief that Asahi wouldn't disappoint him.

However, considering the entire division had been wiped out in the last operation, Lance decided to conduct one final test to ensure Asahi could handle himself before sending him out.

He didn't want the last remaining member of the Kanto branch of the International Police to meet the same fate.

After a moment of deliberation, Lance said, "Let's have a battle."

"Huh?" Asahi blinked, not understanding what Lance meant.

Standing up, Lance explained, "Although I've reviewed your battle records, this time you're going up against Team Rocket. Before I send you out, I need to make sure you're strong enough to protect yourself."

"Don't worry, it's just a small test. I won't use my main team." Lance added this to reassure Asahi, in case he misunderstood.

Being underestimated?

Asahi was momentarily stunned. He, a man known as a nightmare to countless poachers, was being doubted for his abilities?

Are poachers really that low on the criminal food chain that even I'm being looked down on?

Still, while the thought of being underestimated annoyed him, Asahi didn't mind a battle with Lance. After all, he was curious to see if defeating Lance might unlock a title or some other reward.

With that in mind, Asahi smiled slightly and said, "Since you insist, Master Lance... let's do this!"

---

International Police Training Ground

The spacious training field was empty, save for Asahi and Lance.

Since it was only a simple test, there was no referee.

"The rules are simple: one-on-one, standard League battle format. The match ends when one Pokémon is unable to continue or one side surrenders," Lance explained.

Given the informal nature of the test, the rules were kept straightforward.

Asahi nodded, pleased with the arrangement.

After all, he only had one Pokémon that could fight—his Gardevoir. Asking him to use another Pokémon was out of the question.

What about his Dratini?

She's just a child!

Perhaps someday, Asahi might let Dratini spar against a few shorts-wearing Bug Catchers for training. But for now, there was no way he'd send her into such a tough battle.

Once Asahi signaled he was ready, both trainers tossed their Poké Balls at the same time.

Bang!

The Poké Balls opened mid-air, releasing two flashes of white light onto the field.

"Wooo~!"

On Lance's side, a sleek, blue figure materialized, letting out a clear cry.

"A Dragonair?"

Asahi recognized the Pokémon immediately. It must be one of Lance's second-string team members.

The exact strength of this Dragonair couldn't be gauged by looks alone—it would take a battle to find out.

Meanwhile, on Asahi's side, his shiny Gardevoir descended gracefully to the ground, enveloped in a soft, psychic aura.

"So, it really is a shiny Gardevoir."

Lance recalled the detail from Asahi's records. A shiny Gardevoir was exceptionally rare, and it had left a strong impression on him.

As for why Lance chose to send out a Dragonair, which was weak to Gardevoir's Fairy-type moves, despite knowing its typing...

What else could he do? He's a Dragon-type specialist!

Though others often ridiculed Lance for not resembling a true Dragon-type Elite Four member—constantly favoring Flying-type Pokémon despite his title—it was because those Pokémon were ones he had captured in his early years.

Later, to prove himself, he trained an entirely Dragon-type second team.

When he said he'd test Asahi using his second team, he wasn't going back on his word.

Besides, even if it was his second team, his Dragonair was still incredibly strong, boasting near-Elite-level power!

Using it to test Asahi, even with its disadvantage in type matchups, seemed perfectly reasonable to Lance.

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, though only a few seconds passed in real time.

Due to the type disadvantage, Lance chose to strike first.

"Dragonair, use Aqua Tail!"

The Dragonair in the sky slightly adjusted its posture, locking onto Gardevoir's position before rapidly diving down.

In just a moment, it had crossed half the battlefield.

As it closed the gap, Asahi clearly saw Dragonair's tail gently swish, drawing on the power of water to form a crashing wave that hurtled toward Gardevoir!

"What smooth movements!" Asahi praised.

Such elegance and strength combined—it was the result of years of rigorous training, no doubt!

An ordinary trainer might have suffered a serious blow right off the bat.

But was Asahi an ordinary trainer?

Clearly not!

Facing the incoming wave, Asahi simply snapped his fingers.

"Deal with it!"

The next second, Gardevoir, in sync with his intent, raised its shimmering blue arm. Its eyes gleamed with the same azure glow as it gently gestured toward the oncoming tide.

Splash!

The surging wave was stopped by psychic energy, and the tidal force, mixed with a powerful psychic blast, reversed direction instantly. The overwhelming backlash sent Dragonair, the Aqua Tail's user, reeling, spinning chaotically in the air.

"What!?"

Lance hadn't anticipated this outcome. Before he could react, Gardevoir waved its hand again.

A dazzling, rainbow-colored light emanated from Gardevoir, condensing into an intense beam that hit the disoriented Dragonair squarely.

Dazzling Gleam!

Boom!

Dragonair was struck head-on by the radiant attack. The tremendous force sent it flying back at an even greater speed, slamming hard into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

As the smoke cleared, Lance stared at his unconscious Dragonair. Then, he looked up at Asahi and his Gardevoir, lost in thought.

Had he misjudged something?

Chapter 8: A Clash of Main Teams

"Return, Dragonair!" Lance retrieved his fainted Dragonair into its Poké Ball.

To be honest, the situation was beyond what he had expected.

Originally, Lance had planned to launch a probing Aqua Tail attack on Gardevoir and adjust his strategy based on Asahi's response.

But he hadn't anticipated Asahi's counter to be so sharp—the seamless transition between Psychic and Dazzling Gleam left no openings, taking out his Dragonair in just one combo.

Keen and decisive, Asahi's battle style was a perfect match for the traits needed in the International Police.

"It seems transferring you to the International Police was absolutely the right decision!" Lance said, having completely dropped his initial evaluative mindset. "I was overconfident earlier. With your strength, you're more than capable of investigating Team Rocket!"

Lance was quick to admit his misjudgment of Asahi's abilities.

It wasn't embarrassing—Elite Four members were human too; they made mistakes.

Asahi, however, wasn't concerned with Lance's acknowledgment.

What he cared about was whether the system had awarded him a new title!

Ever since Gardevoir defeated Dragonair, Asahi had been staring at the system interface. But no matter how long he waited, he didn't hear the notification for unlocking a title from defeating Lance.

[Does beating his second team not count? Do I have to defeat Lance's main team to earn a title?]

Asahi pondered this possibility.

It wasn't out of the question. After all, a second team didn't represent an Elite Four member's true strength. Beating it might be seen as taking the easy way out.

With this thought in mind, Asahi made a decision and looked up. "Lance, shall we have a battle between our main teams?"

Hearing this, Lance, who was just placing the Poké Ball back on his belt, paused mid-motion.

He looked at Asahi with a peculiar expression. "I admit your Gardevoir is strong, but… are you sure you want to challenge my main team?"

Lance felt Asahi was getting a bit overconfident. His main team consisted of Pokémon that had been with him for years, ones that had accompanied him through countless battles. They were in a completely different league compared to the Dragonair from earlier.

Of course, Asahi was fully aware of this. However, opportunities to earn a title from Lance were rare. Since he'd soon be dispatched on fieldwork, who knew when they'd meet again?

It was just a friendly match—there was nothing to lose, even if he didn't win.

And besides, Asahi still had a trump card...

With this in mind, Asahi nodded. "I'm sure!"

"Well, since you insist… as you wish!"

Truth be told, after Dragonair was defeated so decisively, Lance couldn't help feeling a slight urge to reclaim some pride.

Of course, as an Elite Four member, he couldn't openly admit this.

Now that Asahi had taken the initiative, there was no reason for him to refuse.

---

The battlefield hadn't sustained much damage from the previous fight, so there was no need to clean it up.

Once again, Asahi and Lance stood at opposite ends of the field.

This time, however, the casual demeanor on Lance's face was gone, replaced by a more serious expression. Asahi, too, adopted a more solemn attitude.

"My Pokémon is still Gardevoir!"

Asahi sent out Gardevoir again—it was the only capable Pokémon he had, so he didn't really have a choice.

As Asahi and Gardevoir focused their gaze on Lance, the latter deliberated briefly before unhooking a Poké Ball from his belt.

"Then I'll use this one!"

Bang!

The Poké Ball soared into the air and opened with a flash of light.

Roar!

A deafening roar shook the battlefield.

A savage, ferocious presence appeared in front of Lance, its aura sweeping across the field toward Asahi and Gardevoir.

As the light dispersed, a crimson figure hovered in midair.

"Red Gyarados!"

Seeing Lance's choice, Asahi's expression turned subtle.

So, I showed off my shiny Gardevoir, and now you're flexing your shiny Gyarados in return?

What an odd sense of rivalry.

Of course, that was just a passing thought.

From a tactical standpoint, Lance's decision to send out a Pokémon with no direct type disadvantage against Gardevoir was a sound move.

As Asahi and Gardevoir examined the Red Gyarados, the Pokémon also locked its gaze on its opponent.

Roar!

It let out another fierce roar, fixing its savage eyes on Gardevoir.

In game terms, this was Gyarados activating its Intimidate ability.

For weaker Pokémon, this glare alone might have left them paralyzed with fear, trembling and helpless.

But… Gardevoir was clearly not in that category.

Faced with Gyarados' intimidation, Gardevoir initially flinched but quickly glared right back without backing down!

From a young age, Gardevoir had never known fear!

What's a Gyarados? Back in the nature reserve, she used to chase down entire schools of them!

Standing behind Gardevoir, Asahi chuckled at her reaction. While her fearless attitude sometimes gave him headaches, it was undeniably a strength during battles.

Gyarados, meanwhile, hadn't expected Gardevoir to return its glare. It froze momentarily before growing even angrier.

It felt insulted!

Noticing the shift in Gyarados' emotions, Lance smirked.

For a Pokémon like Gyarados, which draws power from its rage, controlled anger wasn't a bad thing. Seizing the opportunity, Lance issued his command:

"Gyarados, use Hurricane!"

At Lance's command, Gyarados twisted its massive body.

The air in the training ground began to churn as violent winds gathered around Gyarados. With a powerful swing, the winds converged into a massive cyclone that surged toward Gardevoir's position!

As the hurricane approached, Asahi remained calm. "Gardevoir, use Double Team!"

Gardevoir's form flickered and split, multiplying into two, then four, then eight. Within seconds, duplicates filled half the battlefield, making it impossible to distinguish the real one from the illusions.

At that moment, the hurricane arrived.

The cyclone tore through the battlefield, shredding the duplicates one by one, but when it finally dissipated, Gardevoir's true form was nowhere to be found.

"She dodged it?" Lance wasn't surprised Gardevoir evaded the attack.

After all, this was a Pokémon that had taken down his Dragonair in two moves. It would've been odd if she hadn't avoided the attack.

But Lance was prepared for this.

If you want to keep dodging, then I'll make sure there's nowhere left to hide!

"Gyarados, use Surf!"

Roar!

At Lance's command, Gyarados let loose a powerful jet of water, and the sound of crashing waves filled the air as a massive wall of water materialized out of nowhere.

The wave, over three meters high, surged across the entire battlefield, bearing down on Gardevoir with overwhelming force.

"First a hurricane, now a tidal wave…" Asahi smirked and waved a hand. "Gardevoir, scatter it!"

---

PS: In the original storyline, Lance captures the Red Gyarados later, but using a regular Gyarados here feels underwhelming. So I've made a slight adjustment.