Pokemon:I'm redThe strongest champion

"Thank you for your praise, Master Flint. I will definitely continue working hard." Robert took the Boulder Badge from the Nibi Gym Leader and examined it closely.

The badge resembled a polished stone, smooth to the touch, with "NIBI GYM" engraved on it. However, Robert could tell that it wasn't actually made of Rock Polish. Instead, it was likely crafted from a sturdier material.

Flint waved his hand dismissively. "No, no, I'm not just praising you. I'm stating a fact. You truly are the most talented and promising Rookie Trainer I've seen in recent years—though I've only just returned to work at the gym."

Robert tilted his head. "Just returned?" Although he already knew the reason, he acted surprised.

Flint nodded. "Yes, the Gym Leader position was originally held by my son, Brock. But he set off on a journey with a Rookie from Pallet Town—someone who started their adventure around the same time as you. If you ever cross paths, do take care of him."

"A Rookie from Pallet Town? You mean the Ash you mentioned earlier?"

"Exactly. That boy, Ash. When I first met him, I had my doubts. He challenged the gym without understanding the rules, nor did he research the Gym Leader he was facing. Unsurprisingly, he lost to my son in his first attempt."

Flint then launched into a detailed account of his first meeting with Ash, describing everything that had transpired afterward. It was nearly identical to the original story Robert knew—Ash struggled in his first battle, and if not for a bit of luck and special training, he might have had to challenge the gym multiple times before finally earning a badge.

Listening to this, Robert couldn't help but recall a particular alternate reality—one where Ash, unable to win a single gym battle, eventually returned home to Pallet Town, out of money and motivation.

"Reality is different from fiction."

Robert shook the thought from his mind and muttered, "I see… That must have been a tough experience for him."

Flint chuckled. "Yeah. But I have to admit, the boy has luck and determination. I believe he has the potential to become a Pokémon Master someday."

After saying this, Flint clapped his hands together. "Alright, enough about Ash. I have things to do at the gym. You should continue your journey, young man."

Without waiting for a reply, Flint turned and walked toward the internal passage of the gym.

Robert watched him go, then let out a breath, storing his Charmeleon's Poké Ball before heading out.

The System Rewards

As soon as Robert stepped out of Nibi Gym, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.

Ding!

Congratulations! Achievement unlocked: Defeated Rock + Ground Pokémon! Reward: 1 Rock & Ground Energy Cube.

Congratulations! Defeated Gym Pokémon Geodude! Earned 100 points.

Congratulations! Defeated Gym Pokémon Rhydon! Earned 300 points.

Congratulations! Main Mission 1 Complete! Successfully defeated Nibi Gym! Reward: 1,000 points & Boulder Badge.

Robert's eyes gleamed as he checked his system panel.

"1,400 points in total... That's a lot more than what I get from wild Pokémon."

From his past experience, he had learned:

Defeating wild Pokémon gives 10–100 points.

Ordinary trainers give 50–200 points.

Gym trainers reward 100–300 points.

Elite-level trainers (or higher) provide at least 1,000 points!

However, continuously challenging Gym Leaders wasn't possible, meaning the best way to farm points was still through wild battles.

Robert then glanced at the Rock & Ground Energy Cube in his system backpack. Since he didn't have any Rock or Ground-type Pokémon yet, he decided to let it sit in storage for now.

After finishing his system check, Robert looked up at the sky.

It was getting late. If he left now, he'd likely have to camp outdoors for the night. To avoid that, he decided to stay at the Pokémon Center and resume his journey the next morning.

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Back at the Pokémon Center

Upon returning, Robert headed straight to the front desk, where Nurse Joy greeted him with a warm smile.

"Hello! Do you need your Pokémon treated?" she asked.

Robert shook his head. "No need. My Charmeleon barely took any damage in the gym battle."

He then placed his Pokédex on the counter. "Just booking a room for tonight."

Nurse Joy tapped a few keys on her computer. "I see… So that means your gym battle went well?"

Robert smiled and took out the Boulder Badge from his pocket, showing it to her.

"It went smoothly. I won on my first attempt," he said casually.

Nurse Joy's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow! I didn't expect you to be this strong. Most Rookie Trainers struggle at Nibi Gym, but you actually defeated the Gym Leader on your first try! That's incredible!"

Robert scratched the back of his head. "Well, Master Flint held back a lot. If he had fought seriously, I wouldn't have stood a chance."

Nurse Joy nodded in understanding. As someone from one of the two special families in the Pokémon world, she was well aware of how gym battles worked.

Gym Leaders were required to adjust their strength based on a challenger's experience. If they fought at full power, very few Rookie Trainers would ever earn a badge.

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A Night of Preparation

After securing his room, Robert headed to the Pokémon Center's cafeteria, where he grabbed dinner and reviewed his strategy for the upcoming journey.

His goal was to collect all eight badges before the Quartz Conference, which was set to begin in about six months.

"With my current strength, collecting the remaining badges should be easy."

But Robert didn't want to rush. He planned to spend time training and strengthening his Pokémon before moving on to the next gym challenge.

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Next Morning: The Journey Continues

As sunlight streamed through the window, Robert packed his belongings and left his room.

After grabbing breakfast, he made a quick stop at the Pokémon Mart to restock potions, Poké Balls, and food supplies.

Standing at the city's exit, he turned back to take one last look at Nibi City.

"This is just the beginning."

Taking a deep breath, Robert stepped forward—ready for the next adventure.

To be continued…

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