"Frogadier, it's up to you now."
Aoki threw a Luxury Ball, and with a flash of light, Frogadier emerged, landing gracefully on one knee with one hand touching the ground, striking a confident and agile pose.
"Machamp, don't let it get comfortable! Rush up and use Thunder Punch!"
Brawly knew Machamp was already at its limit, so he had to end the battle swiftly.
"Frogadier, counter with your strongest Hydro Pump! Flood the field—don't let him escape!"
Frogadier sprang up and released a high-pressure torrent of water, spreading across the entire battlefield. The sheer force of the attack left Machamp with no room to dodge. The water crashed into him, sending him flying across the gym.
It was a one-hit knockout.
With the severe damage Machamp had already taken, it was no match for Frogadier's attack, especially given the type advantage.
"Machamp is unable to battle! The winner is the challenger from Littleroot Town!" the referee declared.
Brawly sighed and returned his Machamp to its Poké Ball. He wasn't too upset—Gym Leaders existed to test new trainers and help them grow. Winning or losing was secondary to that purpose.
"Well done, Frogadier," Aoki said, recalling his Pokémon. As he did, he found himself wondering when Frogadier would evolve. Once it evolved into Greninja, it would become a major asset to his team. If he could even unlock the Ash-Greninja form—Bond Phenomenon—its strength would skyrocket.
Brawly walked up with a grin. "Challenger, you've officially beaten Dewford Gym. Here's your Knuckle Badge—you earned it."
"Thank you," Aoki replied, taking the badge and placing it neatly inside his badge case. This marked his third badge.
Now, it was time to head for the next Gym. Mauville City was the next destination, but before that, he needed to stop by Slateport City.
A crucial package was waiting for him at the Pokémon Center there—the incubation fluid he had ordered for his mysterious egg. Aoki planned to obtain it as soon as possible and begin the process of hatching Jirachi, a legendary Pokémon with immense potential.
Despite how Jirachi was portrayed in certain parts of the Pokémon anime, Aoki knew from the manga and his own research that Mythical Pokémon often had innate advantages over pseudo-legendaries. If he could successfully raise Jirachi, it could become one of his strongest assets.
After leaving Dewford Gym, Aoki didn't set off right away. Instead, he headed to the Pokémon Center to let his team rest and recover. It was better to travel in top condition.
By the afternoon, Aoki boarded a luxury cruise ship bound for Slateport City. While he could use Surf to travel, he preferred to conserve energy and take advantage of the amenities on board.
While traveling, he spent time fishing. There wasn't much else to do on a ship, and skill training was difficult in such a confined space. Plus, fishing had another benefit—it allowed him to scout for Pokémon with good potential.
As he continued fishing, a small crowd gathered nearby, intrigued by his skill. Nearly every cast resulted in a successful catch, and he barely had to wait between attempts.
Among the spectators was a little girl who tugged on Aoki's sleeve.
"Big brother, can I have that Poliwag?"
Aoki had just reeled in a Poliwag and was about to release it back into the water when the girl, with wide, hopeful eyes, stopped him.
Her clothes were simple, suggesting she came from a modest background. She likely couldn't afford to buy a Pokémon from a breeder or obtain one through the usual starter Pokémon distribution system.
"Oakley, don't be rude!" her mother scolded gently, pulling her back with an apologetic look.
Aoki studied them for a moment. While he wasn't in the habit of giving away Pokémon for free, something about the little girl's sincerity made him pause.
He checked the Poliwag's stats:
• Name: Poliwag
• Strength: Intermediate
• Potential: Gym-level
Not bad, but not remarkable either. If it had been Elite-tier or better, Aoki might have kept it.
"Sure, you can have it," he said, handing over a Poké Ball along with some standard Pokémon food.
"Really?! Thank you, big brother!" Oakley cheered, quickly using the Poké Ball to capture Poliwag.
"Take good care of it," Aoki reminded her.
Oakley's mother bowed slightly in gratitude. "Thank you, sir. We couldn't afford to get her a Pokémon, and she's wanted one for so long…"
As Aoki continued fishing, others in the crowd began asking him for free Pokémon as well.
Naturally, he turned them down.
Just because he gave one Pokémon away didn't mean he was running a charity. Oakley's request had been genuine—many of the others were just opportunists.
After the cruise ship docked in Slateport City, Aoki prepared to leave when Oakley suddenly ran up to him again.
"Big brother, thank you again! I promise to train Poliwag well!"
Aoki could sense her sincerity. He thought for a moment, then handed her a small note with contact information.
"After the Ever Grande Conference, I might start my own company. If you need help in the future, reach out to me—I might be able to offer you a job."
Oakley's mother took the note, her eyes widening slightly.
"We'll think about it," she said, clearly moved by the offer.
Aoki gave them a final nod before heading off toward the Pokémon Center.
It was time to retrieve his incubation fluid and start preparing for what could be his most important Pokémon yet—Jirachi
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCE 40+ CHAPTERS
patreon.com/Kora_1