Pokémon: Just won the championship, the newbie growth system is here!

The Water-type Gym Leader in Cerulean City was brutally beaten.

"I've never heard of a gym leader using Gyarados. This is really unusual."

Anai sat on the steps in front of the waterway, having suffered another defeat.

The challenge of repeatedly conquering the Cerulean Gym was so high that she wondered if she had chosen the wrong Pokémon.

"Is Cyndaquil a bit unsuitable?"

The fireball rat beside him squinted and sighed.

It and its trainer had come to the Kanto region with great enthusiasm to defeat the Pewter City Gym, but they got stuck in front of the second city gym.

Anai rested her chin on her hand, her long hair and eyes reflected in the water, and sighed.

"Wouldn't it be better to go back to the Johto region? It's easier to get a dojo there. No, no, I'm not going back."

Her reflection in the water shook her head rapidly; her mind was made up.

"My goal is to become the strongest Pokémon Master, so of course I'll challenge myself with difficult goals."

The Johto region is a small place compared to the Kanto region, so you have to travel a long way to the Kanto region to train better.

Newcomers from the Kanto region challenge such strong Gym Leaders, grow stronger, and when they enter the League Tournament, most of the trainees who remain are from the Kanto region.

So Anai decided to broaden her horizons. After getting her starter Pokémon, Cyndaquil, in her hometown, she rode her bicycle to Goldenrod City and then took the bullet train to the Kanto region to begin her journey.

"I've already told my family that I won't go home until I become a Pokémon Master, so I'm not going back."

Anai patted the Fireball Rat's back.

"You think so too, don't you?"

When the Cyndaquil is excited, flames will come out from the fire organ on its back, but now it doesn't feel hot at all when you touch it.

Cyndaquil isn't very motivated.

"Let's get our spirits up and challenge the Cerulean Gym again later."

"Sigh."

Cyndaquil sighed. Why did its trainer always make it challenge types that were against its own? It would be a miracle if it had any motivation.

In Pewter City, it was also used to challenge Onix. Cyndaquil struggled a lot and barely won the battle by relying on its newly learned Ground-type moves to obtain the Pewter Badge.

Now it's being challenged again by the Water-type Gym. Its trainer has no strategy at all and just relies on brute force. Cyndaquil is feeling exhausted.

"Phew (Go grab some other teammates, don't leave me to handle it all by myself)."

"Don't sigh and complain, we've only just taken the first step on our adventure."

Like Cyndaquil, Anai seemed a little disappointed, and she wasn't the only trainer like that.

Xiao Xu, who was walking down the steps with her backpack, also sighed.

"Gyarados is too hard to beat. Is this really a gym recommended for beginners?"

New Leaf Cat quietly followed behind him, and Xiao Xu exclaimed that this gym battle was even more difficult than the Pyrenees Gym.

The two Pokémon that Gym Leader Misty had in front of her were alright; they were both Water-type, and she could easily defeat them with her Newleaf Cat.

But the only trump card, Gyarados, was one that Shinyane couldn't defeat even after several attempts.

Xiao Xu casually opened the Pokédex and browsed through the information about Pokémon.

"Gyarados's type is Water/Flying. Water is weak to Grass, but Flying is strong against Grass."

Gyarados isn't too afraid of Newleaf Meow's attacks, and Xiaoxu thinks it might not just be a type issue, but mainly because Gyarados is too strong.

"How can I defeat Misty's Gyarados?"

The voices came from the road and the steps at the same time. Xiao Xu and Anai looked at each other.

After a moment of silence, Xiao Xu spoke first.

"My name is Xiaoxu."

"Anai".

Realizing they were on the same path, Xiaoxu and Anai exchanged pleasantries. Meanwhile, on the opposite bank of the river, Gardevoir was floating by, carrying a paper bag.

A light rain was falling from the sky. Gardevoir used its psychic powers to create a thin film around its body, preventing the rain from getting into its food.

I bought various kinds of bread from the bakery, intending to take them back to make lunch for my trainer.

[I remember Ye Luo really liked pineapple buns.]

Thinking of her trainer's smiling face, Gardevoir smiled at her shopping decision.

I originally wanted to buy clothes, but the clothing store didn't have any suitable outfits or hats to match, so I gave up.

"Chirp~ (surfing)."

Sai Fuhao floated on the waterway on his golden skateboard, mimicking surfing poses, while the little girl and Marilu on the boat stared in disbelief.

"It's sparkly and so cool."

"Chirp~ (You're welcome, here, have some)."

With a wave of his hand, Sai Fuhao scattered several gold coins onto the ship. The child did not know the value of the gold coins, but their glittering appearance made her jump for joy.

"Thank you! Golden Pokémon."

"Chirp chirp~ (A little something)."

Seeing how much Cypher loved to show off, Gardevoir sighed.

The reason for calling on Sai Fuhao is simply because it throws gold coins for free, which can reduce a lot of expenses and eliminates the need to use Ye Luo's savings.

However, Sai Fuhao's impulsive act of throwing away gold coins like this could easily attract unnecessary attention.

[I should have warned you before that Pokémon need to be careful when venturing alone in the city.]

"Chirp chirp~ (Don't mind me)."

When Gardevoir scolded it, Cypher just looked indifferent and like a show-off.

It's in its nature to show off, and Sai Fuhao is enthusiastic towards everyone. Giving a little money to liven up the atmosphere isn't a bad thing.

[Small change? An ancient gold coin is worth 3, which is no small sum in human society.]

"Chirp~ (You're too tense, relax)."

Sai Fuhao simply smiled and shrugged, indicating that he didn't understand what was being said.

Gold coins may seem precious to humans, but to the Cybertronian, they are merely a small amount of metal that it can create on its own.

Gardevoir's eyes flashed with a fierce red light, and Sai Fuhao quickly restrained himself upon seeing this.

"Chirp chirp~ (Okay, boss, I admit I was wrong, okay?)"

Be careful not to expose your value, or you'll attract unwanted attention.

Gardevoir wasn't angry with its companion; it calmed down and continued walking down the street, still carrying the bread.

Sai Fuhao could only helplessly shrug. Although his companion was very strict, Sai Fuhao remained unmoved. Gardevoir's temper wasn't like this before; it had always been violent.

However, Cypher and Gardevoir actually have a pretty good relationship, and Cypher believes that it has a good relationship with most people and Pokémon.

"Chirp chirp chirp~ (The reason is simple: everyone likes me)."

[Hmph, in human terms, that's called "narcissism."]

"Chirp~ (I don't understand)."

It sounded like a compliment, so Sai Fuhao gladly accepted it.

Pedestrians on the street looked on with curiosity at Gardevoir walking down the street and Cypher floating on a skateboard.

Some people wondered where their trainer was. There were only two Pokémon swaggering down the street.

However, it's not uncommon to see Pokémon acting alone in the city, and it's not something to be particularly concerned about.

The main difference is that the two Pokémon look quite special, especially Gardevoir, which looks very elegant and is wearing a hat.

A female trainer passing by saw this and couldn't help but say something.

"Gardedor with the hat looks so cute! Do you have the same one in the store? I'll buy one for Quagsire too."

Gardevoir walked past as if no one else was there.

Anai noticed something commotion across the street and saw Gardevoir and Cypher, exclaiming that they were Pokémon she had never seen before.

"There's a Pokémon that can walk on water, is it a Water-type? And what's that on the shore?"

"What's that on the shore? Gardevoir."

"Gardevoir? You know it?"

"Yes, I just told you that the really good trainer has one."

Xiao Xu suddenly remembered something, got up and ran up the steps.

"I have to go and take a look."

Anai was a little confused. They had just been discussing the correct tactics for conquering the Cerulean Gym, so why the sudden rush?

"Is there something important?"

Xiao Xu nodded.

"Maybe that's Leaffall's Gardevoir. I'd like to go over and ask her."

Anai immediately understood and followed.

"Take me with you too. I'd also like to ask you for tips on how to challenge the gym. Cyndaquil, let's go."