Kanto Region — Viridian City
"Viridian" signifies an eternal, vibrant green.
Viridian City sits at the edge of Kanto's largest forest, the Viridian Forest, surrounded by beautiful scenery. It's also home to Kanto's strongest Gym — the Viridian Gym.
The original Gym Leader was Giovanni, the secret boss of Team Rocket. Now, the Gym is overseen by Blue, a former Champion contender and runner-up of the World Coronation Series.
Paul had a clear goal for this leg of his journey. After a brief rest in Viridian City, he headed straight for the Viridian Gym. Standing before its half-open doors, he reached out and pressed the doorbell.
"Welcome to the Viridian Gym. What brings you here?"
A crisp male voice came through the small speaker at the entrance.
"I'm here specifically to challenge Trainer Blue."
Paul replied calmly.
His reason for coming here was simple: to challenge, to seek defeat.
Only by battling one powerful Trainer after another could his Pokémon — the very ones he intended to lead to a tournament championship — feel real pressure.
Pressure bred drive. And with drive came the determination to grow even stronger.
As for defeat? It was just an insignificant stepping stone on the path to becoming truly powerful. Paul hardly cared about it.
"A challenger, huh? Just come on in. Walk straight down the hallway — you'll find it at the end."
The voice over the speaker sounded again, this time with a casual and slightly indifferent tone.
Hearing this, Paul didn't hesitate. He pushed the Gym doors open.
Following a dimly lit corridor to its end, he stepped into a wide open battle arena.
Across the field stood a brown-haired teenager with spiky hair, casually tossing a Poké Ball in one hand. He leaned slightly to the side, a cunning smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
"So, you're the challenger, huh?"
As Paul approached, the boy asked with an easy tilt of his lips.
Paul simply grunted in acknowledgment and said coolly,
"I'm here to challenge, but you're not the Gym Leader."
In this world, both Blue Oak and Gary Oak existed — with Gary being Blue's younger brother by a year.
Although the two looked strikingly similar, their personalities, mannerisms, and even their presence were noticeably different. Right now, it was obvious that this Gary was far more youthful and inexperienced compared to Blue.
A regular person might not have noticed the difference.
But for someone like Paul, whose powers of observation were razor-sharp, it was practically obvious at a glance.
"Heh, you caught that, huh? Looks like you're pretty sharp~"
Gary chuckled, dropping the deliberate imitation of his older brother's demeanor as he explained:
"My brother and Red headed off to Galar to compete in the World Coronation Series. Until they get back, I'm filling in as the temporary Viridian Gym Leader."
"I see. In that case, I'll be leaving."
Paul nodded in understanding and promptly turned to leave.
He hadn't come here to collect badges — he had come to find worthy opponents.
If the real Gym Leader wasn't present, there was no value in lingering here any longer.
As for challenging Gary?
Paul doesn't care.
"Wait, aren't you here to challenge the Gym? You can still battle now, you know?"
Gary looked genuinely confused.
Weren't challengers supposed to battle regardless? Just because the official Gym Leader wasn't present, did this guy think the acting Gym Leader didn't count?
"The one I want to challenge is Gym Leader Blue, not Gym Leader Gary—let alone an acting Gym Leader like you."
Paul stopped walking and glanced back slightly as he spoke, his tone was even.
Let alone Gary, who was merely standing in temporarily.
"You... you're looking down on me?" Gary asked, frowning and trying to keep his anger in check. "I was the runner-up at the Indigo Plateau Conference. Are you really that confident you can beat me?"
"I know who you are—Gary Oak. I watched your match against Ash Ketchum in the finals." Paul said calmly.
"Good, then you should understand how strong I am." Gary pressed.
Paul answered coolly, "Your Pokémon training is decent. But overall, you're just an average. You haven't developed a true battle style—too scattered, not refined."
In this world, Gary had grown rapidly due to the influences of Blue and others.
His Pokémon were fairly strong, but because he focused on quantity, only two or three—like his Blastoise—stood out in true power.
"If you're going to talk down to me like that, then what titles or honors have you even won?" Gary challenged.
"Titles are just things of the past. They're not worth mentioning." Paul replied plainly.
"In that case, why don't I be the one to challenge you?" Gary said, unable to hold back any longer. His journey so far had been unusually smooth, and aside from losses to Red, Blue, and Ash, he'd rarely been defeated. Being looked down on like this stung.
"Fine." Paul agreed. "But you'd better bring out your six strongest Pokémon."
With that, he turned to face Gary directly again. Tossing a Poké Ball into the air, Paul sent out his partner.
"Hisuian Samurott, prepare for battle!"
"Chaah!"
Hisuian Samurott—emerged with a fierce cry, the sharpness of its aura slicing through the air. Its cold, piercing gaze locked onto Gary.
"Wait, why does this Samurott look so different? And that aura... it's overwhelming..."
Gary, who hadn't seen tournaments from other regions or studied the Pokémon of Hisui, was completely caught off guard by the strange yet formidable Pokémon before him.
The appearance could be attributed to mutation, but the aura it exuded unmistakably spoke of strength.
Among his own Pokémon, there were few who could match this kind of presence.
"I am Paul, from Veilstone City in the Sinnoh region. This is my first Pokémon—Hisuian Samurott." Paul formally introduced himself.
"Hold on a moment."
Upon examining the Pokémon, Gary — his expression now serious — turned around and began operating a panel on the wall. After pressing a few buttons, a hidden compartment opened, revealing over a dozen Poké Balls neatly stored inside.
After a brief moment of deliberation, Gary selected the six Poké Balls from the far left before returning to his side of the battlefield.
"This battle will be an official match between the Acting Gym Leader Gary Oak and challenger Paul."
Announced the referee, who had just walked over from nearby.
"Each side may use up to six Pokémon. Victory is determined when all of one side's Pokémon are rendered unable to battle."
"Additionally, both sides are permitted to switch Pokémon freely during the match."
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