Alex's eyes narrowed with determination, every muscle in his thighs bursting with power. He dashed toward Lucario, who was engulfed in flames all over his body. Everything happened so fast, like a gust of wind—no one could react in time.
He quickly caught Lucario, feeling the warrior Pokémon's body still burning hot from the fiery wounds. Wasting no time, Alex pulled out a high-quality grapefruit—one he knew could effectively restore stamina—and gently stuffed it into Lucario's mouth.
"Luca!" Lucario nodded in response. Although his body was still a bit hot and sore, thanks to the grapefruit, his wounds weren't serious, and his strength was gradually recovering.
"Thank you for your hard work and effort," Alex said softly, pride filling his eyes. "Now go back into your Poké Ball and rest for a bit."
He took out a Poké Ball and released Lucario back inside. The soft Pokémon was enveloped in brilliant light and then disappeared.
Without hesitation, Alex quickly walked over to Gardevoir and gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist.
After unleashing an enhanced version of Mystical Fire, Gardevoir's energy was almost completely drained. She was now holding on purely by iron will and determination.
"Alex… who won?" Gardevoir looked at him with sparkling eyes, her voice filled with anticipation and curiosity.
"Of course, it's you," Alex said with a gentle smile, his gaze full of affection. "Didn't I just take care of Lucario before coming to you?"
Those words finally made Gardevoir exhale in relief; her tense face gradually relaxed.
In truth, the winner of the battle was Lucario.
On such a vast beach, Lucario's speed was heavily limited. Running on soft sand was completely different from running on flat ground. The resistance from the sand clearly slowed Lucario's steps, giving Gardevoir a considerable advantage.
Moreover, physically, Lucario still had abundant energy despite his minor injuries, while Gardevoir was completely drained and unable to continue fighting.
However, Gardevoir fully understood all this.
She didn't care much about winning or losing — what she wanted was to prove to Alex that she could be strong, strong enough to protect him and those she loved.
That was enough.
Alex understood all those thoughts in her heart clearly, so he didn't hesitate to tell her that she was the winner. Besides, she was a girl—she needed to be comforted, encouraged, and soothed.
Slateport — Pokémon Alliance Center
After relentless training, both Gardevoir and Lucario had reached level 30, ready for a new journey.
Alex stood inside the Alliance Center, searching for suitable missions on the query machine. The moment to begin his journey to the legendary land of Kanto had finally arrived.
His heart brimmed with excitement and anticipation for the new Pokémon he was about to catch — a companion who could help him travel swiftly and explore distant lands.
At the port city of Slateport, many cargo ships were docked. These ships traveled to many different places and were currently recruiting escorts to protect their voyages at sea.
The captains and crew needed guards to ensure the safety of both the staff and the cargo onboard, and they were willing to pay handsomely for this work.
This was the perfect opportunity for Alex — a free trip to Kanto, with the chance to earn some extra money and gain experience.
He had already purchased five Technical Machines (TMs) — a considerable investment — as this was a rare chance to enjoy a month-long break after months of intense training.
Information about the mission appeared on the screen:
[Mission ID: 8293]
[Description: The Slateport Shipping Company is recruiting temporary sea escorts to ensure the safety of staff and goods onboard. Reward: 20 Alliance Coins.]
[Duration: 20 days, including meals and accommodation throughout the journey.]
[Requirement: Only bounty hunters with at least 3 badges or rank D and above can accept this mission.]
"Although we don't have much money, at least we can leave tomorrow. The timing is quite reasonable," Alex thought to himself.
"Just this mission will do." He quickly accepted the mission and proceeded to the service counter to complete the necessary procedures.
The process was so simple that, for a rank B bounty hunter like him, it was almost effortless and required little formality.
Initially, Alex had to undergo an interview, but when the recruiter heard that Alex was a rank B bounty hunter, they immediately agreed without further checks — the interview was even waived.
Back at his mansion, Alex packed his belongings and checked everything one last time before leaving.
He slung his backpack over his shoulders, filled with determination and excitement.
With Gardevoir and Lucario by his side, he was ready to embark on the journey to conquer the land of Kanto — a place full of opportunities, challenges, and mysteries waiting to be uncovered.