Chapter 113: Vermilion City

Free trial available in patreon🎉🎉🎉

----------------------------------------------------------

Vermilion City, a large city located in the heart of the Kanto Region near the southeast estuary, is known for its huge harbor. Ships connect it to all parts of the world, making it one of the most important cities in Kanto.

Due to its proximity to the sea, the city is bathed in an orange-yellow hue at sunset, giving it the appearance of vermilion, hence the name Vermilion City.

In addition to its picturesque location, the city is also home to one of the eight gymnasiums established by the Pokémon League. This gym specializes in Electric-type Pokémon.

Early in the morning, after finishing their morning exercises, Ash and his friends had breakfast, packed their bags, and set off for the harbor in Yangquan City, where they purchased their tickets for the ship to Vermilion City.

The price of the S.S. Ticket wasn't expensive, especially for Trainers who received a discount. In the end, the cost of a single ticket was about the same as a Poké Ball—two hundred dollars.

Once on board, they stood on the deck, feeling the cool sea breeze. It was refreshing, especially for those who had never been on a boat before. Pikachu even jumped off Ash's shoulder and ran around on the deck, enjoying the new experience.

After the ship set off, the group's excitement peaked. They sat on the deck, not wanting to return to the cabin, relishing the sensation of the sea breeze. They stayed there until noon before heading back inside to eat. In the afternoon, as the sun grew hotter, they chose to stay in the cabin and rest.

At eight o'clock in the evening, the ship finally arrived at the port of Vermilion City. The city's neon lights illuminated the night, showcasing its vibrancy as a city that never sleeps.

"It's so bustling, a city connected to the world by the harbor!" Ash exclaimed as he gazed around. Walking through the streets, Ash noticed that the people here weren't just from the Kanto Region but also from many other regions.

"There are so many people from different regions," Ash remarked, observing the diverse crowd.

"Well, it's no surprise," Brock replied, rubbing his chin as he looked around. "Many people travel by boat, so it makes sense that you'd see so many people from other regions here." He then flashed a grin, noticing a few stylish women among the crowd.

Misty, too, had noticed. Compared to these fashionable women, she felt a little out of place. She glanced at Ash, but when she saw that he wasn't looking at anyone else, she felt relieved.

Ash, however, wasn't concerned with the crowd. His thoughts were on the challenge that lay ahead—the Vermilion Gym.

The Vermilion Gym specialized in Electric-type Pokémon, and its leader, Lt. Surge, was a formidable Trainer known for his incredible strength. Although Lt. Surge's performance in the anime wasn't very impressive, in the special comics, he was portrayed as one of Team Rocket's executives, and even caught the legendary Zapdos.

The gym's challenge rules were simple: a three-on-three battle. This meant Ash would need to send out three of his Pokémon to fight. Squirtle and Pidgeotto were obvious choices, given that they had an advantage over Electric-types, so Ash needed to choose one more from his remaining Pokémon.

Pikachu, of course, would be his first choice. Ash's trusted partner was his trump card. For the second slot, Bulbasaur seemed like a good option. As a Grass-type, it would naturally resist Electric-type moves. The third slot was a bit trickier, but Ash decided on Charmander, reasoning that it could counter any Steel-types Lt. Surge might use, such as Magnemite.

Although Ash wasn't sure whether Lt. Surge would use Magnemite, it was a common Electric/Steel-type Pokémon, and Ash felt it was better to be prepared for all possibilities.

When they arrived at the Pokémon Center, they didn't check in for their rooms immediately. Instead, they made calls home to let their families know they had arrived safely and to check in on their loved ones.

Brock and Ash had no problems with their families; they were used to talking. Misty, however, seemed a bit troubled. Her three sisters were still teasing her, despite the fact that their earlier misunderstandings had been resolved. It was a bit frustrating, but Misty knew her sisters meant no harm, and soon she wasn't bothered by it anymore.

It was getting late, so they decided to have dinner at the center's restaurant before heading back to their respective rooms to rest. The next morning, Ash woke up early to get in some practice on the field outside the Pokémon Center.

His focus was mainly on the three Pokémon he planned to use in the gym battle, and he explained his strategy to them. Squirtle, Pidgeotto, and Beedrill were all on board, but Bulbasaur and Charmander seemed a little nervous. This would be their first gym battle since their recovery, so it was only natural that they felt some anxiety.

"Don't worry, you've both grown a lot, and your strength is more than enough. As long as you stay focused, you won't lose... After all, I'll be behind you!" Ash reassured them.

"Pikachu!" Pikachu also offered words of encouragement to its two friends.

"Bulba!" Bulbasaur cheered.

"Char!" Charmander exclaimed, still a bit anxious but trying to stay calm.

After taking turns comforting them, Ash's Pokémon began to settle down. Although they were still a bit nervous, they were determined to face the gym battle as any other challenge.

After breakfast, the group left the Pokémon Center and made their way to the Vermilion Gym.

The gym was located in the southwest corner of the city, not far from the Pokémon Center. It was clear that this gym had far more popularity than Pewter City's, as Ash had seen on his journey.

When they arrived, they saw that the gym hadn't opened yet, but there was already a crowd outside. In addition to the Trainers who had come to challenge the gym, there were also students attending the gym's lessons, as well as Trainers from other regions who had come to watch the battles.

"There are so many people here," Misty observed, a little envious. It was estimated that at least a hundred people were already waiting for the gym doors to open. And once the doors did open, more people would surely arrive.

"In the future, the Cerulean Gym will definitely be bigger than the Vermilion Gym!" Ash declared confidently. He had faith in Misty and was certain that the Cerulean Gym would one day be just as successful. He even remembered seeing how grand the new Cerulean Gym was in the anime, which showed just how profitable it had become at that time.

"Yes, I'll make it happen!" Misty said with determination. The success of the Vermilion Gym only made her more motivated to grow Cerulean Gym into a top-tier facility in the future.

After a while, the gym doors finally opened, and the crowd split into two groups. One group of people entered, and Ash joined the line of challengers, finding himself standing behind thirteen other Trainers, all eager to face Lt. Surge.

----------------------------------------------

Visit our Patreon for more:

patreon.com/Johnwick007