Chapter 12

As Tetsuya walked through the streets, he couldn't help but acknowledge how much more vibrant Pewter City was compared to Viridian City.

The difference was clear—Viridian's streets were filled with elderly residents enjoying a leisurely pace of life, while Pewter's were bustling with young, energetic people.

According to official League statistics, Pewter City ranked sixth in overall strength among all Kanto cities.

Considering all factors, that was an impressive ranking.

Viridian City, on the other hand, was only ranked eighth, and that was largely thanks to its Gym Leader, Giovanni, whose sheer strength carried the city's standing. Economically speaking, Viridian barely made eleventh place.

Unlike in the games, where Kanto was depicted as having only eight cities and Gyms, the reality was far more expansive.

Tetsuya had learned that, in this world, Kanto had 76 cities, with 32 official Gyms, 20 unofficial Gyms, and many smaller independent Gyms or towns without any at all.

Interestingly, Kanto was the only region where official Gyms outnumbered unofficial ones.

The Gym System in the Pokémon World

Official Gyms were those recognized by the Pokémon League, granting badges that allowed trainers to qualify for regional tournaments. To become an official Gym Leader, one needed to reach at least Elite Four level strength.

Every ten years, the League would evaluate each Gym to determine whether it could maintain its official status.

Some of the strongest official Gyms boasted Leaders who even had Pokémon at the Champion or Quasi-Champion level.

This was often due to generational inheritance—while the previous Gym Leader might retire, their powerful Pokémon would often remain within the family, growing stronger over time. This historical foundation was what made Kanto's Eight Major Gyms so formidable.

Meanwhile, unofficial and independent Gyms had lower standards.

Unofficial Gyms were still recognized by the League, and their badges could be used to certify Elite Trainer status, though they didn't grant entry to regional tournaments.

Independent Gyms, however, were purely for practice or local recognition. Their badges had no real value beyond bragging rights.

For Pewter City to rank sixth in all of Kanto meant it was a powerhouse.

Why Kanto is the Strongest Region

It was widely acknowledged that Kanto was the most dominant Pokémon region—not just because it was the birthplace of the Pokémon League, but due to its sheer trainer strength.

Economically and technologically, other regions had their own advantages, but when it came to raw trainer power, Kanto was unmatched.

Even just by numbers, Kanto had 1.5 to 3 times more official Gyms than most other regions. And when comparing Gym Leader strength, Kanto's Leaders were simply on another level.

The Elite Four and Champions

Each region's Elite Four was determined through grueling Champion Challenges held every five years.

Any trainer who had reached the King-ranked level could enter the tournament, competing for one of the four Elite Four positions.

Most trainers competed in the region they were born in, though some top-tier trainers roamed the world, seeking greater challenges.

For years, Kanto's Elite Four Challenge had been regarded as the most brutal in the world.

Why? Because of its legendary lineup:

Lance, the Dragon Master – A genius trainer and the undisputed strongest Dragon-type user.

Lorelei, the Ice Queen – A tactical master, known for her ruthless battlefield control.

Agatha, the Ghost Mistress – The longest-serving Elite Four member in history, nearly immortal in her mastery.

Bruno, the Fighting Titan – A relentless warrior who embodied both power and discipline.

For the last twenty years, these four had crushed every challenger who dared to rise against them.

Their dominance was so absolute that people stopped calling them just the Elite Four of Kanto—they were known as the Four Champions of Kanto.

In most regions, an Elite Four member would be considered top-tier if they had three to four Quasi-Champion Pokémon and maybe one or two Champion-level Pokémon.

But these four? Each of them had entire teams at Champion level.

To make things worse, Lance was rumored to be taking the Champion seat in Johto soon, which only deepened the despair of hopeful trainers.

Why Kanto Has No Champion

Unlike other regions, Kanto had never officially appointed a Champion.

But it wasn't because Kanto lacked one—it was because no one could defeat all four Elite Four members in succession.

In most regions, if a trainer could defeat the entire Elite Four, they would be named Champion. But in Kanto, the Elite Four themselves were already at Champion level.

The reason Kanto had no official Champion was simple: No one could beat all four of them.

Despite this, Kanto's lack of a formal Champion had never been seen as a weakness. If anything, it only reinforced Kanto's overwhelming strength.

Besides, Kanto had produced some of the most powerful Pokémon researchers and influential figures in the League, including:

Professor Oak – A world-class Pokémon Professor and former Champion-level trainer.

Chairman Goodshow – One of the highest-ranking League officials, also from Kanto.

In the League's Supreme Council, which consisted of twelve of the most powerful figures across all regions, five of them hailed from Kanto—while other regions were lucky to have even one representative.

Tetsuya walked through the city, lost in thought. Before he knew it, two hours had passed.

Gym Battle Confirmation

Ding!

His Pokégear vibrated with an incoming message.

Gym Battle Appointment Confirmation

Trainer: Tetsuya Tamaki

Please arrive at Pewter Gym, Arena #1 at 4:30 PM for your Gym Battle.

Battle Rules: See below.

Tetsuya scrolled down to review the match conditions.

Pewter Gym Battle Rules

Format: 2v2 Battle on a Rock Field

Gym Trainer sends out Pokémon first

Challenger has first attack priority

Challenger is allowed to switch Pokémon; Gym Trainer is not

Victory is achieved when all Pokémon on one side are unable to battle

No high-tech equipment allowed during battle

Leaving the battlefield results in automatic disqualification

Any damage caused to the Gym environment or equipment by the challenger will require full compensation

Tetsuya smirked, already running through possible battle strategies in his head.

He had prepared for this.

With the battle set for later in the afternoon, he had some time to explore the city a bit more before heading to the Gym.

Tucking his Pokégear away, he turned and continued down the street, eager to experience more of Pewter City before his first real Gym challenge.

Tetsuya carefully read through the battle rules of the Pewter Gym. In reality, they were standard battle regulations. Aside from the first three lines, there weren't any significant changes.

Glancing at the time, he saw that there was still an hour and a half left—no rush.

After wandering the streets for another half hour, he returned to the Pokémon Center and retrieved his two Pokémon from Nurse Joy, who had finished their recovery while he booked his room.

With his team fully restored, Tetsuya made his way toward Pewter Gym.

As he approached, he took in the sight of the magnificent structure, a testament to Pewter City's legacy.

The gym's exterior was built from massive boulders, resembling a giant Onix coiled in place. Even the surrounding buildings, rugged and tall in their own right, looked small in comparison.

Standing before the gym, Tetsuya couldn't help but admire its imposing presence—it truly embodied the essence of Pewter City, the "Rock City."

This grandeur made sense, given that a former Pewter Gym Leader had once served as a member of Kanto's Elite Four back when Kanto and Johto were still one unified region. His strength had been legendary.

During his tenure, the Pewter Gym was restructured into what it was today.

However, after retiring and passing the title of Gym Leader to his son, Brock, 30 years ago, the former master had rarely appeared in public.

Still, the Pewter Gym remained strong, and Brock himself was a formidable trainer.

Unlike in the anime from his past life, there were no glaring issues with the gym's leadership here.

Shaking off his thoughts, Tetsuya stepped forward, presenting his ID and reservation details to the gym staff at the entrance. After verifying his information, the staff led him to Waiting Room No. 1.

"Your scheduled gym battle is in 32 minutes. The previous challenger is currently in battle.

Please take a short rest in the waiting room. Our staff will notify you when it's time to enter the battle arena.

Drinks are complimentary in the waiting area.

Best of luck in your match," the staff member informed him before departing.

Tetsuya looked around the well-furnished waiting room and couldn't help but think, Gyms sure are loaded.

He walked over to the beverage dispenser, grabbed a cup, poured himself some juice, and settled onto the sofa to relax.

Before he knew it, half an hour had passed, and a staff member came to escort him to the battle arena.

Walking through the dimly lit corridor, a bright beam of light appeared at the end. Squinting, Tetsuya stepped forward onto the rock battlefield.

"Are you the challenger, Tetsuya Tamaki?"

A deep voice called out from across the field.

Tetsuya looked up to see a young man in a green vest, with tanned skin and perpetually squinting eyes.

He recognized him instantly—Brock, Pewter City's Gym Leader.

For a brief moment, Tetsuya was caught off guard by seeing such a familiar face in real life, but he quickly refocused on the match ahead.

He gave a firm nod. "Yes, I'm Tetsuya Tamaki from Viridian City. I officially challenge you for the Pewter Badge."

Stepping onto the challenger's platform, he locked eyes with Brock across the rocky field.

Brock gave a slight nod. "Understood, Trainer Tetsuya. You've already received the battle rules, but I'll summarize them again for clarity."

He gestured toward the referee, who stepped forward to officiate.

"The Pewter Gym Battle is a 2v2 match on a rock battlefield. The Gym Leader will send out their Pokémon first.

The challenger has first attack priority and may switch Pokémon during battle. However, the Gym Leader is not allowed to switch Pokémon.

Victory is determined when one side's Pokémon are completely unable to battle."

The referee raised his flag. "The Pewter Gym Battle between Brock of Pewter City and Tetsuya Tamaki of Viridian City begins now!"

Brock grabbed a Poké Ball and tossed it into the air. "My first Pokémon is Graveler!"

Without hesitation, Tetsuya retrieved a Luxury Ball from his waist and threw it forward.

"Let's go, Combusken!"

Yes, he had chosen Combusken over Pidgeot.

At this stage, Combusken needed more experience and battle refinement than Pidgeot.

After all, Gym battles weren't just about winning badges—they were about training and growth.

Brock's eyes widened slightly as he analyzed Combusken.

As a Gym Leader and a trainer aspiring to greatness, Brock had a keen eye for strong Pokémon.

He could tell immediately—Tetsuya's Combusken wasn't just talented. It had undergone rigorous training far beyond the norm.

Brock also noted that Tetsuya hadn't chosen his Pokémon for type advantage. Many novice trainers overlooked type matchups, but someone who had raised a Pokémon as well-trained as this wouldn't make that kind of mistake.

"Confidence? Interesting." Brock thought to himself.

"Combusken, close the distance with Quick Attack and use Flamethrower!"

Tetsuya issued his first command, opting to test Graveler's speed and durability.

"Rollout! Then accelerate with Rock Polish to dodge!" Brock countered.

He knew from experience that most trainers would attempt to outspeed Graveler early on, so he had developed a defensive routine.

Normally, Rollout alone was enough to evade most initial attacks, but against an opponent of Combusken's caliber, he took no chances. Rock Polish ensured Graveler's speed boost was immediate.

Graveler tucked in its limbs, rolling sharply to the side as a bright sheen covered its body, further enhancing its speed.

Even so, Combusken's flames still grazed it, leaving scorch marks on both the rock Pokémon and the battlefield.

Brock's eyes narrowed. "That was fast—and the flames were far more intense than expected."

Tetsuya, meanwhile, studied Graveler's movements carefully.

That's one agile Graveler. The way it stacked Rock Polish onto Rollout gave it incredible mobility.

But agility wasn't its strong suit—and attack power wasn't either.

"Chase it with Quick Attack and land a Double Kick!"

"Use Endure!" Brock responded instinctively, sensing the threat.

Combusken flashed forward, white light trailing behind it as it closed the distance in an instant.

Just as Graveler realized what was happening, Combusken struck—

**First kick—**knocking Graveler off balance and sending it airborne.

**Second kick—**launching Graveler higher into the air.

Combusken pivoted, following its target upward. Its right claw glowed with a sharp, white sheen—

"Brick Break—finish it!" Tetsuya commanded.

Before Brock or Graveler could react, Combusken twisted in mid-air and brought its glowing claw down hard onto Graveler's body.

BOOM!

A resounding impact shook the battlefield as Graveler crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and rubble.

The first clash was over—but the battle had just begun.