Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 127: Betting It All on One Battle

While Rio was sizing him up, the trainee who had brought him over loudly retorted. Hearing that the Gym Leader had arrived, the other trainees turned to look. Seeing it was really Rio, they grew excited.

"Gym Leader, you’re finally back! We’ve been waiting forever!"

"Gym Leader, crush this arrogant bastard! He needs to be put in his place!"

"Yeah, Gym Leader—this guy has no idea how high the sky is!"

Seeing his trainees’ reactions, the self-proclaimed Blue also turned to study Rio.

"So you’re the Gym Leader of this Lavender Gym?" Blue crossed his arms, tilting his head up slightly—the perfect embodiment of looking down his nose at someone.

"That’s right—this Lavender Gym is mine." Rio rolled his eyes. If he didn’t know that this guy was so arrogant he wouldn’t even respect Boss Giovanni, he’d have marched over and slapped some respect into him right then and there.

"Come on—battle me. Let me see if you’re as strong as people say," Blue said, crooking his finger, his arrogance on full display.

"Battle you? Sure." Rio shrugged, glancing at Blue’s Level 48 Blastoise. "But I think you should let it rest first. I wouldn’t want you to have an excuse when you lose."

"No way—absolutely not. I’d never use that as an excuse!" Blue waved his hand confidently. "If I did, I wouldn’t be Blue."

"Hold on—I’m not done." Rio’s tone turned teasing. "I have a rule—I only do bounty battles. And I bet everything I’ve got. So—do you dare?"

Bet everything on a single battle? Blue’s confident expression flickered with hesitation.

"What’s wrong—you scared?" Rio raised an eyebrow, now crossing his arms and looking down his nose at Blue. The trainees behind him followed suit in perfect unison.

"What’s wrong—you scared?"

"Scared already?"

"Where’d all that arrogance go?"

"Tsk—looks like a coward who only bullies the weak. Gym Leader, just kick him out of Lavender Town. No point wasting your time on him."

Without Rio even having to say another word, his trainees piled on the taunts. Hearing the mockery, Blue couldn’t take it anymore.

"Who says I’m scared?! I accept! But I need to take my Blastoise to the Pokémon Center first. I’ll be back after it’s healed."

"You’re not going to run away, are you?" Rio interjected.

"Bullshit—even if the world ended, I wouldn’t run!" Blue snapped.

"What if?" Rio raised an eyebrow. "I don’t know your character."

"You three—come with me." Blue pointed at the nearest trainees, then recalled Blastoise into its Poké Ball. As he passed Rio, he threw out a parting threat: "You wait—we’re betting everything. Whoever loses and doesn’t pay up is the coward."

"Sure thing, coward—hurry up," Rio said with a smirk.

Blue’s eyes widened in fury before he stormed off. Rio watched him leave, smirking. Trying to show off in front of me? I’ll make you regret it. Giovanni tried the same thing, and even he ended up on the ground. Well—as long as Beedrill doesn’t show up. If that comes out, I might be the one on the ground.

An hour later, Rio and Blue stood on opposite sides of the Lavender Gym battlefield. The stands were packed with spectators—Mr. Fuji and Cynthia among them. Cynthia had finished her training with Garchomp half an hour earlier and rushed over as soon as she heard Rio was betting everything on a battle.

"Grandpa Fuji, what do you think of this match?" Cynthia asked before it began.

"I think Rio’s being reckless," Mr. Fuji sighed. "Betting everything he has? What if he loses? Handing over the entire Lavender Gym? I heard this challenger Blue easily defeated four of our trainees with just his Blastoise. He’s too young and impulsive."

"I don’t think so," Cynthia countered. "From all my experience betting against Rio, I’d say this Blue kid is the one in trouble. Rio is too clever to bet big unless he’s sure he’ll win. I have a feeling Blue is about to get crushed. Look at how arrogant he is—and look at how calm Rio is. That’s the calm before the storm."

Mr. Fuji looked at Blue—arms crossed, standing aloof, waiting for the referee to start, and hurling another taunt: "Kid, get ready to hand over everything you own."

Then he looked at Rio—completely calm, as if this were just another ordinary battle. The contrast was striking.

Ten seconds later, the battle began. Blue sent out Blastoise. And Rio...

"Come out, Primeape."

"Pu-cha~"

For someone who needed to be taught a lesson, Rio called on the monkey.