Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 60: Rio: You Asked for This

Alright—he had underestimated this Red Gyarados.

After repeatedly recalling and releasing it, he hadn’t broken the Gyarados’s spirit—he’d just hurt his own finger from pressing the Poké Ball button so many times.

He’d thought Charmander back then was the ceiling of stubbornness, but this Gyarados had raised that ceiling to a whole new level. It wouldn’t even give him a chance to communicate.

"Can only Lance with his Dragon Force tame this Red Gyarados?" Rio wondered.

Then he shook his head, refusing to entertain such defeatist thoughts. "No—there has to be a way to handle it. If it wants a battle of wills, I’ll go head-to-head with it. Let’s see who breaks first."

With that, he pressed the Poké Ball button again.

Flash of light.

"..."

"ROAR!!!"

Recalled.

Released.

"..."

"ROAR!!!"

...

Three days later.

Above Blaze Island, Azure City.

"So this is Blaze Island—it lives up to its name. From a distance, it really does look like a flame," Rio muttered from Charizard’s back, gazing at the reddish island below.

"But... isn’t this a tourist spot? Why is the beach so empty?"

Landing on Blaze Island, Rio checked into a beachside hotel. He didn’t rush to search for the treasure—because that stubborn Red Gyarados was still at odds with him, and he hadn’t found a way to deal with it yet.

"Excuse me, can I rent diving equipment?" Rio asked, noticing a bronze-skinned young man renting gear from the hotel owner.

"Diving equipment? You want to dive?" The owner looked surprised, then quickly warned him: "Young man, a storm season is coming—the next two months are not suitable for diving. The waves will be huge. I strongly advise against it—it’s extremely dangerous."

Rio glanced at the bronze-skinned young man.

"Don’t compare yourself to him—he’s a professional diver with a very strong Tentacruel that can protect him in rough waters," the owner explained.

The young man smiled at Rio. "Bro, next time you visit a coastal town, check the weather forecast first. Not everyone’s like me—going back to the sea is like going home for me."

With that, he walked off with his diving suit.

Rio glanced at him, then at the Poké Balls on his belt.

Soon, he reached a deserted stretch of beach.

Flash of light—the Red Gyarados appeared.

"ROAR!!!"

As always, it immediately charged a Hyper Beam at him.

Rio’s mouth twitched. He recalled it again.

He swore—he really had a good temper. But right now, he really wanted to beat this stupid dragon.

Three days! Do you know what these three days have been like for me?! Over and over, he’d released and recalled it so many times he’d lost count—and still, it greeted him with Hyper Beam every single time. It was determined to kill him.

"Buzz~"

His phone vibrated. He picked it up—it was James.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he answered: "Hello? What’s up?"

"Gym Leader Rio, how much longer until you get here? My parents, seeing that I still haven’t chosen a guide, have decided to pick one for me. I can only hold them off for four more days. If you haven’t arrived by then, I’ll have to go with someone else."

James got straight to the point.

Rio glanced at the Poké Ball in his hand, then at the treasure map in his pocket. After a moment’s thought: "Don’t worry—I’ll be there within four days."

After making the promise, Rio hung up.

He had made a decision.

After one final attempt—releasing the Red Gyarados and being forced to recall it—he took out the Luxury Ball on his belt.

To be fair, this ball was really useful. Primeape had been living in it for days and hadn’t lost its temper once—its friendship had even increased slightly.

Fiddling with it for a moment, he released Primeape.

"Pu-cha~" It rushed into his arms, seeking affection.

Rio patted its head affectionately—but his gaze was fixed on the Red Gyarados’s Poké Ball.

"You asked for this."

"I wanted to be a loving trainer who treasures his Pokémon. But you’ve been dancing all over my nerves, trying to blast me with Hyper Beam every single time—like I personally slaughtered every Magikarp in the Lake of Rage."

"So don’t blame me for what happens next."

SMACK! Rio gave Primeape a firm slap on the head.

"Pu-cha~" Primeape’s face instantly turned red with rage.

"Oh—sorry, Primeape! I meant to pat you gently—I just used too much force by accident," Rio said, crouching down with an apologetic tone.

"Pu-cha~" Primeape barely suppressed its fury, signaling Rio to step aside—it needed to find someone to fight.

"Hold on—how about I find you an opponent instead?"

"Pu-cha~" Primeape nodded aggressively, looking like it was about to unleash its primal rage at any moment.

"Then go ahead—beat that."

Flash of light—the Red Gyarados was released.

"ROAR!!!"

As always, it let out a deafening roar and immediately began charging a Hyper Beam at Rio, expecting to be recalled again.

But this time—

It wasn’t recalled.

Instead, it was met with a fully enraged Primeape, which had already launched itself four or five meters into the air, fist cocked back.

BAM!

One punch—just one punch—and the Red Gyarados’s head was spinning, stars dancing before its eyes. The Hyper Beam it had been charging fired wildly out of control.

Then, Primeape grabbed its tail.

"Pu-cha~"

"Pu-cha~"

"Pu-cha~"

Primeape swung it around like a whip, slamming it into the ground with every cry.