The entire city flowed with clear running water and was covered in blooming flowers. To Logan, this city felt like another world altogether—like Venice, the city of water. Almost all major roads were overtaken by waterways, with countless floating bridges spanning across the currents. People traveled using water-type Pokémon or small boats, and even the buildings were constructed atop the water.
After meeting with Lance and Giovanni and parting ways, Logan had spent another half month training in Mt. Moon. Thanks to Lance using his "Verdant Force" to heal Gabite before departing, all the wounds it had sustained in the brutal battle against the Graveler swarm were fully restored. With rest, Gabite recovered its fighting strength, allowing Logan to persist in the harsh wilderness for that extra stretch of time.
During these two weeks, Logan's primary goal wasn't to make Dratini into a battle-hardened powerhouse like Gabite overnight, but to awaken its dormant dragon potential. He needed Dratini to learn how to fight, to develop battle instincts, to get comfortable with releasing moves, and, most of all, to build a deep sense of trust and coordination between them.
Fortunately, for someone blessed with the "Dragonmaster's Will," building that trust came easier than anything else. Logan could easily sense the emotions and will of dragon-type Pokémon. After just a short period of familiarization, his connection with Dratini was as seamless as that of a veteran trainer with a partner of many years.
Thanks to Mewtwo's psychic abilities and his own understanding of Pokémon energy, Logan was even able to visualize the growth of a Pokémon's power—like seeing an experience bar in a game.
Unlike most trainers who only noticed progress when their Pokémon visibly leveled up or evolved, Logan could monitor every bit of advancement in real time. This constant feedback gave him endless motivation. Every moment of visible growth inspired him to push further. Had he seen no progress, he might have assumed his training was ineffective and given up.
Logan always considered himself a naturally lazy person. But being able to see his Pokémon improving kept him going. He gritted his teeth and endured because he believed in the results, and he longed to see them become stronger.
"Finally… Cerulean City."
Covered in dirt and grime, Logan let out a long sigh of relief. Compared to Viridian Forest, the mountainous terrain of Mt. Moon had been a whole new level of misery. After two months of rough travel through forest and mountain, his clothes were tattered, though not quite as pitiful as Giovanni's shredded suit from their earlier encounter—but still barely holding together.
Now that he was back in a city, Logan felt like he could finally breathe again. Not just him—Gabite and Dratini were also on the verge of mental exhaustion.
"Viridian is a city surrounded by forest. Pewter sits nestled in the mountains. And now Cerulean, a city of water… the cities of Kanto really each have their own unique character."
Logan stood by the riverbank. A cool breeze rustled the nearby willows, while sailboats glided along the crisscrossing rivers. The sight of small bridges over calm waters gave the city a serene charm.
Cerulean City was crisscrossed and well-connected, but not without flaws. Road traffic was cramped and slow, while the waterways—beautiful as they were—were almost too tranquil to be practical.
As any seasoned trainer would, Logan headed straight for the Pokémon Center upon arriving. He wasn't here for sightseeing. After finding a cab, he endured a winding ride over narrow roads and through bridge-filled water lanes until finally arriving at the city's bustling central Pokémon Center.
Like all Centers, this one was lively with activity. Trainers of all stripes came and went, their voices blending into a constant background hum. Loud arguments occasionally broke out, only to be drowned by more chatter.
Logan ignored the noise. He walked straight to the reception desk for lodging, flashed his badge, and secured a room upstairs.
While Pokémon Centers were primarily for treating Pokémon, they also provided services for trainers. In a world where Pokémon were central to life, these Centers served as the backbone of society. The power of individual trainers had grown to such extremes that collective human power felt diminished by comparison. Numbers alone couldn't outweigh the sheer force of a powerful Pokémon bond.
And so, trainers had become a crucial cornerstone in maintaining public order—because they held something far more potent than political power: raw, personal military force.
According to Logan's understanding, someone like Lance—the head of the Elite Four—wielded a force equivalent to an entire fleet of aircraft carriers, a top-tier army division, and an elite air force squadron… combined. And in this world, that terrifying power rested in the hands of just one person.
"Your room number is 1107. Here's your key card. Please take care of it!"
The receptionist offered a sweet smile, politely handing Logan his key.
His battered and dirty appearance didn't faze her at all. In fact, it was common for veteran trainers to show up in much worse shape. Newer trainers, who mostly trained through battles and avoided wilderness survival, tended to look much cleaner and more polished.
"Um, excuse me… are you Logan—the one who earned the Pewter badge?"
"Huh? You know me?" Logan looked up at the receptionist curiously.
"So you finally made it to Cerulean City! So many people have been waiting for you! When are you planning to challenge the Gym Leader, Miss Misty? Sorry, I'm just really excited… would you mind signing an autograph for me?"
Her face practically glowed with enthusiasm. She spoke quickly, like a fan meeting a celebrity.
"I'll think about the Gym Challenge later. Right now, I just want a proper rest."
Still, Logan smiled and gave her an autograph. She thanked him repeatedly as he walked away from the desk.
As he passed through the main hall, Logan noticed something strange. Conversations quieted wherever he walked. Trainers turned to stare at him. Some even whispered in hushed voices.
'What's going on? Even if I made a bit of a name for myself a month ago, this is way too much.'
It baffled him. In this information-saturated age, headlines faded fast. Even the biggest scandals could vanish from public memory after a few weeks. That's why celebrities always stirred up drama or sought publicity—because once you stopped appearing in front of people, they stopped remembering you.
Sure, his battle in Pewter had caused a stir, but this kind of nationwide recognition? Being stared at like a full-on star? That was excessive.
'What happened over the past two weeks…?'
Logan frowned.
It was probably time to get online and see what kind of chaos had unfolded while he was off the grid.
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