During the upcoming period, Ash didn't capture any more Pokemon, as he already had all the ones needed for traveling and challenging the Gym.
The next step was to train these Pokemon, and then think about capturing new ones.
Three more days passed, and at the exit of Viridian Forest, a somewhat disheveled Misty and Ash finally stood.
Seven days, a whole seven days in the forest, they were almost turning into wild people!
If it weren't for Ash occasionally carrying Misty, with Misty's stamina, it would have taken an additional two or three days.
During these seven days, Misty only bathed twice, just quickly wiping herself with a towel beside a small pool, because the water was too cold. Even in the blazing sun, it wasn't good for a girl to wash in cold water.
So Misty's first thought upon reaching Pewter City was to find a place to take a bath!
Otherwise, she was going to go crazy.
Ash wanted to challenge the Gym immediately, eager to test the results of his special training during this time.
But at Misty's suggestion, Ash decided to first visit the Pokemon Center to have Pikachu and the others recover, take a hot shower himself to relieve the fatigue of these days, and then go to challenge the Gym.
Even if Ash didn't feel tired, the Pokemon would.
While in Viridian Forest, Misty constantly marveled at Ash's stamina and spirit, which even surpassed that of Pokemon, making him a monster among humans.
It was afternoon, and Ash and Misty were already standing at the entrance of Pewter Gym.
Ash, eager and ready, pushed open the doors of Pewter Gym, murmuring, "Watch out, June 17th, the day I get my first badge!"
Misty rolled her eyes behind him, thinking if he fails, she'd surely remind him, "June 17th, the day of your first Gym challenge failure."
Whether this day would become a catchphrase for Misty to tease him, or the beginning of Ash's rise, would depend on this battle against the Pewter Gym Leader.
As the two entered the Pewter Gym, the lights gradually turned on, finally focusing on the arena.
In the arena, a dark-skinned young man with spiky black hair stood in the position of a Gym Trainer.
"That's the Pewter Gym's Leader, Brock," Misty softly explained to Ash about the young man highlighted by the lights.
"Brock, huh... he looks like a very serious person," Ash whispered to himself.
Brock stood in the arena, arms crossed, looking seriously at Ash and Misty: "Are you the challengers this time?"
"Technically, just me. I'm Ash from Pallet Town, here to challenge the Pewter Gym!" Ash stepped forward, pointing his thumb at himself, while Pikachu on his shoulder cheered along.
"From Pallet Town? A Newbie Trainer?"
"Well, including today, I've been traveling for only nine days."
"Nine days, huh... that's definitely a true newbie. If it were anyone else who's only traveled for nine days, I'd surely advise them not to challenge a Gym yet, but to train more outside, since Gym challenges aren't child's play. But coming from Pallet Town, it's different."
Brock's words made Ash pause: "Why is it different if they're from Pallet Town?"
"Before you, another boy from Pallet Town challenged me. He spectacularly conquered the lowest level Gym challenge. His command over his Pokemon and their strength were not like that of a newbie. Since you're also from Pallet Town, you must be extraordinary as well."
Ash's eyes narrowed. The person Brock mentioned was undoubtedly Gary, who had, as always, beaten him to it by driving a sports car ahead.
Though Ash didn't know how Gary managed to drive through Viridian Forest with a car, he certainly beat him once again. Truly an annoying guy.
"I'm not like him. I'll defeat you even more decisively!"
"Is that so? I'll be watching..." Brock then turned his gaze slightly to Ash's rear. "Your friend behind you looks familiar..."
Misty tilted her head, watching Ash and Brock from the corner of her eye.
The moment Brock spoke, Misty hurriedly said, "No! Definitely not! You must be mistaken! There's only one world's top beauty like me, and since I've never met you, you can't have seen me either."
"Is that so?" Brock's squinted eyes didn't reveal any emotions, his words ambiguous.
But to Misty's relief, Brock didn't pursue the matter further.
As a fellow Gym Leader, even if Brock hadn't seen her, he might have come across her pictures somewhere, just like she had seen Brock's pictures.
That's why Misty was so tense, but it seemed now, regardless of whether Brock recognized her, he wouldn't expose her identity.
"The challenge rules are a two-on-two, with the first side to lose all Pokemon as the loser. Considering you've only been out for less than ten days, and you don't have a badge, this Gym challenge will be at the lowest difficulty. Is there anything you don't understand?"
Ash shook his head, indicating he understood everything.
"Alright then, the match is about to start." Brock took out a remote and pressed a button. The walls on both sides suddenly opened, and a series of rocks moved out from the walls, finally merging in the center.
What was originally a flat terrain was now transformed into a rocky terrain, revealing the real challenge of Pewter Gym.
"Amazing, to change the terrain so quickly..." Ash marveled, his eyes filled with excitement and interest.
"As the Gym Leader, I release my Pokemon first, and during the battle, I can't switch out my Pokemon. So my first Pokemon is... go, Geodude!" Brock completed the rules and then tossed his Pokeball.
With a flash of light, a Pokemon composed entirely of rocks, lacking a lower body, and with huge fists appeared.
[Geodude, the Rock Pokemon, with very high physical defense and super resilience against physical attacks.]
Ash pulled out his Pokedex and, after gathering information through the Eye of Insight, grabbed a Pokeball from his waist.
"Decided on you for the first battle, go, Butterfree!"
"Bilibili~~" (I checked the Japanese version, and that's indeed how Butterfree sounds.)
Butterfree appeared, flapping its patterned butterfly wings and levitating mid-air.