Pokemon: A Gym Leader's Rise(SI)

The training field in Fuchsia City had become an all-too-familiar scene for Gladion and his Pokémon. Day after day, the same 300-meter stretch of plain ground saw endless repetitions of drills, sparring sessions, and controlled chaos that left more dents in the earth than in his strategy.

Even his usually stoic team was beginning to show signs of weariness. Well except for Might Guy and his protegé Rock Lee (Primeape) who excitedly trained every day as if it was the happiest thing that they can do.

Nyx, his Umbreon, lounged in the shade of a nearby tree, her eyes half-closed as she lazily watched a cloud drift by.

[I swear, if I have to do another round of the same routine, I might just phase out of existence,] she said to Gladion who was sitting beside her. Even Collosus, his Pupitar, still tried to control his destructive Hyper Beam—but even he looked as if he'd rather be napping than expending all that energy day after day.

Gladion himself was feeling the effects of endless training. Every muscle ached as he trained his physical strength too every day, his mind wandered, and a familiar boredom began to seep into his thoughts.

He leaned against a boulder, running his hand through his hair, and sighed. "Maybe it's time for a change," he mumbled. He wanted something exciting—something that wasn't just mindless repetition.

He decided that a trainer mission might be the perfect antidote to the tedium. A mission would break the monotony, give him a chance to explore a different side of the trainer's life, and add a dash of adventure to his routine.

Just as he was about to announce his decision, Sabrina, his ever-present companion who had developed a habit of micromanaging him like a mother hen, trotted over.

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, and she arched an eyebrow. "So, what brilliant idea do you have now, Gladion? Planning to take on a mission to catch a rare Dratini? Or are you just bored because you've run out of ways to make Pupitar blow up training fields?"

Gladion crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. "Stop acting like my mom, Sabrina. I'm not going out to find a runaway Mother Dragonite in my backyard."

Sabrina's face instantly turned serious, taking his words literally. "I'm sorry, are you saying I'm your mother now?"

"Not literally, you overenthusiastic annoyance," he snapped, though a reluctant smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I just mean, you're always asking a million questions about what I'm doing. Today, I'm going to take a trainer mission."

"A trainer mission? What on earth is that?" Sabrina asked, her tone a mix of genuine curiosity. She did not bother on researching about things that did not interest her.

Gladion sighed as he told her to follow him towards the Pokemon Center.

Once they reached there, he motioned toward a large bulletin board that was set up inside the Pokemon Center with various papers stapled to it.

"Trainer Missions are like an adventure guild system for Pokémon trainers," he explained. "You know how adventurers in old stories would get quests from a town hall? Well, this is similar. The Pokémon Center posts various missions that trainers can take on. Anyone can post a mission here with a reward. Of course, it should not be something illegal or outside of rules and regulations set up by the League."

Sabrina folded her arms. "Like what? Finding lost items or something more exciting?"

"Exactly," Gladion replied. "Missions range from simple tasks, like helping out in a Pokémon Center, finding rare berries in the woods, or even investigating disturbances in the Safari Zone. There's also missions to catch certain Pokémon legally—no stealing allowed, of course—investigate rumors of ghost sightings, and so on."

He leaned closer, excitement creeping into his tone. "Even anyone not participating in the Ace or Elite Challenges—basically if you're not in the main league of battles—can do these missions. But it's not all for fun and games. You start at the bottom with an Iron badge level, which lets you take on basic missions. Then, as you complete more, you climb up through Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Dark Gold, Platinum, and finally Diamond rank. Each level unlocks missions with better rewards but also tougher challenges."

Sabrina's eyes widened as she took it all in. "So you're saying you can start with simple jobs, like fetching medicine for a Pokémon Center, and then move on to investigating haunted forests and stuff?"

"Exactly. It's a structured system. For instance, a mission at the Iron rank might ask you to deliver a package to a trainer in a neighboring town or pick up some missing items from a local market. But once you hit the Bronze rank—like someone who's completed about eight missions—you start seeing missions with higher stakes."

She snorted. "I bet some trainers get way too full of themselves once they reach Diamond rank. 'Look at me, I'm the ultimate trainer!'"

Gladion chuckled. At least, She was trying to do jokes even if they were not very funny.

"Perhaps. But for now, I'm only eligible for missions up to the Bronze rank since I have got all 8 badges. Let's see what's available."

They strolled over to the bulletin board at the Pokémon Center. The huge board had several mission listings with enticing descriptions. Gladion scanned them carefully, his eyes lighting up at each mission title.

One mission read:

"Lost Berries in the Woods – Iron Rank"

Reward: 1500 Pokédollars

Description: "Help the local farmer find his missing batch of rare berries. Beware of wild Spearow and the occasional misbehaving Caterpie."

Another mission stated:

"Delivery Duty – Iron Rank"

Reward: 1300 Pokédollars

Description: "Deliver essential supplies to the Pokémon Center in Viridian City."

Gladion continued scrolling until he reached the bronze section and found a more intriguing mission:

"Safari Zone Bug Crisis – Bronze Rank"

Reward: 31200 Pokédollars

Description: "Investigate reports of unusual behavior among Bug-type Pokémon in the Safari Zone. The officials are concerned about the sudden aggression in the Zone. Document your findings. Take action if required. Ensure the safety of both trainers and Pokémon."

He paused, reading the description carefully. His mind immediately raced with thoughts of a fun diversion from the monotonous training sessions. "This sounds interesting," he murmured. "Not only will it give me some adventure, but it's also a chance to see the Safari Zone. "

Sabrina, hovering over his shoulder, leaned in. "Wait, why would you pick that one? Is it because bugs are your arch-nemesis or something?"

"Stop being my mom, Sabrina!" he snapped, half laughing. "I'm not afraid of bugs. I'm just bored with the same old training routine. I need something new, something fun. And besides, gaining experience by investigating something unusual will help me grow as a trainer."

Sabrina crossed her arms and looked at him quizzically. "So you're saying you'd rather run around the Safari Zone, chasing bugs and taking notes, instead of training?"

"Yeah, well, it's not like I'm doing nothing," he replied with a playful shrug. "Trainer Missions are like mini-adventures. They help trainers level up and learn new skills. You get extra rewards and a break from constant battling. Plus, it's a good way to explore Kanto in a structured manner."

He pointed at the mission description. "See this one? Investigating the 'Bug Crisis' in the Safari Zone. The reward isn't huge, but it's not about the money. I just want to do something fun, test my investigative skills, and see if I can actually help out the local community. And honestly, after all that non-stop training, a change of pace is welcome."

Sabrina arched an eyebrow. "Alone, huh? Not even me?"

Gladion shook his head with a wry smile. "No, this time I'm going solo. You're too busy being the eternal mom, asking a million questions and following me around."

She huffed, feigning indignation. "I'm not your mom! But fine, I get it. Have fun playing detective."

"Thanks," he said, relieved to have an excuse to break away from the usual routine. "I'll be back with a good story—and maybe some bug memes to show you."

As he left the Pokémon Center with the mission details stored in his mind, Gladion couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of excitement. The concept of Trainer Missions was a fresh breeze in the suffocating heat of repetitive training.

He remembered the basic structure of the mission system:

Iron Rank: Basic tasks like deliveries, simple fetch quests, or minor investigations.

Copper Rank: Slightly more challenging assignments, such as assisting with the care of Pokémon in a Center or navigating mildly dangerous areas.

Bronze Rank: Missions that involve more risk, such as the Safari Zone Bug Crisis, where trainers have to deal with wild Pokémon behaving erratically, environmental hazards, and the need for more tactical thinking.

Silver, Gold, Dark Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Ranks: These represent progressively tougher challenges, often reserved for seasoned trainers with significant experience as an ace or elite trainer. They might involve multi-part investigations, battling elite Pokémon, or even quests that have ramifications for entire regions.

Each rank required trainers to build up a resume of successful missions in case you are not a participant of the different cicuits.

If you participate in ace circuit, Your rank would determine the missions that you can take. If you are somewhere between say Rank 5000-10000, You can take Gold Rank Missions.

Completing missions not only increased one's rank but also provided rewards in the form of Pokédollars, items, and occasionally rare Pokémon encounters. It was a system designed to give every trainer—from rookies to veterans—a chance to earn respect and build their legacy outside of just battling.

He grinned to himself. "I'm not here for the money," he reminded himself. "I'm here to have fun, gain experience, and maybe uncover something interesting." The prospect of being a detective in the wild, dealing with unusual bugs and solving a mystery, was just the right mix of challenge and adventure he needed to break free from the training rut.

-----Author Notes------

Seeing so much support for the novel and myself, I have decided to increase the number of additional chapters from 12 to 15 on my pat*reon.

I am currently editing the chapters and would post them tomorrow or day after tomorrow.

Thank you for the support and I hope that y'all will continue supporting me!

Y'all can read 12 extra chapters on my pat*reon.

https://pat reon.com/mrmime24

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