NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 9: CHAPTER 9
c9: A Small Figure
After earning his first badge, Alex and Ruby exited the Rustboro Gym, the badge still gleaming in Alex's hand.
As they stepped onto the main street, a sudden commotion unfolded before them. A familiar figure in a blue pirate-style outfit, a clear Team Aqua uniform bolted past like the wind. Right behind him, a middle-aged man in a Devon Corporation uniform panted heavily as he gave chase.
Ruby blinked in surprise. "Whoa! That's definitely Team Aqua again! What are they doing here of all places?"
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Lu Chi, you're really slipping. I ran into a Team Aqua grunt earlier on Route 104—he mentioned you beat him up, and then tried to steal my Pokémon afterward. Didn't you handle this guy already?"
"Hah! He must be holding a grudge! I'll deal with him again. Xiao Alex, take your Pokémon to the Center for healing first. I'll handle this mess!"
Before Alex could reply, Ruby had already taken off down the street, weaving past startled pedestrians like a red-and-black blur.
Alex sighed. "Figures. He always runs off like that. Guess I'll head to the Pokémon Center." He turned and walked calmly toward the healing facility, still slightly annoyed at how Ruby never stuck to the plan.
Inside the Rustboro Pokémon Center, Alex handed his Poké Balls to Nurse Joy. Dreepy now evolved into Drakloak had taken some hits during the Gym match, and Gastly needed treatment after using Energy Ball and attempting Curse.
As Alex sat in the waiting area, the long-silent System suddenly chimed in his mind with a familiar electronic tone.
Ding! System Notice: Host has obtained their first Gym Badge. 10 Event Points awarded.
"Event Points?" Alex raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Ding: Event Points are awarded when the host accomplishes notable milestones. Major achievements grant more points. Points can be exchanged for high-value items and encounters.
Alex leaned forward in his seat. "So, it's finally here... the System Shop? Took you long enough."
The digital screen materialized in front of him, semi-transparent and shimmering in blue. It listed an array of categories and items. The System Shop was overflowing with possibilities: TMs like Shadow Ball, items like Golden Bottle Caps, Ability Capsules, Eviolite, and even rare events.
One line stood out in particular:
Event: Random Encounter with a Legendary Pokémon
(Can result in a capture event. Includes all Legendary and Mythical Pokémon.)
Cost: 70 Event Points
Alex clicked his tongue. "Tsk tsk... This shop is completely busted."
Each category in the shop was neatly labeled: TMs, Held Items, Evolution Materials, Special Events, Encounter Triggers, and even Dungeon Keys. Everything a top-tier trainer might dream of, but with only 10 Event Points right now, it was out of reach.
"Guess I'll have to grind this out. Figures."
Once Nurse Joy returned his Pokémon fully healed, Alex sat back down in the lounge area, pulling out his PokéNav to call his parents. His mom answered quickly, her usual worried expression softening when she saw his face.
"I'm doing fine, Mom," Alex said, grinning. "Yeah, I got the badge. No, I'm not skipping meals. Ruby's chasing a criminal right now—yes, again. I'll stay careful."
After ending the call and pocketing the device, Alex glanced toward the door, still waiting for Ruby to return.
But instead of Ruby, three strangers entered the Center, two boys and a girl dressed in travel gear with Poké Balls clipped to their belts. They looked young, perhaps just around Alex's age. One of them had an odd green scarf tied around his arm, with a look that felt strangely familiar.
Alex narrowed his eyes. Something about them felt important.
And without knowing it yet, this meeting would trigger the next arc of his journey.
First, two figures caught Alex's eye.
One wore a red cap, a large red and white cloak, and bore a cold, almost aloof expression. His strong, silent presence and commanding aura were unmistakable. The other had messy brown hair, a black long-sleeved shirt, and wore a Mystic Water necklace that sparkled against his chest.
Wait a minute—weren't these Red and Green, two of the most legendary Trainers from the Kanto region?
Even though they'd never met before, and there seemed to be no reason for them to interact, Green casually initiated a conversation with Alex. His tone was as relaxed as it was sharp. Despite the momentary strangeness of it, Alex didn't hesitate to engage. How often do you get to casually talk to two icons of the Pokémon world?
As expected, Red remained silent during the entire conversation, arms folded and gaze fixed ahead as if scanning for threats. A man of few words, but the strength in his silence was louder than anything he could say.
Before leaving, Green glanced over his shoulder and tossed out a cryptic comment:
"We've never met before… and yet, I can't help but feel like we're connected. Call it fate, maybe."
And with that, the two legends disappeared out the Pokémon Center doors, leaving Alex alone with his thoughts.
That's when the third unexpected figure appeared—Haruka. With her brown hair tied up and wearing a travel vest, she immediately spotted Alex from across the room. She approached with a warm smile.
"You must be Alex! Ruby talks about you sometimes," she said.
Alex was a little surprised. So she knew him through Ruby? That meant…
Turns out, Haruka was also at the Center waiting for Ruby, who had yet to return from his little pursuit of the fleeing Team Aqua member. Since they were both waiting, the two decided to sit down and pass the time together.
Eventually, Ruby returned, a bit winded but triumphant. He spotted them and walked over but interestingly, perhaps due to Haruka's presence, he didn't call him "Xiao Alex" this time.
"Alex, huh? Haruka's here too?" Ruby said with a grin. "I just finished chasing those guys down. Turns out they were Devon Corporation staff being targeted. Some Team Aqua thugs tried to steal confidential data."
After Ruby's explanation, Alex and Haruka learned that not only had Ruby recovered the Devon Corp's research data, but he'd also helped a boy named Mr. Briney rescue his Wingull, Peeko just like in the manga.
As thanks, Mr. Briney offered Ruby a ride to Dewford Town, where the next Gym awaited. Ruby suggested that Alex join him for the trip.
However, watching Ruby and Haruka banter back and forth like a couple on a date, Alex felt deeply out of place.
"No thanks," Alex replied flatly. "I'll head out through Petalburg Woods again and meet you in Petalburg City. I've got some training to do."
Are you kidding me? I, Alex, future Ghost-type Champion, do not have time to sit here eating your public-display-of-affection-marinated dog food!
Determined, Alex re-entered Petalburg Woods, his two Ghost-types at his side.
Along the way, he battled wild Pokémon one after another. His Drakloak and Gastly grew stronger with every encounter. The grinding continued steadily until Alex unknowingly reached the deepest part of the forest, a place rarely touched by the average Trainer.
Suddenly, the system activated again.
Ding! Detection: Ghost-type energy signature nearby.
Alex paused, eyes narrowing. A chill ran through the woods as the wind stilled. He could feel the eerie presence pressing against the edges of his perception. Following the mysterious sensation through a thick grove of trees, he stopped and looked ahead.
And there, in a quiet clearing shrouded in mist, he spotted a small figure—half-hidden behind twisted roots and glowing faintly.
His heart pounded.
A new encounter was about to begin.
---