Pokemon: I'll Exchange Everything

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Ever since Jiro left, Growlithe had been in a bit of a slump.

 Liam, left speechless by Jiro's antics, decided to set the matter aside for now. He took out a bottle of Moomoo Milk he had just exchanged 10 points for and offered it to Growlithe, feeding it slowly.

This time, Growlithe didn't refuse. Little by little, it drank the milk, regaining strength and standing up again. 

Its once-dazed eyes now shone with clarity and focus as it locked its gaze onto Liam.

"Hm? Such a serious expression... Looks like it's time for me to get serious too. Don't worry, Growlithe. I'll train you to become incredibly strong and help you prove yourself!" Liam said earnestly, understanding what Growlithe wanted to convey.

"Woof!" it barked in response.

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The next morning, Liam packed his belongings and headed out with Growlithe toward the riverside warehouses on the outskirts of the nameless town.

Walking along the river, he soon spotted a row of abandoned warehouses ahead, from which loud noises emanated. 

Growlithe barked at the warehouses, signaling that they had reached their destination.

Liam nodded and cautiously approached. 

The largest warehouse had its doors wide open, and the noise came from within. Peeking inside, Liam saw a crowd of young people gathered around a makeshift battle arena, cheering enthusiastically for two trainers engaged in a fierce battle.

Stepping inside, Liam barely advanced a few steps before two thuggish-looking men jumped out of the shadows to block his path. 

With menacing expressions, they sneered, "Hey, kid! New here, huh? Don't you know the rules? If you want to watch the matches, you've gotta pay up!"

Liam frowned but didn't want to cause trouble. He took out 100 PokeDollars from his pocket, tossed it over, and walked past them with Growlithe, ignoring their jeers.

The thug caught the money, muttering disdainfully, "Dressed so fancy, yet so stingy. Hmph, I'll let it slide this time," before pocketing the cash and retreating to the shadows.

As Liam reached the battle arena, he saw a Raticate and a Gloom locked in combat. Both Pokémon were heavily injured, yet their trainers showed no intention of stopping. 

Liam frowned in disapproval at such disregard for their Pokémon's well-being but chose not to comment—it was still a battle, even if not an official one.

Scanning the crowd, Liam failed to spot Jiro. His frown deepened as the frustration built.

Suddenly, a mocking voice echoed from above. Looking up, Liam noticed a hidden loft in the warehouse. The voice belonged to Jiro, who emerged from the loft with a smug grin.

"So, you actually showed up! I thought you'd already tucked tail and run off with Growlithe. Guess you've got some backbone after all."

Liam snorted, retorting coldly, "Your delusions seem to be getting worse. Maybe you should see a doctor."

Growlithe, standing beside Liam, showed a mix of emotions but soon shook its head and refocused its gaze, determination evident.

"Hahaha! Still acting tough, huh? I admire your guts," Jiro said, bursting into laughter. His confidence drew murmurs from the crowd, who began whispering and pointing at Liam.

Liam narrowed his eyes, disliking the feeling of being a spectacle. Seeing that Jiro had no intention of coming down, his patience snapped.

"What's wrong? Too scared to come down? Or are you just afraid to battle me? And who gave you the right to make me look up to you, asshole?" Liam's voice turned sharp as he pulled out a PokeBall. 

In a flash of light, Gabite appeared, its sleek form gleaming. Without even waiting for orders, it unleashed a Dragon Rage, blasting a massive hole in the warehouse wall. 

The explosion sent Jiro tumbling from the loft into a pile of junk below, followed by a yelp of pain.

The sudden turn of events left the crowd stunned. Even the thug who had taken Liam's money felt extremely uneasy now.

"You bastard! I'll kill you!" Jiro, though unharmed, emerged from the debris furious. He threw out a PokeBall, summoning a Hitmonlee, which charged at Liam with flaming fists ready.

Before Liam could react, Gabite stepped in front, its eyes icy. With a swift Dual Chop, it sent Hitmonlee flying, crashing back into the junk pile and pinning Jiro beneath it again.

The crowd erupted in shocked murmurs, many now looking at Liam with newfound fear.

"Stop pretending to be dead. If you don't get up, I'll make sure you stay down forever. I don't have all day, so get your ass over here for a proper battle," Liam said, walking Growlithe to one side of the arena. 

He recalled Gabite and waited.

Jiro climbed out of the junk pile, seething with rage. "You'll pay for this!" He returned Hitmonlee to its PokeBall and hobbled to the opposite side of the arena.

"Oh, and by the way, I didn't expect your Hitmonlee to be so weak. Can't even take a single hit from my Gabite. Don't tell me you've got no other Pokémon? That would be just pathetic," Liam taunted.

"You... You forced my hand!" Jiro snarled, pulling out another PokeBall. "This one's unruly, so don't blame me for what happens! Go, Gyarados!"

With a roar, a raging Gyarados emerged, its fury palpable. The onlookers instinctively backed away from its sheer presence.

"Not bad for a Gyarados. How'd someone like you catch such a strong one? Don't tell me it was injured, and you got lucky?" Liam smirked, clearly unconvinced.

"That's nonsense! I caught it fair and square!" Jiro stammered, his defensive tone betraying him.

Ignoring him, Liam crouched beside Growlithe. "The opponent's strong. Are you up for this?"

Growlithe glanced at Liam, then at Jiro and Gyarados. Determined, it stepped onto the battlefield, facing the massive Gyarados. 

With a fierce howl, it declared its readiness.

"Growww!!"