Pokémon: Rebron as Red, The Strongest Champion

"Don't hurt my Pikachu!"

Seeing Alakazam's attack about to hit, Ash rushed forward and hugged Pikachu, using his own back to shield his partner from the damage.

This scene startled Misty and Brock, but Red and Sabrina's father simultaneously showed an expression of 'as expected' and nodded in praise.

"Ash, you have my approval!" Sabrina's father praised, his eyes glowing blue as he used his psychic power to divert the Psycho Cut.

"Why? I haven't won yet, have I?" Ash opened his eyes in confusion, realizing the attack had not hit him.

"No, obtaining a badge isn't just about winning. The most important thing is to gain the Gym Leader's approval. This act of protecting Pikachu has thoroughly earned my approval." Sabrina's father took the golden Marsh Badge from his pocket and placed it in Ash's hand. "Alakazam's strength already exceeds the level of a normal Gym Challenge. My purpose this time was only to witness your and Pikachu's determination."

"Can I really have the Marsh Badge?" Ash asked, a little unsure.

"Don't worry, Pikachu's strength passed the assessment long ago; it's just that you insisted on battling Alakazam," Red walked forward and patted Ash's back, telling him not to be so confused. "He is an older-generation Gym Leader, after all; it would be even stranger if he were defeated by you and Pikachu!"

"You're right!" Ash hammered his right fist into his left palm, a look of sudden realization on his face.

"You're already very good, Ash! Didn't you notice that Alakazam almost couldn't withstand Pikachu's attacks just now?" Misty, uncharacteristically, praised him.

"Who are you?! The Misty I know isn't this gentle!" Ash looked at her in horror, not understanding what kind of creature dared to impersonate his friend, and with such cheap acting.

"Ash, take care," Red patted his brother's shoulder with a somber expression, silently retreating a few steps.

"Ash! You jerk!" The familiar Misty returned, punching Ash on the head, which immediately swelled up.

"Wuwuwu, as expected, it's Misty…" Ash was about to complain when he suddenly shivered, seeing the terrifying killing intent in her eyes. Frightened, he quickly retracted his words.

"Alright, alright, let's end this farce. Ash, you haven't done your victory pose yet," Red said.

"In that case…" Ash displayed the golden Marsh Badge in his hand, and he and Pikachu simultaneously jumped up excitedly, smiling. "Marsh Badge, I got it!"

The next day, after bidding farewell to the Saffron Gym, Red originally intended to travel alone. But he happened to run into Ash as he was leaving, and his brother forcefully pulled him into the team. And so, he temporarily set off with the trio on a journey to Celadon City.

Passing a phone booth, Ash eagerly dialed Professor Oak, wanting to show off the four badges he had now obtained.

"Too few…" Professor Oak said helplessly. "Gary and Leaf have already obtained the Rainbow Badge; they just called to tell me."

"How could this be?!" Ash collapsed onto the ground in despair.

"Hello, hello? Is Ash still alive?"

"Darn Gary, I'm definitely going to surpass him!" At the mere mention of his rival's name, Ash's spirits immediately lifted. After recovering from his brief despair, he decided to head to Celadon City immediately to obtain his fifth badge.

"Ash, are things going smoothly? By the way, let me remind you, the foundation of a trainer is capturing Pokémon. To become the world's number one Pokémon Master, you must lay this foundation well," Professor Oak advised, with the Krabby Ash had captured appearing beside him.

"Krabby, how are you doing?" Ash asked with concern. It had been captured so long ago and had been at the lab ever since.

"It's my friend now, and we're about to have our daily fun, reciting a little poem." Professor Oak and Krabby struck a pose in unison. "[With Pokémon, eating treats is so sweet, oh so delicious!] How is it?"

"Professor Oak, please don't recite your poetry in front of us; Gengar is still afraid of your poems to this day!" At this moment, Red, biting a rice ball, came over from a distance and talked to Professor Oak.

"Well…" Professor Oak's face flushed with embarrassment, and he ruffled his hair.

"In short, Ash, you also need to capture more Pokémon. So far, you've only sent back this one Pokémon, Krabby." Professor Oak said, "Even Red, who follows the elite path, has captured more than you. That's all for now, I'll wait for your next contact."

Professor Oak hung up the phone, and a cold wind, full of mockery, blew over a patch of grass, as if hinting at something.

"Don't worry, Ash, there's definitely a Pokémon you'll like nearby." Red patted Ash's shoulder to comfort him.

"Really, big brother? You better not be lying to me!" Ash said excitedly, imagining what rare Pokémon were waiting for him to capture.

"Alright, Ash, don't be so down. Quickly eat some rice balls to cheer up." Misty said, sitting on a rock, with Pikachu sitting beside her, slowly chewing on a rice ball.

"Yes, you haven't tasted my rice balls yet; the round ones are pickled plum flavor, and the triangular ones are kelp rice balls. I got some good kelp this time!" Brock said, holding the rice balls in his hand with joy.

"Don't be in such a hurry. Following this road ahead, if you walk for about a day, you can definitely reach Celadon City!" Red pointed to the wide road ahead, "Even an idiot can reach Celadon City via this path!"

"Okay, I'm cheered up! Now, the most important thing is to quickly capture a new Pokémon!" Ash said, full of fighting spirit.

As luck would have it, a wild Mankey poked its head out from the bushes, looking curiously at Red and the others.

"Here it comes! Here it comes!" Ash excitedly pulled out his Pokédex, "Mankey, the Pig Monkey Pokémon, a Fighting-type. It punches with lightning speed and has light footwork. Mankey is usually gentle, but once enraged, it becomes uncontrollable."

The Mankey that appeared, unafraid of strangers, jumped in front of Brock, sniffing the rice ball in his hand.

"Are you hungry?" Brock took out a new rice ball and offered it to Mankey. "This is a very delicious rice ball."

Mankey took the rice ball and hopped onto a stone pillar, savoring the deliciousness of the food.

"It seems to really like it," Ash said.

"Because I made it, of course, with the best ingredients," Brock said proudly.

"Indeed, it's excellent; a Fighting-type is a rare new battle power!" Ash said excitedly, feeling that the Mankey that appeared before him was the Pokémon he was destined to capture.

(End of Chapter)

***

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