Logan's brows furrowed as his mind instantly recalled the information about the man before him.
It was a short, white-haired old man seated in a wheelchair. A cane rested sideways against the chair, and on his seemingly frail legs lay a sleeping Swinub. Just like its master, the little pig Pokémon gave off a slow, elderly aura.
But Logan was not deceived—this Swinub wasn't old. While wild Pokémon like Beedrill may only live for a couple decades, trained Pokémon under the care of a trainer could far outlive humans.
When a trainer dies, their Pokémon usually face two fates:
Some refuse to eat, following their master into death as if sharing their fate.
Others return to the wild, either to their birthplace or to the deep forests and mountains to live out their days. Pokémon with such deep bonds to their trainers can never again be captured or tamed.
This was why Pokémon were both the most unfathomable and the most beautiful beings in this world—their loyalty could shame any human.
"I am Gyliu, the Gym Leader of Kaji Town. Just call me Elder Liu."
The old man scratched his graying hair, his tone shy and modest.
"May I call you Logan?"
"Of course. At your age, you may call me however you like."
Logan always respected his elders—provided they weren't arrogant old fools or spoiled brats.
"These are my disciples—Ichiki and Rika. They've spent most of their time in the Johto region, so you've likely never heard their names. They wanted to compete in the Indigo League, but I felt they weren't ready. Better to hold them back than let them embarrass themselves."
The old man's humility carried a hint of disappointment, but his words clearly stung his disciples.
"…The Indigo League is for kids," Ichiki said with a sneer. "If it were the Elite Four Challenge, that'd be worth our time."
Ichiki looked absurdly like a stage magician—dressed in a suit and tie with a strange flair. By contrast, Rika was tall, voluptuous, and dressed boldly in a crop top, showing off her figure without a hint of modesty.
Logan's eyes briefly flicked to her. Among the women he'd met, only Sabrina could match Rika's striking figure.
Still, he ignored their boasting. Strength couldn't be judged by arrogance before a battle. But Logan noted their personalities: proud, maybe overconfident.
"Ichiki. Rika."
The old man's voice grew sharp, instantly silencing them. Then he turned back to Logan with a kind smile.
"My apologies. My disciples lack discipline."
The old man's humility made him likable. Logan shook his head lightly.
"No need to apologize, Elder Liu. But shouldn't you be at the tournament venue? What brings you here?"
"Haha… At my age, I don't care for noisy crowds. When I saw you passing by, I thought you looked familiar. At the opening ceremony, I thought you recognized me too. Forgive me if my memory is failing. Have we met before?"
Elder Liu tapped his head with his cane while stroking the Swinub on his lap, smiling faintly. The Pokémon opened its eyes, alert now. Meanwhile, Ichiki and Rika fixed their gazes on Logan.
"…No, Elder Liu, I've never met you. I just admired that someone your age still serves as a Gym Leader. You're a model among Gym Leaders."
"So that's it… I must've been mistaken." Elder Liu shook his head, looking almost embarrassed. "By the way, isn't your match with that young girl coming up soon? Are the two of you friends?"
"We're fairly good friends," Logan replied.
Rika cut in with a sly smile, "Kid, I'm betting you'll win the championship. Do me a favor—teach that little brat a hard lesson in the next round!"
"You know Green?" Logan caught something in her words.
Elder Liu tapped his cane against the floor, silencing her instantly.
"…Rika has a sharp tongue. Pay her no mind, Logan," he said lightly, dodging the question of whether he knew Green.
Logan didn't press the issue. If he wanted to know, he'd just ask Green herself. From the way she acted during the opening ceremony, she probably wasn't acquainted with Elder Liu anyway.
"It's getting late. If you don't mind, Elder Liu, shall I escort you? It must be difficult for you to get around alone."
Before his disciples could speak, Elder Liu smiled and nodded.
"…Very well. Forgive this old man for troubling you."
"Not at all. Please."
Logan stepped behind the wheelchair and began pushing.
"Kaji Town lies deep in the frozen north," Elder Liu said as they moved along. "It's poor and isolated. Few trainers come, so I can't even retire—no one is willing to succeed me. But in that solitude, the wild Pokémon flourish. The icy wilderness near Kaji Town is home to countless rare Ice-types."
His voice softened as he stroked the Swinub.
"…I was born there. This little one was my very first partner. It has stayed by my side for fifty years."
Logan listened quietly to the old man's rambling, occasionally responding politely.
They reached an intersection where Elder Liu stopped him.
"…I won't take more of your time. My disciples can handle things from here. Thank you, Logan."
"Of course."
Elder Liu's expression briefly darkened with nostalgia.
"…If you see Professor Oak, tell him I send my regards. But tell him not to come visit me. There's no need."
Logan wasn't surprised. Professor Oak's connections spanned the world. Of course he'd know someone like Elder Liu.
After exchanging a few more words, Logan departed. Only when his figure vanished did Elder Liu finally sigh.
"…Let's go. He truly doesn't know."
"Shouldn't we hunt that brat Green down and make her regret ever crossing us?!" Rika spat venomously.
"No. I only care about my goal before death. As for her… She wanted freedom, let her have it."
Elder Liu's tone was calm, though his gaze shifted toward the main stadium, where four faint silhouettes hovered above.
"The Kanto Elite Four… Let's see if you can bring me good news."
He patted Swinub gently. Ichiki pushed his wheelchair forward, Elder Liu's air serene—as if even the Elite Four were nothing but insects before him.
Meanwhile—
"Ladies and gentlemen, viewers in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and even Kalos, welcome to the fifteenth Indigo League Semifinals! Today's battle—Logan from Pallet Town versus Green, also from Pallet Town!"
"The Dragon Master who crushed every opponent with just his Garchomp… Will Logan finally be forced to reveal a second Pokémon?"
"And his opponent—Green! The only female among the semifinalists, whose skill and tactical brilliance have carried her this far! Let's welcome both trainers!"
The grand march began, the massive gates opened, and the two stepped onto the battlefield.
The roar of over two hundred thousand spectators shook the open-air stadium.
As the two trainers stood across from each other on their command platforms, the referee announced:
"This is the fifteenth Indigo League Semifinal! The winner advances to the grand finals!"
Green smirked, raising her first Poké Ball.
"Don't expect me to go easy on you, Logan! Go—Jigglypuff!"
A puffball Pokémon bounced onto the battlefield, causing a ripple of surprise through the stadium.
"Green opens with… Jigglypuff?! Not her Blastoise? Interesting choice—what could her strategy be?" the announcer exclaimed.
From the stands, Professor Oak adjusted his glasses.
"Of course. Over a year ago, we discovered the Fairy-type energy. Jigglypuff is a Fairy-type Pokémon—immune to Dragon moves. While Logan's 'Dragon Force' prevents Fairy attacks from doing extra damage, his Dragon-types still can't hurt Fairies with their Dragon moves. He'll be forced to rely on other types."
Green smiled, her voice sweet yet sharp:
"As long as I beat your Eevee, Logan, your Garchomp and Dragonair will have no chance against my Fairy-types."
Logan chuckled, shaking his head.
"Cute, but Fairy-types are still small and frail. Without that advantage, they're no match for dragons. You're trying to play the dragon-slayer? …Unfortunately for you, Green, I've prepared a little surprise."
He snapped his fingers.
**The sacred flame above the stadium roared to life—**and a piercing bird cry shook the heavens!
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