The old man got his laughter under control and looked at me, his lips still raised like he was an inch away from another laughing fit.

‘Man! That wasn’t funny enough to deserve such a huge reaction,’ I grumbled and asked for something else.

“Okay! Can you increase my sponsorship level and why I didn’t get to sign any contract?”

“I generally don’t sign sponsorship contracts until the trainers prove that they are worth investing in by completing some of the tasks I issue. Too much paperwork, if you ask me.”

“And I only sponsor trainers with three badges, you are an exception due to being my granddaughter’s friend. If you want, I will grant you access to my quest board after you win your second badge. You will get a head start on the trainers that I am going to sponsor soon,” Blaine said.

I nodded.

“Well! Off you go then,” he said and gave me directions to the gravity room before going back to doing whatever old scientists do in their labs.

Amanda was fiddling with some controls as I entered the gravity facility.

The room was small with only a control board, sofas and a see-through glass that showed another room. A sci-fi door served as an entrance to the other room that seemed to be the area where Pokemon would train.

She huffed before giving me a summary of the gravity room.

“You can release your Pokemon. That is the gravity chamber and we can observe them from here,” she said pointing to the glass window that was on the common wall between the two rooms.

“Do you think I can also train in the gravity room?”

I mean it is a common training type for many isekaid Mc’s.

Amanda flicked my forehead.

“You will die with blood leaking from all your orifices. What gave you that stupid idea?”

“It’s not stupid, I am talking about training in less gravity, not training alongside my Pokemon,” I said.

“There is no advantage of doing such a thing, aura users should concentrate on forming their barrier and strengthening it. A small increase in your muscle strength means nothing even in front of a wildling.”

‘True, I should focus on my aura abilities.’

I nodded and released my Pokemon.

Cet, after seeing nothing interesting was present in the room, started to annoy Nia until she started to chase him.

Thus, the game of chase began or should I say it resumed.

If Cet was an inspirational speaker his favourite quote would be something like “ Life is just an unending game of chase, chase after your dreams or just play a game of chase.”

“Set it up so that the gravity slowly increases. We will get to know if they sustain some internal injuries or something, right?” I asked worried.

“Don’t worry, it's state-of-the-art technology. A Porygon monitors everything and takes appropriate measures if it sees any dangers.” Amanda said.

“Awesome!” I flicked Amanda’s forehead and grinned.

I didn’t forget nor forgive her flicking my forehead.

“Oh! You are so dead!” She exclaimed before dashing towards me.

I shamelessly ran away from her.

I zoomed away towards a battlefield I saw earlier.

“Amanda, do you know martial arts?” I asked. I was just confirming as I knew she would have learnt something for self-defence.

“Yes! Stop and let me show you why my classmates don’t mess with me.”

One day when I know some martial arts, I am going to try some self-defense against her but today is not the day.

I entered the battle arena, it was huge, with different styles of battlefields present.

I circled the battlefield which was just a lake with some floating stones in it.

“Stop! Why are you running away from a frail girl? Coward,” she called out.

‘Yeah, I am not that stupid. I had doubts about whether I could fight her head-on, but I knew I had more stamina than her. So, after I am done with her, she won’t be able to move an inch and will just lie down on the ground.

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“Slowpoke!” I yelled. Believe it or not, this was the first time I was playing with someone close to my age.

On Earth, I didn’t play much of anything other than my mandatory weekly sessions of chess and badminton, with people I didn’t know or care about.

After 2 hours of running, which became jogging somewhere in the middle, around the multiple battlefields admiring the different types of elements it had, Amanda finally admitted defeat and sprawled on the ground, heaving.

Boy, is she stubborn! But at least is sportive about it. I mean she could have easily released her Pokemon and asked them to catch me. But she didn’t.

“See you later, Amanda” I waved cheekily before going towards the gravity room.

I recalled my Pokemon after finding them sleeping, leaning on each other, tired after flying around in the gravity room.

I walked towards the lounge room I was teleported into and opened the door only to appear outside the Pokemon centre.

“There will come a day when even Mew can’t teleport me,” I vowed before starting to look around in case I just poked a bear.

I was happy there were no reality checks this time. I was half expecting to be teleported into a desert as a prank. I don’t know what came over me to just give an open invitation to a mischievous legendary Pokemon.

Sometimes my stupidity even astounds me.

I spent the rest of the day training my Pokemon and trying to control my aura.

Darkness consumed the world halting our training and making us retire for the day.

Cet hung from the roof, his fangs shining in the moonlight as I lay sprawled on my bed, my thoughts went back to my unsuccessful attempts of getting in touch with my aura.

I wonder how Xinxia transmigrators sit on their butt all day long and stop themselves from bashing their head in.

It was frustrating, especially without any results.

Something was missing with my dark aura, I could feel and already control my flying-type aura…. somewhat.

Now, control is a strong word, but it responds to me, unlike the dark aura.

As my thoughts spiralled out of control like how Cet was going to drink my blood, making me the first vampire and the head of his cult, I suddenly remembered that his mother was supposed to be near Pewter.

I decided that Cet should meet her and maybe she can point me towards the rare Larvitar. I mean I need a dark-type Pokemon so why not get myself a ‘Pseudo legendary’ Pokemon for myself?

Happy with my decision I slept dreaming of Cet converting innocent people to vampires just by licking their faces.

The next day too went by quickly, I saw Ash in battle arenas but didn’t talk much with him as I spent the day researching about Cet’s mom.

My Pokemon took the day off to be in top shape to battle Gym Leader Brock tomorrow.

Day off in the sense they spent the whole day playing chase- Cet happily, Nia a little reluctantly.

…………….

Finally, the day of my second gym match came.

I stood in front of the Gym soaking in the wild energy the gym gave off.

If the buildings in the Pewter had colourful rocks as decorations, the whole gym looked like it was carved out of one big rock.

As I was in my protagonist moment solemnly staring at the gym a passing grandma interrupted it.

“Don’t be afraid, child. You can win and Brock is a good guy, his tips will also benefit you if you lose,” the grandma encouraged me, mistaking the reason behind the stare-off between me and the Gym.

“With your support, I am sure I will win. Thank you, Grandma.”

I waved at her and entered the gym.

I wasn’t worried about the Gym match, with my strategies and the strength of my Pokemon it was going to be quite easy as long as Brock didn’t access my first battle reports and treated me as an average trainer.

I just jinxed it, didn’t I?

If he reads my 1st gym match’s report it is going to be difficult to win the badge with only Nia.

“It doesn’t matter, we are going to win the boulder badge one way or the other,” I murmured and sat down in the waiting area.

The wait wasn’t long.

Before I knew it, I stood, in front of Brock, on a raised Diaz clutching my microphone.

He wore grey trousers and ash coloured shirt that wrapped around his well-built, sturdy body.

Neat moustache and full beard completed his look giving him a wise but scary uncle look.

“Greetings, trainer Leo.” Brock rumbled, man he really rumbled. Somehow his voice got a rumbly quality.. don’t ask me the details that’s how his voice is.

“I can see you defeated Gym Leader Erika using only one Pokemon. Impressive, Erika isn’t the one to pull punches if you upset her rhythm. I look forward to your performance, Young Leo.” Brock spoke and signalled the referee.

Winning the badge with only Nia just got tougher but I still believe she can do it as long as she pushes her limits.

The referee announced the rules.

"A 2vs2 official format, with zero recalls and a 15-minute time limit that resets when a Pokemon is unable to battle. If the time limit is reached and the challenger's Pokemon is still active, the Gym leader's Pokemon will be forfeited."

“Trainers! Release your Pokemon in 3..2…1.”

There were many spectators present, cheering for Brock.

‘Man, how entertainment starved are these people.’ I wondered as Nia faced a mini red T-rex, I looked at the audience as they…wait a minute.

A T-REX!! It was not awakened by the looks of it but still, it is A T-REX!!

‘Man, you are supposed to use one of the Kanto rock types Pokemon, not a godforsaken ancient dragon,’ I yelled in my mind, glaring at Brock.

The referee indicated the start of the match.

The little t-rex growled as Nia took to the sky.

A moment of silence pervaded the gym as both Pokemon and trainers eyed each other.

Nia is nearly at the roof of the gym, safely away from the little dragon.

I was the one who signalled her to maintain maximum distance.

I read up on all Pokemon that Brock uses but there wasn’t a Tyrunt in that list, a Tyrantrum maybe not a Tyrunt.

Maybe the Tyrunt is the Tyrantrum’s child or maybe not, I don’t know but I know for sure that I messed up.

I don’t know anything about Tyrunt.

Nia was so far away that her water guns wouldn’t even do damage if they hit the little dragon.

‘And isn’t that a big if.’ Deciding to take advantage of our position, I ordered.

“Release the BUBBLES.”

Nia gave me a side eye before bubbles started to drift into the field.

“Rock Polish,” Brock calmly ordered.

‘No no no.’

“Water gun, Water gun,” I yelled. The dragon picking up more speed is the last thing I want.

Nia dived and fired water guns not caring about the ground that was getting closer to her.

The first water gun was missed, due to the distance. The second one connected, giving me hope that the Rock Polish move would be interrupted.

But they were dashed as the Tyrunt bore the attack and finished raising its speed and was going to roar, but a water gun slammed into its throat making it cough.

Nia flapped her wings hard and came out of her dive.

“Ancient Power,” Brock ordered.

The little Tyrunt smugly roared as waves of ancient power crashed into Nia who just came out of her dive.

Nia quacked and stabilised her position.

“I don’t think I won that exchange,” I muttered.