Pokemon: I'll Exchange Everything

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Liam was pleased to see Bruno successfully capture a Machop. He congratulated him before asking about his plans.

Bruno explained that he and his Pokémon would continue training in the forest, refining their fighting techniques.

 Since he had yet to assemble a full team of six for the League Conference, he planned to spend the remaining time before the tournament searching for suitable Pokémon partners.

Because of this, he wouldn't be traveling with Liam.

Liam had no intention of forcing Bruno to come along. After all, he was already used to traveling alone. If it were a girl, that'd be one thing, but traveling with another guy?

That wasn't really his style.

With that, the two parted ways, agreeing to meet again at the Kanto League Conference. Bruno then disappeared into the forest with his Pokémon, while Liam hopped onto his Bike and resumed his long journey.

And it really was a long journey.

Liam never expected it would take him about a month to reach Fuchsia City. If not for a few nameless towns along the way and the occasional biker gang showing up just to get beaten down, the sheer boredom of the trip might've driven him mad.

That said, it wasn't all for nothing.

He encountered several Pokémon that hadn't yet been recorded in his Pokédex, such as Ponyta, Muk, and Dodrio.

Now, those had been added to his collection, earning him more exchange points.

Additionally, his "One Thousand Wins" achievement quest had made significant progress—thanks to the relentless efforts of the small biker gangs.

Though there was still a long way to go before completion, at least he could see the goal on the horizon.

During this time, Liam also redeemed a full set of advanced training equipment for his Onix. This gear, when worn, slightly reduced speed but continuously strengthened other attributes, helping the Pokémon grow even stronger.

All in all, the journey had been worthwhile.

Now, however, Liam stood before an endless stretch of mountains, looking utterly devastated.

He glanced at his navigation map, which clearly indicated that the Fuchsia Gym was deep within this mountain range.

Liam had already arrived in Fuchsia City, but after wandering the entire city without finding the gym, he finally asked around—only to learn that the Fuchsia Gym wasn't even built in the city.

Instead, it was hidden away in the vast mountains nearby.

Who on earth thought this was a good idea? Seriously, if the gym wasn't even in the city, why still call it the "Fuchsia City Gym"? What a scam.

With no other choice, Liam rested in the city for a while. Since the weather had gotten colder, he switched to warmer clothing before heading toward the mountains, following his navigation map.

There's a saying: "A horse will die before reaching a distant mountain." Now, Liam truly understood its meaning.

His map clearly showed the gym's location within the mountains, but it didn't indicate the actual distance.

So, Liam had no choice but to head in a straight line—climbing over mountains, crossing rivers, and trekking through the wilderness alone for what felt like forever. Eventually, he snapped.

"Come out, Garchomp!"

At his command, a PokéBall at his waist opened, and the towering figure of Garchomp appeared beside him.

"Garch?"

Garchomp looked at Liam in confusion, unsure of what he wanted.

"Garchomp, fly up and scout the area in the direction I point. If you see any buildings, come back immediately and let me know."

Liam's expression was blank.

Garchomp, who knew Liam well, immediately understood that he was in a terrible mood.

Without hesitation, it nodded, spread its fins, and took off into the sky, creating a powerful gust of wind.

"Arcanine..."

As Garchomp soared upward, Liam released Arcanine as well. Mounting its back, he continued toward his destination.

Arcanine raced through the mountainous forest with ease. No matter how rugged the terrain, it didn't slow down.

Its figure blurred like a streak of red fire, darting through the trees at high speed.

Just then, Garchomp's roar echoed from above. Liam immediately patted Arcanine, signaling it to stop.

 Arcanine responded with a mighty howl toward the sky.

The next moment, Garchomp descended from above, landing gracefully. It extended a front fin excitedly and pointed ahead.

"Oh? We're close?"

Liam quickly opened his navigation map again and saw that the Fuchsia Gym's marker had finally appeared within the search radius.

Relieved to have found his destination at last, he recalled Garchomp into its PokéBall and urged Arcanine forward once more. Soon, they arrived at the entrance of an ancient courtyard nestled within the forest.

Liam examined the aged structure before dismounting and recalling Arcanine. He then approached the front gate, ready to knock.

However, just as he raised his hand, the doors swung open on their own.

Liam frowned slightly and glanced around. There was nothing out of the ordinary. The gate itself appeared normal—no electronic mechanisms, no visible surveillance.

"Huh, playing mysterious now? I remember the Fuchsia Gym was run by ninjas. Maybe I'll actually get to meet a real ninja this time. That'd be interesting."

Recalling that the gym leader was named Koga, Liam figured the rumors about it being a ninja stronghold must be true.

He wondered if he'd get to see an actual ninja in action.

With that thought, he stepped inside. He didn't bother looking back as the doors slowly shut behind him, instead walking along the stone path leading to the main building.

Suddenly—

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Three shurikens embedded themselves into the ground right in front of Liam. Immediately after, a masked figure silently appeared atop a stone lantern to the side, sharp eyes locking onto Liam.

The figure's voice was low and cold.

"Who are you, and how did you find this place?"

Liam turned to study the ninja. Dressed in a tight-fitting purple outfit with a long scarf fluttering behind him, the figure's piercing gaze sent chills down his spine.

"Who am I? Heh. My name is Liam. This should be the Fuchsia Gym, right? If so, I'm here for a gym challenge. No need to be so tense. Once I win the Fuchsia Badge, I'll leave on my own. You don't have to worry about anything else."

His tone was just as cold, making no effort to be polite.

"Hmph, such arrogance. I don't know how you managed to stumble upon this place, but yes, this is the Fuchsia Gym. And I am its Gym Leader—Koga. Remember the name of the one who's about to teach you a lesson. Now, follow me."

With a snort, Koga jumped down from the lantern and started leading the way.

"Heh. Now I'm even more excited for this battle. Judging by your build and voice, you're not that old, right? Becoming a Gym Leader at such a young age—guess that'd make anyone a little full of themselves."

Liam sneered, following along without a care.

The battle hadn't even begun, yet the tension was already thick in the air.