Chapter 139: Regional Direct Entry and Three Months Later
Rio muttered to himself, then pressed the answer button.
"Rio—you should thank me," Erika’s teasing voice came through the phone.
Thank her? Rio raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "For what?"
"I applied for a direct entry slot to the Indigo Plateau Conference on your behalf."
"A direct entry slot?"
"That’s right—with this, you won’t need to challenge any more Gyms. You’ll be able to participate in the Indigo Conference six months from now." Erika explained, "Saffron’s Psychic Gym, Cinnabar’s Fire Gym, Vermilion’s Electric Gym, Fuchsia’s Poison Gym, and Viridian Gym are all under Team Rocket’s control. I was worried you might be targeted if you challenged them, so I helped you get this slot."
Rio nearly laughed out loud. He couldn’t help wondering what Erika’s reaction would be if she knew he had just finished challenging the Saffron Gym.
"Thank you, beautiful Gym Leader Erika—I really appreciate you going through all that trouble for me," he said sweetly.
Though he no longer feared Team Rocket, the direct entry slot was genuinely useful. It freed up time he would have spent challenging Gyms to focus on training Froakie.
Erika, pleased by the compliment, chuckled: "It’s nothing—just make sure you pull your weight when we move against Team Rocket."
"So—have we set a date for the operation?" Rio asked.
"Still gathering people. I’ll let you know as soon as the date is set," Erika said.
Rio nodded, chatted a bit longer, and hung up. Munchlax and the others were standing there watching him.
"Alright—let’s go feast."
Time passed. Three months later.
At the Lavender Gym, a jet-black Greninja, its body covered in flowing water, darted and weaved like a phantom through the vine attacks of six Grass-type Pokémon.
"Greninja—now! Water Shuriken!" came the command from behind.
"Gren~" Mid-evasion, Greninja hurled a Water Shuriken—not at the six Grass-types, but at a half-meter-thick wall at the far end of the battlefield.
The shuriken sliced past the Grass-types and embedded itself in the wall. Two or three seconds later, with a crackling sound, hairline fractures spread across the wall’s surface—and it collapsed.
"Beautiful, Greninja!" Rio called out from seven or eight meters away, giving enthusiastic praise.
Then his legs nearly gave out. He caught himself at the last moment with his hands, avoiding a fall. The reason? Exhaustion. And why was he exhausted? You’d have to ask Greninja.
Moments later, Greninja approached Rio and extended its hand. The water around its body had receded. Rio smiled, took the offered hand, and used it to pull himself upright.
"Thanks," he said with a grin.
"Gren~" Greninja patted Rio on the shoulder, then turned and walked toward Eevee, who was lying on a nearby swing.
"Little frog says you’re still weak—you need more training," Gengar’s voice chimed in.
"Bullshit—that’s you, not me," Rio shot back at the ancient Poké Ball on his belt.
But inwardly, he admitted his fitness still needed work. He glanced at Greninja and Eevee on the swing together.
[Pokémon: Greninja (Shiny)]
[Level: 40 (Consumed by hatred; leveling speed is doubled. Time until next level: 651 days.)]
[Talent: Elite Four]
[Friendship: 40 (from -25 to 40)]
[Ability: Battle Bond (Initial Stage)]
[Gender: Male]
[Moves: Pound (70%), Growl (70%), Quick Attack (70%), Lick (70%), Water Pulse (70%), Shadow Sneak (70%), Spikes (70%), Aerial Ace (70%), Substitute (70%), Double Team (70%), Water Shuriken (70%), Geomancy (70%)]
[Description: This is a Greninja consumed by hatred. Originally from the Kalos region, it witnessed its kin being killed by a hunter organization. Due to its shiny coloration, it was sold to the Johto region by the hunters.]
After three months of training under Rio, Greninja had unlocked its first-tier friendship reward—its talent upgraded to Elite Four, it gained Battle Bond, and received a Move Disk. Rio had gotten lucky and rolled Geomancy—Xerneas’s signature move. By taking a moment to absorb the power of the earth, Greninja’s Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed would be drastically boosted, pushing its ninja capabilities to the extreme.
The upgrade satisfied both Rio and Greninja. Greninja was now confident it could withstand Raikou’s full-power attack. Even Gengar, with its sharp tongue, no longer dismissed Greninja as a short-lived soul.
The only downside was that Battle Bond came with a cost—it was a trial for Rio as well. Damage dealt to Greninja was synced to him. The first time it happened, he’d passed out from the pain. Over time, training alongside Greninja had toughened him up, transforming him from a string bean into a fit young man. Still, the pain often made him curse inwardly—even if he kept a calm exterior. Like just now, when his legs had given out.
He didn’t even want to think about what it would feel like when Raikou’s full-powered attack landed on Greninja on the agreed day.
Better focus on strengthening Greninja while I can. Rio muttered to himself. "In two days, when we move against Team Rocket—unless one of the Four Generals or Giovanni himself shows up—I’ll let Greninja handle everything solo. That way, it gains experience and gets to shine in front of its goddess."
A week ago, Erika had contacted him to say the operation against Team Rocket would begin in nine days—he should be ready.
"Eevee~" Suddenly, Eevee on the swing let out a pained cry. Its body began shifting rapidly between Jolteon, Vaporeon, Flareon, and its normal form.
Rio sighed. Eevee’s condition hadn’t improved in months. He’d hoped Silph Co. could help, but they still hadn’t found an effective way to ease its suffering.
I can only hope that in two days, when we move against Team Rocket, Eevee will feel some kind of emotional breakthrough and increase its friendship with me enough to unlock its first-tier reward. Maybe then the system can fix its genetic disorder. Otherwise, watching it suffer like this is heartbreaking.
Eevee’s friendship had been the hardest to raise over the past few months—after all, it was in pain so often.