The strongest gym leader starts by beating up Gary.

【Pokémon: Mudkip♂】

【Level: 22】

[Talent: Superior (Physical Attack: 30, Special Attack: 24, Defense: 25, Special Defense: 23, Speed: 30, HP: 28) Total: 160]

[Characteristics: Riptide]

[Skills: Cry, Tackle, Water Gun, Rock Smash, Rockfall, Bite, Mirror Reflection, Double Payback, Yawn, Bubble...]

[Evaluation: A gifted Mudkip, calm and hardworking.]

After evolving, Mudkip's level jumped to 22, making it the highest-level Pokémon in Fang Yuan's team.

More importantly, the individual values ​​of Mudkip have increased by 10 points in one go!

It's only one step away from having the best aptitude!

Coupled with Mudkip's hardworking nature, Fang Yuan seemed to already see the day when Mudkip would dominate the arena.

In Fang Yuan's view, such a day is not far away!

In comparison, Fang Yuan looked at Yukira, who was heartbroken over the lollipops that had been ruined by the heavy rain, with a sense of helplessness.

Right after Mudkip finished evolving, Fang Yuan's first thought was to find a suitable opponent to battle and test Mudkip's current strength.

As the saying goes, "a pillow is sent when you're sleepy," Fang Yuan, as the dojo master, never lacks suitable opponents.

"Excuse me, is this the Matsumo Dojo?"

"Rhys, a challenger from the Sinnoh region, has come to challenge us."

Chapter 42 Shinji vs. Gorilla: The Premature Battle of Rivals

"Rhys, a challenger from the Sinnoh region, has come to challenge you!"

Upon hearing this voice, Fang Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then said...

"Wait, who? Rhys?"

Fang Yuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Is it because Ash started traveling and the timelines started to shift, that he's made a lot of new acquaintances?"

At the entrance of the Matsuzo Dojo, a young man, unfortunately soaked by the heavy rain, stood in the doorway.

Looking at the spirited young man before him, Fang Yuan couldn't help but say...

Seeing Fang Yuan approaching, Reis then remembered his younger brother, who was also soaked by the rain, and said apologetically.

"Could you give me a towel to wipe my little brother's head?"

Looking at the purple-haired boy, Fang Yuan said with some surprise.

"Hey kid, you wouldn't happen to be called Shinji, would you?"

"none of your business?"

Shinji spoke with an air of arrogance, his haughty demeanor surpassing even that of Shigeru at the time.

Fang Yuan didn't react much to what Shinji said, but the others were already unhappy.

"Be polite to my master!"

Ash and Gary walked over at the same time, looking at Shinji with unfriendly expressions.

Shinji retorted without hesitation.

Seeing this, Fang Yuan smiled.

After training hard for half a month, not only did I need to test my own strength, but my two disciples also needed a fair fight.

Moreover, as the saying goes, competition leads to progress. Compared to the competition between Ash and Gary, having an outsider as a source of stimulation is quite nice.

Just as Fang Yuan was thinking this, the system's metallic voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

[Ding~ Congratulations, host, you have triggered a hidden mission: Rival Battle. Help Gary and Ash defeat Paul.]

[Task Reward: 10 System Points]

"I never expected to trigger a hidden quest and get these 10 points. Now my Tyranitar can advance to a Pokémon with perfect potential!"

Seeing the three of them practically ready to fight, Reiss looked at Fang Yuan apologetically, and was just about to pull Shinji back when...

Fang Yuan stepped forward and stopped Reis's actions.

"It's alright. Since the three of them get along so well, why don't they have a Pokémon battle?"

Upon hearing Fang Yuan's words, Shinji, Ash, and Gary all had their eyes light up.

Lei Si couldn't help but rub his forehead as he looked at the three people facing off.

"Didn't we agree that you were just going to follow me around and take a look?"

Fang Yuan looked at Lei Sidao, who was about the same age as him.

"Alright, they're all just kids. Let them fight it out and see who respects whom."

"Thank you so much..."

Just call me Fang Yuan.

"Yes, Master Fang."

Ultimately, with Fang Yuan's integration, this fateful battle, which had been set several years in advance, slowly began.

On the stage, before Rai could speak, Ash and Gary started fighting each other.

"Get out of my way! We clearly agreed that I would be the challenger today!"

"The problem is he's not a challenger! Of course I'll go first!"

Watching the two of them getting along so well, Xiaowen shook her head helplessly.

"How did I end up working in the same dojo as these two people?"

Fang Yuan smiled and said after hearing Xiao Wen's complaints.

"Alright, you're the senior sister now, you should be more patient with your two junior brothers."

"Senior sister? When did I ever say I wanted to become a disciple?"

Fang Yuan ignored what Xiao Wen said next, stood up, and interrupted their argument.

"Alright! Stop arguing, both of you!"

"Since they are the challengers, it's only right that they choose who to challenge. That's what the dojo should do!"

"Master is right."

Xiao Mao and Xiao Zhi nodded respectfully to Fang Yuan.

Then, Shigeru looked at Shinji and said with a serious expression...

"Your name is Shinji, right? Let me tell you, this silly kid next to me is far weaker than me. There's no point in beating him."

Ash was furious when he heard Gary's words.

"No! You're wrong! I'm clearly the stronger one! You just got lucky and beat me twice."

Shinji, choose me!

Shinji curled his lip in disdain at the two people in front of him who seemed to have him completely under their control.

If he went by his intuition, Shinji actually felt that he disliked Ash a lot.

But Shinji believes that with his strength, he should challenge the strongest!

So Shinji made his choice without much hesitation.

"I want to challenge Xiao Mao!"

Gary waved his arm excitedly, while Ash was devastated, like a defeated rooster who could only go backstage to prepare for the battle.

"The rules of the Matsumo Gym are to choose one of four battlegrounds to battle in: swamp, volcano, ice field, and mountain."

"Oh~ those are quite interesting gym battle rules."

"I choose the mountains!"

Shinji quickly made his choice.

A desolate land, entirely composed of rocks, slowly leads to the battlefield.

"Let's make the battles 1v1," Xiaoshige suggested.

Looking at the rocky terrain, Xiao Shihao thought for a moment and then, instead of choosing Wartortle, took out another Poké Ball.

"Go, Ibrahimovic!"

An adorable-looking Eevee appeared on the battlefield.

[Pokémon: Eevee♀]

【Level: 24】

[Qualification: Superior]

[Skills: Help, Tackle, Shadow Ball, Dig...]

After Shinji saw that it was Eevee, he also took out his Poké Ball.

"Go, Pincer-tailed Scorpion!"

【Pokémon: Scorpion】

【Level: 22】

[Qualification: Superior]

[Skills: Venomous Fangs, Flame Fangs, Clamp, Poison Sting, Insect Bite...]

Both Pokémon are roughly the same level and have similar aptitude, and there is no advantage or disadvantage in terms of attributes.

It's clear that this battle will depend more on the skill level of the two trainers.

Upon seeing the pincer-tailed scorpion, Fang Yuan immediately perked up.

In the anime, Shinji is consistently ranked third in popularity among his many formidable rivals, with a chance of finishing second.

Shinji's philosophy does not conform to the traditional trainer, but is more utilitarian.

Perhaps that's what made Shinji a formidable rival.

In particular, Shinji's Drapion repeatedly defeated multiple Pokémon in a row in the anime. In terms of battle record alone, it was even better than Shinji's carefully trained Electivire and his starter Pokémon Torterra!

At this moment, Fang Yuan was also very curious about what the outcome of this battle would be.

"Eevee! Use Swift!"

Xiao Mao came up and planned to greet everyone with High Speed ​​Star first.

At this moment, Shinji's combat awareness was also good, and he calmly commanded...

"Pincer-tailed scorpion, just use your stinger to block!"

The first round of exchanges is over, and the real battle is about to begin!

"Pincer-tailed Scorpion, charge forward, then use Insect Bite!"

"Eevee, retreat and continue to harass the opponent's advance with Swift."

Clearly, close combat with a pincer-tailed scorpion, which possesses both pincers and a pincer tail, is not a good choice.

"Rush over!"

But under Shinji's command, Scorpion actually charged straight at Eevee, directly ignoring Eevee's attacks!

Chapter 43 Ash vs. Shinji: A Victory Years Ahead of Schedule

"His command skills are quite good."

Fang Yuan greatly admired Shinji's command.

Moreover, even in the anime, Fang Yuan still quite liked Shinji, his true rival.