Chapter Forty-Three: Snowfall Approaches Kanaz City

The Red Gyarados! This isn’t your average Shiny Pokémon—in the game’s storyline, it’s a creature of significance, with a one-time-only catch restriction. If you failed to capture it, it would never appear again, leaving players gnashing their teeth and repeatedly reloading their saves. Moreover, the Red Gyarados had unique individual values and abilities, at least according to the game. What it would be like in reality, Zhao Fang didn’t yet know.

Still, upon hearing about the Red Gyarados, Zhao Fang couldn’t help but feel a surge of curiosity. After all, this was an exceedingly rare Shiny Pokémon, and curiosity is only human nature. It was no wonder so many trainers gathered at the waters below Kanaz City.

Glancing into the water, Zhao Fang was taken aback. The surface teemed with trainers surfing atop their Pokémon, while the shore was lined with people brandishing fishing rods. Most eye-catching of all was someone wielding a golden fishing rod—Zhao Fang recognized it immediately as the prize awarded to the champion of the fishing tournament.

It seemed that news of the Red Gyarados’s appearance had not only drawn in trainers, but even the fishing tournament champion. “I wonder if a certain Doduo might show up,” Zhao Fang mused with a smile, watching the spectacle unfold.

But on further thought, this was the Hoenn region, and for someone like Doduo to come would be quite a hassle. At Doduo’s level of power and status, one generally needed permission from the League to leave.

“Please do not crowd the area! The news of a Red Gyarados is only a rumor!” Officer Jenny patrolled the scene on her motorcycle, calling out through a megaphone. Her words, however, had little effect.

Perhaps it was human nature; the more the authorities dismissed something as a rumor, the more people believed there had to be something more behind it. Otherwise, why would the officials react this way?

Zhao Fang wasn’t that type of person. Hearing Officer Jenny’s announcement, he planned to leave for Kanaz City. For one, he trusted the official statement; for another, even if a Red Gyarados did appear, he currently lacked the strength to capture it. Perhaps another opportunity would arise in the future.

With remarkable composure, Zhao Fang shouldered his backpack and set off. To reach Kanaz City, one had to cross the bridge spanning the water; otherwise, you’d need a Pokémon that could Surf.

He had barely set off when his Pokédex vibrated—an incoming message. Zhao Fang checked it; it was from May, inquiring about the Red Gyarados.

“The officials already said it’s just a rumor. Why do you still believe it?” Zhao Fang muttered, propping his chin in his hand as he looked at the screen.

“But there are so many people! And it’s a Red Gyarados—we have to see it! If you do, please use your Pokédex to collect data, okay?” May was sitting on her floor, hugging a Torchic plush, her face alive with excitement.

“Yes, yes, young lady, anything else you’d like me to do?” Zhao Fang shook his head with a wry smile. As Professor Birch’s daughter, May’s passion for Pokémon was truly something else.

“Hmph! I heard from my dad that Kanaz is about to see snowfall. If you get the chance, look out for any Ice-type Pokémon!” Hugging her Torchic plush, May rolled once across the floor, then fixed her large, sparkling eyes on Zhao Fang.

Zhao Fang nodded. So, Kanaz City would see snow? That was intriguing—snow often drew Ice-type Pokémon out for a stroll. While there might not be any particularly powerful ones, running into a Snorunt would be quite nice. Zhao Fang didn’t have plans to catch one himself, but he did want to give Dreepy some practice in battling Ice-types.

Before Fairy-types were introduced, Dragon-type battles often hinged on type advantages. Dragons had to watch out for other Dragons and especially for Ice-types—if your Dragon Pokémon was also part Flying, Ice-type moves would hit for quadruple damage.

Zhao Fang had no intention of becoming a master of counter-typing, but he didn’t want his Pokémon paralyzed with indecision when facing a disadvantage. Without knowing how to handle such situations, one could never become a true Pokémon master.

After stowing his Pokédex, Zhao Fang noticed a boy in a cap staring at him with uncontainable excitement.

“Um, can I help you?” Zhao Fang glanced at Officer Jenny, but she was still on patrol, making announcements.

“Are you a Pokédex holder?” the boy asked, his eyes shining with anticipation.

“Yes, I am,” Zhao Fang replied, puzzled by the boy’s eagerness.

“Please battle me!” The boy swept up his jacket, revealing three Poké Balls at his waist.

Zhao Fang raised an eyebrow. Why did Pokémon trainers in this world act like seasoned gamblers, always challenging others to battles at the drop of a hat?

“All right.” Zhao Fang didn’t refuse. He was curious to see how much Magikarp and Dreepy had improved over the past three days of training.

The moment Zhao Fang agreed, the boy produced a Poké Ball. “Oddish, I choose you!” A small Oddish landed on the ground.

“Oddish, huh? Go on, Magikarp.” Zhao Fang sized up the Oddish; it didn’t seem well-trained, almost as scrawny as a wild specimen.

The boy hesitated when he saw Magikarp, then pouted, thinking Zhao Fang was underestimating him.

But that wasn’t Zhao Fang’s intention; he simply wanted to test Magikarp’s Splash.

“Oddish, use Absorb on Magikarp!” the boy commanded, his face flushed with determination.

But compared to the Absorb used by that Lotad during the wagered battle, this one was pitiful. The energy orbs were minuscule, and Magikarp easily dodged the attack with Splash, then countered with Tackle, striking Oddish right on the head. Oddish was instantly knocked out.

Zhao Fang immediately lost interest in the battle. He could tell the boy was too inexperienced—even Magikarp alone would be more than enough.

As Zhao Fang suspected, the boy’s three Pokémon were all Grass-types, including a Lotad. But each one was easily overwhelmed by Magikarp. These poorly trained Pokémon stood no chance.

Only the Lotad managed to withstand Magikarp’s assault, using Absorb to cause a bit of trouble.