Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Pewter City
Stretching lazily, Ron couldn't help but appreciate the perks of authority.
Since agreeing to become a probationary Ranger, Matthew had begun treating Ron with special privileges.
First was Ron's contribution points from the riot. After detailed calculations and with Matthew's approval, they reached an impressive total of 1,200 points.
To put things into perspective, defeating a Level 20 to 29 Pokémon earns just 10 points.
Taking down an elite-level Pokémon yields only 50 points.
Despite Ron's extended time in battle, the actual number of Pokémon he defeated wasn't extraordinary.
In those chaotic situations, quickly neutralizing an opponent was necessary, leaving little room for finishing blows.
Ron had clearly benefited from this system, but his ultimate goal—the highest-quality Life Orb—was still a long way off.
Next, Matthew added Ron into the Rangers' internal system, officially acknowledging him as one of their own, only a step away from full membership.
Lastly, when Ron expressed his intent to train his Nidoran, Matthew arranged transportation for him to the outskirts of the forest, the nearest location being Pewter City, home of the Gray Badge.
Wasting no time basking in the convenience, Ron quickly composed himself and released his team.
Back in the forest, his Pokémon seemed noticeably more at ease.
"Persian, I'll leave this to you. Find some suitable Pokémon for Nidoran to spar with."
After giving Persian a loving pat, Ron set it off on its mission.
Following the previous battles, Bellossom had gained substantial experience despite limited time in combat. She was now on the verge of breaking into elite-level strength.
Ron planned to have Bellossom's breakthrough happen during a gym battle in Pewter City. Before that, however, he wanted to help Nidoran fully unleash the latent power it had been building up since its early days.
Before long, Persian found a Rattata—a common sight in the area.
"Nidoran, use Focus Energy!"
Ron's command not only prompted Nidoran to concentrate but also put Rattata on high alert.
Thanks to prior experience, Ron's team had learned to control their presence, avoiding scaring off opponents prematurely.
Although Nidoran stood motionless, Rattata could sense the rising danger and hesitated, ultimately deciding to strike first with Quick Attack.
"Now, Nidoran! Use Leer, then follow up with Double Kick!"
With heightened focus from Focus Energy, Nidoran quickly locked onto the incoming Rattata.
The glare from Leer caused Rattata's charge to falter slightly. Taking the opportunity, Nidoran lunged forward, landing both kicks in quick succession on the same spot, forcing Rattata to retreat.
In the games, Nidoran's Hustle ability increases its Attack stat by 50% but reduces the accuracy of physical moves to 80%.
While this reflects Nidoran's boundless energy and impulsive nature, it can lead to moments of distraction during battles.
Thanks to Ron's precise commands and the boost from Focus Energy, Nidoran had minimized this drawback, maintaining consistent performance so far.
"Keep up the momentum! Charge in with another Double Kick!"
Following Ron's instructions, Nidoran charged at the stunned Rattata, delivering another set of well-aimed strikes.
With its Attack stat enhanced, the repeated hits left Rattata unable to get back on its feet.
This victory was just the beginning. Guided by Persian, Nidoran continued to face off against an increasing number of wild Pokémon.
Fueled by its Hustle ability, Nidoran seemed tireless, relentlessly defeating opponent after opponent.
Even in the wild, a fully grown Nidoking often becomes the dominant leader of its territory.
Although Nidoran hadn't reached that stage yet, its successive victories were already helping it build the confidence necessary for future growth.
A few days later, Ron left the forest with Bellossom and Nidoran in tow, heading straight for Pewter City.
As they traveled, Nidoran occasionally sipped from a bottle of Beedrill honey hanging around its neck.
During their wild Pokémon search, Persian had easily located some foraging Beedrill, prompting Ron to let Nidoran experience battling flying opponents.
Under Ron's guidance and Nidoran's strength, even the flying Beedrill stood no chance. However, the commotion attracted an entire swarm.
Luckily, Ron's team was strong enough to handle them. To Ron's surprise, the Beedrill later approached Nidoran with cheerful expressions, offering honey as a gift.
Recalling the sweet taste from his childhood, Nidoran eagerly savored the honey.
To make it convenient, Ron found an unused bottle, tied it to a string, and hung it around Nidoran's neck.
This made the already adorable Nidoran look even cuter. Alongside Bellossom, their charm frequently turned heads, drawing crowds of admirers.
Taking breaks along the way, Ron's group eventually entered Pewter City.
At the Pokémon Center, Ron registered with his Pokédex and quickly secured a room after verification.
Thanks to the startup funds he'd received from Team Rocket, Ron didn't need to exchange contribution points for League currency to pay.
After tidying up his room, he followed the map to Pewter Gym.
Unlike Ash, who was considered a "Chosen One," regular trainers had to make reservations in advance to challenge a gym.
Even then, victories weren't guaranteed, and failing often meant waiting weeks to try again. Some trainers ended up staying in one city for over a month just to earn a single badge.
However, Ron was confident in his team's strength. The only potential delay would come from the reservation process itself.
-----------------------------------
If you want to support me and read advanced chapters, please visit:
patreon.com / madbot635
I would greatly appreciate your support if you choose to join my patreon :)