Pokemon: Cheat System

Misty felt a little dizzy. 

After briefly reflecting on the name "Kai," the Cerulean City Gym Leader—known as the "Mermaid of Cerulean"—suddenly recalled who her frustrating opponent was. He was none other than the new Pokémon streamer on YouTube who had recently been making waves. Though he hadn't been streaming for long, Kai had rapidly climbed to the Master Ball rank in Pokémon battles thanks to his ingenious and ever-changing tactics. His rise was so meteoric it seemed almost as if he were cheating. 

Misty had even watched some of Kai's videos before. A friend had recommended them to her during her downtime, so she remembered this incredibly skilled yet still young and strikingly handsome boy. 

"So it's this guy…" 

Upon realizing her opponent's identity, Misty's anger dissipated somewhat. 

After all, her opponent's extraordinary Pokémon battle skills had even earned praise from her friend—the Champion of Kanto and the "Battle Virtuoso"—Red. If Red himself admired Kai's prowess, it wasn't surprising that she had lost to him. 

"A bunch of battle maniacs who wouldn't even think to go easy on a beautiful girl! No wonder that blockhead Red enjoys this guy's streams and videos so much," Misty muttered, puffing her cheeks in annoyance at Kai's unapologetically straight behavior. 

Yes, the friend who had introduced Misty to Kai's videos was none other than Red. 

And who was Red? 

Hailing from the famous Pallet Town in Kanto, a place brimming with talent, Red had been recognized at a young age by the legendary Pokémon Professor, Professor Oak. 

At just ten years old, he debuted as a Pokémon Trainer and, through his unparalleled combat talent, grew rapidly in strength. 

Overcoming all odds, he defeated Team Rocket's leader, Giovanni, dismantling the nefarious organization. Red subsequently became the Indigo League Champion and was widely acknowledged as the strongest Trainer in the world. Now, he spent his days atop the snow-covered Silver Mountain, waiting for worthy challengers to face him. 

Red's legendary exploits had inspired countless Trainers. His reputation was so extraordinary that many regarded him as the strongest man alive. 

If even someone like Red couldn't hold back his admiration for Kai's "brilliant strategies," it was no wonder that Kai had drawn the attention of elite Trainers. 

Which meant… 

"Doesn't this mean everyone saw me get obliterated by this guy on his livestream?" 

Following this line of logic, Misty's face instantly darkened, and she metaphorically donned a "pain mask." 

It wasn't that Misty was a sore loser. 

As a Gym Leader responsible for helping the Pokémon League assess Trainers, she didn't dwell on wins or losses—she had a broad mindset. 

But Pokémon battles online were a totally different matter from Gym challenges. Unlike the latter, online battles required efficiency. Even Champions, Elite Four members, or Gym Leaders would refrain from "taking it easy" and instead play seriously, showcasing their real skills during such matches. 

For Misty, this was the root of her distress. 

If word got out that she had been completely shut down in a match—her team entirely incapacitated by Sleep Powder—her reputation as a Gym Leader might never recover. 

Misty knew that her other friends might not care much about it. But Red? He had always paid close attention to Kai's channel, watching every video and livestream without fail. It was almost guaranteed that he had already seen her humiliating defeat. 

Which meant it was only a matter of time before everyone else found out. 

She was doomed. 

Suddenly, Misty's phone screen lit up with a notification. It was a message from "Red." 

---

Meanwhile, in Pallet Town, Kanto… 

"So even Misty lost?" 

Back at his home, Red sat in front of his computer, watching Kai's livestream. He had just witnessed Misty's crushing defeat at the hands of Kai's Sleep Powder strategy, and an amused expression spread across his usually stoic face. 

He quickly composed a message to Misty, offering some reassurance along the lines of, "This streamer is incredibly skilled; it's no big deal to lose." After sending it, he turned to the blonde-haired girl sitting nearby. 

"Misty couldn't beat this streamer either?" 

The girl, wearing a straw hat, blushed slightly as Red's gaze fell on her. Trying to maintain her composure, she responded to the livestream content. 

Her name was Yellow, also known as Yellow de Tokiwa Grove. 

"Mm-hmm." 

Red seemed particularly enthusiastic about the topic of Kai. His interest clearly piqued, he quickly added to Yellow's comment. 

"This streamer's theoretical knowledge far surpasses that of many veteran Trainers. Even most Gym Leaders can't match his understanding of Pokémon, their moves, abilities, and item synergies." 

Watching Kai effortlessly win several battles with a Butterfree-centric team, Red's usually steadfast gaze flickered with a rare excitement. 

"Even something as seemingly weak as a Butterfree becomes the core of a team in his hands, capable of exerting immense influence in battle. It's only natural that Misty lost to him…" 

"Not just Misty. Among all the Trainers we know, there probably aren't many who could beat him." 

As one of Kai's long-time viewers, Red had developed a solid understanding of his tactics. 

Kai's strategies were unpredictable and unconventional, full of creativity that left his opponents bewildered. 

Every livestream featured a fresh tactical approach. Yet, no matter the strategy, Kai consistently demonstrated mastery—flawlessly executing techniques, synergizing perfectly with held items, and ensuring each Pokémon operated seamlessly within its assigned role. Even Red couldn't help but be impressed. 

"His understanding of Butterfree's potential is incredible." 

"Unless he's also a seasoned Trainer in real life, there's no way he could have this level of insight—maximizing every ounce of a Pokémon's potential and executing it so perfectly." 

For the casual observer, Kai's Sleep Powder strategy might just look like a "cheap trick." 

But Red and Yellow, both highly skilled Trainers, saw through to the deeper layers. They fully understood the level of expertise required to pull off such tactics. 

After all, a Trainer's skill went hand-in-hand with their Pokémon's strength. Only a highly trained and experienced Trainer could craft and execute strategies like Kai's. 

From his refined battle instincts to his understanding of Pokémon mechanics, Kai's expertise shone even through the medium of online battles. 

"Why don't you try learning from his Butterfree tactics? Butterfree isn't really suited to being a primary attacker. It's much better as a support Pokémon, maximizing its utility this way," Red suggested with a smile, turning back to Yellow. 

He knew Yellow had a fairly strong Butterfree in her team. If she adapted Kai's strategies, turning Butterfree into a top-tier support, it would be a significant strength boost for her. 

"Ah, o-okay!" 

Yellow's face flushed red as she timidly accepted Red's seemingly caring suggestion. 

Meanwhile, unaware of Yellow's inner thoughts, Red's attention had already shifted back to Kai. 

On-screen, Kai—caught in his webcam window—was grinning wildly as he spammed Sleep Powder, systematically putting his opponent's Pokémon to sleep. His mischievous charm had already brought laughter to several more opponents. 

Based on his own experience, Red began calculating Kai's overall strength. 

"His raw skill is definitely superior to Misty's. Combined with his tactical acumen and mastery of strategy, even Elite Four members might struggle against him." 

Unbeknownst to Misty, she had already become Red's "measuring stick" for assessing Kai's strength. 

"I'd love to battle him someday," Red murmured, his gaze intense as he stared at Kai's confident face, a smile full of battle-hungry anticipation creeping onto his lips.