Pokemon:God Level Player

Satoshi glanced at his record panel, his eyes widening slightly in surprise.

He hadn't expected that defeating Gary would yield such generous rewards, along with some unexpected information.

While Gary was only an Intermediate Trainer at the moment, the rewards far surpassed what Satoshi had received earlier when defeating the Team Rocket captain. Back then, he had only earned some Alliance Coins and a skill machine—decent rewards, but nothing compared to what he had just received.

Three Silver Crowns and a Mystic Water?

The Silver Crown was a rare and invaluable item, often tied to major hidden tasks or story events. Satoshi could hardly believe he had just received three of them.

The Mystic Water, a held item that boosted the power of Water-type moves, was another incredible find. In his previous life, Satoshi had only managed to obtain one after extensive grinding. Now, it had practically fallen into his lap.

Gary might become a legendary Trainer in the future, but right now, he was just an Intermediate Trainer. Defeating him had not only brought amazing rewards but also a cryptic piece of advice:

"You already have a good relationship with two main characters. Reminder: Build strong relationships with main characters to unlock unexpected surprises."

"This isn't just a hint—it's a clear directive," Satoshi thought.

He quickly pieced it together: the two main characters must be Gary and Ash. The system seemed to be encouraging him to foster connections with key figures to gain access to hidden rewards.

Although Satoshi had already planned to befriend important characters for potential hidden tasks, this message confirmed that the benefits went far beyond just completing quests.

"But… doesn't this feel a bit manipulative? Am I really being controlled into doing this? I'm a strong, independent Trainer! I don't need rewards to build relationships with people!"

Satoshi furrowed his brow, as though he were resisting the system's push.

However…

He turned toward Ash, eyes practically sparkling with interest.

"Really fragrant"

Gary departed after promising Satoshi a rematch. With his hands in his pockets and his usual casual demeanor, he strolled off without a second glance.

Or, more accurately, without a glance at Ash.

Satoshi suspected it was deliberate. Gary wasn't the type to forget someone so easily—ignoring Ash was clearly a choice.

"Damn it, Gary! You just ignored me and walked off like that?!" Ash growled, gritting his teeth as he shouted in the direction Gary had gone.

"Gary seems polite to everyone else, but with you, it's like oil and water. Are you two rivals or frenemies?" Satoshi teased.

He observed the dynamic between Gary and Ash. While they bickered constantly, it was clear they pushed each other to improve. They were the very definition of "enemies who make each other better."

"Ash, Gary probably rushed off to the Pokémon Center to treat his Charmeleon. After that battle, it definitely needs some rest," Satoshi offered, though he was certain Gary had ignored Ash on purpose.

"Satoshi, you don't need to defend him. That's just how Gary is. Whatever, forget it. Let's not talk about him," Ash muttered, crossing his arms.

Despite his words, Ash's fiery spirit was evident as he turned to Satoshi. His gaze was sharp, and anyone could see the fighting spirit blazing in his eyes.

"You're strong. Strong enough to beat that guy. I hate to admit it, but Gary is tough. I can barely tie with him, but you defeated him so easily."

Although Ash spoke honestly, his determination was clear. His hand unconsciously hovered near one of the Poké Balls on his belt.

"It wasn't easy," Satoshi replied. "I only won because I caught him off guard. My Charmeleon just has a few more skills. If Gary had known that, the battle could've gone very differently."

"No need to be modest. Gary was right—your Charmeleon knowing so many skills is a testament to your strength as a Trainer," Ash replied with conviction.

Hearing this, Satoshi's lips twitched.

"Strength as a Trainer, huh? If only you knew about the stack of TMs I've got in my inventory…"

Still, Ash was sincere, and Satoshi felt a bit embarrassed at the praise.

"Hehe, with enough practice, you can teach your Pokémon plenty of skills too. Doesn't your Bulbasaur know Solar Beam? How long did it take you to train it to learn that move?" Satoshi asked, genuinely curious.

Ash scratched his head sheepishly. "Bulbasaur's Solar Beam? Oh, uh… I didn't train it. Bulbasaur already knew that move when I caught it. I just got lucky."

Satoshi froze.

"You lucky son of a… Come here. I promise not to hit you."

End of Chapter