Kanto Region—Viridian City, Viridian Gym.
"He's actually willing to livestream his wilderness training sessions?"
On Viridian Gym's training field, Red — currently drilling his Pikachu with agility exercises — immediately noticed Alex's livestream announcement, his brow quirking in genuine surprise.
"Pikachu?"
"What's wrong?"
The handsome youth with chestnut-spiked hair and a custom Amulet Necklace perched imperiously on the supple leather sofa beside the training machines, his gaze shifting toward Red — whose expression had tightened — and the Pikachu that had ceased its Thunderbolt execution.
As Red's rival and closest friend, Green — with his unceasing vigilance — was the first to detect the subtle shift in the man's demeanor.
"Hmm..."
Green ran his fingers through the Arcanine's luxuriant mane — the Fire-type having curled protectively behind the sofa — before rising fluidly from the crimson leather. With intrigued expectancy etched across his features, he closed the distance to Red's side, the faint ozone scent of aborted Electric-type moves still lingering in the air.
"Let me see..."
Ignoring the Kanto Champion's mildly disgusted glare, the three-minutes-removed former titleholder pressed flush against Red's shoulder to peer at the smartphone. A flicker of dawning comprehension illuminated Green's features as the livestream preview loaded — Pikachu's static-charged fur casting faint blue light across both rivals' faces.
"So it's that streamer."
Upon seeing Alex's livestream preview, Green finally grasped why Red had displayed such uncharacteristic tension — the smartphone screen now reflected dual pairs of obsidian-black eyes, their usual competitive fire momentarily tempered by professional curiosity.
"This streamer... he's the one you've been monitoring?"
Red and Alex became friends, and Green was well aware of this.
He never doubted Red's judgment.
Someone who gains Red's attention and friendship is no ordinary person.
As a Champion-tier Trainer, Green had his own criteria for evaluation.
To verify if this guy was truly skilled, Green looked through some of Alex's videos and livestreams, learning he was a Trainer specialized in tactics and training.
Precisely because of this, Green's interest in Alex not only persisted — it intensified.
After all, he himself had balanced both Pokémon training and competitive battling — a prodigy who had reached near-invincibility in both fields. His mastery of breeding techniques, in particular, had earned him 'the Breeder' title from Professor Samuel Oak.
Red is 'the Battler'.
Green is 'the Breeder'.
When a Trainer encounters their counterpart, they can't help but feel the primal urge to clash and prove their superiority.
"Streaming this frequently with content like tactical breakdowns and wilderness drills—I get it now. That's why you admire him so much?"
Examining Alex's profile, Green allowed a genuine smile to surface.
He felt he fully understood now. Understood exactly what kind of person Alex was.
After all, every Trainer's strategy is forged through grueling refinement — a culmination of theoretical mastery, battle-tested skills, and the unspoken bond with their Pokémon.
Even renowned Gym Leaders wouldn't selflessly divulge all their battle strategies for grassroots Trainers across the region to replicate.
Yet this obscure streamer generously livestreams his wilderness training sessions — from delineating tactical applications to dissecting intricate details — all for public study.
Such selfless conduct wholly merits the honorable title of 'Mentor'.
"Impressive."
Running through mental scenarios of his own, Green couldn't help but wear an admiring look — his fingers unconsciously mimicking the tactical gesture Alex had demonstrated in a recent Double Battle stream.
"I see."
Green's smile sharpened with triumph, as if he'd perfectly deciphered Alex's intentions.
"You figured it out too?"
Catching that contagious grin, Red involuntarily mirrored it with a rare smile of his own — genuine satisfaction blooming at this mirroring of Green's deduction.
"Hmm."
A Trainer of his caliber wouldn't stream this frequently just for money — there had to be something deeper driving him.
With this in mind — cross-referencing Alex's streaming patterns and his parting words from the previous night's broadcast — Red and Green deduced with near certainty: Alex risked wilderness livestreams precisely to indirectly impart training techniques and battle tactics to novice Trainers.
"He's a Unova-region Trainer. Given their hyperfocus on safety protocols, it's only logical he'd broadcast his wilderness training sessions."
Factoring in the regional contrasts between Unova's ecosystem and Kanto's infrastructure, Green's conviction solidified.
In the Kanto region, children gain the right to receive a starter Pokémon and embark on their journey upon turning ten — a system embodying unrestrained liberty.
They're textbook examples of this breed — ferociously unorthodox in their methods.
In contrast, the Unova region has raised the age requirement to prioritize Trainer safety — citizens can only become certified after completing high school education and passing the Trainer Licensing Exam.
After all, being a Top-Tier Trainer — despite its glamorous public image — remains one of the deadliest occupations with casualty rates that chill even seasoned League auditors.
A Trainer lacking powerful Pokémon or extensive experience may venture into uncharted wilderness one day — and never return.
For young Trainers who chafe under rigid curricula, an elite and highly popular Trainer's wilderness tutorials offer field-tested wisdom — undeniably invaluable resources that enhance field knowledge and situational awareness, effectively helping curb rookie casualty rates in uncharted territories.
Alex has now fully assumed the mantle of 'Mentor' in this capacity.
Going so far as to address the disparity in rookie Trainers' starter quality, he demonstrated techniques using the most vulnerable Caterpie — braving critical risks during these live wilderness tutorials.
Surely every Trainer has at least one Pokémon stronger than — or on par with — a Caterpie?
Then I'll demonstrate survival tactics using a Caterpie — teach you how to turn even the frailest ally into your lifeline in the wild.
"Impressive. Truly impressive. He's achieved what we never prioritized."
Green's gaze upon Alex's profile now held a newfound edge — a blend of professional scrutiny and unspoken acknowledgment from one top-tier Trainer to another.
Young, formidable, never guarding his knowledge...
Paired with Alex's striking looks rivaling his own and his decisive victory over Misty the previous night, this young streamer had rapidly become a knowledgeable and selfless elite in Green's estimation.
Green felt an involuntary surge of respect.
Though pride fuels him, it never curdles into arrogance.
Especially after enduring such grueling trials, this former Champion — who relinquished his title within minutes to yield to worthier hands — now demonstrates neither disregard nor contempt toward others.
Conversely, he holds deep appreciation for those making genuine impact — Alex stands unambiguously within that caliber of Trainers.
"Following! I'll spam his chat with Master Balls when he goes live!"
Green slapped his knee, the wealthy Trainer instantly resolving to befriend Alex — 10,000 PokéCoin gift barrage already queued in his streaming platform wallet.
"Mm."
Red patted his shoulder — Pikachu instinctively scaling up with movements honed through countless Gym battles — perching once more in its trademark spot.
Afterwards, the two settled into the lounge area's leather sofa — ample cushioning guaranteeing Gym Leader-grade comfort — anticipation for Alex's impending stream visibly mounting between synchronized Trainer wrist device check-ins.
.....
Unova Region, Ross Mountain.
The moment Alex stepped from the vehicle, system-issued mission parameters flashed across his augmented reality interface — priority tags already pulsing crimson.
[System Mission: Capture a wild Pokémon.]
[Reward: Lucky Egg.]
"Hmm?"
Alex stared at the updated mission panel, remaining silent and still.
Capture a Pokémon...
True enough — by this stage, most novice Trainers would've mastered core training methods and begun actively expanding their teams with new catches.
Alex is no exception. However, due to certain pressures, he has opted to focus exclusively on Caterpie's development — new team additions remaining off the table until those underlying issues are resolved.
Yet the System unexpectedly assigned a [Capture Mission]
The mission reward remains the Lucky Egg — under the original game's mechanics, this item grants its holder a 50% EXP boost on post-battle gains.
This item remains equally effective whether equipped to Caterpie or assigned to a newly caught Pokémon — accelerating training pace with mechanically identical efficiency.
Caterpie's training regimen is already established anyway — requiring minimal oversight — so even diverting attention to raising a second Pokémon won't strain capacity.
"Fine."
After a rapid cost-benefit analysis confirmed the mission's risk-free upside, Alex mobilized without ceremony.
"During wilderness drills, maintain situational awareness for wild Pokémon with viable cultivation potential."
Alex harbored no urgency — system-assigned missions inherently carrying zero penalty clauses.
Even in the most unfavorable scenario — encountering no exceptional wild specimens — Alex's Caterpie already defies all conventional growth metrics. Should the need arise, Alex harbors zero qualms about eventually sweeping through leagues with a Rayquaza-tier powerhouse.
"Alright, moving out."
After rechecking his gear to confirm no critical omissions, Alex bypassed the ticket booth perimeter — a safe tourist zone scrubbed of hazardous Pokémon — advancing toward territory pulsing with wild spawn signatures.
This area is a Trainer's paradise.
Presenting his Trainer ID to clear the Pokémon League checkpoint, Alex officially breached the true Ross Mountain — geological anomaly readings instantly spiking on his navigation app's threat assessment overlay.
"Caterpie, time to stretch your legs."
Tossing the Poké Ball to release his partner, Alex ventured deeper into the thicket — the inexplicably amped-up Caterpie scouting ahead with hyperactive vigilance honed through 72 hours of nonstop training simulations.
[Wilderness Drills] now commences.