Pokemon: I'll Exchange Everything

Read up to 30 advanced chapters exclusively on my Patreon at - patreon.com/LoverrBoy

---------------------------------

After much deliberation, Liam's Ekans still refused to accept the imposing nickname "Orochimaru," leaving him somewhat helpless. 

After pondering for a while, inspiration struck, and he gently stroked Ekans's cool scales, saying:

"If you don't like Orochimaru, how about I keep your nickname Ekans instead? Just don't end up eating so much that you get chubby, okay?"

Surprisingly, the name Ekans seemed more agreeable to Ekans. After a moment of thought, it nodded in acceptance. After all, although it was just ceremonial, Ekans still wanted a nickname it liked.

Nearby, Nidolino wore an expression of speechless disbelief. It clearly felt there was a vast disparity between its nickname and Ekans's. 

No matter how it thought about it, its own name seemed far too casual. However, being naturally cheerful, Nidolino didn't dwell on such things—after all, Gible was there to keep it company.

"Alright! Break time's over! Let's head to the Viridian Gym for a challenge. I can't wait any longer!"

After confirming the names of his two new companions, Liam waved his hand in excitement, looking toward the direction marked on his map.

"Gible!"

"Nido!"

"Chaa…"

The three Pokémon responded in unison.

Although his journey had only just begun and he had only three Pokémon, this was more than enough under the usual gym challenge rules. Liam had some confidence in his abilities. 

Even if he lost, it shouldn't be too catastrophic. After all, as a rookie, he understood the old saying: "The first step is always the hardest." 

His lack of battle experience meant he still had much to learn.

Over the past six months, Liam's three Pokémon had made significant progress. Their levels had risen, and their move sets had expanded. Take Gible, for example. 

At the start, it only knew Tackle, the inherited move Rock Climb, and the TM-taught Dragon Claw. Altogether, it had only three moves. Now, however, it had learned Sand-Attack, Dragon Rage, Sandstorm, and Take Down. With the addition of the TM-taught Double Team, Gible had become quite formidable. 

Its exceptional physical condition even allowed it to take down a Fearow in one blow with Dragon Claw. Though still a bit reckless by nature, its strength was undeniable.

Ekans had also improved, learning the move Acid. Its level had increased significantly, and it seemed on the verge of evolution.

Finally, there was Nidorino. It had learned Horn Attack. Although Liam could now easily exchange for a complete Moon Stone to evolve it into a Nidoking, doing so at its current level would mean missing out on many powerful moves. 

Thus, Liam wasn't in a rush to evolve it. He planned to let it learn a few more moves before allowing it to evolve.

The Viridian Gym was currently an insect-themed gym specializing in Bug-type Pokémon. Bug-type moves were only half as effective against Poison-type Pokémon, giving Liam's team a considerable advantage.

Gible climbed back into Liam's backpack as he returned Ekans and Nidorino to their PokéBalls. He continued making his way through the forest, using the map to guide him. 

While it wasn't detailed enough to indicate how far away he was, it at least kept him from losing his way.

Before long, Liam encountered a group of burly individuals equipped with various forest gear. Each carried a cage covered with black cloth as they hurried in the same direction.

Liam hid behind a tree, observing them as they passed. Something about their appearance left him uneasy. Opting not to interact with them, he continued on his way.

Eventually, the map showed he was close to his destination. Pushing aside some underbrush, Liam emerged into a wide-open area. 

The expansive clearing was dotted with a few towering trees, surrounded by rustic, nature-inspired houses. The scene was lively and harmonious, with people busily attending to their tasks.

Liam approached, greeting an elderly man nearby with a smile. The man warmly welcomed him.

"Hello, sir. I'm a traveler from Pallet Town, training for the Indigo League. This should be outskirts of Viridian City, right? Could you point me to the Viridian Gym?"

The elder cheerfully provided directions and encouraged Liam, predicting he would achieve great things. Liam thanked him profusely before heading off towards the city proper, and the gym.

After walking for a while, he was finally at his destination.

The city currently wasn't as developed as it would be in the future. It still appeared to be in harmony with the surrounding nature.

At the heart of Viridian City stood the massive, green Viridian Gym. Next to it was a Pokémon Center. Realizing he was tired and hungry after the journey, Liam decided to eat and recover his strength before the challenge.

Entering the Pokémon Center, Liam handed his ID card to the familiar Nurse Joy. Her curious gaze followed as he excitedly handed over Gible, along with the other two PokéBalls, for healing.

Once his Pokémon were fully restored, Liam treated them to a hearty meal. Feeling satisfied and confident, he left the center, ready to take on the gym challenge.

As he approached the gym, he noticed two people—a man and a woman—standing at the entrance, seemingly waiting for something.

Curious, Liam moved closer. Just as he was about to enter, the two stopped him.

"Please wait. There's currently another challenger inside. To avoid interruptions, we ask that you wait until they finish," the purple-haired woman said softly.

Liam paused, surprised. He hadn't expected someone else to beat him to the challenge. Although a bit annoyed, he understood and sat beneath a nearby tree to wait.

It wasn't long before the gym doors opened. A long-haired boy emerged, cradling an injured Beedrill. 

After nodding briefly to the two at the door, the boy shot Liam a cold glare before walking toward the Pokémon Center, clearly intent on healing his Beedrill. The two at the door followed him closely.

Feeling baffled by the boy's hostility, Liam shrugged it off and entered the gym. Inside was a massive battle platform, still showing signs of the recent match. A middle-aged man was busy repairing the damage.

"Hello! I'm a challenger from Pallet Town. May I start my gym challenge now?" Liam called out.

The man turned, laughing heartily. "A challenger? Of course! I'm Morikage, the Viridian Gym Leader. I'm always ready for a battle."

"Good to hear," Liam replied. "By the way, was that boy earlier a challenger too? How did his match go?"

"Oh, you mean Giovani? He wasn't challenging the gym. He just made a bet with me. Needless to say, I won," Morikage said with a laugh.