Chapter 134: Challenging the Celadon Gym

Celadon Gym, Celadon City, Kanto Region.

This gym possesses a history even more venerable than that of the Saffron Gym. It is said that during the era of the Beast Wars, when trainers were still referred to as "Beast Tamers," the Celadon Gym had already established its renown throughout the Kanto region for its expertise in cultivating and training Grass-type beasts.

Today, with the League established and modernized mechanisms for trainer advancement and cultivation increasingly refined, the Celadon Gym stands tall as one of the eight great gyms of Kanto, wielding immense influence. Some claim that the League only governs half of Celadon City, while the remaining half relies on the Celadon Gym’s assistance. In reality, the portion the League can truly manage is likely closer to a third.

However, this does not mean the League has lost its grip on Celadon City. On the contrary, as an ancient lineage, the family of the Gym Leader possesses its own wisdom for survival. If the League holding power is the inevitable trend of the times, the Celadon Gym will never play the contrarian.

At the same time, they maintain close ties with the powerful, unafraid to concede profit, fearing only enmity, yet never appearing excessively weak. The current leader, Lady Erika, excels at this. She is a close friend to the Elite Four, a friend to Red and Green, and now, she has become a friend to Chen Ou. Her ability to forge friendships is truly peerless.

Meanwhile, Lady Erika’s own strength is more than enough to anchor the entire Celadon Gym; she is a veteran and formidable Gym Leader.

Finally, leveraging its own advantages, the Celadon Gym founded a perfume factory, making Celadon Perfume a world-renowned brand and providing numerous employment opportunities for local residents. It established the Celadon School and Celadon University, becoming a prestigious training institution starting from childhood education. Celadon University, in particular, has become the largest and most famous institution of higher learning. Every student who graduates from these halls cannot deny the fact that they have benefited from the grace of both the League and the Celadon Gym.

Remain unassuming, cultivate wide connections, strengthen oneself, and sink deep roots.

Relying on these four principles of survival, the Celadon Gym has endured from the distant past to the present. Celadon City is the fortress of the Celadon Gym. Regardless of how those in power change, the Celadon Gym, holding Celadon City firmly in its grasp, has possessed the ability to negotiate with any organization from beginning to end.

As Chen Ou observed the greenhouse-like gym, marveling at the immense costs involved, these thoughts flickered through his mind. He gained a profound realization of the true power of a great clan. Such families are not rare in the world of Pokémon.

The Dragon-taming clan of Johto, rooted in Blackthorn City, possesses high-level combat power like Lance. While standing at the pinnacle of the League, they simultaneously exist outside the constraints of the League’s system. Similar entities include the Psychic family of the Unova region—Cynthia’s family—as well as the Oak family, the Devon Corporation’s Stone family, the Joy family, and the Jenny family. The shadows of these clans seem to exist in every facet of the League.

Chen Ou had no desire to comment on this. For one, the League is currently in a period of expansion and ascent, a conclusion evident from its constantly widening borders. For another, Chen Ou himself is a vested interest; one can never expect a vested interest to oppose their own gains.

Currently, Chen Ou and White were following Erika toward the highest-spec battlefield in the Celadon Gym. They had just returned from the teaching forest of Celadon University. Chen Ou had no intention of resting, hurrying to the gym immediately after a meal with Erika. He had originally intended to travel quickly from Saffron City to Celadon City, but in reality, he had been delayed in the forest for many days.

The goal was to provide some training for Chimchar and to offer White some experience and perspective. It must be said that no matter how strong Chen Ou was, White still slowed his pace. Fortunately, there was no pressing deadline. Since he had promised the Professor he would help look after White, Chen Ou would teach her with all his heart.

As for the badges... if Chen Ou were truly pushed to his limit, he could secure all eight in a single day. Among the Kanto Gym Leaders, the strongest was naturally Sabrina—at least, that was the situation after Mewtwo had departed from Blaine. If Mewtwo were still there... Chen Ou would have had to choose an all-out, no-holds-barred battle with Blaine, stalling Mewtwo himself while his other Pokémon dealt with the Gym Leader. That didn't seem like a very honorable thing to do.

Fortunately, Mewtwo had departed, so Chen Ou did not need to contemplate how to deal with such a troublesome opponent. Since there were no obstacles in terms of strength, as for speed, at worst, he could borrow Professor Oak’s Dragonite as transport. With Dragonite’s speed, flying a lap around the Kanto region would take half a day. If Chen Ou dared to let his Pokémon fight eight consecutive matches, he could truly collect the badges in one day.

Once he realized this, Chen Ou traveled at a leisurely pace, though this relaxed approach naturally led to many troubles... which made him travel even slower. Of course, there was still plenty of time, so he was not in a hurry.

While walking along the path, Chen Ou’s legs suddenly gave way, and he collapsed. In his dazed state, he saw White rushing toward him and Erika approaching to help, looking surprised but composed. He whispered in a faint voice, "I'm fine." Then, everything went black, and he lost consciousness. He could feel his life force ebbing away, and he heard a voice in the depths of his heart: "Contract, established."

He felt as though he were ascending, drifting, and gradually, a beam of light appeared before him. By its glow, he saw his surroundings. It resembled a small, dark room, with only a patch of light like white night overhead. Not far away, a beautiful blonde woman stood, gazing at him steadily, her eyes shimmering with crystalline light.

Chen Ou sat slumped on the ground, stunned at first, then slowly stood up. With a bitter smile, he walked step by step toward Cynthia. On the other side, Cynthia also walked toward him, step by step. Neither moved quickly, as if both were suppressing something. But the path was not long, and they soon stood face-to-face.

Just as Chen Ou was about to speak, Cynthia pulled him into a tight embrace, burying her face against his chest. Chen Ou smiled and held her, gently patting her back. "It's alright, it's alright. I'm fine. It was just a bit of life force, that's all. It's nothing."

Cynthia looked up into his eyes, tears streaming down her face, at a loss for words. Chen Ou held her tighter and said, "Cynthia, I know you can hear me. I want to tell you that with Arceus's help, I have completed a leap in the level of my life. However, eternal life is destined to be solitary. I hope you will accompany me until we reach the very end of our lives together."

Cynthia gazed at his smiling face and finally offered a smile of her own.

"I will."