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Chapter 124: Time to achieve his own dream
🕑 Added 2025-04-26 20:47:06 +0000 UTC
The television in Gladion’s newly renovated Moonwood Town gym blared with the sharp clarity of a breaking news broadcast, its screen dominating one wall of the sleek lounge area.
The Kanto News Network’s logo spun in the corner as a League official, clad in a crisp suit, stood at a podium swarmed by microphones and flashing cameras.
The press conference was a spectacle of anticipation, and every word carried the weight of history. Gladion, sprawled on a plush couch with Colossus looming beside him, watched with a smirk that could’ve cracked ice.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the official began, his voice steady but tinged with excitement, “after extensive deliberation, the Kanto Pokémon League has made a landmark decision. Moonwood Town’s gym will be elevated to major status, officially recognized as a General-type gym under the leadership of Gladion Vortex, who, at the remarkable age of 15, becomes one of Kanto’s youngest Gym Leaders. Concurrently, Cerulean City’s gym will transition to minor status, allowing its caretakers to focus on their performance endeavors. The gym would start it's operations as a Major gym when the new league season starts. Further details will follow, but this marks a new chapter for Kanto’s competitive landscape—a bold step toward a future forged by innovation and strength.”
The press erupted, reporters shouting questions—“What prompted Cerulean’s demotion?” “How will a General-type gym function?”—but the official raised a hand, promising updates soon. The broadcast cut to an anchor, her eyes wide. “A stunning announcement! Gladion Vortex, fresh off his victory over Champion Pryce, now helms a major gym—a General-type first for Indigo! Stay tuned for reactions from trainers and fans across the region!”
Gladion’s smirk widened as Colossus let out a bone-rattling roar of approval, the sound shaking the gym’s reinforced walls and echoing through Moonwood Town.
Windows rattled, a few startled Pidgey scattered outside, and Gladion laughed, patting the alpha Tyranitar’s rocky hide. “That’s right, big guy—we did it! Grandpa Maren’s dream is a check—Moonwood’s a major gym, just like he wanted!” His voice brimmed with triumph, the weight of fulfilling Maren’s vision lifting from his shoulders.
But his eyes glinted with new ambition. “Now it’s my turn—time to chase my dreams: becoming the strongest trainer alive and the richest. Strength’s a lifelong grind, but the cash? Oh, that’s starting now!”
He glanced around the gym, a testament to his burgeoning empire. The renovation had been a beast—expensive enough to make a Snorlax wince—but worth every Pokécoin.
The battlefield, once a modest grass patch, now sprawled twice as large, equipped with cutting-edge tech: a psychic barrier system to shield spectators, gleaming panels that could shift the terrain from grass to rock, water, or ice at a button’s press. The stands had doubled in capacity, rows of sleek seats ready for the flood of fans Gladion expected.
“Look at this place, Colossus,” he said, gesturing grandly. “A coliseum for champs—grass for strategy, rock for raw power, water for finesse, ice for some beauty. It costed a fortune, but it’s gonna rake in way more!” Colossus rumbled, as if nodding, his tail cracking the floor slightly—Gladion winced. “Easy, big guy—don’t break the investment!”
Moonwood Town itself was transforming, fueled by Gladion’s rising star. His social media empire, already a juggernaut in Kanto and Johto, had spread to Hoenn, @VortexChamp posts going viral with clips of Colossus’s Hyper Beam and Zeus’s Thunder.
Sponsored deals poured in—Poké Ball brands, energy drinks, even a “Vortex Victory” clothing line—padding his bank account. The gym’s upgrades, funded partly by these profits, had sparked a local boom.
Businesses flocked to Moonwood—cafés, training dojos, a Pokémon Center expansion happened in the recent years due to the numerous ventures that Gladion has taken part in. With so many important businesses in the area, it has become a business hub.
Not only that with Mt.Moon behind it, forests to its left and a sea next to it, it attracts trainers who wants to catch different Pokemon.
Gladion had invested in building resorts near the beach side of the town and create some fun beach activities to increase tourism to Moonwood town and gain in some profits from him.
He was drawn by the hype of Gladion’s name and the gym’s new status.
The town’s population swelled, its economy humming, and Gladion expected packed stands for every gym battle.
'More fans, more ticket sales, more merch—cha-ching!' he thought, grinning. A major gym was a goldmine, and he was ready to mine it.
Leaning back, he mused on the perks of his new role. A Gym Leader wasn’t just a trainer—they were a protector, handling local threats like wild Pokémon stampedes or Rocket grunts sniffing around.
For that, the League offered a sweet deal: tax exemptions. 'No taxes, baby!' Gladion’s grin turned sly.
“Probably why Giovanni keeps up the Gym Leader charade. Guy’s richer than a Sinnoh tycoon, could be a secret villain plotting world domination in some lava lair—‘Mwahaha, I’ll rule with my Persian!’—but nah, he struts around Viridian for the tax break. Taxes are every rich person’s mortal enemy, and Giovanni’s out here dodging ‘em like a pro!”
He laughed, picturing Giovanni in a cape, cackling over a tax-free vault while Persian counted gold coins. “Smart, though—guy’s playing 4D chess while I’m just starting my board!”
Colossus snorted, shaking the couch, and Gladion patted him again. “Don’t worry, big guy—we’ll catch up. Strongest, richest, and maybe a little infamous!”
The broadcast looped back to the press conference, analysts now dissecting the decision. “A General-type gym is revolutionary,” one said.
“Gladion’s diverse team—Electivire, Tyranitar, Annihilape, Machamp, Umbreon—shows trainers need versatility, not just type advantages. It’ll redefine how Kanto prepares its challengers.”
Another nodded, “Cerulean’s demotion was overdue—Marcus’s daughters are performers, not battlers. Moonwood’s strategic location and Gladion’s strength make it a perfect fit.”
Gladion switched off the TV, standing to survey his domain. The gym’s polished floors gleamed, holographic displays ready to showcase battle highlights, a snack bar already stocked for fans. “This is it, Colossus—our stage. Trainers’ll come from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and maybe more regions in future begging for a badge. They’ll face every type, every strategy, and walk out stronger—or crying!” He smirked, imagining challengers quaking before Colossus’s roar or Zeus’s sparks.
The General-type focus wasn’t just a gimmick—it was his philosophy: adaptability, power, no limits. Maren had dreamed of a gym that inspired; Gladion would make it a legend.
Outside, Moonwood bustled, new shops glowing under streetlights, kids clutching Vortex merch, tourists snapping photos of the gym’s sleek facade.
Gladion’s businesses—a training gear store, a battle café—thrived, each feeding the town’s growth and his wallet. “Population’s up, profits are up, and soon, challengers’ll line up,” he mused. “Every battle’s a show, every win’s a payday. Strongest and richest? I’m halfway there!”
Colossus rumbled, nudging him, and Gladion laughed. “Alright, alright—time to train. Can’t get rich if we get rusty!”
