Rope takes a sip of the Soda Pop on the table.
Then exhales coolly.
The presence of a volcano on Cinnabar Island combined with the raging crowds of people made Cinnabar Island's already hot climate at the southern end of Kanto even hotter. Cinnabar Island, which was already at the southern end of Kanto and had a hot climate, became even hotter.
A refrigerated Soda Pop at this time of the year is not a matter of reverting to 60hp. It's a rebirth!!!
"Blaine, you are so good at life!" Rope gave Blaine a thumbs up. Seriously, compared to Blaine, Professor Oak, who was busy with research all day long and often forgot to eat, relying on instant noodles to get by, was really just like an ascetic.
But unlike Professor Oak who is surrounded by grandchildren, Blaine is also really lonely...
"Hahaha, that's right! On Cinnabar Island, what with Moomoo Milk and Fresh Water, only Soda Pop and Casteliacone are acceptable!"
Blaine chuckled, obviously pleased with Rope's reaction.
"What does little girl Whitley think?"
Blaine asked with a kind smile.
Whitley took a bite of her Casteliacone and then nodded vigorously, "It's just right!!!"
"Hahaha, like you guys to eat and drink more. I've got no shortage of those here!"
Blaine laughed, then said to Rope, "Don't just drink your water, you kid, tell me about the things you've encountered over the years."
Rope nodded, then narrated his experiences.
Halfway through, Rope took another sip of Soda Pop to moisten his parched throat.
"That's pretty much it. It hasn't really been much of anything in the last two years..."
Rope ends with a self-effacing comment.
Blaine shook his head and laughed bitterly, "If that's nothing for you, then I haven't had many experiences in the last couple decades that could be called 'something'."
Rope smiled and didn't bother to pick up the conversation. Some people just seem like they've been chosen by God to go through all sorts of things. And some people are also like they've been chosen by God. A life of smooth sailing and ripples.
"Blaine, I have have a question I want to ask you." Rope's look was solemn.
Seeing Rope's face like this, Blaine also collected the smile on her face and said seriously, "You ask, as long as I know, I will tell you."
Rope looked at Blaine's serious face, then organized his words and said, "I went to a place hidden in my experience before..."
"That place is called Lavender Town, and I met an old man there. His name was Fuji..."
Blaine's expression froze for a meaty moment, and his form stuttered. It took a moment for the party to return to normal, if not a little flabby.
Rope saw Blaine's reaction but didn't say anything more, just continued, "Mr. Fuji, who admitted to being Professor Fuji, and with whom I also exchanged information about that man-made Legendary Pokémon, the one who had caused both Red and Blue a lot of trouble... Mewtwo."
"Even later, I saw Mewtwo again."
This time, not only did Blaine make a move, but even Entei, who was lying on his back beside Blaine, raised his head.
Sure enough those who knew Mewtwo, there was no way to avoid caring about Mewtwo.
Whether it was yearning and intending to take it in, or fear and loathing of this Pokémon, Mewtwo would always occupy a place in their hearts.
"I talked to Mewtwo...she's still searching for the meaning of her existence..."
Rope stared through the lenses of his glasses at Blaine's somewhat disoriented expression, and asked, "I've heard that the creation of Mewtwo's team, you were in charge of it along with Professor Fuji. Even the importance of the part you are in charge of exceeds that of Professor Fuji. So, regarding the question Mewtwo asked me. I also want to ask you."
"What do you think is the significance of Mewtwo's existence?"
Rope was still searching for the meaning of Mewtwo's existence. It's a guy who doesn't exist with the known Pokédex or the known gods. Unlike Rope who was recognized by Arceus, Mewtwo had no divine power or divine authority.
But Mewtwo is too strong...
This is a Pokémon that was born for battle, or war.
"Weapons shouldn't have a mind of their own." Rope looked at Blaine seriously, "You wouldn't fail to understand that. So why give Mewtwo a personality? A true personality with a human mind..."
Blaine was silent for a moment in the face of Rope's cross-examination.
With that, a silence fell over the entire gym's parlor. the sound of Whitley's eating was unconsciously muffled.
"The reason is simple, that guy Fuji lost a child, so the birth of Mewtwo's personality was the result of his striving. And Mewtwo's personality ended up being a mutation under the influence of various genes. Her personality wasn't what he expected. It was a brand new personality."
"Mewtwo is a brand new person...Pokémon."
Rope knew these things, of course. He was just trying to get the answers he wanted out of Blaine.
"As for the significance of Mewtwo's existence..."
"Academically speaking, Mewtwo's existence is proof of the success of fossil revival technology, gene activation technology, gene fusion technology, and personality endowment technology...it's the the result of a collection of modern genetic technologies."
"But in a practical sense...Rope, I'm not sure what Mewtwo's significance is. She was designed with weapons in mind as a template. But what did she think about after we gave up using her as a weapon and got into the weeds? I don't know..."
Blaine shook her head with a helpless, bitter smile, "I can't understand her, so there's nothing I can do to dissuade her... perhaps finding out for herself is the best thing to do."
Rope nodded. Recognizing Blaine's statement.
"Enough about that...are you here for the gym challenge?"
Blaine changed the subject in a raw manner.
And naturally, Rope knew that that topic couldn't really be continued. It was more or less about understanding the regrets of old comrades. It really wasn't right to keep poking people's sore spots.
"I'm here to challenge the gym, and after I finish the Cinnabar Gym fight, I'm going to return to Pallet Town and challenge Blue..."
The corner of Rope's mouth really just couldn't help but twitch when he said this ...God knows what kind of lineup Blue will use to fight against himself in the end...
If it's really his championship-winning lineup, he can just order it himself...
Even if it's a newly bred lineup, then he'll still have to be careful.
As a nurturer, Blue was able to bring his second team to the heights of Elite Four and even the Championship in just one year...
If Rope and Blue's second team were to play against each other, the chances of winning wouldn't be very good, to be honest. After all, Rope's team is full of little guys...
Of course, if it's a no-rules match... Rope can make Blue two Pokémon's...
"Challenging Blue... then you'll have a headache... up."
Blaine looked at Rope with pity. From what he knew about Blue, if Rope went to challenge him, Blue wouldn't let go of the water.
"Let's not talk so much for now. Are you going to challenge me now? Or will you rest for two days at Cinnabar Island before challenging me?"
Blaine opened his mouth and asked.
"Emm, let's start now. It's a long trip, but I'm not really that tired. Finish the fight early, Whitley and I will stay here for two more days before we should head back...it's been so long out here too, I've wanted to go home for a long time!"
Rope pondered for a while, then said.
As he said that, Rope even stretched his back, a look of longing in his eyes.
As a geek...he really wanted to go home.
"Okay, let's start then!"
With that, Blaine got up, then straightforwardly pressed the button to open the secret door on one side.
As soon as the door opened, a scorching heat wave just pounced on it.
Rope didn't feel much of it, and Whitley felt her lips drying out a bit almost instantly.
Then she used her psychic power to form a shield in front of her body, so that although it was still hot, at least she didn't have to face the Heat Wave directly.
And little Lugia, who was following Rope, wrapped herself in her psychic power. After all, the little one's use of superpowers was quite a bit better than Whitley's.
"Tch, I really envy you superpowers, it's really too convenient."
Blaine couldn't help but tsk in admiration as she watched the reaction of the two men and the bird. Of course, Blaine himself didn't have much of a reaction. This was because he was already used to life here.
"Let's go, up ahead is the Cinnabar Gym's sparring ground."
With that, Blaine walked ahead to lead the way.
Rope, on the other hand, said helplessly, "Blaine, I feel that although that Blue guy is the strongest Gym Leader, the worst environment for sparring is still your place. It's really just not something that the average person can stand when sparring here in your place."
This was the truth.
Whitley couldn't help but nod in agreement as he looked at the lava pool in front of him.
Cinnabar Gym's battle environment could dissuade a large number of trainers. Therefore those who completed the challenges at Cinnabar Gym were all people with great perseverance.
"The upper part of this place must be the former site of Cinnabar Island...is this also your institute?"
Rope asked as he looked up at the surrounding mountain walls and that crater and opened his mouth.
"That's right, even though I don't have much contact with the outside world, I'm still continuing my research. That way life isn't too boring..."
Blaine said with a smile.
But both Rope and Whitley could hear a sense of helplessness in Blaine's tone.
Whitley gave Rope a questioning look.
Rope returned Whitley's look of calm.
Blaine's reason for saying those words was naturally known to Rope. After all, it wasn't a secret among the Alliance's top brass.
Soon, Blaine walked to the other end of the opposing battlefield.
He turned around and looked at Rope, who had also stood still, and smiled, "The rules of the matchup are a simple 3v3, although I don't know if you little guy has collected all six Pokémon, but I think that 3v3 should be the most suitable for a matchup between you and me."
The battles are quick, but more of a test of team setup and command.
But really, there really wasn't much to worry about in terms of choosing a team for Rope. After all, the guy hasn't put away six Pokémon yet, which is plenty if you count little Lugia.
As for whether or not to have Little Lugia appear as the sixth Pokémon when we play the convention again...we'll see.
"Then my first Pokémon! Come forth, Magmortar!"
With a mid-air shout from Blaine, a Magmortar leapt out of the lava below. As Blaine shouted, a Magmortar leapt out of the lava below, looking at Rope aggressively.
In fact, Rope had been complaining for a long time...why Blaine had summoned a Magmar from the lava in the anime.
Rope, who was still young at the time, immediately worshipped the Magmar as if it were a god!
What kind of Legendary Pokémon could this be with such an awesome appearance?
And then playing a game where Magmar gets beat up...
Now it looks like there's more than one Magmar in Blaine's lava pool...
What? What? Raising a parasite in a pool of lava?
A thousand thoughts quickly drifted out of Rope's head. And then quickly collected again.
Rope straightened up, then pulled out Growlithe's Pokéball.
"Come on out, Growlithe!"
Growlithe came out with a mighty "Ow~".
Then it went into a frantic tongue-lashing frenzy...
Rope was all but helpless. You're a fire-type Pokémon, how can you be hot at this temperature? Other Magmortar can swim in lava, okay?
"Stop pretending! Get up!"
Rope slapped Growlithe's head.
Growlithe then poked his tongue out at Rope and jumped into the battlefield. He also didn't forget to look at the lava pool on both sides. It seemed very much like going in for a swim...
It seemed... not impossible. Even if it's dangerous, it's possible to go down there with a Red Flame wrapped around you... not to mention Growlithe, even if it's Snivy.
Of course, since Snivy wasn't Rope's Pokémon, there was really no way to prove that point.
"Magmortar! Flamethrower..."
"Growlithe, dodge and then use Flamethrower back!"
Growlithe quickly dodged Magmortar's Flamethrower, and then blasted an even more powerful Flamethrower towards Magmortar with the same shot.
"Magmortar, dodge that move."
It wasn't a hard move to dodge, after all, both sides had the intention of going straight.
"Growlithe, Crunch!"
Rope immediately ordered.
"Magmortar, block!"
Blaine had a smile on his lips as he gave this order.
Growlithe took a bite out of Magmortar's arm. Growlithe then felt like there were flames exploding in his mouth.
"Ow!"
Growlithe gave Magmortar a ferocious look, then bit down hard.
Magmortar let out a similar howl of pain, then threw Growlithe out.
Growlithe landed smoothly. There were sparks of fire exploding from his body.
It was burns...
"My Magmortar is the Flame Body trait, contacting with physical attack... Rope, you're still too immature."
Blaine said as he shook his head.
Rope didn't say anything either, just faintly smiled, then softly commanded, "Growlithe, Facade!"
Blaine's face steeply changed...
Facade was a skill he certainly knew. But it was precisely because everyone knew it that this skill was too common, so instead, a lot of people ignored it. And it was true that this skill itself was a bit chickenish.
Fire-type pavilion masters didn't use brun as much as Ghost-type gym leader did, and it was a common skill. It's not so bad when it comes to poison. If you hit an Electricity-type, you just can't use your moves if you're paralyzed.
Then... with Growlithe's body glowing with white light, Magmortar flew backwards.