"Please follow me to the battle arena."
Mami walked ahead, guiding Bai Chen forward.
Behind him, a group of young girls quietly followed.
They were filled with curiosity toward the challenger who had come to the Gym clad in full armor.
This challenger was clearly different from anyone they had seen before.
The most obvious difference was his height.
Encased in armor, Bai Chen stood close to 1.9 meters tall, while most challengers were still minors—usually no more than 1.5 or 1.6 meters.
Under Mami's guidance, Bai Chen entered the Gym's battle zone.
He gave the surroundings a brief glance.
The entire arena was styled like a traditional Japanese courtyard.
A small bridge, flowing water, lush greenery—elegant and refined.
The surrounding walls were lined with paper sliding doors, but upon closer inspection, they were actually projection screens.
Led to the right-side command platform, Bai Chen noticed no one opposite him and asked,
"Where is Miss Valerie?"
"Please don't worry," Mami replied politely. "Miss Valerie will be here shortly."
The spectators who had followed gathered in the viewing area.
Click.
The lights suddenly went out.
Across the massive screens surrounding the arena, petals of cherry blossoms began to fall in a dreamlike projection.
From an aesthetic standpoint alone, it was undeniably gorgeous.
Then—
From the opposite command platform, a young woman slowly rose on a lift.
Click.
The lights came back on.
This time, the screens displayed autumn maple leaves drifting gently downward.
Bai Chen looked at the woman opposite him.
Valerie stepped forward gracefully and bowed slightly.
"Welcome, challenger. I am the Gym Leader, Valerie. May I know your name?"
"Bai Chen."
"Bai Chen," Valerie asked with a soft smile, "how many Gym Badges have you collected so far?"
Bai Chen answered honestly.
"None. Not a single one."
If Z-Crystals counted, he technically possessed eighteen—but unfortunately, Alola had no Gyms and no League.
That probably counted as being behind schedule.
As soon as he said this, murmurs broke out among the audience.
"He looks so strong… but he doesn't even have one badge?"
"Is he a challenger from another region?"
Valerie chuckled softly. She had already noticed the various devices on Bai Chen's wrist.
"I am indeed from another region," Bai Chen said calmly. "You're the first Kalos Gym Leader I've challenged."
"What an honor," Valerie replied warmly. "But I won't be holding back."
Bai Chen shrugged indifferently.
"Then I hope you'll send out your strongest Pokémon. Otherwise, this battle will be dull. You may not even have room to resist."
A Gym Leader's strongest Pokémon typically ranged between Level 40 and 60.
Newer leaders often hovered around Level 40, while veterans—like Bea—could reach the upper end of that range.
above Gym Leaders were the Elite Four. Above them stood the Champion. And above even that… the World Champion.
Of course, most Gym Leaders adjusted their lineups according to the challenger's strength.
Bea, for example, had once sent out a Level 25 Machop for a beginner.
Valerie faced Bai Chen's provocation with a gentle smile.
As Gym Leaders, they often served as mentors to new Trainers. Rarely did they encounter someone who demanded their full power.
"Hehe… then I'll give it everything I have."
"Shall we begin?" Bai Chen asked.
Mami temporarily served as the referee and announced the rules:
"The Shalour City Gym Battle between Gym Leader Valerie and Challenger Bai Chen is about to begin."
"Each side may use two Pokémon. The battle ends when one side's Pokémon are all unable to continue. Only the challenger may substitute Pokémon. That concludes the rules."
After hearing this, Bai Chen spoke up loudly,
"Sorry, I have one question."
"Please go ahead."
"Are Z-Moves permitted?"
"There are no restrictions."
"Then I have no further questions. Let's begin."
Valerie took out a red-and-white Poké Ball.
"Then I'll go first."
She tossed it forward.
"Come forth—Sylveon!"
"Fii~!"
A pink-and-white Pokémon adorned with ribbon-like feelers appeared gracefully.
Bai Chen swept a glance across it.
Level 55.
Four Master-tier moves.
Valerie had indeed sent out her strongest Pokémon.
"Please release your Pokémon," she said.
Every eye in the arena turned toward Bai Chen.
They were eager to see what kind of Pokémon such a confident challenger would use.
Bai Chen reached to his waist and took out a Monster Ball.
Valerie noticed the unfamiliar pattern and thought to herself,
"I've never seen a Poké Ball like that before…"
Bai Chen tossed it into the air.
"I'll leave it to you."
Crackle—
The instant the Pokémon emerged, the surrounding screens flickered violently from electrical interference.
Clop. Clop.
Hoofbeats echoed across the arena.
The crowd stared in astonishment at the colt standing in the center.
Lightning danced across its body.
Crimson eyes.
A pale, ivory horn.
Pure-white mane flowing in arcs of electricity.
"What Pokémon is that…? It's magnificent!"
In an instant, everyone was captivated by Kirin's imposing presence.
It had been five days since Kirin awakened.
Under the careful guidance of Zinogre, its Lightning Horn had recovered to nearly two-thirds of its original form.
Though shorter than before, its fundamental functions had returned.
Bai Chen spoke clearly to Valerie.
"Miss Valerie, this is my Pokémon—Kirin. It is also a Fairy-type."
At the mention of Fairy-type, Valerie's eyes brightened with affection.
As a fashion designer who drew inspiration from Pokémon, she immediately became intrigued.
"Sir Bai Chen," she said earnestly, "after this challenge… may I design an outfit inspired by Kirin?"
"If you can defeat him," Bai Chen replied calmly, "then I'll agree."
"Then I'll have to give it my absolute best."
Valerie launched the first attack.
"Sylveon—use Swift!"
"Fii!"
Sylveon leapt into the air, scattering golden stars toward Kirin.
"Heavenly Thunder," Bai Chen ordered.
BOOM—
A bolt of lightning descended from nowhere, obliterating the stars midair.
"Phantom Thunder Charge."
Kirin surged forward, cloaked in lightning.
Its speed was terrifying—yet not completely unavoidable.
"Dodge!" Valerie shouted.
Sylveon leapt aside instinctively.
Kirin brushed past her.
Though the horn missed, the lightning discharge still struck Sylveon, electricity surging through her body.
The combo wasn't finished.
"Chain Phantom Thunder Charge."
Kirin pivoted effortlessly and charged again.
"Use Baby-Doll Eyes!" Valerie commanded.
Pink energy washed over Kirin, reducing its offensive power.
Even so—
Kirin slammed into Sylveon, lightning piercing straight through her.
"Fii—!"
Valerie's eyes widened.
"Even after being weakened… that much damage?!"
What Valerie didn't know was that Kirin's Phantom Thunder Charge—enhanced by Zinogre's techniques—had reached Rarity Level 8.
This was an Elder Dragon–tier killing move.
Not something an ordinary Pokémon could endure.
Gasps rippled through the audience.
"Unbelievable…"
"Even Valerie's ace is being pushed back!"
"Continuous Heavenly Thunder," Bai Chen ordered.
Storm clouds gathered over the arena ceiling.
Bolts as thick as barrels crashed down toward Sylveon.
"Light Screen!" Valerie shouted.
A translucent pink barrier formed overhead.
Lightning shattered it instantly.
Light Screen reduced the damage—but it wasn't Protect.
Sylveon dodged desperately, alternating between movement and defense, even firing off Swift during Kirin's attack gaps.
Effective—but insufficient.
Against Kirin's Elder Dragon bloodline, it was little more than chip damage.
A brutal war of attrition ensued.
Bai Chen issued only two direct commands.
The rest of the time, Kirin fought on instinct—rearing, kicking, thrusting with its Lightning Horn.
"Use Draining Kiss," Valerie ordered.
A heart-shaped beam struck Kirin.
Some of its stamina was siphoned away as Sylveon healed slightly.
Valerie's expression grew grim.
Ten minutes had passed.
Sylveon had maintained her condition through Draining Kiss.
But Kirin showed no healing abilities whatsoever.
It was relying solely on terrifying endurance.
And throughout the entire battle—
It had only revealed two active moves.
Relentless Heavenly Thunder.
And Phantom Thunder Charge.
Valerie frowned.
"Those moves are powerful, but they shouldn't be enough to defeat Sylveon. Where does his confidence come from? Is he planning to outlast her?"
Bai Chen looked up—his gaze piercing through the ceiling.
Valerie followed his eyes.
"He's looked up there three times now… but there's nothing there."
She decided not to drag this out any longer.
"Sylveon—use Last Resort!"
"Fii—!"
Seven-colored light erupted as Sylveon leapt forward.
All her power condensed into one strike.
Last Resort—a move only usable after every other move had been used.
In raw power, it rivaled even legendary attacks.
BOOM—
The impact sent Kirin skidding back over ten meters, dropping to one knee.
Pain flickered across its face.
"Did I win…?" Valerie thought tensely.
She looked at Bai Chen.
His face was hidden beneath the helmet, but his composure remained utterly calm.
Her confusion deepened.
"What is he waiting for? A Z-Move?"
"If you refuse to reveal your trump card," Valerie declared, "then this round belongs to me."
"Sylveon—use Last Resort again!"
CRACK—BOOM—
Before she finished speaking, thunder exploded outside the Gym.
The entire building shook violently.
All the lights went out at once.
Darkness swallowed the arena.
"What's happening?!"
"Is the Gym under attack?!"
Amid the chaos—
A single spark flared.
Then grew brighter.
Until it illuminated the entire battlefield.
Kirin's Lightning Horn glowed pale white.
"That is…?"
BOOM—
True heavenly thunder punched straight through the Gym ceiling.
Ears rang throughout the arena.
Valerie looked up.
A massive hole had been torn open.
Through it, they saw the sky.
A world-ending storm.
Thunder dragons roared within the clouds.
A single thought echoed in everyone's mind.
Natural disaster.
Valerie inhaled sharply.
"…That storm—did Kirin summon it?"
As if answering her—
"Heavenly Thunder," Bai Chen said calmly.
Kirin reared up and stomped the ground.
The storm responded.
Lightning tore the roof completely apart.
Wind howled into the arena.
"Enter Lightning Mantle."
The thickest bolt of all struck Kirin directly.
Pale lightning formed armor around its body.
Its horn crackled, ionizing the air until it glowed red.
Speed. Power. Storm authority.
All reached their peak.
Valerie swallowed.
"…Is that a Legendary Pokémon?"
"Phantom Thunder Charge," Bai Chen ordered.
"Light Screen! Reflect!" Valerie shouted frantically.
But it was too late.
Kirin vanished.
Reappeared.
Pierced straight through Sylveon.
Lightning flooded her body.
"Fii…"
She collapsed instantly.
"So fast…" Valerie whispered.
Fear crept into her heart as she stared at Kirin's towering form.
She recalled Sylveon.
"Thank you. You did well."
Her second Pokémon emerged.
"If speed is your strength, then I'll change the rules. Go, Aromatisse!"
"Aromatisse—use Trick Room!"
The space warped.
A grid-like cube enclosed the field.
But—
BOOM—
A bolt of lightning shattered it instantly.
The Trick Room collapsed like broken glass.
Valerie stared upward in disbelief.
"Trick Room… destroyed?!"
Of course it was.
Kirin was not merely a lightning summoner.
It was a storm sovereign.
Its domain overwrote lesser fields.
"Phantom Thunder Charge."
Strike.
"Heavenly Thunder."
Strike.
Aromatisse stood no chance.
"Miss Valerie," Bai Chen said, crossing his arms, "this ends now."
He activated his Z-Ring.
A yellow crystal flared.
"Lord of Lightning—bring down calamity."
"Gigavolt Havoc!"
All lightning converged upon Kirin's horn.
It reared up—
And stomped.
Energy ripped across the ground, carving a massive trench.
BOOM—
When the light faded—
A fifty-meter-wide crater lay where Aromatisse stood.
She fainted instantly.
Silence.
The arena was in ruins.
"…Referee," Bai Chen reminded calmly, "please announce the result."
Mami snapped out of it, raised her hand, and shouted:
"The challenge is over!
Winner—Knight Bai Chen!"
Bai Chen recalled Kirin.
He thought quietly:
Battling trained Pokémon really is different. Just two victories, and Kirin's experience bar jumped by one-fifth.
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