On a street in the Sinnoh League, Lusamine's son expressionlessly wrapped a bandage around his right hand.
Beside him stood a very strange-looking Pokémon.
That Pokémon had four beast-like legs of differing shapes, and a tail like a fish.
It wore a mask on its head, making its true face impossible to see.
It was the Pokémon the Aether Foundation specially created in Aether Paradise to control the Ultra Beasts.
Attribute: Null.
Like Gladion, this Attribute: Null also bore wounds; even the mask on its head had some cracks.
By his side, the butler looked at his young master helplessly.
"Master, the Chairman said sending you over was only to show goodwill, not to have you challenge the Elite Four here. If the Chairman knew what's going on here, she would be angry."
["Angry?",] Gladion glanced at the butler, ["You're coveting Sinnoh's god Palkia, won't the Sinnoh Elite Four and Champion be angry about that?"]
Hearing this, the butler's pupils contracted.
"Y-you… who told you that?"
["You can ignore me if you want, but do you take me for a fool? Not necessary!"]
Gladion finished speaking, swung up onto the Attribute: Null, and raced toward the other end of the street.
"You… you're already injured, are you still going?", the butler asked.
["What else?",] Gladion's tone was resolute, ["Since you want to release all the Ultra Beasts, I want to master a power that can beat the Ultra Beasts!"]
Watching Gladion's departing figure, the butler sighed helplessly.
In today's battles, Gladion had performed quite well; he had drawn with Lucian and Flint, two of the Sinnoh Elite Four.
But Gladion was naive, could a man in his forties really still be naive?
Anyone could see that Lucian and Flint had held back; only the hot-tempered Alder had used something close to his true level.
In truth, Gladion was only at an ordinary gym leader's level.
At that level, surely he'd be broken by the temperamental Flint?
The butler beckoned to his subordinates, "Book the best room at the hospital. I'll hurry back to King Lucian and ask him to put in a good word with Flint…"
———
"Everyone full?", Axel scanned the Pokémon in the yard one by one. After confirming they'd all eaten enough, he packed most of the cookware back into his bag.
"Roar~", Gible gave a soft roar, looking at Axel weakly, his little eyes full of conflict.
Not full, but doesn't dare to say.
Seeing him want more but be too shy to ask, Axel grinned.
"I know you're not full. I made you some snacks."
"But snacks shouldn't be overdone, three boxes a day, that's it, okay?"
"Roar! Roar! Roar!", The little shark looked up at Axel; drool flowed as if free.
Axel: "..."
Yep, he hadn't heard a word.
"Archaludon!", Axel called to the General in the distance, handing the little shark's snacks to Archaludon.
"These snacks, three boxes a day. Not more, not less. Take good care of the little Gible; when he grows up, have him serve as your lieutenant."
"ROAR!", Archaludon nodded vigorously, eyes shining.
His previous lieutenants had all been too disobedient.
Gyarados was vicious all the time; every morning at six he had to be rousted to beat Gyarados, otherwise Gyarados would make it impossible for anyone to sleep.
Dragonair had been a terror before evolving; he often pinned Archaludon to the ground and rubbed him.
Even after evolving into Archaludon, Dragonair had never listened.
Seeing Eternatus being raised so obediently by Ho-Oh, Archaludon had long wished to raise a Pokémon from youth.
"Then it's up to you, take him and play."
"Roar!", Archaludon nodded hard and took the little Gible off to play.
After finishing a box of cookies, Gible patted his round belly and regained his energy.
"Roar!", He poked Archaludon's foot and gave a soft roar.
'General, can I go play in that pool?'
Archaludon nodded decisively, what couldn't be played with?
If it had been Cynthia's house, he might hesitate, the mistress would scold if things got messy.
'But Flint's house?'
'Do whatever, bro!'
To make the Gible willingly become his little follower in the future, Archaludon looked around the yard. Seeing Pheromosa, Gardevoir, and Dragonair were not around, he thumped his chest.
["Consider this your home; play however you want. If something happens, I've got your back."]
"Roar!", Gible looked up at Archaludon with admiration.
'No wonder the master calls you General, the General is invincible!'
Archaludon grinned.
'Compared to Dragonair and Gyarados, these are the cute juniors~'
Just as Archaludon wanted to further show off and cement his invincible image in Gible's heart, a massive rock suddenly fell from the sky and slammed hard onto the General's head.
Archaludon froze, and before he could see who'd thrown it, a spirited teenage voice rang from outside.
"Aether Foundation's Gladion, here to challenge Flint, the Elite Four!"
Archaludon: (σ｀д′)σ
'You challenge Flint, why hit me?'
'Don't you know I'm building a great image for my junior here!'
Axel and Cynthia stifled their laughter, watching Archaludon's failed posturing.
"Axel, your Pokémon are so interesting, how is each one so funny?", Cynthia pinched Axel's arm hard, afraid she would laugh out loud.
Axel felt helpless. He'd already learned from Lucian that Gladion was coming; he hadn't expected the guy to be so combative and immediately attack.
Well then, teach this arrogant youth a lesson.
"Fine, if he wants to fight, let him fight."
"ROAR!"
With Axel's consent, Archaludon let out a resonant roar.
No matter who the challenger is, Archaludon would pin them to the ground today.
'Gible, wait obediently and worship me!'
The gate opened; Gladion's mouth curved upward.
In a single day he had fought three Elite Four members.
Aside from Alder, the others weren't that strong.
Today he'd see how powerful the notoriously hot-tempered Flint actually was.
Under Gladion's command, Attribute: Null began to gather water power in advance.
As soon as the battle started, they could create rain to weaken Flint's strength.
But the next moment, a metallic sheen appeared at the gate, and Gladion froze.
"Isn't this Flint's residence? Why is there a Archaludon here?"
The little Gible at Archaludon's feet blinked and looked up.
["General, he seems to look down on you!"]
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