Two days later, Aoki finally left the forest.
The special training had been completed, and there was no need to push his Pokémon any further. Even the strongest Pokémon needed rest to perform at their peak.
Since leaving Petalburg City, Aoki had been training for over half a month, and the results spoke for themselves. His Pokémon had grown significantly stronger:
• Name: Boss Lairon
Strength: Quasi-Elite
Qualification: Elite
• Name: Combusken
Strength: Superior
Qualification: Elite
• Name: Frogadier
Strength: Superior
Qualification: Champion
• Name: Treecko
Strength: Advanced
Qualification: Elite
Although their ranks didn't seem to change drastically, their battle experience and techniques had improved significantly. Boss Lairon, in particular, was on the verge of breaking into the Elite level.
Combusken and Frogadier had both refined their combat instincts and were nearing the strength of Gym Leader-level Pokémon. Treecko, meanwhile, had been showing signs of imminent evolution.
As for Relicanth, Aoki wasn't prioritizing its growth just yet.
After leaving the forest, Aoki arrived at a nearby small town.
The Challenge of the "Strongest" Pelipper
"Hey, have you heard? There's a Gym nearby that boasts the strongest Pelipper!"
Aoki had just stepped out of the Pokémon Center when he overheard a few trainers discussing something interesting.
"Yeah! The Gym Leader, Anthony, apparently hides multiple Pokémon inside his Pelipper's beak during battle. That way, he can overwhelm opponents with unexpected numbers!"
Aoki smirked to himself. So that's the trick?
A so-called "strongest Pelipper" that relied on trickery rather than raw strength? That kind of arrogance needed to be put in check.
It had been a while since Boss Lairon had a real battle. Maybe this could be a good opportunity.
Instead of heading to the Poké Mart, Aoki changed his course and walked straight to the Gym.
Inside, a burly man stood blocking his way.
"Hey, kid, are you here to challenge my strongest Pelipper?" Anthony smirked, folding his arms. "Fine, but don't cry when you lose."
Kid? Aoki's eyebrow twitched.
At first, he thought using Boss Lairon might be overkill. But with how smug Anthony was acting, Aoki decided not to hold back.
"Yeah, I just have to see this 'strongest Pelipper' for myself," Aoki said, playing along.
Anthony grinned and puffed out his chest. "You've got guts! Alright, I'll grant you the honor of battling my Pelipper!"
A Pelipper flapped its wings and soared into the air, ready to fight.
Aoki activated his Pokédex's scanning function. Multiple data windows popped up instantly:
• Name: Pelipper
Strength: Advanced
• Name: Bellsprout
Strength: Intermediate
• Name: Magnemite
Strength: Intermediate
…And several others hidden inside Pelipper's beak.
Aoki sighed internally. So this is it? Not even a single Pokémon at the Superior level?
He had expected more. Anthony's bravado was clearly built on deception rather than real power.
Boss Lairon vs. Pelipper
"Since you're using Pelipper, let me introduce my own strongest Pokémon—Boss Lairon."
Aoki tossed a Luxury Ball into the air. A burst of light flashed, and Boss Lairon's massive steel body landed on the battlefield with a loud thud.
The ground trembled slightly under its weight.
"ROOOOARRR!"
Boss Lairon let out a deafening roar, exuding sheer dominance.
Pelipper, startled, flapped backward.
Anthony hesitated for a second but quickly regained his composure. "Hah! I'm not scared! My strongest Pelipper never loses! Use Water Gun!"
A stream of water shot from Pelipper's beak, heading straight for Boss Lairon.
Despite the type advantage, the attack lacked power. Boss Lairon didn't even flinch.
Instead, it tilted its head slightly, as if unimpressed, and let the Water Gun splash harmlessly against its armor. Then, with a slight shake, it brushed off the droplets.
Aoki smirked. "Boss Lairon, let's show them a real attack. Use Thunderbolt."
Electricity crackled as golden lightning surged around Boss Lairon's body.
"Wait, wha—?!" Anthony's eyes widened.
A split second later, an immense bolt of electricity shot forward, engulfing Pelipper completely.
"PEEEELIIIIIIIPPPP!!"
Pelipper let out a high-pitched screech as the attack coursed through its body.
BOOM!
When the light faded, Pelipper was lying on the ground, its wings twitching slightly. A trail of smoke rose from its singed feathers.
Instant knockout.
But that wasn't all.
With its beak forced open, Pelipper involuntarily spat out the Pokémon hidden inside—Bellsprout, Magnemite, and several others.
Each of them landed with a thud, already fainted from the sheer force of the Thunderbolt.
The Aftermath
"B-Bellsprout?! Pelipper?!"
Anthony ran over, eyes wide in disbelief.
Aoki crossed his arms. "Hiding Pokémon inside Pelipper during battles? That's a clear violation of League rules."
Anthony's face went pale.
Aoki casually lifted his Pokédex and tapped the screen. Click!
A photograph of the battle field—Pelipper fainted, along with the spilled-out Pokémon—was now saved in his device.
Anthony immediately dropped to his knees.
"I-I was wrong! Please don't report me! I won't do it again, I swear!"
Aoki smirked.
"Well… maybe I could let it slide," he said. "If you have something valuable to trade."
Anthony looked confused. "L-Like what?"
Aoki held up an Evolutionary Stone.
"I'm particularly interested in rare stones. If you happen to have a Mega Stone, that would be… convenient."
Anthony gulped. He had hoped Aoki wouldn't bring that up.
"I… I'll check," he stammered.
"Good. But first, go heal your Pokémon."
Aoki turned away, recalling Boss Lairon back into its Luxury Ball.
The battle had been almost too easy. But if it meant securing a rare item, he wasn't complaining.
"Come on, let's grab some food," Aoki said, glancing at Combusken and Treecko. "We've got time before Anthony brings me something useful."