Not Being a Trainer This Time

[Wing King: I once heard Calyrex talk about this. In the past, there was a Pokemon that, in order to provide Helping Hand, shared the metal from its own body to help Zacian and Zamazenta forge the sword and shield. As far as I know, there’s only one Pokemon in the world that can produce that kind of metal, and that’s the Mythical Pokemon, Melmetal.]

[Sonia: Melmetal? This is actually the first time I’ve heard that name. Got it, thank you very much, Mr. Naoki. I’ll go continue investigating Melmetal next.]

Reading Sonia’s reply, Naoki couldn’t help recalling the faint regret and nostalgia that had surfaced when Calyrex told the story of Melmetal back then.

Without a doubt, for the Galar Region, Melmetal is also one of the heroes in legend that saved Galar.

Thinking of this, Naoki sent another reply.

[Wing King: There’s something I’d like to ask you to help me with.]

[Sonia: What is it?]

[Wing King: If one day your investigation turns up information on Melmetal and you learn where it is, please be sure to tell me. Calyrex wants to meet it.]

[Sonia: Okay, I will!]

*

The next day, Levincia Gym’s day off ended, and Naoki went back to his daily routine of heading to the Gym for work.

At Levincia Gym, Naoki sat in his office, looking at the list of challengers Anya had handed him.

[Name: Cross, Hometown: Kalos Region, Number of Gym Badges collected: 0, Record: Top 32 in the Kalos League Conference.]

[Name: Ariel, Hometown: Unova Region, Number of Gym Badges collected: 0, Record: Top 10 in the Unova Conference.]

[Name: Luo’Er, Hometown: Hoenn Region, Number of Gym Badges collected: 0, Record: Top 8 in the Verdanturf Conference, Glamorous Contest Champion.]

[…]

After reading one whole page, Naoki couldn’t help widening his eyes.

“Why are there so many people challenging today?”

Anya said hesitantly, “Because of you, Levincia Gym has been really popular online lately. A lot of people from other regions are saying they want to come here to challenge you…”

Naoki: “…”

He finally got it. These people weren’t here to collect Gym Badges to enter the Paldea tournament—they came specifically to harass him, Zapdos, and Jirachi!

“And there are quite a few influencers here just to ride the hype… They’re all gathered around Levincia City’s Central Square right now, hoping to get views and traffic by filming Legendary Pokemon.” Anna added.

Naoki: “…”

These punks were too much. Every last one of them was here to increase his workload!

It’s hardened—his fists have hardened.

“Should we start taking on challengers now?” Anya couldn’t help asking.

“Let’s start!”

For Trainers whose goal wasn’t collecting Gym Badges but purely increasing his workload, Naoki felt there was no need to go easy on them on purpose.

Perfect timing to use this chance to deepen his bond with Lei Gong, Naoki thought.

“Okay, I’ll go arrange it for you right away.” Anya turned and left.

Naoki also brought a few Pokemon and headed to the Central Square in the middle of the city.

All around the square it was already a sea of people. As soon as they saw Naoki arrive, a wave of shouting erupted from the dense crowd.

A few influencers holding Rotom Phones trained their cameras downward, shouting into their mics:

“Guys, look, that’s the Gym Leader who owns the Legendary Pokemon Thunder God Zapdos! Wonder if we’ll get to see Zapdos take the field today? Let’s all wait and see together!”

Just then, a figure slowly walked out from the challenger’s tunnel on the opposite side of the Central Square.

That was today’s first challenger, Cross from the Kalos Region.

Right now Cross’s face was full of excitement—she was about to have a tense and thrilling Pokemon battle against a Legendary Pokemon!

The referee standing in the center of the field glanced at the two of them, then announced:

“Welcome, challenger, to Levincia Gym. The rules for this Gym battle are 1v1; each person may only use one Pokemon. The battle will continue until either side’s Pokemon is no longer able to fight, at which point the match will end!”

The spectators were all visibly hyped. The battle was about to start, and no one knew which Pokemon Naoki would send out today.

Would it be the Thunder God Zapdos, able to ride lightning and freely command thunderclouds?

Or the Mythical Pokemon Jirachi, whose appearance and strength don’t match at all, yet can leave opponents utterly beaten with a single Doom Desire?

Or maybe the rumored special-form Pawmot that presides over the Thunder Trial?

Just imagining that they were about to watch Naoki completely demolish a challenger had the crowd so excited their whole bodies were trembling.

“Oh oh! Naoki! Naoki!”

“Go! Send out Zapdos and blow her up!”

“I wanna see Jirachi, Jirachi is so cute! Let Jirachi appear one more time!”

At that moment, under the gaze of the huge onlooking crowd and all the viewers in the livestream, Naoki, standing at one end of the battlefield, finally moved.

He took what looked like an ordinary Poke Ball from his waist, then tossed it up into the air.

Everyone’s eyes followed it closely.

With a flash of white light, a Pokemon landed on the battlefield.

It was a mysterious Pokemon shaped like a tiger, with a stern expression and a coat of gleaming, oily and slippery golden fur.

Its eyes were blood-red, and its golden fur was streaked with jet-black, lightning-shaped markings. Powerful limbs, razor-sharp fangs—every detail loudly proclaimed to the world how extraordinary this Pokemon was.