Each of the challengers could not stop praising Theo, and some even jokingly suggested that he should "stay permanently at the gym."
The trainers' enthusiasm toward Theo made Flannery so angry that she practically jumped in place. Several times, she marched over with her hands on her hips to argue with him:
"How can you be a Gym Leader like this? They lost, and you still give them a badge? This is nonsense!"
Theo would always respond with a cheerful smile,
"I am the Gym Leader right now, so my standards are different from yours. Gym battles are not necessarily about deciding victory or defeat. Besides, I am not handing them out blindly. Those trainers clearly showed good tactical command, and their Pokémon were raised quite well. I think giving them badges is completely reasonable."
"I do not care!"
Flannery puffed up her neck and stood with her hands on her hips.
"Anyway, without my permission, you are not allowed to hand out badges recklessly!"
But Theo was not about to indulge her.
Whenever they had Pokémon battles, he was no longer as gentle as he was with challengers.
Milotic and Tyrantrum would take turns battling, thoroughly overwhelming Flannery and leaving her so angry that her face turned red.
She would run to her grandfather to complain, but Mr. Moore would always watch their playful quarrels with a smile, smoothing things over with a conciliatory tone:
"Everyone has their own way of doing things. Besides, I think Theo's reasoning makes sense. And right now, he is the 'Lavaridge Gym Leader.'"
Seeing her grandfather clearly siding with an outsider, then looking at Theo's smug expression, Flannery clenched her fists in frustration.
But every time she tried to take action, Metang would use its psychic abilitiy to lift her into the air, leaving her completely at Theo's mercy as he teased her.
As for Pokémon battles, her team was completely suppressed by Milotic or Tyrantrum with ease.
In the end, she could only glare at Theo resentfully before obediently admitting defeat, while muttering under her breath,
"Just wait until I train more and they evolve. I will win it back sooner or later."
During these seven days, whenever Larvesta acted as the Gym Leader in battles, Theo would start a livestream.
"Whoa! This learning speed is insane! My Ponyta took half a month just to learn Flamethrower!"
"How does the streamer train like this? Is there some shortcut? Please teach us! I am willing to donate!"
"Stop dreaming. This must be Elder Moore's exclusive training method. It is the core secret of the Lavaridge Gym. Unless you become an apprentice there, how could it be casually shared?"
The chat scrolled at incredible speed, and the popularity value on Theo's system panel skyrocketed like a rocket.
Looking at the constantly rising numbers, Theo felt immense joy. This trip to Lavaridge Town had truly been immensely profitable.
On the evening of the seventh day, the afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the gaps between the leaves, casting a warm golden layer over the training area.
Watching Larvesta use its moves, Moore smiled and said,
"That should be enough. It has already mastered these three moves very solidly. The rest is just practicing in real battles to improve its proficiency."
Theo nodded, bent down, and gently patted Larvesta before turning to Elder Moore and Flannery with a serious expression.
"Teacher Moore, Sister Flannery, thank you very much for these seven days. Not only did you teach Larvesta so many moves, but you also took such good care of it."
Flannery turned her head away and muttered softly,
"There is no need to thank us. Just hurry up and give the Gym Leader position back to me."
Mr. Moore waved his hand casually.
"No need to be so polite. By the way, Theo, are you leaving tomorrow?"
"Yes, I will leave early tomorrow morning. Next, I am heading to Fallarbor Town to participate in the Contest there. Considering the travel time, it is about time I set off."
Theo nodded as he replied.
"Oh? A Contest?"
Moore paused for a moment, then laughed.
"I almost forgot about that. I thought you were going to challenge the Petalburg Gym. Come to think of it, I have not seen Norman in quite a while. When you meet him, remember to send my regards."
Moore paused, then lowered his voice as he added,
"And make sure to stick around him a bit more. He is very skilled in Pokémon training. After you finish the gym challenge, have Tyrantrum and Metang stay close to his Slaking and learn a few things. After all, your Tyrantrum has a thick skin, and Norman's Slaking is practically unmatched in close combat. Do not miss this opportunity."
Theo blinked at Mr. Moore and smiled as he agreed,
"Do not worry, I definitely will."
Flannery looked at the old man and the young man, both acting so out of character, and simply turned her head away.
"Be careful on the road."
Moore patted Theo's shoulder.
"Take good care of Larvesta. When it evolves, make sure to record it and send it to me."
"I definitely will!"
Early the next morning, while the sky was still faintly lit,
The streets of Lavaridge Town still carried a trace of the coolness of dawn as Theo finished packing his belongings and brought his Pokémon to the entrance of the Lavaridge Gym to bid farewell to Mr. Moore and Flannery.
"Teacher Moore, Sister Flannery, we will be heading off now."
Theo waved at them with a sincere smile.
"When Larvesta evolves, I will inform you immediately."
Moore nodded and patted his shoulder.
"Stay safe on the road."
As he spoke, he glanced at the lively Larvesta beside him, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"Little one, work hard. I am looking forward to seeing you become a Volcarona."
After hearing Moore's words, Larvesta ran over and rubbed itself against his leg, making Moore burst into hearty laughter.
Flannery stood nearby, still wearing her slightly tsundere expression, but her eyes were much softer than before.
She took out a small cloth bundle from her pocket and stuffed it into Theo's hands.
"This… is for you.
I made some snacks. Larvesta can eat them on the road."
Tyrantrum stepped forward and nudged Flannery's arm with its head as a form of farewell.
Having been fed so many delicious things by her over the past few days, it had long since placed her on its list of "friendly humans."
Theo accepted the bundle, feeling its warmth, clearly freshly made.
He smiled and nodded.
"Thank you."
After a simple farewell, Theo turned around with Milotic, Tyrantrum, Metang, and Larvesta, setting off on the road toward Fallarbor Town.
Behind them, Moore and Flannery stood there, watching their figures disappear around the corner before slowly returning to the gym.
The journey from Lavaridge Town to Fallarbor Town was not particularly short.
They needed to detour along the base of Mt. Chimney, cross through a dense forest of hills, and finally pass through the Steel Canyon before reaching their destination.
Leaving Lavaridge Town and walking along the path at the foot of Mt. Chimney, the air still carried a faint smell of sulfur.
In the distance, the volcanic crater occasionally released wisps of white smoke, appearing especially hazy in the morning light.
Tyrantrum walked excitedly at the front.
Its massive body would occasionally bump into rocks by the roadside, producing dull thudding sounds that startled nearby Shroomish and other wild Pokémon hiding in the grass.
On its back, Larvesta was extremely excited, its five horn like appendages raised high.
It continuously let out cheerful cries, clearly enjoying the bumpy ride from riding on Tyrantrum.
Meanwhile, Milotic had already returned to its Dive Ball to rest, while Metang floated beside Theo, vigilantly observing their surroundings.
(End of Chapter)