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"You didn't get lost again, did you————"
Raihan rode his Flygon up to Leon and Lucas, looking at Leon sitting on Charizard's back, and asked.
"Ahem———— This snowy mountain is just too big————"
Leon said sheepishly.
Raihan glanced around. "Speaking of which, aren't you supposed to be heading back to the League? Why did you come here? If I recall correctly, this is the opposite direction from the League, right?"
"Well———— It's a long story. I ran into the Legendary Birds on the way, and they were heading here, so I followed them to see what they were planning, and that's how I ended up here."
Hearing Leon's explanation, Raihan frowned. "What about the Legendary Birds?"
"Lucas took care of them."
Upon hearing Leon's words, Raihan glanced at Lucas, who was riding Latias and hovering in the distance.
The legendary Latias?
"Who is he?"
Raihan looked at Leon and asked.
Leon introduced Lucas. "He is a friend of Champion Cynthia from Sinnoh. He was entrusted with the task of dealing with the issue regarding the Legendary Birds this time."
"Is it the kind of 'taking care of' that I'm imagining?"
Leon nodded. "There's no need to worry about the Legendary Birds for a long time now. Lucas is a very powerful Trainer, you know."
Raihan looked at Lucas, who was flying over on Latias.
"Hello, I'm Raihan, the Gym Leader of Hammerlocke in Galar."
Raihan introduced himself to Lucas.
I know. Raihan of the Dragon Storm, the strongest Gym Leader in the Galar region, the Dragon-type Trainer legendary for his 10-0 win rate against Leon.
"Lucas, a Breeding House owner from the Sinnoh region."
Lucas introduced himself as well.
A Breeding House owner? A Breeder?
Raihan kept thinking to himself.
Lucas stared at the Raihan before him—the familiar outfit, the bandana-like hat, the jacket-like top, and the... shorts on the bottom...
Lucas really wanted to ask, "Aren't you cold————"
"Alright, let's head back to the Isle of Armor. It's a good chance to take Lucas around our Galar region. Lucas, you wouldn't mind visiting the Isle of Armor, would you? It's quite beautiful there."
Leon looked at Lucas and asked.
The Isle of Armor? The place where Mustard lives in seclusion?
An image of a little old man appeared in Lucas's mind, and he quickly said, "Really? I've always admired Mustard. Before I came here to handle the matter with the Legendary Birds, I promised Latias and the others that I would take them to tour the Galar region, and the Isle of Armor was one of the places I wanted to visit most."
Since I'm already in the Galar region, how could I not stop by the Isle of Armor? I just wonder if there's an entrance fee.
Leon laughed upon hearing this. "Then let's go."
With that, he rode Charizard and took the lead.
Lucas looked at their retreating figures, thought for a moment, and then looked at Raihan.
Raihan and Lucas made eye contact, and then he sighed.
This guy... he's going the wrong way again————
Five minutes later, Leon looked at his surroundings and became confused.
Where am I? Where are Lucas and Raihan?
After Raihan and Lucas found him and Charizard, Raihan told him to stick close, then rode his Flygon in a certain direction.
Arriving at a battle field, Lucas jumped off Latias's back and patted her head. "It's fine if you don't want to stay invisible. Nobody here knows us anyway."
Latias shook her head and then made herself transparent. Immediately after, Gengar jumped out of its Poké Ball.
"Gen gengar—"
I was suffocating.
Lucas pulled at the corners of its mouth.
Raihan looked at the Gengar that had jumped out of the Poké Ball. Such a powerful aura, especially the Dark energy—so dense.
Leon whispered two sentences into Raihan's ear, and Raihan's eyes widened instantly.
What did you say?! This Gengar knows Dark Void and Dark Pulse?!
Raihan looked at Leon, his gaze seemingly asking, "Are you sure this Gengar isn't a Zoroark or Darkrai?"
Leon shrugged with a smile.
"Let's go, Lucas. I'll take you to meet my teacher."
Leon said.
"Would it be an intrusion?"
Lucas asked.
Leon shook his head. "Teacher is quite hospitable."
Lucas followed Leon to a house, and a girl with yellow hair in a side ponytail ran over.
"Leon, Raihan, didn't you guys leave? Why are you back?"
"Sonia, I'm bringing a new friend to meet Teacher."
Leon said to the girl named Sonia.
"I thought you came back to find me."
Sonia pouted.
"Hello, my name is Sonia."
Sonia looked at Lucas and greeted him with a smile.
Lucas responded politely.
Leon's Childhood Sweetheart? Honestly, when the two of them stand together, I really feel like Leon is a generation older than Sonia. Especially since Leon has that stubble beard.
At this moment, Honey inside the house heard the commotion and walked out.
"Teacher's wife."
Honey saw Leon and immediately became furious. "Leon, hurry inside and discipline your master! He's playing video games in there again!"
After saying that, she saw Lucas behind Leon. "This is————"
Lucas introduced himself, and then a smile appeared on Honey's face. "So you're a guest from Sinnoh. Come on in."
After Lucas politely said thank you, he followed Leon into the house.
Lucas saw the legendary Trainer; the old man was lying on a pillow on the floor, holding a game console and playing a game.
"Teacher."
Leon called out.
Mustard sat up and looked at Leon. "Leon, why are you back again? Didn't you just leave? Don't tell me you got lost again?"
Zorua couldn't help but laugh twice.
Leon didn't mind; after a chuckle, he said, "Getting lost is true, but I met a new friend on the way. He wanted to pay you a visit, so I brought him over."
Mustard looked at Lucas beside Leon, squinting his eyes. "So this is the young friend, right? Come, come, don't be a stranger. Sit, sit, sit. Little Sonia, could you help us brew a pot of tea?"
At this moment, Honey walked in. "No need, I've already brewed it."
After saying that, she poured a cup of tea for everyone and sat down beside Mustard.
After Lucas expressed his thanks, he picked up the teacup and took a sip. The taste was alright.
But it's not as good as the tea from my own Breeding House.
Leon introduced the process of how he and Lucas met to everyone in detail.
Sonia's face was full of shock.
"So, Lucas, you've caught so many Legendary Pokémon?"
Lucas shook his head with a smile. As someone with social anxiety, he spoke eloquently at this moment.
"I haven't caught them. I just became friends with them."
"Friends?"
Sonia was a little confused.
Lucas, the social terrorist, nodded. "Actually, the Sinnoh region, just like the Galar region, has been troubled by the issue of the Legendary Birds for a long time. Later, by chance, I met the legendary Sea Guardian, Lugia, and we made an agreement that I would help it resolve the issue with the Legendary Birds."
"Does Lugia also hate the Legendary Birds?"
"Not exactly. Speaking of which, the Legendary Birds can be considered the underlings that Lugia subdued, but the Sinnoh region and the Galar region are too far apart. Every time they cause destruction, Lugia has to travel back and forth between the Sinnoh region and the Galar region to deal with them, but it's always all thunder and no rain."
Lucas explained carefully.
"Then how did you resolve it? I heard from Leon that we don't need to worry about the Legendary Birds causing trouble anymore."
Raihan asked.
Lucas talked about the competition between the Legendary Birds of the two regions that he organized.
"Then what if the Sinnoh region loses?"
"Then wouldn't that be a failure?"
Sonia asked.
As soon as Sonia finished speaking, Leon laughed, followed by Mustard and Raihan.
"? Isn't that right? What are you laughing at?"
Sonia looked confused.
"Lucas never said there would only be one competition. As the organizer, I believe he still has some tricks up his sleeve."
Hearing Leon's words, Sonia looked at Lucas, and Lucas nodded.
He thought for a moment and decided to say it. "If the Sinnoh region loses, I will have Latias enter the match."
"How mean."
Listening to Sonia's words, Lucas had black lines running down his forehead.
After chatting for a while, the tea in the pot was finished. Just as Honey was about to get up to brew more tea, Lucas said, "I have some tea leaves from my hometown here. Would you like to try them?"
Honey stopped her movement and looked at Mustard. Mustard was also curious about the tea leaves from Lucas's hometown, so he flicked his sleeves and nodded.
Looking at Mustard's suave movements, plus his two long white eyebrows drooping down, Lucas suddenly remembered a character.
Master Roshi!
As a Martial Arts Master , Mustard is skilled at using Fighting-type Pokémon, such as Urshifu, Mienfoo————
Lucas recalled Mustard's life story. It seemed that after his partner Urshifu passed away, he became disheartened. Coupled with the League demanding that he throw matches at the time, he got angry and bought an island to live in seclusion. He opened a Dojo on the island, taught Leon, met Honey, and they got married.
However, as the Galar Champion for over twenty consecutive terms, Mustard is undoubtedly a very powerful Trainer, and also a very formidable martial artist.
Just don't know if he can do a Kamehameha...
In his mind, an image emerged of Mustard, about to lose a battle, jumping onto the field himself, and under everyone's gaze, ripping off his clothes, placing his hands on his waist, and then...
Lucas hurriedly shook his head, interrupting his wild thoughts. He pressed his finger against his waist, and Gothitelle's Poké Ball appeared in his hand. Then, Gothitelle jumped out of the Poké Ball.
Lucas explained the situation to it. Gothitelle nodded with a smile, then took the tea leaves from Gengar and began to brew tea skillfully.
Mustard watched Gothitelle brewing tea. "Lucas, this Gothitelle of yours is incredible, truly incredible."
He could feel the psychic power compressed to the extreme coming from this Gothitelle.
"Right? It is very gentle."
Hearing Lucas's words, Gothitelle, who was brewing tea, looked up and gave him a sweet smile.
Such a good Gothitelle; it never undermines him in public. As for what it does at the Breeding House, it's nothing more than pulling radishes in the snow or hanging itself from the southeast branch.
"Such a gentle Gothitelle."
Sonia couldn't help but say, and then she discovered a big, chubby face appearing in front of her.
"Gen gengar" Am I cute?
Sonia was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Such a cute Gengar."
After saying that, she even reached out to pinch Gengar's cheeks.
"It feels so good~"
Gengar narrowed its eyes and giggled.
"Gothitelle." Please enjoy.
After brewing the tea, Gothitelle handed it to Lucas. Lucas poured a cup for everyone, and Gothitelle patted its Poké Ball and returned inside.
Mustard smelled the fragrant hot tea in the cup before him, feeling immensely satisfied.
Then, he picked up the teacup and took a sip.
"Mmm—"
"Lucas, your tea leaves are still the best." Mustard said.
Afterwards, he looked at Lucas. "Lucas, how about we make a trade?"
Lucas's face was full of confusion. ???
"How about I train your Pokémon, and in return, you sell me some tea leaves?"
Mustard looked at Lucas, full of anticipation.
Lucas hesitated for a moment, then said: "Mustard, I don't have much of these tea leaves left."
Lucas wasn't lying; the Breeding House didn't have much tea left. He had to wait until spring to try planting them at the Breeding House to see if it would work; otherwise, he would have to buy more from Eastern Splendor.
Mustard lowered his head, full of dejection.
"Alright."
Seeing Mustard acting like a child who hadn't bought their favorite toy, Lucas thought it over and said: "However, I can give you some. If I succeed in planting them at the Breeding House in the spring, I can send you some more."
Mustard was instantly revived. "That would be much appreciated."
Lucas had Gengar bring out some tea leaves and handed them to Mustard.
"Thanks, Lucas. If you encounter any opponent you can't beat, let me know, and I'll have Leon go over and teach them a lesson for you."
Lucas laughed.
Leon: ... I'm not a hired thug, hey.
"Lucas, do you also run a Breeding House?" Sonia caught the mention of the Breeding House in Lucas's words and asked.
Lucas nodded. "I opened a Breeding House between Twinleaf Town and Sandgem Town in Sinnoh."
"So you're both a Trainer and a Breeder?" Raihan asked.
"No, I'm not a Trainer, just an ordinary Breeder."
Hearing Lucas's answer, Raihan's mouth twitched. An ordinary Breeder, huh? And your Gengar knows how to use Dark Void and Dark Pulse, right?
Seeing that everyone had chatted enough, Leon clapped his hands to attract everyone's attention and said: "Lucas, let's have a battle."
Sonia: ?
Raihan: ??
Lucas: ???
Me? I'm going to battle Leon, the currently strongest man in Pokémon?!
"I can't wait to have a Gigantamax battle with Lucas." Leon said.
"I can battle you too." Raihan twisted the Dynamax Band on his wrist.
"Not you." Leon refused directly.
Raihan: ...
Mustard sat on the side. If it was Lucas from Eastern Splendor, he might really be able to make Leon use his full strength.
Mustard immediately tasted that Lucas's tea leaves were exclusive to the Eastern Splendor Alliance. As the mysterious Eastern Alliance, he had benefited greatly when he traveled through that region.
While they were talking to themselves, Lucas raised his hand weakly.
"Um—"
Everyone looked at Lucas. Lucas chuckled twice and then said: "Um, I don't know how to Dynamax, nor do I know how to Gigantamax..."
Leon seemed to have realized something and suddenly understood. "Oh, right. Lucas came from the Sinnoh region and doesn't know our Galar region's Gigantamax."
Lucas nodded repeatedly.
Dynamax is a special enhancement form exclusive to the Galar region. Near Galar's energy points, Pokémon can use a Dynamax Band to Dynamax.
By releasing special energy from within the Pokémon, they distort the surrounding space, making the Pokémon appear far larger than its actual size.
This increases the Pokémon's HP but does not affect its base stats, which is different from Mega Evolution. Moreover, according to Professor Magnolia's research, the Pokémon itself doesn't actually grow larger during Dynamax...
Gigantamax is a special type of Dynamax. Gigantamax Pokémon not only grow in size but also become extremely distinctive. Unlike Dynamax, after Gigantamaxing, besides an increase in HP, specific attribute moves change into G-Max moves, which is similar to Z-Moves. They also carry some additional effects, but only certain special Pokémon can achieve Gigantamax.
It's actually a pretty good enhancement system, it's just a pity that it can't be used outside of the Galar region.
After all, Eternatus only appears in the Galar region.
It seems that among all the regional Champions, except for Leon and the Alola Champion who hasn't officially taken the position, the rest of the Champions aren't very skilled at using Dynamax.
After all, everyone's command style and battle method are different, and Dynamax or Gigantamax means changing one's own battle style.
"What a pity." Leon said regretfully.
No, no, no, not a pity at all. Lucas kept saying in his heart.
Latias's voice rang in his mind. Lucas was stunned for a moment, then said: "If you don't mind, may I take a walk around the island?"
"Of course, please feel free." Mustard said with a smile.
"Then I shall take my leave." Lucas stood up. Gengar also said goodbye to Sonia and jumped into Lucas's shadow.
Honey saw Lucas out of the house. "Remember to come over for dinner; I can't let you give him tea leaves for nothing."
Lucas grinned. "Alright."
Then Ninetales and the others jumped out of their Poké Balls. Lucas patted Ninetales's head and took them for a stroll around the island.
Must say, the scenery of the Isle of Armor is indeed beautiful. Although Lucas didn't know why it wasn't snowing on the Isle of Armor in the middle of winter, the temperature was still on the lower side.
Fortunately, there was Ninetales. Lucas took them walking barefoot on the beach. As soon as the cold sea breeze approached Lucas, it was dispelled by Ninetales's Heat Wave.
Latias flew over the sea, constantly harassing the schools of fish, having a great time.
Lucas wandered aimlessly until he saw an old man ahead with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky.
Beside him was a Mienshao doing the same action.
"Mustard?" Lucas walked up. "Why are you here?"
Mustard looked at the Pokémon beside Lucas; each one was raised exceptionally well by Lucas, and the aura on each one was not weak.
"Lucas, having accepted your tea leaves, I cannot go back on my word. I can give you some guidance."
Just as Lucas wanted to decline, he heard Mustard continue: "You are very similar to an old friend of mine. When I was young and traveling in the Kanto region, I met her once. We became friends despite our age difference. Later, I returned to the Galar region, and she went to the Sinnoh region."
Could it be Great-Aunt?
"Later, I even made a special trip to the Sinnoh region to visit her. She also had a Ninetales by her side."
Lucas opened his eyes wide.
"She also opened a Breeding House, but it seems she didn't know how to manage it well. That Breeding House back then seemed to be opened in... what was it, Leaf Town or something."
Lucas: ... It really is Great-Aunt?!
"Lucas, you know who I'm talking about. So, let's battle. Just consider it an old man who, after seeing his old friend, couldn't help but offer some guidance."
Lucas laughed and then said softly: "Alright."