Looking at the adorable little Dratini in front of him, Aiden Flint couldn't help smiling. These Champions really knew how to handle relationships—no wonder they could sit on such lofty thrones.
If Aiden thought about it carefully, it was actually because he had let himself lose a battle first that people like Steven, Wallace, and now Lance didn't feel as if they'd been utterly crushed by him. Only then would they maintain the dignity of veterans and still be willing to give him something valuable in return. Otherwise, if he simply used Rayquaza to bulldoze everyone, not only would he get no gifts, he'd probably earn nothing but resentment.
After greeting Dratini for a while, Aiden switched it into a Luxury Ball, then continued his journey toward Mossdeep City.
Mossdeep Gym was one of Hoenn's most unique gyms—it was a double battle gym, run by the twin leaders Tate and Liza, both of whom specialized in Psychic-type Pokémon. Aiden had already seen them earlier during the Kyogre incident.
But now that Aiden had openly revealed Rayquaza, none of the remaining Gym Leaders would be as shocked as before.
Soon, Mossdeep City came into view.
Aiden headed straight to the Pokémon Center and handed over his team for recovery. When the Nurse Joy saw his name, she immediately took out a special VIP card.
"So you're Aiden Flint—the hero who saved Hoenn, and Joy Sakura's boyfriend?" she said with a smile.
Aiden froze. "Uh… yeah, I guess?"
It turned out this Nurse Joy was Sakura's cousin, so she knew everything. Combined with Wallace's broadcast earlier, Aiden's name had already spread across Hoenn.
He had barely finished speaking when a crowd suddenly rushed into the Pokémon Center.
"It's Aiden Flint!"
"The Hero of Hoenn is here!"
"Aiden, I love you!"
"My daughter is very beautiful, how about you consider her—"
Aiden's eyelids twitched. For a man who could wrestle Legendary Pokémon with psychic power, being swarmed by civilians was somehow even more terrifying.
Before he could escape, the front door swung open again.
A familiar boy in a cap walked in, Pikachu on his shoulder.
"Ash!"
Aiden immediately sent his voice straight into Ash's mind with telepathy.
"Help me!"
Ash's eyes widened. "It's Aiden! He's in trouble!"
Ash, Brock, May, and Max all rushed over, forcibly creating a path through the crowd and pulling Aiden out.
Aiden finally took a breath. "I'm saved…"
May covered her mouth, laughing. "So this is what happens when you become a hero of Hoenn."
Aiden sighed. "I'm just too popular."
They all laughed.
Ash's eyes immediately lit up. "Aiden! Battle me! This time I won't lose!"
Aiden grinned. "Sure—but let me clear Mossdeep Gym first."
Ash pumped his fist, declaring he'd race Aiden for the badge, and the group headed straight for Mossdeep Gym together.
Inside the gym, Aiden finally met the twin leaders again.
"I'm here to challenge the gym," he said.
Liza's eyes sparkled. "You're the Rayquaza Trainer!"
Tate nodded seriously. "Mossdeep Gym uses double battles. You'll need to send out two Pokémon at a time."
"No problem," Aiden replied. "I've never tried doubles before, but it sounds fun."
The referee raised his flag. "The Mossdeep Gym battle between challenger Aiden Flint and Gym Leaders Tate and Liza will now begin. Each Gym Leader will use two Pokémon. The challenger may use four."
Tate and Liza released their Pokémon at the same time.
Two floating celestial Pokémon appeared—Solrock and Lunatone.
"Solrock!"
"Lunatone!"
Aiden's system scanned them instantly.
Solrock and Lunatone, both level 45, Psychic/Rock types, hovering in midair, their eyes glowing with cosmic power.
Aiden smiled slightly.
A double battle, huh?
This was going to be interesting.
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