This weekend, the number of trainers coming to challenge the Sunlight Gym doubled.
Most of them were familiar faces that Aiden recognized.
The pass rate for these repeat customers had quietly risen to about 20%.
Some students who were close to passing might succeed next time.
Although the process of challenging the gym was indeed a bit torturous, during these three weeks of sleepless strategizing, many trainers quietly realized—
I seem to have become a bit stronger!
Compared to the improvement in Pokémon strength, changes in trainers' strategies might not be as obvious, but in battles, they could definitely feel their progress.
And this was naturally due to the assessment content of the Sunlight Gym.
"If you can't win in battle, look for your own problems, alright! How can others pass while you get crushed? It's because you didn't work hard enough!"
"If you put in two hundred times the effort, next year's One Piece set… no, next year's Victory Road, you'll be the main characters, alright!"
Although Aiden's words were a bit harsh on the ears, upon reflection, many students realized—
Teacher Azure wasn't lying; hard work really pays off!
Heaven rewards diligence. If studying can make me stronger…
F**k it, I'll study study study!
The teachers at Naranja Academy tried every trick in the book but couldn't make these students so diligent and studious. Yet, Aiden inadvertently accomplished this feat…
As a result, the reviews for the Sunlight Gym on the League App, which initially swamped with bad reviews, suddenly shifted to "Mixed Reviews."
Though compared to other gyms, which often had over 80% positive reviews, there was still quite a gap.
But for the Sunlight Gym, this was a qualitative leap.
And under the comments section of the Sunlight Gym page, those who passed the assessment left some "helpful tips":
[This week's gym assessment is Garganacl. Although it's a bit nasty, it's relatively easy to deal with.]
[Folks, the Covert Cloak works wonders against Garganacl! Strongly recommend every trainer challenging the Sunlight Gym to equip it on their Pokémon!]
Covert Cloak, a special battle item from the Paldea region.
Pokémon carrying this item can ignore most additional effects by concealing parts of their body.
Salt Cure is a high-attack rock-type move, and its added effect of causing Salt Cure status can also be mostly negated by the Covert Cloak.
Therefore, it was indeed suitable for challenging the Sunlight Gym.
...
"Well done, Okamoto."
"Bringing a Covert Cloak, it seems the level of recent challengers has gone up!"
After finishing another gym assessment, Aiden nodded approvingly.
Choosing the right item was an important part of battle, and those who thought of this deserved his recognition.
However—
"By the way, isn't today's number of people bringing Covert Cloaks a bit too high?"
To Aiden's question, it was Okamoto who was a bit confused.
"Teacher Azure, you don't know?"
Does Teacher Azure never check the comments under his gym page?
It was much more interesting than the video comment section; he browsed it every day when he had nothing to do.
But thinking about it carefully, it seemed reasonable!
With such a high rate of bad reviews for the Sunlight Gym, even I wouldn't want to look if I were the gym leader…
"Never mind, it doesn't matter."
Aiden shook his head, looking at Okamoto with a strange expression that made him shiver.
"Come to think of it, I remember Okamoto should also challenge next year's Victory Road, right?"
"Yeah! My goal this year is to pass the Elite Four assessment and become champion!"
After gaining Aiden's recognition, Okamoto felt incredibly powerful.
Unlike other regions, Paldea's Victory Road wasn't the final test requiring eight badges to enter but included all eight gyms in a complete process.
Any student entering Naranja Academy could continuously challenge for the champion title before graduation.
Okamoto, who obtained half the badges in the first year, did have the possibility of clearing the course this year.
Aha.
Aiden nodded, soon delivering a significant piece of news.
"Although it hasn't been announced yet, the league should release a notice soon."
"The Sunlight Gym, with me as the leader, will become one of the assessment gyms on the Victory Road next year."
"Understood."
Okamoto already knew about this, so he wasn't surprised.
But the next sentence instantly broke his defenses.
"Since we are becoming one of the eight gyms—"
"The current assessment intensity probably won't be enough."
"Starting next year, the Sunlight Gym will raise its requirements for trainers' abilities accordingly."
"To earn our Sunlight Gym badge early, keep working hard next year too, Okamoto~"
...
Okamoto didn't know how he walked out of the Sunlight Gym gates.
After hearing the information Aiden provided, his head felt like it had been struck by lightning, instantly becoming chaotic.
What does insufficient assessment intensity mean?
Teacher Azure's current lineup of Pokémon and tactics was already hellish enough. If it goes up another level…
He didn't dare imagine how desperate he would feel!
Moreover, the current challenge rules for the Sunlight Gym were fixed at 1v1. Facing a Pokémon whose moves were already known, there were still many ways to counter it.
But after becoming one of the eight gyms?
At least 3v3 would be required…
Not only would the cost of countering increase several times, but whether they could field enough depth in their lineup was also a problem.
Of course, there was a simpler method—
Who cares about all that? As long as my Pokémon are strong enough, just crush them directly!
But the problem was, could he do that?
Absolutely impossible. If he had that kind of strength, would he still be copying homework from the comment section…
No way, such terrifying news can't be known only by me!
Okamoto quickly snapped back to reality and immediately pulled out his phone to post a thread on the school's internal platform:
[Fam, insider info!
Next year, we'll continue to challenge the Sunlight Gym on the Victory Road!
And Leader Aiden said he will increase the difficulty…
Brothers, looks like we need to push harder next year…]
Once this post went up, the comments below erupted in wails.
[Damn! I just cleared the Sunlight Gym, why do I have to do it again!]
[It's already so difficult now; how will we manage with increased difficulty next year?]
[I'm deleting the good review I just posted, until I clear it next year!]
[Screw it, phased reviews. Give one star now and four stars later once I pass next year!]
Just like that, without Aiden knowing anything about it,
The Sunlight Gym's positive review rate plummeted again, quickly breaking the previous lowest record…
Upon learning this news, Aiden was stunned.
What did I do recently?
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