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Initially, the surrounding students strongly thought Teacher Azure had changed his ways.
Perhaps because two months had passed and many rookies were still stuck in the "tutorial village," Teacher Azure was deliberately going easy on them—letting them experience the wider world outside.
Influenced by the first challenger directly receiving Aiden's high praise and earning the gym badge, other students quickly became excited like they'd been injected with stimulants, eagerly waiting for their chance to challenge Teacher Azure.
Breaking through Sunshine Gym—today's the day!
However...
Reality proved they'd probably overthought it.
Because soon students discovered it was all a trap!
Teacher Azure seemed to have deliberately lured them in to slaughter!
The first challenger's team was clearly well-prepared—perfectly countering Sunshine Gym's Sandstorm team this week.
So him earning Teacher Azure's recognition felt normal to students.
But most rookies couldn't replicate the Tauros+Meowscarada combo—they simply couldn't copy his strategy one-to-one.
Especially without Meowscarada's Flower Trick, Sandaconda' truly annoying aspects quickly broke students' spirits.
"Bro, is Teacher Azure treating us like aliens? Sand Veil Sandaconda? Really???"
"Minimize + Sand Veil—I can't even see where this Sandaconda shrinks to even with glasses on. How am I supposed to use Body Slam to hit it by luck when I don't even know roughly where it is..."
"Besides Flower Trick, are there any other moves that can find the opponent's position? This is outrageous—don't rookies who didn't choose grass cats have human rights too!"
"And that Hippowdon too—is Sandstorm really such an unorthodox team, or is it actually Teacher Azure's problem..."
After Monday ended, Naranja Academy forum threads discussing Sunshine Gym's new tactics flooded the boards, resonating with many students.
After all, before this, their imagined Sandstorm team differed greatly from what Aiden actually showed.
Led by powerful Pokémon like Tyranitar and Garchomp, plus Excadrill's terrifying speed and suppressive power with Sand Rush, Sandstorm teams should have been overwhelmingly strong.
Thus, no need for underhanded tactics—just win honestly with raw power.
Now it seemed Aiden had probably held back when streaming "Pokémon Champion" before, not showing his "true level."
Tactics like Sand Veil Minimize Sandaconda—games could use weight-class moves that always hit and deal terrifying damage, but reality was completely different...
For example, the most common Body Slam—even with its wide attack range, couldn't cover the opponent's entire half-field.
Therefore, under sandstorm's visual cover, many students didn't even know where Sandaconda was—let alone command Pokémon to counterattack.
And even if they could solve the Sandaconda problem with "lock-on" moves like Flower Trick or Aura Sphere, another strict instructor awaited them—
Approaching you now is sandstorm's most unorthodox existence, opening weather then Yawning, setting Spikes then Whirlwinding, occasionally Slacking Off—students' nightmare, the sighing wall of Sandstorm teams: Hippowdon!
When Aiden's Hippowdon finally went all out, students suddenly realized.
So this was why Teacher Azure chose Hippowdon as weather setter instead of Tyranitar...
Rather than stat crushing, Teacher Azure clearly preferred psychological torture.
It wasn't that they couldn't beat it—actually there were many solutions like Taunt or Encore for control.
But upon first meeting, students still felt Teacher Azure's full malice.
Regarding this, a highly upvoted comment on Naranja Academy forum stated:
"Though compared to despairingly powerful crushing by stats, Teacher Azure's seemingly evenly matched battles where every match has a chance to win are clearly more suitable for rookies, but..."
"The price is—you must endure this frustration until victory, turning it into motivation to advance!"
"Though this might also be Teacher Azure's good intentions, I still want to say—"
"This isn't just ordinary unorthodoxy—it absolutely deserves a bad review!"
...
Clearly, this Sandstorm team tactic from Sunshine Gym had also given Team Star's "Strategy Group" headaches.
By Tuesday, students without standard solutions from their "external brains" decided to temporarily pause. The number of students challenging this week's new tactic noticeably declined.
As for the "true fans" still challenging the gym, most chose to pick soft targets first—testing their skills before proceeding.
Thus, they unanimously turned their gaze to Mewtwo.
I can't beat Teacher Azure—I accept that. But you're just a Pokémon pretending to be a trainer, merely a gym apprentice—as if I can't beat you too!
Students had witnessed Mewtwo's performance in the previous two weeks' practical assessments.
Though admittedly this Pokémon called Mewtwo was smart, adapting to the trainer role in short time—this still wasn't enough.
After all... after being tempered by Sunshine Gym, Paldea's new generation's overall level had completely transformed compared to before.
After leaving Sunshine Gym, they discovered the outside world truly was sunny—it wasn't raining at all!
The combined "unorthodoxy" of other gyms still couldn't match even one tactic casually pulled out by Teacher Azure...
Thus, grateful students naturally needed proper "repayment"~
So Mewtwo, this gym apprentice, became their primary target to repay Teacher Azure.
What we learned from Teacher Azure—we must return a hundredfold to you!
Thus, students who had been lining up to challenge Teacher Azure now formed long queues to challenge Mewtwo one by one.
Aiden naturally welcomed this.
Serving as referee, he sat leisurely on the lawn, watching Mewtwo and challengers fiercely battle with a gratified smile.
These students seemed unaware of one thing: big data.
While enjoying completely different gym experiences against him, Mewtwo was also consciously learning their battle styles, experimenting in subsequent challenges, gradually forming its own understanding.
And the material they fed Mewtwo during its rookie phase was somewhat... unorthodox?
Therefore, with Mewtwo's trainer skills improving, it had long left the rookie phase—no longer the greenhorn who got one-sided when Pokémon strengths were equal.
Even Aiden couldn't help but smile in relief.
"Ninetales, Will-O-Wisp!"
"Ninetales, Encore!"
"Come back, Ninetales."
"Tangrowth, use Sleep Powder!"
Mewtwo's consecutive decisive commands quickly shattered the opponent's mental defenses—leaving them tearful.
What is this nonsense!
Just days ago, this gym apprentice named Mewtwo was still a newbie. Even with talent, it couldn't have learned to be unorthodox this quickly from Teacher Azure, right?
Teacher Azure's Sandstorm team not focusing on offense was one thing—at least Sandstorm had many ways to wear down opponents.
But why are you playing a Sun team so dirty too!
What's with Ninetales starting with Will-O-Wisp then Encore locking boosts—is this something you should have learned?!
And that Tangrowth was even worse...
Taking the first move with Chlorophyll, it threw all sorts of powder moves like they were free.
Teacher Azure's reminder to buy Go-Goggles—wasn't he actually hinting at his tactics too?
Thus, with its rapidly advancing "Azure-style" tactical understanding, Mewtwo not only consecutively defeated several challengers, washing away previous humiliations of being one-sided by students.
Simultaneously, its increasingly 'perverted' tactical style made more students hesitant.
What a joke!
You're almost as unorthodox as Teacher Azure—who would dare battle you!
"Uh... I just remembered I haven't woken up my roommate today—I need to return to Mesagoza first!"
"Weather forecast says heavy snow today—I'm going back to prepare for the New Year!"
Students who had been lining up to challenge Mewtwo quickly scattered like birds and beasts, leaving the lively Sunshine Gym suddenly quiet.
"Why did they all leave?"
Originally standing on one side of the battlefield waiting for the next challenger, Mewtwo instinctively tilted its head, approaching Aiden to ask.
"Nothing... probably feel their level isn't sufficient yet. They need more practice before battling you."
Aiden shook his head, smiling at Mewtwo.
"You fought well—your progress is obvious. Among Naranja Academy's many excellent rookie trainers, you should rank quite high."
Truly, Mewtwo's learning ability was indeed strong.
Though what it learned might be slightly crooked, but...
As a trainer, any tactic that commands Pokémon to victory is a good tactic! From initially being shocked by Mewtwo's tactical style to now gradually accepting this change, Aiden quickly adapted.
After all, there were only so many trainers for Mewtwo to practice against—all using either unorthodox tactics learned from him or self-created dirty strategies against Mewtwo. Ultimately, it naturally became an extremely unorthodox Mewtwo through this "nurturing" process, right?
A bit dirty, but tell me—isn't it effective!?
When Mewtwo becomes self-sufficient, after encountering other more excellent, mature strategic trainers, those normal ordinary tactics should naturally be understood and mastered.
Should... be, right?
"By the way, how did you think of using Chlorophyll Tangrowth with Sleep Powder?"
Aiden suddenly turned his head to ask.
He hadn't seen any challenger use this move before, nor had he taught it this—was it really self-taught?
When asked this, Mewtwo instinctively lowered its head in thought for a moment before turning to look at him again.
"..."
Aiden was momentarily speechless.
Though not directly stated, the meaning was clear.
Could it really be my problem???
...
With students gone, Aiden—who rarely had leisure on weekdays—decided to rest early today.
However, just as he prepared to return to the gym to watch movies with Sylveon, two unexpected visitors suddenly appeared.
"Yo, long time no see, little Aiden~"
Hearing the somewhat familiar female voice, Aiden quickly turned around.
Slim figure, signature yellow suit with black suspenders, a crescent-shaped ink green long ponytail extending from her side.
Of course he recognized her.
The one who had assessed Sunshine Gym's certification qualifications and single-handedly elevated him to one of the eight gym leaders—
One of Paldea's Elite Four: Rika!
As for the little tail following her—though mostly hidden by Rika's body, judging by height and clothing, Aiden already had his answer.
Future nine-year-old Steel-type Elite Four of Paldea, currently eight years old—too young even for Naranja Academy enrollment—Poppy.
"Indeed long time no see, Elite Four Rika..."
Seeing her, Aiden's expression suddenly turned complex.
The division of labor among Paldea's Elite Fours was clear. Rika was President Geeta's most trusted assistant—not only the examiner for the Victory Road but also an important decision-maker in the League.
Her uninvited appearance in Cabo Poco basically confirmed one thing—
She must be delivering a notice from the League?
Aiden carefully thought—had he done anything out of line recently?
Last time he nearly wiped out Kitakami, President Geeta hadn't even criticized him—instead praising him. Could there be something more serious than that?
Thinking this, Aiden suddenly felt needles on his back, involuntarily shivering.
Could it really be because of the gym's off-the-charts bad review rate, forcing President Geeta to come remind him?
But besides this, what other reason could there be!
If President Geeta accused him of corrupting children, he'd have nothing to refute...
Because he actually did it!
"Don't be nervous, little Aiden!"
After silently observing Aiden for a while, until noticing his expression seemed inexplicably guilty, Rika showed a "I completely understand everything" expression.
"I didn't come today because of Sunshine Gym's bad reviews."
"On the contrary—President Geeta is very satisfied with Sunshine Gym's current performance. The rookies who 'graduate' from you are indeed excellent trainers."
As she spoke with a smile, she walked up and patted his shoulder.
"Also, we're colleagues now—just call me Rika from now on!"
"...Then I'm relieved."
Aiden breathed a sigh of relief.
Though slightly weirded out that she instantly saw through his thoughts, but...
"So, Senior Rika—what brings you here this time?"
Since it wasn't about bad review rates, it should be minor matters!
So no matter what good or bad news—should be acceptable.
"Hmm... rather than League notice, it's more like an invitation."
Getting to the point, Rika suddenly showed a strangely playful smile. After pausing briefly to build suspense, she finally curved her lips and spoke softly:
"Aiden, you should know—due to some reasons, Paldea's Elite Four position has been vacant for recent years."
"In the past, it wasn't a big deal, but this year is different."
"This year's students are all high-quality prospects. Without a complete Victory Road, it would be too easy for them."
"Moreover, this year's chosen Champion needs to enter Area Zero as a main force to wrap up previous accidents—requirements for them will only be higher."
"Thus, after discussion throughout the League, everyone unsurprisingly recommended you as this year's temporary Elite Four."
"That's why President Geeta entrusted me to run this errand—asking for your opinion on serving as temporary Elite Four."
After finishing, Rika smiled gently at Aiden, seemingly waiting for his reply.
"..."
Aiden looked completely dumbfounded.
Though still unclear about the situation, Rika's words translated to human language meant:
The League has already decided—you'll guard this year's Victory Road!
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