Chapter 271:
"I am busy, very busy."
That was Gardevoir's first thought after hearing Kaede's explanation.
"Ahaha… should I ask Mewtwo to go instead?" Kaede scratched his cheek awkwardly, realizing how inconvenient his timing was.
"Gardevoir…" (I just got back and started eating.) Gardevoir gave him a sidelong look, then calmly removed its apron and folded it neatly.
"Gardevoir." (I'll do it.)
"Hehehe…" Seeing Gardevoir agree, Kaede couldn't help but laugh.
He happily led Gardevoir out of the breeding house.
---
Meanwhile, at the challenge site, the group waiting there had already grown restless.
They were speculating which Pokémon Kaede would use for this final Sky Challenge.
Most of those present were regular challengers—familiar faces who often trained here.
From the Junior Cup footage online, or from daily encounters around town, everyone knew that many of Kaede's Pokémon were exceptionally powerful.
"Mr. Hayashi is incredible. I wonder what grade of Breeder he actually is? He looks so young but can raise so many strong Pokémon."
"If he started competing seriously, I bet he could place in the top three of the Pokémon League Conference within a year—and maybe even be Champion in three!"
"Come on, everyone—guess which Pokémon Mr. Hayashi's going to use this time!"
Excitement buzzed through the crowd.
Soon, someone spotted Kaede emerging from the breeding house—accompanied by a tall, slender, light-blue figure.
"It's Gardevoir! A Shiny Gardevoir!" someone exclaimed.
"Oh my god, Mr. Hayashi has a Shiny Gardevoir too!" a newcomer gasped.
"I've heard about that!" a regular customer chimed in. "Mr. Hayashi caught a Shiny Gardevoir to help out at the breeding house—but it rarely shows up in public. I heard it's incredibly strong, though. Guess we'll find out!"
"Wow… I want to catch a Shiny Gardevoir too…" another murmured enviously.
---
As Kaede stepped out, he hadn't expected bringing Gardevoir along would cause such a commotion.
He glanced at the Pokémon beside him, but Gardevoir's expression remained calm and unmoved, as though long accustomed to such reactions.
After all, during its years wandering alone, it had seen plenty of human Trainers who, upon seeing it, tried to capture it.
Some had even seemed quite powerful at the time.
Yet none had ever succeeded.
It had long believed it would never have any meaningful connection with a human Trainer again.
Who would have thought… it would end up with a good job instead?
Noticing Kaede's gaze, Gardevoir met it with a gentle smile. Kaede returned the smile naturally.
When they reached the challenge area, someone immediately called out, "Mr. Hayashi! Are you using Gardevoir for the challenge?"
"Is the final challenge about dodging the big Pidgeot's attacks for a few minutes?"
Kaede nodded, answering patiently, "Yes."
"But not just one Pidgeot attacks—the final challenge means enduring the attacks of all the Pidgeot."
He explained the challenge's rules in full.
As he spoke, the crowd's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Wait, you have to dodge perfectly for three minutes under the attacks of all the Pidgeot? Seriously? Are you kidding, Mr. Hayashi?"
"All of them? That's over a dozen! Is that even possible?"
They turned to look at the line of Pidgeot behind Kaede—each one larger and more intimidating than the last—and collectively felt a chill down their spines.
The first challenge was already tough.
The second, involving two Pidgeot attacking simultaneously for one minute, had been ten times harder.
Many Trainers who'd tried it said dodging two Pidgeot at once—or striking both within a minute—was nearly impossible.
And now, this final stage involved all twenty-one Pidgeot for three whole minutes!
"Mr. Hayashi, are you really going to use Gardevoir?" one of them asked anxiously.
"Huh? Of course," Kaede replied, puzzled.
He'd brought Gardevoir here for that very reason—who else would he use?
"Can't you use Blaziken instead? It's fast! Gardevoir is so beautiful—how can you bear to let it take such a dangerous challenge? It might get hurt!"
Coincidentally, Blaziken—curious about why Kaede had brought Gardevoir out—had followed them here.
The person immediately pointed at Blaziken, their expression pleading.
People couldn't help feeling pity for beautiful things.
No one wanted to see Gardevoir get injured during such an intense challenge.
In comparison, Blaziken's speed from the Teen Cup seemed far more reliable.
"Blaziken?"
Startled, Blaziken looked up at the Pidgeot circling overhead—then quickly ducked behind Gardevoir.
It clearly had no confidence in dodging attacks from that many Pidgeot.
Kaede couldn't help but laugh softly at the sight.
If they knew Gardevoir's true power, they wouldn't be worrying for it at all.
[Pokémon: Gardevoir]
[Gender: Female]
[Ability: Telepathy]
[Potential: Gold]
[IVs: …]
[Strength: Lv. 92–95]
[Moves: Growl, Confusion, Magical Leaf, Double Team, Misty Terrain, Disarming Voice, Psyshock, Draining Kiss, Moonblast…]
[Friendship: 97]
[Pleasure Value: 60]
After glancing over its stats once more, Kaede addressed the crowd confidently:
"Don't worry, everyone. Gardevoir is the one I've chosen for this demonstration. It'll definitely clear the final challenge without issue. This is also meant to show you a sample strategy for how to do it yourselves."
He smiled. "You can record it on your phones and study it later if you want."
The crowd exchanged looks, and seeing Kaede so certain, they all took out their phones to record.
"Gardevoir…"
Amid the mounting anticipation, Gardevoir slowly floated into the center of the circle formed by the Pidgeot.
"Good luck, Gardevoir!" someone called out encouragingly.
The Pidgeot, however, upon seeing Gardevoir in position, grew solemn.
"Pidgeot!"
"Pidgeot!"
They spread their wings wide, summoning roaring gales that surged toward Gardevoir.
The wind they generated was precise—targeting only Gardevoir.
Twenty-one Pidgeot beating their wings together unleashed a violent Tailwind that churned the clouds above, darkening the entire sky.
It was as if heaven and earth themselves were roaring. The sky and clouds merged into one, the horizon fading in the storm's fury.
From a thousand meters above, one would see Aogiri Town engulfed beneath a towering pillar of wind, the air currents swirling violently within.
And at the very heart of it all— a slender, light-blue figure stood calm amid the storm, eyes soft and watchful as it gazed up at the circling Pidgeot.
If one looked closely, they would see that Gardevoir's gown didn't even flutter.