Just as expected, for Dragon-type Pokémon, a Dragon-type Legendary was something that stood above all rules.
Very few Dragon Pokémon in the world dared to face Rayquaza.
Even when their opponent was the strongest Dragon-type trainer in all of Hoenn—the head of the Elite Four himself—it made no difference.
Drake stood there in silence for a long moment before finally speaking.
"Salamence… even if the opponent is a Dragon-type Legendary, you must still have the courage to face it. Use Dragon Breath. Show your pride."
Moved by its trainer's voice, Salamence forced itself to muster its fighting spirit and spat out a terrifying green beam.
But against Rayquaza… it was meaningless.
"Rayquaza—Dragon Tail."
A deafening crack of air tore across the battlefield.
Rayquaza's massive tail shattered Salamence's Dragon Breath in an instant, then slammed straight into Salamence's head.
One strike.
That was all it took.
The once-mighty Salamence crashed to the ground.
"Salamence has lost its ability to battle… R-Rayquaza wins!"
Everyone sucked in a breath.
Now they finally understood why Steven and Wallace had spoken so highly of Aiden Flint.
What kind of rookie trainer casually walked around with a Legendary Pokémon?
Even Professor Birch was shaken.
Was this really the same Aiden who, a few months ago, couldn't even leave town because he didn't have a starter?
Drake, meanwhile, was cursing Wallace in his heart.
That bastard—so this was why he kept urging me to come here? Just so I'd get humiliated once too?!
Recalling Salamence, Drake felt his face burning.
He was the head of Hoenn's Elite Four, yet his ace Pokémon had just been crushed in front of so many people.
There was no way to hide it.
After a long pause, Drake suddenly laughed.
"Kid… you really are incredible. So this is why Steven and Wallace praised you so much. So they both lost to you too, huh?"
Everyone froze.
Champions… defeated by Aiden Flint?
Was a Legendary really that powerful?
Drake, however, felt much better about it.
Hey, if Champions lost too, then at least I'm not the only one embarrassed.
May and Max exchanged glances, remembering their father Norman's expression back then.
…So that was why he'd looked so defeated.
Using a Legendary to smash the Petalburg Gym…
Yeah, let's just hold a moment of silence for Dad.
Still, there was no denying it.
A young trainer standing beside Rayquaza, radiating dragon might…
It was impossibly cool.
Aiden, on the other hand, was already mourning Steven and Wallace.
"Well, looks like everyone knows now…"
At that moment, Professor Juniper smiled gently and spoke.
"Aiden became a trainer this year, didn't he? Yet he's already defeated Hoenn's two Champions and even Drake of the Elite Four."
"Doesn't that mean… if he beats the other three Elite Four members, he'd be the new Hoenn Champion?"
Silence fell.
Professor Birch quickly laughed.
"Ahaha, Aiden's still young! You have to win the Ever Grande Conference first before you can challenge the Elite Four and Champion. Rules are rules!"
But the way he said it made one thing clear—
In his heart, Birch had already accepted that Aiden Flint was Champion material.
Professor Oak rushed up to Rayquaza, eyes blazing.
"Aiden! Please let me study Rayquaza! Just once!"
Aiden twitched.
"Professor… I can tell you its height and weight, but Rayquaza won't allow anyone except me to touch it."
Oak sighed.
"That's fine. Even basic data is priceless. It's a Legendary… most people never see one in their entire lives, yet you captured one. Your future is limitless."
Drake laughed loudly.
"Kid, I'll be waiting for you at the Ever Grande Conference. Hoenn has a worthy successor—now I can retire and go back to sailing in peace!"
With that, he mounted his Flygon and left in a flash.
Aiden, now victorious, was ready to receive his starters from the professors.
Because of the power he had shown, every professor now wanted to be on good terms with him.
Which meant…
The starters he received would definitely be high quality.
With only three Gym Badges left and less than two months until the Ever Grande Conference, Aiden knew he had to pick up the pace.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Aiden Flint continued on toward Fortree City.
Behind him, the news of a terrifying new Hoenn prodigy had already begun spreading through the Pokémon world…
Read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon -> patreon.com/SorenSwiftTL