"This Taillow was obviously weakened by me,"
Naqi said angrily.
She had clearly battled the Shiny Taillow and brought it to the verge of capture, but this guy—Da Fei—had the nerve to interfere just before she threw her Poké Ball.
"So what? You haven't caught it yet, have you? That means it's still up for grabs,"
Da Fei smirked, greed glinting in his eyes.
It was a Shiny Pokémon—already an ultra-rare find—and Swellow was by no means weak, known for its high base Speed and Guts ability.
If he could catch this Shiny Taillow and train it into a powerful Swellow, perhaps with a carefully timed Guts + Facade strategy, he might just rise to the rank of an Elite-class Trainer.
"Go, Flygon!"
Da Fei threw out a Poké Ball, releasing a sandstorm-summoning Flygon.
Aoki narrowed his eyes. This Flygon wasn't to be taken lightly.
Name: Flygon
Strength: Quasi-Elite (Initial Tier)
Potential: Quasi-Elite
Its stats leaned more toward Speed and Attack, and while its potential wasn't anything remarkable, the fact that it had reached quasi-Elite level made it dangerous.
Naqi's strongest Pokémon was Altaria, whose evolution into that form had only recently occurred, putting her around upper Gym-level at best.
Before Da Fei could make a move, his gaze shifted.
That glint in his eye sharpened when he saw Aoki's Iron Dumbbell—Shiny, hovering silently, radiating psychic pressure.
His breath hitched.
That wasn't just any Iron Dumbbell—that was a Shiny Beldum, the kind that Steven Stone, the former Hoenn Champion, had used as the ace of his team!
If he could somehow obtain that Shiny Beldum and evolve it all the way to Metagross…
He would rise through the trainer ranks like wildfire.
Aoki noticed the greed flash across Da Fei's expression.
He stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Naqi's shoulder.
"You're not ready for this battle yet. Leave it to me."
"…!"
Naqi hesitated, but before she could protest, she was ushered to the side by Aoki.
"Getting involved, kid?" Da Fei sneered.
He was weighing his options—he couldn't just outright rob Aoki.
After all, Aoki had a full team behind him: Boss Lairon, Storm Flying Dragon (Salamence), Storm Gyarados, and the Flame Crow (Honchkrow).
And now that he thought about it, wasn't Aoki the trainer Professor Birch praised at the Pokémon Research Summit? The one who introduced the 'Intimacy Evolution' theory?
"You dare bully my girlfriend? Naturally, I can't let that slide," Aoki replied, his voice calm but commanding.
Naqi blushed fiercely. Aoki had never outright said it before—calling her his girlfriend.
Kamizlei, who stood nearby, folded her arms and looked away in mock irritation.
She was supposed to be Aoki's real girlfriend.
"Girlfriend… both?" Da Fei's eyes darted between the two girls.
Aoki nodded. "That's right. Both are mine. And I won't allow anyone to hurt them."
Naqi's cheeks flushed deeper. Kamizlei bit her lip to hide a grin.
This kind of declaration… it was a little too overbearing—but also, somehow, kind of sweet.
In this world, polygamous relationships were legal and not uncommon, especially among the elite class.
"Alright, then! Let's make it interesting. That Taillow—if I win, you hand over your Shiny Beldum."
"No way!" Naqi shouted instantly.
She wasn't about to let Aoki risk such a rare and precious Pokémon on her behalf.
"It's fine." Aoki raised his hand. "What are you betting?"
Da Fei grinned and pulled out a black-and-gold incubator.
"This Pokémon Egg. Rare, Electric-type. Deal?"
Aoki glanced at the readout on his Pokédex.
Species: Shinx
Potential: Elite-tier
A gift-worthy Pokémon. With this, Kamizlei would gain her first Elite-potential partner—ideal for someone aiming to reclaim her former glory as a Unova Gym Leader.
"Perfect," Aoki said.
"Aoki, stop! Your Iron Dumbbell is too valuable," Naqi pleaded.
"No worries. You belong to me. I won't let anyone treat you like that."
A blush spread to her ears.
Even Kamizlei's usual confident posture slipped for a moment as her face went pink.
He was doing this… for them.
Da Fei's face soured. "Can we stop with the flirting already? Let's battle!"
"Storm Flying Dragon, I choose you."
Salamence burst forth from its Poké Ball, its wings blowing back grass and dirt with each flap.
Its mighty aura made Da Fei recoil slightly.
"A-Another pseudo-legendary… Who is this guy!?"
"Flygon, Dragon Breath!"
"Salamence, counter with Dragon Breath as well!"
Two brilliant violet beams of draconic energy collided mid-air.
A violent explosion shook the area.
"Salamence, Dragon Rush!" Aoki commanded.
The mighty dragon was wreathed in purple light as it charged forward.
"Flygon, don't back down! Use Dragon Rush too!"
Both Pokémon collided, sending a shockwave through the field.
Energy crackled as the two dragons locked horns mid-air, snarling and clawing.
But the gap in strength was quickly evident.
Salamence, boasting superior base stats and raw combat experience from Aoki's rigorous training, began overpowering its opponent.
After a brief clash, Flygon was sent hurtling into the ground, cratering the soil with a sharp cry.
Da Fei gritted his teeth.
His Flygon was skilled—but it simply wasn't in the same class as Aoki's Salamence.
It was the difference between a Pokémon raised in the wild and one trained with Elite-caliber Pokéblocks and a customized move set.
Flygon lay dazed. Salamence merely panted.
"…Unbelievable."
Da Fei looked down in disbelief.
Once again, he'd been completely outclassed—Pokémon, women, power.
Everything.
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