'Specific actions?'
Shiro focused, listening carefully as Shae spoke.
"This is a Gym Challenge, but it's also a televised program. Each challenger will start at different time, and the League's media will broadcast their progress according to schedule. Their routes are pre-planned, and even the trainers they'll encounter along the way are arranged in advance."
"We're the special roadblock trainers?" Shiro suddenly asked.
Shae nodded approvingly and explained, "That's right. This year, the League is making major changes to the Gym Challenge. It's not just the participants or the rules. Even the roadblock trainers are being overhauled. The traditional format of ordinary trainers blocking the path has become outdated. The audience is tired of seeing weak trainers getting easily beaten for a few Pokédollars."
She paused, letting that sink in, then continued in a quieter, more deliberate tone. "So now they're adding something more exciting. That's where you come in. You're strong, well-known, with personal stories and real stakes. Whoever loses could be ruined. It's no longer a boring formality."
"Heh... it's way more fun this way." Edgar chuckled. "Almost like real battles for life and death."
The four of them fell silent.
They were confident in their strength, but their opponents were no pushovers either. They were successors to established Gyms and likely had inside knowledge. They might even get strong Pokémon from their elders.
Even a team with three Gym-level Pokémon would be enough to give Marvin and Nessa a serious headache. Their teams were weaker, with only two Gym-level Pokémon at best.
As for Shiro, there was no need to say much. Allister's ghost-types had improved rapidly over this period. Four of his Pokémon that were stuck at the peak of Advanced-level had finally broken through, creating a clear gap between him and Marvin or Nessa.
If Shiro weren't here, Allister would be the strongest of their generation. He could probably reach the quarterfinals of the Champion Cup and even take out a Gym Leader. After all, he had been trained for years by an Elite-level mentor whose specialty matched his type. That was something Marvin, who had just taken a teacher, couldn't compare with.
Shae glanced at all of them, then raised the folder again and said, "Since the gym challengers will start at different times, so will your roadblock matches. The order is up to you. My suggestion is that you guys battle for it. Once you're done, you can choose your order based on the results."
Battle…
At that word, the four of them instinctively exchanged looks.
After all this time, they had battled each other often and understood one another's strength. Even without a match, everyone had a general idea of how the rankings would go.
If there was any real debate, it would be between Marvin and Nessa.
Shiro, with an Elite-level Drakloak, was undeniably at the top. Allister came second. The rest would have to fight for third.
"Do we really need to battle?" Marvin leaned back, arms behind his head, grumbling. "I mean… with everyone's current strength… can't we just pick the order…"
Shae tapped her cane and questioned, "You don't want to go first? Take down that Gordie kid right away?"
Marvin's lips twitched, and he went quiet.
Of course he wanted to go first, to crush that damn Gordie and kick that bitch out of Circhester. But he couldn't even beat Allister, let alone Shiro.
"Aside from Allister, all of you have personal grudges with the targets arranged by the company." Shae's raspy voice grew deeper. Edgar nodded beside her. She gave a wrinkled smile and added, "This battle has rules. No Pokémon higher than Gym-level is allowed. It's a 2v2 fight. Each person can only use two Pokémon. Sound more interesting now?"
Marvin, who had been acting casual, dropped his arms and looked straight at Shiro.
'Getting fired up?' Shiro responded with a smile. He didn't say anything, just pulled out a Poké Ball and held it in his hand.
Although this round's rules restricted his strongest trump card, it was actually a good chance to see how everyone's training and strength had progressed. Besides, Allister could also only use two Gym-level Pokémon.
Shiro didn't care about going first. What mattered to him was whether he'd have time during the Gym Challenge to stop by Spikemuth and settle that old score.
The media wouldn't follow him around 24/7 anyway. They'd probably only show up during his matches for live coverage. If he chose the right moment...
While he was lost in thought, Shae had already taken out a wooden lottery tube and placed it in front of the four of them. The tube was dark brown, its inner walls covered in white dust. It was obvious it hadn't been used in ages.
"Draw lots, children." Her voice was slow and calm.
Marvin was the first to reach out and draw a stick.
"Red."
Allister followed.
"Green."
That left Shiro and Nessa. The two exchanged a glance. The latter hesitated before raising her hand. Since only one of them needed to draw now, the remaining stick would automatically go to the other.
Shiro had no objections. He gave a slight nod to let her go ahead.
"Red." Nessa let out a breath of relief.
Even with restrictions, she didn't believe she could beat Allister. If she had drawn the lot to face him, her Pokémon might have ended up exhausted or even hurt for nothing.
Letting the two strongest, Allister and Shiro, fight each other was better. She and Marvin would handle the other match. Maybe the final battle wouldn't even be necessary.
Still, Nessa lacked confidence.
While her Drednaw and Golisopod had both reached the Gym-level recently, the latter, being part Bug-type, had used up almost all its potential to advance. It was now stuck at level 41, and further growth would be difficult.
And back when she was still at the Advanced-level, she couldn't defeat Shiro or Allister. One of them had an Elite-level Pokémon, the other had an Elite-level teacher. They were true prodigies. And now Marvin had also become a student under Granny Shae…
Her mind was a mess, full of worry and self-doubt.
Nessa wasn't even sure she could defeat that girl from Hulbury, given that Lina would definitely receive help from her Gym Leader father.
"Hey! Nessa!" Shiro called her back to reality. "Do you want to battle first? Or go after me and Allister? Marvin said he's fine with anything."
"Ah…" She blinked, startled.
Then under everyone's eyes, she took a deep breath and said firmly, "I'll go first."
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