In the bustling square outside the town, the Pokémon Ring Contest was about to begin.
Trainers competed in groups of four, each commanding a Flying-type Pokémon to seize a ring and place it at the designated location. Advancing through the rounds led to the final match, where the victor would earn the title of honorary resident of the town.
Aoki, however, had no interest in such trivial honors. His sole objective was to test the true power of his newly evolved Storm Flying Dragon—every opponent was merely a stepping stone.
The competition commenced swiftly. In the first round, Naqi demonstrated her formidable strength, securing victory with ease.
The second and third rounds were filled with relatively unknown competitors. Then, in the fourth round, it was finally Aoki's turn.
"Everyone, our fourth-round match features a special participant—Mr. Volt, our Champion candidate!"
Aoki listened as the referee made the announcement and shifted his gaze to Mr. Volt, the supposed favorite.
This guy looks just like the one from the original storyline.
A sigh escaped his lips. Even a so-called 'Champion candidate' from the manga is nothing more than a stepping stone to me.
Volt stepped forward confidently, tossing his Poké Ball into the air.
"Go, Beautifly!"
Two other trainers quickly followed.
"Go, Dustox!"
"Go, Volbeat!"
Aoki remained unfazed, flicking his Luxury Ball forward.
"Flying Dragon, it's your turn."
As soon as Storm Flying Dragon emerged, it released a mighty roar, sending a powerful shockwave through the arena.
The three opposing Pokémon flinched in fear, their combat readiness significantly reduced.
Their trainers' faces stiffened with alarm.
What the hell?
We're just here for a normal competition—who brought a walking disaster to the battlefield?!
Storm Flying Dragon was not just a rare Pokémon in the Hoenn region—it was also among the strongest pseudo-Legendary Pokémon.
"This match is practically decided already."
Aoki smirked.
Across the field, Naqi observed the scene with a serious expression.
That Pokémon… its power is extraordinary.
As a Flying-type Gym Leader, she could immediately sense the terrifying presence of Storm Flying Dragon.
"This is going to be interesting," she murmured, her fighting spirit ignited.
Meanwhile, the referee was hyping up the battle.
"Wow! Aoki has sent out an extremely rare Storm Flying Dragon!"
The crowd erupted into murmurs.
Many trainers in the audience were visibly envious—a powerful pseudo-legendary like Storm Flying Dragon was the dream of countless Pokémon Trainers.
The three opposing trainers exchanged glances, making a silent agreement.
They needed to eliminate Aoki first!
"Beautifly, Dustox, Volbeat—use Hurricane!"
All three Pokémon flapped their wings furiously, summoning fierce winds in a coordinated assault.
Aoki's Pokédex quickly analyzed them:
Name: Volbeat
Strength: Gym-level
Potential: Gym-level
Aoki nearly laughed out loud.
The strongest opponent was merely Gym-level, while the other two barely reached Superior rank.
And they seriously thought they could challenge his Storm Flying Dragon?
"Flying Dragon, use Dragon Rush! Break through their attack and seize the ring."
Storm Flying Dragon let out a guttural growl before bursting through the stormy winds unharmed.
Then, in a flash, it surged upward, sinking its jaws into the ring.
"It's incredibly strong… I can't underestimate him."
Naqi clenched her fists, impressed by Storm Flying Dragon's sheer dominance.
Flying Pokémon usually struggle against turbulent winds… But it's charging through like they're nothing.
"Damn it—Volbeat, use Thunderbolt!"
Volt's expression twisted in desperation.
If he allowed Storm Flying Dragon to reach the finish line, the match was over.
He cursed the tournament organizers. Who the hell paired me against this monster?!
Volbeat unleashed a powerful bolt of electricity, aiming to paralyze the airborne behemoth.
"Flying Dragon, dodge and accelerate!"
Storm Flying Dragon smoothly weaved through the Thunderbolt before surging toward the goal.
At this point, it was obvious—no one could stop it.
"Flying Dragon, finish it! Dragon Rush—deliver the ring!"
Storm Flying Dragon picked up speed, its body glowing with a purple energy aura.
Then, before the stunned eyes of the audience, it successfully hung the ring at the goal post.
However, its momentum was too strong, and instead of stopping gracefully—
CRASH!
Storm Flying Dragon smashed through the mast, completely shattering the finish line structure.
Aoki: "…"
Oh, crap.
Storm Flying Dragon froze in mid-air, realizing it had made a mistake.
A nervous sweatdrop formed on Aoki's forehead.
Would he have to pay for damages?
He had money, but wasting it on something so trivial still pained him.
"W-Wow! That was an amazing performance by Aoki's Storm Flying Dragon!" the announcer stammered. "But, um… it also completely destroyed the goal post!"
The audience burst into laughter, while Storm Flying Dragon hung its head in embarrassment.
Volt, however, was fuming.
"Damn it! I was supposed to win! I got eliminated just because some overpowered monster joined the tournament!"
Aoki noticed Volt's resentful glare, but ignored it completely.
Even if he hadn't participated, Naqi would have crushed Volt anyway.
People like him never had a chance.
Most Gym Leaders trained Flying-type Pokémon to an elite standard. If a trainer wanted to become a Gym Leader, they needed either exceptional talent or strong backing—such as inheriting a Gym from powerful relatives.
Take Pewter Gym and Cerulean Gym, for example. Misty's three older sisters were so weak that they had practically ruined Cerulean Gym's reputation—yet they still held the position due to family connections.
Aoki scoffed.
The tournament continued, and the next battles were far more intense.
At this point, nearly everyone saw Aoki as their biggest threat.
After all, as long as Storm Flying Dragon remained undefeated, no one else stood a chance at victory.
Despite this, Aoki overcame every challenge, ultimately securing a spot in the semi-finals alongside Naqi.
The remaining two semi-finalists were unknown trainers, but Aoki barely paid them any attention.
The semi-finals were about to begin.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the semi-final matches are set! These four trainers will battle for a spot in the finals!"
Aoki smirked, his gaze locking onto Naqi.
Their long-awaited battle was finally about to begin.
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