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Nosepass fell.
Just as Roxanne had predicted before the battle, it was ultimately no match for Tyranitar. On top of that, Kai had already tested its general capabilities using Eevee, so the outcome of this match was never really in doubt.
Even so, Tyranitar's victory hadn't come effortlessly. Nosepass still caused it a fair amount of trouble this had never been a meaningless battle.
Applause erupted from outside the battlefield. Seeing Kai emerge victorious, Roxanne's students all began clapping enthusiastically.
Though they felt a little sorry for cheering against their own teacher, there was nothing they could do about it. After all, today's challenger was simply too popular!
Roxanne glanced at her students and smiled helplessly. She recalled Nosepass and walked over to Kai.
Taking out a sand-colored badge, she handed it to him.
"Congratulations on your victory. This is my Stone Badge proof that you've defeated me. Please accept it."
Kai thanked her and accepted the badge. At that moment, a figure slipped in beside him Misty, driven by pure curiosity, had squeezed over to admire the Hoenn Gym Badge with him.
The Stone Badge looked like two offset triangular crystals, with a strong mineral design. Moreover, almost all Hoenn Badges used gradient coloring.
To Kai, that made them far more refined and beautiful than those from Kanto or Johto.
He placed the badge into his Badge Case and then stored it back in his backpack.
This Badge Case had been given to him by Nurse Joy after he registered with the Pokémon League at the Pokémon Center in Oldale Town.
Though it looked ordinary, placing the Stone Badge inside it marked Kai's first solid step toward the Ever Grande Conference!
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Catching his first Pokémon and earning his first Gym Badge this was a perfect beginning.
With the official business concluded, Kai prepared to take his leave.
Although Roxanne and her students warmly invited them to stay for lunch and exchange more training experiences, Kai declined politely.
After all, Erika had only just left recently, and he truly wasn't in the mood. Moreover, the repeated back-and-forth over the past few days had already delayed their schedule quite a bit.
Knowing that Ash would soon arrive in Hoenn only added pressure to his heart.
There was no helping it Ash grew too quickly.
If Kai didn't constantly push himself forward, it wouldn't be long before Ash caught up and surpassed him.
Leaving the Rustboro Gym, Kai and Misty headed toward the outskirts of the city.
Their next destination was Lavaridge Town, nestled in the mountains to the northeast. Not only did it house the Lavaridge Gym, the closest one after Petalburg, but it was also famous for its hot springs perfect for relieving muscle fatigue after long journeys.
They traveled steadily north.
As they went on, the wide roads slowly turned into narrow paths, and then into winding gravel trails. By noon, when they stopped to rest, they had already reached the foot of an endless mountain range.
Looking into the distance, towering rocky peaks stretched endlessly across their view.
"Ah… looks like we'll be climbing mountains again."
They exchanged helpless looks before resting beneath a large tree, sitting atop scattered stones.
After drinking some water and eating their bento, they stared at the seemingly endless mountains ahead, silently lamenting the time and energy it would take to cross them.
Just then, an elderly man wearing a straw hat and carrying a bamboo basket leisurely emerged from the opposite side.
Misty's eyes lit up. With a bright smile, she hurried over.
"Grandpa," she asked sweetly, "is there any shortcut around here that leads through these mountains?"
It was obvious she wasn't fond of mountain hiking. Though she often boasted about being the world's most beautiful girl, she was still a delicate young lady. With her slender arms and legs, hiking rough mountain trails was hardly appealing.
The elderly man, clearly in his seventies, lowered his head to look at her. Infectious as her smile was, he nodded without hesitation and pointed toward a hidden cave nearby.
"Of course there is. See that cave entrance over there? That's your shortcut."
He then studied them kindly and warned,
"Judging by your looks, you're Trainers, right? Once you go inside, you must be careful. Don't wander off, and don't chase after any Pokémon. The paths inside branch in every direction—it's easy to get lost. If you stray too far, getting back out won't be easy. Just follow the main road, and you'll pass through safely."
"Just follow the main road, right?" Misty repeated and nodded eagerly.
"Don't worry—we've got this!"
After thanking the old man, Misty returned to Kai with joy written all over her face and even raised her eyebrows smugly at him.
Knowing she was simply happy about avoiding another mountain climb, Kai could only smile wryly.
Still, a shortcut was a shortcut. Compared to harsh mountain winds and blazing sun, the inside of a cave would definitely be far more comfortable.
Once they finished resting, the two set off again.
From a distance, the cave looked like nothing more than a small hole. But when they reached it, they realized the entrance was nearly five to six meters tall. The ground inside was paved with smooth gravel, clearly shaped by frequent foot traffic.
That put them even more at ease—it truly was a well-used shortcut.
The moment they entered, the temperature dropped sharply. Fortunately, they had already put on thicker clothing beforehand, so the cold wasn't an issue.
Even though the old man had said they could safely pass through by following the main path, Kai, just to be safe, released Eevee and Torchic beside them.
As they ventured deeper, visibility steadily worsened. They were forced to turn their flashlights to full brightness just to make out the road ahead.
Fortunately, this wasn't a limestone cave or an icy tunnel like one Kai had traveled through before. Though the ground was damp and the wind occasionally slipped in through unseen crevices, it wasn't difficult to walk, just uncomfortably chilly, as cold air crept through their collars and sleeves.
Kai tightened his clothes and swept his flashlight beam across the surroundings.
Just as the old man had described, the cave branched in every direction. Besides the main road beneath their feet, countless side passages stretched outward. Some were wide, but most were narrow—barely big enough for small Pokémon to pass through.
He couldn't help but wonder how the very first person to discover this shortcut had ever found their way out.
Then suddenly it occurred to him. He turned toward Misty.
"By the way, did that old man mention the name of this place?"
Misty thought for a moment, then nodded. "I remember now—it's called… Meteor something, right?"
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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