As Aiden gazed at the challenger standing before him, he initially couldn't quite recognize her.
Fiery red hair like flames, with roots a similar orange-yellow to embers.
Curious squinty eyes, adorable freckles, and dressed in the standard Naranja Academy winter uniform.
If Aiden's memory wasn't sharp, he might not have recalled the true identity of this red-haired girl…
One of the leaders of Team Star, the boss of Schedar Squad—Mela!
This quiet girl before him bore little resemblance to the rebellious image in his memory; they might as well be entirely unrelated...
Although after the game's events ended and Team Star members returned to school, he should have seen these rebellious youths' true appearances. Still, their initial punk-style outfits left a more lasting impression.
However, it seemed that after the severe bullying incident, Team Star members underwent a significant personality change, starting to wear those eccentric outfits.
They even used Revavroom as a power source, creating the wild-looking Team Star vehicles with various abilities.
Aiden felt slightly relieved.
If this so-called "Teacher Azure Fan Club" were filled with spirited youngsters riding on Team Star vehicles, wouldn't he become the second Marnie?
The thought alone was terrifying!
"Hello, Teacher Azure, my name is Mela, and I'm here to challenge the Sunlight Gym!"
Seeing Aiden look at her, Mela quickly flashed a bright smile and squinted her eyes at him.
"Hello, Mela."
Aiden politely responded while inwardly sighing.
Bullying truly ruins lives. Such a lively little girl later transformed into a punk due to bullying...
If something like this happened in his Naranja Academy online teaching role, decisive action would be necessary!
"You should have observed the previous battle, so there's no need for me to repeat the rules."
Aiden smiled faintly.
"Yes!"
Mela nodded and continued speaking.
"I never expected that Teacher Azure would also be a fan of Sunny Day teams. I specialize in Sunny Day teams and Fire-type Pokémon!"
As Aiden remembered, Mela specialized in Fire-types, matching her fiery red hair.
Perhaps because of her hair color, she seemed to be very popular with Charcadet, even suggesting using Charcadet's evolution to power Team Star vehicle...
In summary, though she appeared cute, her heart was quite wild.
From what she implied, it seemed she would use Fire-type Pokémon, engaging in an internal battle within the Sunny Day team?
Thinking about this, Aiden couldn't help but smirk.
Interesting.
"Shall we begin now?"
"Yes!"
...
On the battlefield, Aiden quickly tossed out a Poké Ball.
"My starter is this Pokémon, so be careful~"
Since this week's gym tactics were based on the Sunny Day team, Aiden still opted for rented Pokémon.
Rather than spending time breeding, directly borrowing Pokémon from the League was more cost-effective. It also helped these Pokémon gain combat experience, which the League appreciated.
Even if some Pokémon weren't bred by the League, he had other ways to get them.
For example, Caitlin's Battle Chateau.
Though his relationship with Caitlin might be somewhat delicate—he couldn't bring himself to ask her for rentals...
But it didn't matter!
She was currently busy preparing in Unova, aiming to ascend to Elite Four, with no time to return to Sinnoh.
He just needed to inform the current Chateau's caretaker, Darach, without needing to contact Caitlin!
In a sense, his gym's current strategies weren't much different from these Battle Frontier areas. Occasionally, they could exchange insights on whether to hold back against strong trainers.
It was a win-win situation!
After Aiden's Poké Ball opened, a rather fierce-looking Pokémon appeared on the field.
Its body was covered in large swathes of black and red fur, already ferocious upon entry, with roaring flames encircling its waist like a belt, looking extremely irritable.
It was one of Alola's starter Pokémon, known for excelling in various fighting techniques—Incineroar!
Looking at Incineroar's reliable back, Aiden felt inexplicably reassured.
As an Alolan Pokemon, Aiden originally didn't know where to find one, and he was planning to use an Intimidate Arcanine as a substitute...
However, unexpectedly, Paldea had a few raised ones, likely exchanged when Alola joined the League and swapped starters with other regions.
The Pokémon world valued relationships. Regions naturally couldn't only breed their own starters for new trainers, making such exchanges quite common.
Most starter Pokémon adapted well, and their evolution speed was relatively fast, which was why they were chosen as the "first partners" for new trainers.
Thus, starting with just a few, sizable populations could soon be cultivated in other regions.
For instance, Unova's Blueberry Academy collected many unique Pokémon from various regions, eventually forming the ecological mega-dome with many kinds of Pokémon.
Hmm, useless knowledge increased again.
For this 2v2 battle, Aiden prepared two Pokémon, the other being Paldea's Scovillain.
Both were Pokémon he carried in his team during live streams but hadn't gotten a chance to use.
This real battle was a perfect opportunity to explain their related tactics.
Unfortunately, the previous opponent fell too quickly, leaving no room for any clever tricks...
"A Pokémon I haven't seen... but it seems to be Fire-type?"
Staring at the intimidating tiger Pokémon exuding a chilling Dark aura, Mela instinctively frowned.
Then, pulling out her phone, she openly opened the Pokédex in front of Aiden, aiming it at Incineroar, who had already struck a muscle-flexing pose.
[Checking information right in front of Teacher Azure, hahaha. Ever since that kid from Kitakami came, Teacher Azure's gym battles have almost turned into open-book exams!]
[Even with open-book exams, failing is the most frustrating...]
[Maybe Teacher Azure thinks, 'I've given you so many hints, yet you still can't pass. What else can I do?']
[Teacher Azure: This is tough!]
With a click, the Pokédex information of this Pokémon quickly appeared before her eyes.
So it was a Fire/Dark-type Pokémon, and it seemed quite skilled in physical attacks, with impressive attack stats...
However, Teacher Azure always intentionally left some openings. Noticing them would make the battle much easier.
And Incineroar's weakness was speed!
"So, it's decided—it's you, Ceruledge!"
As Mela threw her Poké Ball, a humanoid Pokémon resembling a knight clad in black armor appeared.
Enveloped in azure flames, its arms extended into a pair of black blades, with fiery eyes burning beneath a black helmet.
Its appearance bore a seven or eight-tenths resemblance to the previously seen Scarlet Armor Rider.
"Ceruledge?"
Upon seeing this Pokémon, Aiden immediately raised an eyebrow.
Ceruledge, Fire/Ghost-type, another evolution form of Charcadet.
Judging by the blades in its hands, it was a Pokémon specializing in physical attacks, with the move "Bitter Blade," capable of stealing energy and healing itself with part of the damage dealt.
It looked undeniably cool, but...
Facing Incineroar, it might not be the best choice.
While Aiden pondered, seeing the opponent's Incineroar quickly revealed a smile, followed by a thunderous roar.
The sudden, zero-frame roar clearly startled Ceruledge, momentarily dazing it.
The Intimidate ability quietly triggered.
[Incineroar looks so fierce; it indeed has the same Intimidate ability as Gyarados...]
[Quick, Teacher Azure, just like last time start with a slap on the opponent!]
[Have you eaten? If not, take my Fake Out!]
In the previous match, Aiden commanded Incineroar to use Fake Out for a strong control effect on the opponent, leaving the audience with the sole impression.
Fake Out might not have high power, but its speed was absurdly fast, with excellent crowd control effects. The psychological damage it inflicted on Pokémon was immeasurable.
Before Incineroar, Aiden's Riolu frequently used Fake Out to disrupt opponents, with great success.
However...
[What are you slapping? Check the Pokédex. Don't you know Ceruledge is Ghost-type? Can't you tell by the color?]
[Moreover, the gym rule states the challenger moves first. Teacher Azure must counter accordingly!]
[I remember Ceruledge has the Flash Fire ability, right? It seems to counter the Sunny Day team pretty well...]
[That makes sense. Directly ignoring Fire-type moves and resisting Grass, not afraid of Solar Beam. Maybe think about breaking the strategy around this trait!]
While the students watching online discussed heatedly, Mela noticed Ceruledge's anomaly.
Intimidate ability?
Quickly realizing, Mela boldly issued a command.
"Ceruledge, Swords Dance!"
To make good use of her first-move advantage, reinforcing on the spot should be the safest choice.
Even if Teacher Azure realized and wanted to interrupt, it wouldn't be easy.
Her Ceruledge was Fire/Ghost-type, unafraid of the opponent's Taunt, and had a slight speed advantage.
After strengthening, with the firepower provided by Sunny Day conditions, Ceruledge would grow stronger with each battle, continuously recovering health. Even as a Fire-type, it held a considerable advantage.
So, it should work!
After the opponent set her strategy, Aiden immediately smiled faintly and countered:
"Incineroar—"
"Use Darkest Lariat!"
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)