Ignoring the strange looks along the way, Rex began his tour of Nimbasa City.
His first stop was the amusement park, and by the time he arrived, it was already bustling with visitors.
Most guests came with friends or family. Solo visitors like Rex were rare in a place like this.
To avoid looking too lonely, Rex released Machamp from its Poké Ball.
Sure enough, once Machamp appeared, most of the attention shifted to it. With its muscular physique and four powerful arms, it was quite the eye-catcher.
"Hey! Your Machamp looks really strong—how about a Pokémon battle with my Serperior?"
Just as Rex stepped off the Ferris wheel, a stylishly dressed girl about his age blocked his path and issued a challenge.
"Sure, why not? Let's head over to that open field," Rex said, nodding after a quick glance at Machamp, who was clearly eager to battle.
"Your outfit's a bit old-fashioned, but at least you're easy to talk to. I'm Mira. Nice to meet you!"
The girl grinned as she introduced herself.
"Uh, I'm Rex. And I might be happier if you hadn't called me old-fashioned," Rex replied, dryly.
"Don't be so sensitive. You travelers from out of town all dress so… artless," Mira said, waving dismissively, her expression screaming typical country bumpkin.
Soon, the two reached an open patch of grass, and Mira released her Pokémon—Serperior.
Serperior had a long, serpent-like body with a deep green back and a pale green belly. Its hind limbs had vanished through evolution, and its forelimbs were now small leafy nubs. Three large dark-green leaves sprouted near the tip of its tail.
Yellow regal markings adorned its body, enhancing its elegant presence. Two coiled leaf-like structures near its neck resembled the cuffs and collar of a suit, lined with golden yellow.
Its red eyes radiated disdain, giving it an air of cold nobility.
Serperior's fierce gaze alone could freeze weaker opponents in place. It was known as the lord of the forest, striking fear into those who dared oppose it.
It only fought seriously against opponents who could stare into its eyes without flinching. It could take in sunlight and amplify it within its long body, increasing the energy output dozens of times over.
As one of Unova's starter evolutions, Serperior was no pushover. But Rex could tell from its unstable aura that this one had only recently evolved.
"All right, then. Serperior, use Vine Whip!" Mira called out.
Two long vines lashed forward from Serperior's body, slicing through the air toward Machamp.
Rather than dodge, Machamp struck a powerful pose—he was using Bulk Up to boost his attack and defense stats.
Whap! Whap!
Serperior's vines struck with loud cracks, but Machamp didn't so much as flinch. It was as if the vines were just brushing off dust.
"Tch! Serperior, use Leaf Storm!"
Seeing her Vine Whip completely shrugged off, Mira clenched her teeth and commanded her strongest move.
"Machamp, charge in! Use Fire Punch!"
With Rex's order, Machamp lunged forward, muscles bulging as it dove straight into the swirling storm of razor-sharp leaves.
Mira smirked, confident in Leaf Storm's power. Watching Machamp throw himself into the attack, she already saw victory in her hands.
But then—"What?!"
To her shock, Machamp burst through the storm unscathed, fire blazing around its fist as it hurtled straight toward Serperior.
"Serperior, dodge it!"
Too late.
Before Serperior could react, Machamp's flaming fist slammed directly onto its head, driving it into the ground with such force that it left a crater.
"Serperior, are you okay?!"
Mira rushed forward, but Serperior didn't respond—it was clearly unconscious.
"That hit was brutal…"
"Yeah… that Machamp is terrifying."
Spectators nearby had been watching the battle and were now murmuring with awe and unease.
They finally realized how strong Machamp really was. Every time it glanced in their direction, they instinctively looked away—unable to meet its gaze.
"Is your Serperior all right? I can help treat it if you'd like," Rex offered kindly, seeing that Serperior was starting to stir.
"No need. I underestimated you just now. Serperior, use Synthesis!"
Still stung by the swift loss, Mira waved off Rex's offer and glanced up at the bright sun, giving her next command.
Serperior, half-conscious, instinctively began to use Synthesis, absorbing sunlight to heal its wounds from Machamp's earlier strike.
Before long, it had mostly recovered, though the glare it shot at Machamp was intense—as if it were ready for round two right then and there.
"That's enough, Serperior. We lost this time, but we'll train harder and get payback next time."
Mira patted Serperior's neck, soothing it with quiet words.
She clearly wasn't happy with the outcome, but she knew her Serperior still had a long way to go before catching up to a powerhouse like Machamp.
Serperior nodded solemnly in agreement.
"So, Rex, are you just passing through Nimbasa City?" Mira asked as she returned Serperior to its Poké Ball, casually brushing off their battle as if it had never happened.
"Yeah, I'll be staying here for a few days," Rex replied.
"Perfect! Want me to show you around? Oh—and there's a super rare fashion show at the Nimbasa Gym this afternoon. You've gotta see it!"
As they chatted, Rex learned that Mira was a dedicated member of Elesa's fan club.
Thanks to her connections, Rex even scored a spot backstage at the gym, where he'd be able to watch the entire fashion show up close.
Rex had no idea how popular these shows really were—according to Mira, Elesa's runway events were always packed, and last-minute walk-ins rarely got a seat.
(End of Chapter)