Tuesday, March 31
Due to the time difference, while the sun had just risen over Paldea and Aiden was still lost in a peaceful slumber, it was already midday in Kanto.
Blue—the same Blue who'd made his presence known in Aiden's livestream the previous night—arrived punctually at Cinnabar Gym, right on schedule.
"No wonder Cinnabar Island, being so close to a volcano, feels several degrees hotter than other cities…"
Before even stepping inside the Gym, Blue glanced around at the sea of hot spring inns and the plumes of steam sporadically rising into the sky, muttering to himself.
It hadn't even been three months since he'd left Pallet Town—and Cinnabar was already the seventh Gym he'd challenged.
Once he cleared this one, he'd simply need to sail back to Viridian City and wait for the Gym there to reopen. With that final badge in hand, he'd have collected all eight of Kanto's most prestigious—and hardest—Gym Badges, qualifying him to be the first to challenge the Indigo Plateau's Victory Road!
His journey hadn't been without its stumbles, but overall, Blue's progress was nothing short of astonishing.
Aside from his eternal rival Red, surely no one else could be moving this fast!
"In an environment like this, it's definitely to my advantage as a Fire-type specialist."
"It's just a test of raw strength… There's no way Blaine would bring out his full power lineup against a rookie like me!"
"So… no big deal!"
After quietly psyching himself up, Blue flashed a confident grin and strolled into the Gym, hands in his pockets.
"Hello—you're Blue, right? The challenger who made a reservation?"
A female Gym Trainee immediately noticed his arrival and approached him.
Blue nodded.
She responded with a faint, oddly knowing smile and gestured for him to follow.
"Gym Leader Blaine's already waiting inside the arena. Please, this way."
"By the way… you must be quite strong, right? Very few trainers get Grandpa Blaine to take them seriously."
"Besides you, the only other rookie this year who made him go all-out was a boy wearing a red cap. His Pikachu was incredible—really left an impression on all of us~"
Hearing this, Blue instantly knew who she meant.
Obviously Red!
Their routes had been mirror opposites, so it made perfect sense that Red had reached Cinnabar before him.
"Yeah… he is strong," Blue acknowledged, his expression instantly sharpening—but then he grinned with unwavering confidence.
"But I'll prove I'm stronger than him."
The trainee merely smiled politely and said nothing more.
The conversation ended abruptly.
In silence, the two passed through a hidden corridor deep within the Gym. After a short walk, the path opened dramatically into what appeared to be a cavernous arena nestled inside an active volcano.
For Blue, visiting this place for the first time, the setting was nothing short of mind-blowing.
Walls of cooled lava surrounded the field, and glowing molten rock pulsed visibly through the cracks below. The air was so scorching that just standing still made sweat pour down his face in beads.
At the center of the arena stood an elderly, bald man in researcher's attire and sunglasses, arms crossed. When he spotted Blue, he gave a silent, solemn nod.
Clearly—this was Gym Leader Blaine.
Blue froze for a moment. Then, spurred on by the trainee's encouraging glance, he stepped forward.
"Hello, Mr. Blaine. I'm Blue, today's challenger."
Polite as always, Blue introduced himself before battle.
"I've heard about you from my grandfather, Professor Oak. He said you were a renowned trainer in your era—just like him—and later became a researcher with profound insights into Fire-type Pokémon."
"Ha! To be praised by Professor Oak himself—that truly warms my old heart!"
Blaine boomed with laughter—but quickly grew serious again.
"But save the pleasantries for after the challenge. I stayed up all night preparing for this battle!"
"Before you, another exceptional rookie tested me—and honestly, made me wonder if I'd grown too old."
"Ever since that boy Red passed my trial, I've raised my standards for truly capable trainers."
"And… given that you're Oak's grandson and have earned recognition from that incredibly skilled young man, Aiden—I, too, couldn't help but grow curious about your strength!"
"Enough talk. Show me everything you've got!"
Blaine's words caught Blue completely off guard.
Sure, getting schemed by Azure was practically routine by now—his influence seemed to seep into every Gym he visited. He'd almost grown used to it.
But Red—that thick-browed, seemingly upright guy—had somehow set him up too?!
And now even his own grandfather was… involved?
Worse yet—it sounded like Blaine had watched Teacher Azure's livestream last night and probably already had a solid idea of Blue's tactics.
A sudden sense of dread crept over him.
Maybe it was the oppressive heat—or maybe it was pure pressure—but beads of sweat were already rolling down Blue's forehead.
And this was only the beginning.
Under Blue's increasingly tense gaze, Blaine snapped his fingers.
"Come out, old friend."
Blue, who'd been reaching for a Poké Ball, froze—and his expression turned grave.
An overwhelming, terrifying presence pressed down on him.
BOOOOM—!
From a massive fissure behind Blaine erupted a torrent of molten lava—and with it, a thunderous, earth-shaking roar.
A fiery-red figure leapt from the magma. When Blue saw its true form, his breath hitched.
Its brown fur rippled like living flame. Behind it trailed a mane as ethereal as drifting smoke. Its very face radiated divine authority—magnified tenfold by the erupting lava behind it.
It was Entei—one of Ho-Oh's legendary emissaries!
Staring at the Pokémon now calmly observing him, Blue was utterly stupefied.
This was a Legendary—one of the Three Beasts, alongside Suicune and Raikou, messengers of Ho-Oh. To humans, such beings were practically gods!
Legend said Entei only appeared before those with pure hearts of justice, testing them with sacred flames passed down from Ho-Oh itself.
Recalling what he'd read at Oak's Lab, Blue instinctively gulped.
He wasn't sure if he qualified as "just"—but he was certain this wasn't a Pokémon he was supposed to be facing right now.
"Wait—what kind of Gym sends out a LEGENDARY to test a ROOKIE?!"
…Okay, except Azure's Gym, obviously.
Noticing Blue's shock, Blaine chuckled knowingly and spoke up.
"Since I'm using power far beyond standard Gym battle limits, I'll only send out Entei—one Pokémon."
"As for you… under Free Battle rules, you're welcome to use all six of your Pokémon at once."
"This is your special trial, Blue—and Entei itself seems interested in you. It rarely appears before ordinary trainers."
Seeing Blue still looked uneasy, Blaine quickly added with a reassuring smile:
"Don't worry! For trainers and Pokémon deemed worthy by Entei, its Sacred Fire isn't lethal—it only judges and purges those with evil intent."
"However… thanks to Ho-Oh's blessing, ordinary Fire-type attacks won't even scratch Entei."
"How you break through its Sacred Fire? That's up to your command."
"…"
Blue fell silent.
This was targeted. Absolutely, blatantly targeted!
Knowing full well he'd be running a Sun team—mostly Fire-types—Blaine had brought out this hyper-optimized god to crush him?
This was unfair!
Clearly, Entei wasn't an opponent someone at his level could handle.
But…
Blue also understood: if Blaine was offering this challenge, there had to be a path to victory.
And for any serious trainer, a chance to battle a divine being was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Such a rare moment—if he missed it, who knew when it would come again?
Taking a deep breath, Blue made his decision.
Without another word, he pulled six Poké Balls from his pocket and locked eyes with Entei.
"Please… allow me to challenge."
Exactly. A true trainer wouldn't hesitate—even if their opponent were Arceus itself!
If he could beat Entei, his team's strength would skyrocket, making the Victory Road far easier to conquer!
With that thought, Blue's expression shifted into one of exhilarated determination.
Entei, watching closely, seemed to sense this—and its eyes glimmered with quiet approval.
"ROOOOAR—!"
As Entei unleashed a deafening roar…
…the beginning of Blue's two-week-long nightmare had officially begun.
…
While Blue suffered in Cinnabar Gym, Aiden finally stirred from his peaceful dreams.
After freshening up, he stepped outside the Gym and tore down the "Closed for Business" notice taped to the door.
He'd already announced the reopening of the Sunshine Gym to his Paldean students during yesterday's stream.
Having returned victorious from the Masters Tournament, Aiden was once again resuming his role as the "Newbie Village Chief."
But that wasn't all.
The Pokémon League had also entrusted him with another major duty:
Soon, he'd serve as a temporary Elite Four member on the Victory Road, evaluating the strength of aspiring challengers.
So—it was time to start preparing.
"Starting today, I should probably let my students get used to the intensity they'll face on the Victory Road."
"Rika mentioned Elite Four trials require five main Pokémon—easy enough for me to assemble."
"But… would using my Psychic Masters team be too harsh on them?"
Stretching and gazing at the sky, Aiden muttered to himself—then glanced down at Miraidon, still fast asleep at his feet.
First, eliminate this big lazybones!
Ever since he'd agreed to take Miraidon in, it had become the fastest runner at the first sign of battle—zero dignity for a Legendary Pokémon.
When would this guy ever step up?
If Miraidon regained its full power, its sheer presence would dwarf even the other Gym residents—maybe even outclass Mewtwo and Ogerpon.
But its psychological trauma? Even Aiden had no good solution.
He'd just have to find a way into Area Zero someday and help Miraidon overcome its inner demons.
Shifting his gaze from Miraidon, Aiden scanned the yard—and soon spotted Ogerpon, quietly tending to its garden as usual.
Ogerpon was also absurdly overpowered. In his Elite Four lineup, it would be an absolute core. At full power, it could likely go toe-to-toe with a Champion's ace.
And with its unique Mask mechanic? Its strength became even more ridiculous.
Fortunately, Ogerpon was usually gentle—a harmless, adorable face that made it hard to believe it was once feared as the "Oni of Kitakami."
Against rookies, it could easily pull a "performance" like it did against Caitlin—holding back just enough to teach without crushing spirits.
Definitely suitable for his Elite Four team—perfect for a finale.
As for other choices…
Mewtwo was absolutely not going in. That little rascal had zero control—it'd traumatize the newbies for life.
Besides, technically speaking, Mewtwo wasn't even his Pokémon. The Psychic Masters had already proven its strength.
Overpowered. Gloriously, terrifyingly overpowered.
Let it get excited and Mega Evolve on its own? Rookies would start crying on the spot.
So… maybe just keep it in trainer-form? Maybe?
Still pondering, Aiden returned to the Sunshine Gym and surveyed the Pokémon lounging in the living room.
Sylveon and Lucario would definitely be starters—they'd grown under his care from day one.
Sure, they'd gotten a bit too OP lately… but their power level still fit a "temporary Elite Four" just fine.
"Syl-?"
Sylveon, dozing on the couch and waiting for breakfast, blinked awake at Aiden's gaze.
The moment it saw him, the ribbons draped over its body—normally limp—floated upward against gravity, swaying cheerfully like a wagging tail, instantly betraying its mood.
"Nothing much," Aiden smiled, walking over to ruffle its head. "Just thinking how cute you are today."
"SYL-!"
With an embarrassed squeak, Sylveon shot off the couch like a rocket and vanished in a blur.
Watching its flustered retreat, Aiden chuckled.
"Yep… even Pokémon tsunderes fall for direct compliments."
With three Pokémon confirmed, the rest of the team was clear.
He turned toward the kitchen.
Through the half-open door, he could see Indeedee's gradually rounder silhouette.
After her stellar performance at the Psychic Masters, she absolutely had what it took to test students.
Stat-wise, she might lag slightly behind the others—but her unique ability to sense opponents' emotions made her perfect for evaluating a trainer's mental state.
And mindset? That was crucial for growth.
Especially when facing him.
If they couldn't even handle Indeedee and him, how did they expect to conquer the Victory Road?
Go home and train some more!
As for the final slot…
Aiden looked down at the corner of the living room.
There, curled up in a cozy nest, was Shelgon—its entire body encased in shimmering silver-white armor, lazily enjoying its quiet life.
Ever since evolving, Shelgon had lost the ability to vocalize and, hindered by its bulky frame, had faded into near-invisibility around the Gym.
It would likely stay this way until it evolved into the Sky Titan—Salamence.
Though nowhere near Salamence's power, Shelgon wasn't weak. After a few seconds, Aiden pulled up its status screen:
Shelgon (Male)
Type: Dragon
Ability: Rock Head
Moves: Tackle, Protect, Dragon Breath, Scary Face, Dragon Claw, Crunch, Dragon Rush, Head Smash
Nature: Adamant
Hatched: December 20, in Kitan Town—you met.
Dislikes: Bitter flavors.
Dreams: The sky.
Thanks to Aiden's hands-off approach, Shelgon hadn't changed much—only learned Head Smash recently.
It couldn't compete in high-tier battles like the Masters, but letting it join more casual matches against other rookies might help it gain real combat experience.
Maybe—just maybe—real battles could grant it the experience needed to evolve faster, just like in the games?
Thus, Aiden finalized his Elite Four roster:
Shelgon, Indeedee, Sylveon, Lucario, Ogerpon.
Swapping out Mewtwo for Shelgon instantly made his team look far more "legal."
With preparations complete, Aiden sighed in relief—and turned toward the kitchen to help Indeedee.
But just then, his eyes landed on something unmistakable atop his bookshelf in the bedroom:
The Rainbow Wing.
For his current team, the Rainbow Wing's life energy was practically useless. Aside from Ogerpon (when wearing the Hearthflame Mask), he had no Fire-types.
So for now, it was just… decorative.
"Wait… wasn't it said that whoever holds the Rainbow Wing has earned Ho-Oh's recognition?"
Aiden suddenly recalled his past-life knowledge of Ho-Oh.
"Getting the feather is only the first step. To become the Rainbow Hero, you must also pass trials set by Ho-Oh's emissaries…"
"Even Ash, the 'Super Pallet Town Protagonist' died once during the movie trials. Better not tempt fate."
Shaking his head, he remembered something else.
The Rainbow Wing could sense nearby trainers' emotions—and absorb negative energy.
But if a trainer's negativity grew too strong, the Wing would reevaluate their worthiness.
If it ever lost all its color… something terrible would happen.
"Now that I think about it… is it really safe to leave this in the Gym?"
Aiden scratched his head.
He trusted his own emotional control—but countless rookies had broken down after losing to him.
What if the Wing absorbed their despair too?
Then Marshadow would definitely pop out of his shadow and punch him!
At that thought, Aiden instinctively glanced at his feet.
…Had Marshadow already slipped into his shadow the moment he picked up the feather?
But it was broad daylight—no clear shadow in sight.
And even if there was one, as a mere human, he'd never spot a hidden Marshadow anyway.
Honestly, he was far more interested in Marshadow than in becoming the Rainbow Hero.
Ho-Oh felt too distant—and even with its blessing, it couldn't be caught.
But Marshadow? Now that was cost-effective.
How could a move like Spectral Thief exist?! It was brilliant!
If only Lucario could learn it too…
Of course, Aiden didn't know…
At that very moment, the Marshadow he was thinking about was also thinking about him.
…
As everyone knows, Kanto and Paldea aren't on the same continent—they're practically on opposite sides of the globe.
So when Aiden hopped on Dragonite and flew across the ocean back to Paldea, Marshadow—who hadn't yet managed to board—was left standing on the dock, utterly dumbfounded.
As the examiner of the Rainbow Hero trials, Marshadow's duty was to remain hidden, silently observing the hero's growth without revealing itself.
That's why it had almost no official records—only the legend of the "Shadow Guide" remained.
But never in all its generations of testing Rainbow Heroes had one run off to another continent!
Unable to appear openly—and having missed the chance to slip into Aiden's shadow and ride through subspace—Marshadow was now left with only one option:
…a very dumb option.
While Aiden daydreamed about Marshadow appearing beside him, the real Marshadow was currently swimming across the vast ocean, heart full of resentment.
"So annoying… is this the price for slacking off too long?"
After mentally giving this generation's Rainbow Hero a terrible review, Marshadow continued its freestyle stroke, grumbling internally:
You've got the Rainbow Wing! You're qualified! So STAY IN JOHTO, you wanderer!
Decision made!
Once I find this Rainbow Hero… I'm cranking up the difficulty!
Entei! Raikou! Suicune! All three—I'm summoning every one of them to give this rookie the ultimate trial!
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