As Nemona's "Mama Croc" (Skeledirge) took the field, Aiden immediately wore a look of understanding.
Before Nemona left Cabo Poco, Aiden remembered all the Pokémon in her possession:
Her starter—new beginnings embodied in Pawmi, the unexpectedly caught Dunsparce, and one of Naranja Academy's standard Paldean Starter issued to every freshman—
—the very Skeledirge standing before him now.
He wasn't sure if she'd encountered stronger partners on her journey—but knowing Nemona's personality, he suspected she'd want all of them to appear in this battle against him, showcasing just how far she'd come.
And just as he'd predicted…
"Skeledirge's Fire/Ghost typing is extremely troublesome for Lucario. Neither its Fighting nor Steel STAB moves will deal significant damage."
"In theory, this is an absolutely dominant matchup."
Aiden calmly summarized Nemona's strategy—then gave her a thumbs-up.
"Very sound thinking. Now I understand why you had to brute-force that one-for-one with Sylveon earlier."
After all, Sylveon's Fairy typing wasn't much of a threat to Skeledirge either.
The real difference between Sylveon and Lucario?
—Their offensive arsenals.
"You're planning to use Will-O-Wisp to burn Lucario, completely neutralizing its threat and locking it down in a 1v1, right?"
Aiden's words left Nemona momentarily stunned.
But she quickly regained composure.
"As expected of Teacher Aiden… you've already predicted my entire plan?"
"Then… why did you still send out Lucario…?"
She frowned, confused.
Though she rarely browsed the internet during her journey, she'd kept close tabs on Teacher Aiden—especially during the globally hyped Psychic Masters Tournament. After clearing seven Gyms and finally getting a break at home, she'd watched every match.
So she knew very well just how terrifying his once-humble Riolu had become.
Not only did she need to fear its powerful Fighting moves, but also that piercing technique capable of bypassing any defense—a truly oppressive punch.
Post-victory, analysis videos from popular trainers had all spotlighted Lucario.
According to hardcore battle theorists, Lucario's techniques likely originated from Galar's Isle of Armor Dojo, specifically the elusive Unseen Fist.
And that sinister, Dark-type punch? Almost certainly Wicked Blow—a move signature to Urshifu.
It was even speculated that Lucario had mastered Surging Strikes as well.
What Lucario? This is basically a smaller Urshifu!
Between its lethal precision strikes, its ability to ignore Protect, and these two moves being super effective against Skeledirge…
—who actually had the advantage was far from clear.
But Aiden had also anticipated her plan: using Will-O-Wisp to inflict a burn, drastically reducing Lucario's offensive pressure.
Aside from dodging with Detect, Lucario had no reliable counter—making this a high-risk play.
Right now, Nemona was genuinely puzzled by Aiden's intentions.
And he offered no explanation.
Truthfully, Sylveon hadn't taken fatal damage—the head-on collision had only stunned it temporarily. It could still return later.
But facing Nemona—the first challenger of the Victory Road—Aiden wanted her to set an example for future students.
If anyone could devise clever counters to his core team, it would be her.
He was genuinely excited to see what she'd come up with.
In fact, ever since accepting the League's commission as a temporary Elite Four member, he'd been hoping a genius rookie would eventually break through his lineup.
That way, he'd have a reliable partner when he ventured into Area Zero someday.
Heh—I'm such a clever guy!
Seeing Aiden wouldn't clarify, Nemona steeled herself and continued her plan.
"Skeledirge—Will-O-Wisp!"
She commanded swiftly. Aiden responded calmly:
"Lucario—Substitute."
In a way, their thinking aligned.
Earlier, Nemona sacrificed half of Orthworm's HP to leave a Substitute—just to grant Lycanroc a single setup opportunity.
Now, Aiden made the same call.
"Luca!"
Lucario instantly conjured a spectral clone of itself—positioning it protectively ahead. (A/N: Refer to ZA Battle Mode)
Though Substitute cost HP, it was an excellent defensive tool.
If properly timed, it could shield against most attacks—especially status moves like Will-O-Wisp.
Since Substitutes lacked physical form, they couldn't be inflicted with status conditions. The flame dissipated harmlessly—leaving Lucario and its Substitute completely unscathed.
"Ahh—I see!"
Nemona blinked, instantly grasping his strategy.
"By using Substitute, Skeledirge can't threaten Lucario at all!"
"So this is Teacher Azure's confidence? It's definitely tricky…"
She paused—then suddenly grinned, eyes gleaming with mystery.
"But but, Teacher Azure… you might not know this…"
"Skeledirge is also a master of sound!"
"Skeledirge—Torch Song!"
Didn't see that coming, huh, Teacher Azure?
This was my true goal all along!
Confidence surged within Nemona.
After all—its name was Skeledirge, the "Giant-Voice Croc." Born to command sound, its nasal flame even morphed in response to different melodies.
Its signature move, Torch Song, fused Fire-type energy with song—using powerful vocals to amplify its offensive power while boosting its own spirit.
In other words…
This move was both sound-based (piercing Substitute to hit Lucario) and Fire-type—posing massive threat.
And with its self-buffing nature, even if Lucario survived the first hit, relentless follow-ups would wear it down.
This time… I finally win one!
Smiling, Nemona looked up at Aiden—hoping to catch surprise or dismay in his eyes.
But…
Aiden remained serene—already holding a small black orb in his hand.
The moment Nemona saw the Tera Orb, her confident expression froze—then twisted into horror.
"As a newcomer, it's perfectly normal to be unfamiliar with Victory Road rules, Nemona."
Aiden's tone was light as he weighed the orb—then continued.
"I didn't think I'd need to use this… but since it's you, I'll take the chance to remind everyone."
"On the Victory Road, all four Elite Four members—and the Champion—will carry Tera Orbs, using their power when needed."
"Of course… this applies to you students as well."
"So—never let your guard down~"
With that, Aiden hurled the Tera Orb toward the sky just as Skeledirge puffed its cheeks, ready to unleash its roar.
The orb arced through the air—then shattered above Lucario, releasing Tera Shards that rained down, coating Lucario in shimmering blue light.
Instantly, a translucent Water-type Tera Armor enveloped Lucario, topped by a three-petaled Tera Crown.
"Lucario—Surging Strikes!"
"Luca!"
At the command, Lucario exploded forward, leaving skid marks on the uneven battlefield. It vaulted over its Substitute, racing toward Skeledirge at blinding speed.
Even as Torch Song struck mid-charge, its momentum never wavered.
"Oh no… it's too late!"
Nemona panicked.
She'd assumed Aiden rarely used Tera—and genuinely didn't know the rules well enough. Terasterallization hadn't been factored into her plans.
Now, facing a Tera Water Lucario, even using her own Tera offered no hope.
Her Skeledirge was Tera Fire—optimized to steamroll opponents with Torch Song if tactics failed.
But against Tera Water? Utterly helpless.
Even Protect would be shattered by Lucario's Unseen Fist…
With no escape, the only move was to switch.
After a painful hesitation, Nemona made the call:
"Skeledirge—return!"
And…
I'm sorry, Orthworm!!!
I'll feed you tons of Rare Bones when we get home!
As she recalled Skeledirge, she silently apologized to her next Pokémon—then threw another Poké Ball.
The moment Orthworm appeared, it froze—staring at Lucario's fist already rocketing toward its face.
Already weakened from Shed Tail and Sylveon's Hyper Voice, Orthworm was on fragile HP.
All it could do was slowly form a silent "?" with its eyes—before Lucario's fluid barrage of punches sent it crashing out, instantly KO'd.
"…"
The crowd fell into collective silence.
Sure, the switch was fast—and objectively optimal…
…but was ditching your ally this ruthlessly necessary?
Nemona, your Orthworm is definitely sobbing inside!
"Hmm… quite decisive."
Aiden's expression was complex—but he nodded in acknowledgment.
Orthworm had little fight left anyway. Sacrificing it to save Skeledirge and buy a rotation was strategically sound.
(Of course, in practice, it did look like she didn't care about her Pokémon's feelings.)
But Aiden knew better—Nemona's visible guilt proved she wasn't like that.
Sometimes, victory demanded tactical sacrifices.
Her ability to make that call, coldly and clearly, proved just how focused she was.
"Your next Pokémon… is probably Pawmot, right?"
Aiden smoothly pivoted from the awkward moment.
His words instantly refocused the students on this nearing-conclusion battle.
"Uh…"
Caught again, Nemona sighed and admitted defeat.
After slapping her cheeks to snap out of it, she banished all doubt and rallied her spirit.
Teacher Aiden really is stronger than I imagined!
But even if I lose—I'll fight until my very last breath!
"I choose you—Pawmot!"
Another Poké Ball flew.
Red light flashed—and a bipedal, hug-ready "electric mouse" appeared.
"Paw!"
Spotting Aiden as the opponent's trainer, Pawmot instantly beamed and waved cheerfully.
Aiden smiled back—then said:
"Now I'm certain. Your remaining three Pokémon are Pawmot, Skeledirge… and that Dudunsparce, right?"
Nemona nodded.
He knew about these three—but why mention them now?
Though puzzled, she knew speed was her only hope against Lucario. Without hesitation, she commanded before Aiden could speak:
"Pawmot—Double Shock!"
Her plan was simple:
Lucario, while powerful, wasn't exceptionally fast outside Extreme Speed or Bullet Punch.
Pawmot—being highly agile—would outspeed it decisively.
And with Lucario's Tera Armor active, Pawmot's Electric-type Double Shock would hit devastatingly hard.
If it landed first, it might even OHKO—or at least cripple Lucario.
With options dwindling as Pokémon fell, she had to rely on this straightforward assault.
But Aiden just sighed, smiling wryly.
"I wanted to explain a bit more… but since you're so eager, I'll just show you."
"Lucario—return."
Mimicking Nemona's earlier move, a red beam recalled Lucario just as Pawmot—eyes blazing with resolve—stepped forward, only to find its target vanished.
Confused for a split second, Pawmot tensed again as Aiden readied another Poké Ball.
"What I meant was… none of your remaining three Pokémon handle Ogerpon well."
"If Ogerpon wears its Cornerstone Mask, only Pawmot's Fighting moves counter it… and you've already attacked, haven't you?"
Aiden shook his head—then tossed his ball.
"But your decisive switch earlier was impressive—so I'll copy you~"
"To the rest of you—try this damage-control tactic! On Victory Road's gauntlet, pairing it with pre-packed Full Restores can drastically reduce attrition."
Teaching through battle—this'll stick better, he thought.
As Ogerpon appeared and swiftly donned its Cornerstone Mask, Pawmot—already mid-charge—unleashed its accumulated Double Shock.
Too late for new orders.
The attack struck Ogerpon's mask—deflected harmlessly. No real damage.
Exhausted, Pawmot recoiled, its electrically charged cheeks dimming. Double Shock's side effect: all Electric energy spent, leaving it temporarily vulnerable.
Not a huge issue—except for the bigger problem looming:
Ogerpon and Pawmot were now in close combat.
And Ogerpon's speed/strength—etched into Nemona's memory from Kitakami—was terrifying.
If even Pecharunt couldn't withstand it, how could Pawmi?
"Ogerpon—Power Whip!"
Predictably, Aiden pressed the advantage.
Knowing Protect was futile, Nemona gritted her teeth:
"Pawmot—don't be afriad! Close Combat!"
"Pawmot!"
Bolstered by its trainer's faith, Pawmotcharged—determined to land its all.
But Power Whip's range dwarfed Pawmot's tiny arms.
"Poni~"
Two vines lashed out—from Ogerpon's back—slamming into Pawmot's path just as it sprinted.
Even with acrobatic dodges, Pawmot couldn't evade forever.
As distance closed, Ogerpon's whips accelerated.
Finally—at point-blank range—Pawmi couldn't dodge the killing blow.
One whip strike—and it flew backward, crashing down, instantly defeated.
"…"
Seeing her last hope fall, Nemona fell silent.
Her final two—Skeledirge and Dunsparce—were outmatched in both speed and typing.
Against Ogerpon? Zero chance.
But still…
"The battle's not over yet, Teacher Aiden!"
After a brief haze, Nemona flashed a bright smile—eyes burning with unbroken resolve.
"Even if I lose—I'll fight to the very end!"
"So… go, Dudunsparce!"
…
As expected, the next battle was a rout.
Knowing Dudunsparce couldn't threaten Ogerpon, Nemona went all-in—using Yawn in a desperate bid to buy Skeledirge one opening.
But when Ogerpon instantly OHKO'd Dunsparce with Close Combat—then yawned mockingly—Aiden recalled Ogerpon and sent Lucario (still Tera Water) back in.
Hopeless, Skeledirge struggled briefly before Lucario's final Surging Strikes erased it—sealing Aiden's victory.
Aiden wins.
"…"
Even the cheerful Nemona slumped for a moment, crushed by the clean defeat.
"Hehe… yep, I lost again!"
But quickly, she bounced back—jogging to Aiden and gazing up with sparkling, starry-eyed admiration.
If she had to sum up this battle in one sentence?
"I gave it my all—but still couldn't beat Teacher Azure!"
"It's frustrating… but Teacher Aiden should be this strong! If you were as easy to beat as other Gym Leaders, it'd be boring!"
"…"
Aiden was momentarily speechless.
From her view, sure—but that jab at all other Gym Leaders was dangerously unwise!
What if they heard that?!
"Your growth has been huge, Nemona."
He swiftly changed topics, smiling.
"Honestly, your performance today proves you're already a highly mature trainer."
"With three months until Victory Road opens, at your pace, clearing all four Elite Four and the Champion isn't impossible."
"And after this battle… I'm even more confident you'll be this year's Champion~"
"So keep pushing forward!"
He beamed encouragement.
(A/N: Truthfully, the game lore said very little about Champion Nemona's true strength—but her trainer skill and Pokémon development today confirmed she was a prodigy, leagues above previous challengers.
With more training and adaptation to the Victory Road's gauntlet format, she'd evolve further.
Unless a dark horse emerged… this year's Champion was practically decided.)
"Eh? Am I really that strong???"
Flustered by the praise, Nemona blushed and waved her hands frantically.
"I was completely overwhelmed by your counters, Teacher Aiden! Don't inflate my ego with such exaggerated compliments!"
"I'll work even harder—to defeat you and clear Victory Road!"
As she finished, Aiden's expression turned faintly amused.
He glanced at the students' extremely complicated faces—then smiled.
"How strong Nemona really is… I think our classmates can answer that best, right?"
"Everyone—what did you think of Nemona's performance?"
Aiden turned to the crowd, seeking their verdict.
A bold student immediately called out:
"Meh—only like… a billion times better than me!"
"Gotta admit… Nemona's the only rookie to force Teacher Azure to use four Pokémon!"
"How's there a monster this strong hiding in our academy?!"
"Wait—wasn't there a nameless student who blitzed six Gyms in the backend logs? That was you, wasn't it?!"
"Teacher Azure's right! Nemona, you're amazing—I learned so many cool tricks!"
"Nemona! Join Team Star! Let's band together to finally beat Teacher Azure!"
Their shouts reached Nemona.
Flooded with such blunt praise from strangers, even she was flustered—standing red-faced, awkwardly scratching her green-highlighted bangs while secretly enjoying it.
"Hehe… so I am really strong?"
She murmured—just loud enough for Aiden to hear.
He smiled warmly.
Nemona's appearance did more than just provide an example—she'd injected hope into the crowd.
After that battle, many students likely felt: "If she can push Teacher Azure this far… maybe I can too!"
With their burning drive to challenge him—and Team Star (led by Penny) offering strategy support—their strength would surely skyrocket.
This year's Victory Road… might just be the most exciting yet.
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)