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Thank you 🙂 ——————– There weren’t many people on the beach at this time.
After all, it was still early; aside from a few trainers training Water-type Pokémon, there were only the fishing uncles who loved to fish.
Just like before, choosing a spot close to the small hills and facing the sea, Leo let out Onix and Marshtomp.
He put the previously won Intensive Training Device on Marshtomp.
The device automatically adjusted to Marshtomp’s body size, fitting snugly, and automatically calibrated to 100kg based on its physical condition.
Thud!
“Marshtomp~!” The pressure came suddenly.
Caught off guard, Marshtomp flatlined on the beach, sprawling all four limbs out in a very comical manner.
Shaking his head in amusement, he manually adjusted the weight to 80kg.
Since Marshtomp had just evolved and hadn’t fully mastered its own strength yet, it was better to take it slow at the beginning to avoid hidden injuries.
“Get used to it for a bit!
Marshtomp, your top priority right now is to familiarize yourself with your body as quickly as possible and master your new strength and newly learned moves.
Mm…
except for Earthquake…” Earthquake was too powerful and an indiscriminate attack.
Before it mastered its own strength, it was better to practice slowly in a designated area.
“Once you’re proficient, continue to strengthen your power!
Especially your arms.
While gradually increasing the weight, try to cleave the waves with your own strength.
You have to withstand the pressure of the ocean to temper yourself to the maximum extent.” “Marshtomp!” Marshtomp, having initially adapted to the trainer, responded earnestly.
“Good, go practice in the shallow sea.
Don’t go in too deep.” Leo instructed carefully.
Seeing it nod and turn toward the ocean, he then turned his head to look at Onix.
“Onix, your task is a bit heavy!
First, you need to learn two moves and master them.
Then, continue absorbing rocks and minerals to improve yourself.
For the Gym battle, depending on the situation, the lead will definitely be Marshtomp.
Your goal right now is to absorb as much energy as possible and build up your strength.
Once I get a Metal Coat, you can evolve.” Onix nodded.
The tacit understanding of growing up together required no further words.
Taking out the two purchased TM disks, he first pressed the Protect TM against Onix’s forehead.
As the disk turned into white light and fused into its head, Onix closed its eyes, comprehending and learning.
Seeing this, Leo sat quietly to the side, watching Marshtomp training in the distance while waiting for Onix’s comprehension to finish.
This wait lasted two whole hours!
[Ding!
Onix learned Protect (Beginner)!] Onix finally opened its eyes and nodded to Leo.
“Great!” He patted its body encouragingly.
“You can exchange pointers on the Protect move with Marshtomp later; it will help you improve!” Leo took out the Dragon Breath TM, looked at it, and asked, “Can you keep going?
Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?” After all, this was a mental energy imprint from an Elite Four-level Pokémon!
Even though it was very gentle, learning too much at once would be hard to endure.
So it was best to limit learning to one or two disks at a time, digesting them before continuing.
“Roar~” Shaking its head, Onix indicated it could still go on.
Seeing this, Leo could only trust it.
He pressed the disk against its forehead once more.
The same light fused into it, and Onix closed its eyes again, sinking into comprehension within its mental world.
Leo breathed a sigh of relief, waiting patiently while preparing lunch.
The crowd at the beach gradually grew.
Trainers battling, girls sunbathing, fishing uncles, families playing around—it became lively all at once.
In the distant seawater, Marshtomp repeatedly punched the waves with both arms, getting knocked over by the waves time and again, only to stand up and continue.
Stabilizing its posture, enduring the pressure, constantly repeating the process.
[Ding!
Onix learned Dragon Breath (Beginner)!] Beside him, as the System’s prompt rang out, Onix finished learning.
It proactively crawled into the shallows.
After blinking slightly, it endured the discomfort brought by the seawater.
Then, closing its eyes once more, it began the wading training it was used to!
Enhancing its resistance!
Smiling at the two Pokémon, Leo also changed into sports gear and began to train his own body.
After all, trainers needed a good physique too.
He didn’t need to become like a certain Ash from Pallet Town, but at the very least, he should be able to tank a Pikachu’s Thunderbolt, right?
And so, the first day of special training slowly unfolded.
The trainer and his two Pokémon began their final special training before battling the Gym Leader.
Day after day…
…
The Rustboro Gym was the official League Gym of Rustboro City!
The Gym Leader, Miss Roxanne, specialized in Rock-type Pokémon.
Trainers who succeeded in their challenge could obtain the Stone Badge.
The real-life Gym Leader Roxanne wasn’t like in the games, where you could just catch any random Grass- or Water-type Pokémon and sweep her entire team.
As the Gym Leader of a metropolis like Rustboro City, Roxanne’s strength and potential were immense!
Graduating from the League Pokémon Trainer Academy with outstanding grades, she sat in the position of Rock-type Gym Leader with Elite-tier strength.
Her power was recognized and held in high expectations by the League’s higher-ups.
Among the many Gym Leaders in the Hoenn region, the youngest were Roxanne and the twin Gym Leaders in Mossdeep City.
Young, yet full of strength.
And her strength was rapidly improving!
As a Rock-type specialist, Roxanne looked like a quiet, elegant honor student girl!
She became a Gym Leader after graduating from the Trainer’s School in Rustboro City, also serving as a teacher there.
Deeply influenced by Rock-type Pokémon, she loved searching for rare stones, much like a certain Hoenn Champion who neglected his proper duties!
Roxanne’s Rock-type Gym was located in the north of Rustboro City, occupying a large area!
The entire building was shaped like a small hill.
Its earth-yellow exterior made it look, from afar, like a genuine massive rocky mountain, heavy and steadfast!
Just like the feeling Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon gave off.
Standing in front of the Gym’s grand doors, Leo felt a slight surge of excitement!
The time to truly challenge a Gym had finally arrived.
For this, he had waited for a long time, worked hard for a long time, and prepared for a long time.
After seven days of grueling special training at the beach, Onix and Marshtomp’s strength had advanced further!
Their mastery of new moves and control over their own power had made tremendous progress.
Onix’s level reached 27, and Marshtomp leveled up to 19!
The massive amount of Training Points obtained from training and battles were all spent, causing their move proficiencies to increase significantly as well.
Although he had fought many trainers, as fellow Rookie Trainers—even if they had entered Beginner tier—there wasn’t much experience to speak of for his two Pokémon now.
Occasionally, he would encounter opponents with some strength, but they only caused a little trouble.
After all, Leo possessed the knowledge and insight of two lifetimes.
Battling children with an adult’s mindset made winning quite easy.
Therefore, he craved opponents.
He longed for powerful opponents to make him stronger, and Gym Leaders were the best teachers and goals!
Every Gym Leader cultivated multiple tiers of Pokémon, adjusting and changing according to the strength of the challenging trainer.
Otherwise, if a Rookie Trainer challenged and you sent out a Level 60 main team…
there would be no need for a battle at all!
It would be a complete crush!
So, choosing the Pokémon to send out based on the opponent, while maintaining high pressure and appropriately holding back, was the primary method of assessment for Gym Leaders.
Of course, if they encountered a rookie with excellent strength and potential, they would get slightly more serious.
While revealing their own strength, they would examine the trainer’s temperament and commanding ability.
Therefore, victory or defeat wasn’t important; bringing out one’s own strength to earn the Gym Leader’s approval was the most important thing!
The time is now!
Steadying his mind, Leo pushed open the heavy doors of the Rustboro Gym.
Accompanied by the creaking sound of the doors opening…
This moment had finally arrived!