Pokémon: Unlocking The Path to Supremacy

For several days, Aoki had remained in the dense forest, but now, there was at most a day's journey left before reaching the edge.

Throughout his time here, Aoki had adhered to a strict training regimen for Torchic and Froakie, maximizing their growth. The introduction of Celadon/Rainbow Fruits had revolutionized their diet, significantly boosting the nutritional content of the Pokéblocks he crafted. These enriched Pokéblocks had accelerated their progress at an astonishing rate.

Even Boss Lairon, who had long surpassed his previous limits, was now just one step away from reaching the Elite level. His sheer physical strength was already formidable, but now, Aoki focused on refining his battle instincts and deepening his comprehension of combat strategies.

Thanks to Aoki's Viridian Power, any injuries sustained during their rigorous battles could be swiftly healed. This allowed Torchic and Froakie to train at a relentless pace without fear of long-term damage, further widening the gap between them and other rookie trainers' Pokémon.

Froakie had successfully broken through to the Advanced level, and Torchic was on the verge of an even greater transformation. One final push, and it would evolve into Combusken, reaching the Superior level in the process.

As the days passed, Aoki intensified his training sessions. He knew that once they left the forest, there would be a temporary period of rest before their next major challenge.

"Torchic, finish it with Ember."

"Chirp!"

Torchic released a concentrated burst of flames, striking an Arbok squarely in the chest. The serpent Pokémon let out a hiss before collapsing in defeat.

"Very good," Aoki praised, his voice calm yet approving.

Torchic puffed up its small chest, visibly proud of itself.

Beside it, Froakie let out a competitive croak. I could have handled that too.

Aoki observed the lighthearted rivalry but didn't intervene. A bit of competition between teammates was healthy—it encouraged both Pokémon to push themselves harder.

After healing Arbok and leaving it a Pokéblock as a peace offering, Aoki and May continued their journey.

By noon, they arrived at a riverbank, where sunlight glistened across the water's surface.

Aoki decided to stop. "May, let's take a break here. We should be out of the forest by tomorrow."

"Okay…" May responded, but her voice carried a trace of reluctance.

Leaving the forest meant they would soon reach Petalburg City—and with that, her time traveling with Aoki would come to an end.

Aoki understood her hesitation. He had considered asking May to continue traveling with him, but realistically, it was impossible. She was still too young, lacked a Pokémon of her own, and—most importantly—her parents would never allow it.

For now, his journey remained a solitary one.

During lunch, Aoki and May ate their meals while Torchic and Froakie devoured their own food at an accelerated pace. The constant battles had taken a toll, and despite the Viridian Power healing their wounds, the mental fatigue remained. They needed the nourishment to recover.

Boss Lairon, on the other hand, had no battles to fight. His focus was entirely on comprehending the mysteries of combat, a crucial step before breaking through to the Elite level. But that didn't stop him from indulging in large quantities of Celadon/Rainbow Pokéblocks, which had become an essential part of his diet.

Just as the group was about to relax—

RUMBLE!

A sudden explosion echoed through the forest. Thick plumes of black smoke rose into the sky, disrupting the tranquil scene.

Aoki and May immediately turned toward the source of the disturbance.

Boss Lairon stopped eating, moving closer to Aoki with a vigilant glare. Torchic and Froakie weren't far behind—one positioned on Aoki's left, the other on his right, standing protectively in front of May.

"Brother Aoki, what's happening?" May's voice trembled slightly. It was the first time she had encountered such a chaotic situation.

Aoki narrowed his eyes. "It's likely a Pokémon hunter. We'll take a look. If they're not strong, I'll deal with them myself."

Grabbing May's hand, he carefully led her through the underbrush, approaching the scene without making a sound.

At the same time, Aoki activated his system interface.

Sure enough—

A silver treasure chest had appeared on the map.

Silver, huh? Aoki thought. That means the enemy isn't too strong. If they were a real threat, it would at least be a Saffron chest.

Despite this assessment, Aoki remained cautious. Overconfidence could lead to mistakes.

As they reached the clearing, the scene became clear—

A large transport vehicle stood in the center, surrounded by caged Pokémon. Among them, he spotted Arbok and Weezing, their expressions filled with helplessness.

But the true threat lay beside the vehicle—

A towering Rhyperior loomed over the area.

Pokémon Identified: Rhyperior

Type: Rock/Ground

Strength: Gym-Level

Abilities & Moves: ???

Aoki frowned. Gym-level strength… a serious opponent.

Even though Rhyperior was weak to Steel-type attacks, its Ground-type moves posed a significant threat to Boss Lairon. The matchup was mutual restraint, but Rhyperior held the advantage in raw power.

Standing next to Rhyperior was another Pokémon—

Pokémon Identified: Fearow

Type: Normal/Flying

Strength: Gym-Level

Abilities & Moves: ???

Aoki let out a quiet breath. If this was the extent of the enemy's forces, he wasn't too concerned. Even if Rhyperior knew Earthquake, the difference in strength between them would decide the battle. Not to mention, Aoki had the Viridian Power to heal any injuries mid-fight.

This battle was his to win.

Aoki glanced at May, who looked like she wanted to say something. Before she could, he placed a finger to his lips, signaling for silence.

"I'll handle this."

Moving swiftly, he released Boss Lairon's Poké Ball, keeping Torchic and Froakie at his side for a coordinated attack.

"Torchic, Froakie—you'll handle Fearow. Torchic, use Fire Spin. Froakie, follow up with Psybeam."

"Chirp!"

"Kola!"

The two Pokémon acknowledged the order, their eyes locked onto their target.

Aoki then turned his attention to Boss Lairon, gripping its Poké Ball tightly before launching it forward.

"Boss Lairon, charge in! Use Heavy Slam on Rhyperior!"

The massive Steel-type materialized on the battlefield, immediately launching into a full-speed charge.

The ground trembled beneath its immense weight.

With Heavy Metal as its Ability, Boss Lairon's weight was drastically increased—meaning Heavy Slam's power skyrocketed. Against a Rock/Ground-type like Rhyperior, the damage would be devastating.

The Pokémon hunter's eyes widened in shock.

"Who's there?! Rhyperior, dodge it!"

But it was too late—

At the same moment, Torchic and Froakie unleashed their combined assault on Fearow—a swirling vortex of fire and a piercing psychic beam hurtling toward their airborne opponent.

The battle had begun.