Pokémon: Unlocking The Path to Supremacy

Aoki carefully examined the Mega Stone in his hand, his eyes flickering with anticipation—only to be met with disappointment.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the Aggronite required for Boss Lairon's Mega Evolution, but rather an Aerodactylite. If it had been Aggronite, Boss Lairon could have undergone Mega Evolution, potentially allowing it to battle even Elite-level Pokémon.

Despite the disappointment, Aoki still stored the Aerodactylite carefully. He didn't have an Aerodactyl yet, but that didn't mean he wouldn't obtain one in the future. The Old Amber, a fossil that could revive Aerodactyl, was rare but not impossible to find. He recalled that there was a high chance of obtaining one in the Kanto Region's Grandpa Canyon excavation site next year.

Ideally, he wanted an Aerodactyl with at least Elite-level potential, though even quasi-Elite qualifications would be acceptable. Of course, if he were lucky enough to get a Champion-level Aerodactyl, he might just laugh himself awake at night.

Aoki then picked up the Key Stone and secured it onto a bracelet, fastening it to his wrist. Mega Evolution was a game-changer, and though he couldn't use it yet, he intended to master it early.

"Alright, May, it's about time we left. There's probably nothing else worthwhile here."

Seeing that the treasure chest was now empty, Aoki assumed there was nothing else of value left in the ruins.

"I understand," May replied softly. She didn't ask too much about the items Aoki had obtained, her focus solely on him.

Before leaving, Aoki made sure to heal Relicanth completely. Even though its potential had already peaked at quasi-Elite, with the right training and effort, it might still push through to Elite level.

Having a quasi-Elite Pokémon was a significant advantage, especially considering that Team Magma and Team Aqua, the two major villainous organizations of the Hoenn Region, were constantly stirring up trouble. A powerful team was necessary for survival.

Once Relicanth was fully healed and well-fed, it had no reason to resist Aoki. Between the delicious Pokéblocks and the warm, soothing aura of the Viridian Force, the ancient Pokémon had completely accepted him.

As Aoki walked, he checked the system log to see what rewards had been obtained from the silver treasure chest.

Inside were two Technical Machines (TMs):

1. Thunderbolt

2. Flamethrower

Both were powerful offensive moves, and Aoki immediately taught them to Boss Lairon without hesitation. Right now, Boss Lairon was his strongest Pokémon, and learning these two moves would significantly expand its offensive coverage.

Especially Thunderbolt—it would allow Boss Lairon to handle Water-type Pokémon, which previously had a major advantage over it. If Boss Lairon had Thunderbolt earlier, the battle against Relicanth would have been much easier.

The moment they stepped out of the ruins, Aoki noticed a group of individuals standing at the ruin entrance, their matching uniforms instantly recognizable.

Team Magma.

Seeing their distinct red and black attire, Aoki immediately identified them.

Team Magma was one of the two infamous villainous organizations in Hoenn, dedicated to awakening Groudon in pursuit of their misguided goal of expanding the landmass of the world.

"May, be careful. These guys are from Team Magma. They're dangerous."

Aoki instinctively moved in front of May, his gaze sharp and vigilant.

"Captain Nakamura, there's someone here. Looks like a rookie trainer," one of the grunts muttered.

The Team Magma Captain, Nakamura, barely spared Aoki a glance, completely underestimating him. From his perspective, Aoki was just a newbie trainer—hardly a threat.

He smirked arrogantly, "Kid, tell me what you saw inside the ruins."

Aoki narrowed his eyes. "If you're so curious, why don't you go in and check for yourself?"

Instead of answering, Aoki reached for his Luxury Balls and swiftly threw them.

"Boss Lairon, Relicanth—let's go!"

The moment his Pokémon materialized, Aoki didn't hesitate.

"Boss Lairon, Earthquake! Relicanth, Hydro Pump!"

He had to deal with the grunts quickly before focusing on Captain Nakamura, who was likely the strongest among them.

The Team Magma grunts didn't have time to react.

The instant Boss Lairon stomped the ground, a devastating shockwave surged forward, shaking the battlefield violently. At the same time, Relicanth unleashed a high-pressure Hydro Pump, targeting Team Magma's Houndoom.

"No! Everyone, move back!" Nakamura shouted, realizing his miscalculation.

He barely had time to reach for his Poké Ball before disaster struck.

Houndoom—caught off guard—was directly hit by Earthquake, howling in pain before being launched backward. The Hydro Pump followed, completely overwhelming the Fire-type Pokémon and knocking it out instantly.

For Team Magma's lower-ranked members, facing a quasi-Elite Boss Lairon and a quasi-Elite Relicanth was a nightmare. Their Superior-level and Gym-level Pokémon stood no chance against the sheer power gap.

Only Captain Nakamura remained.

Aoki exhaled slowly, relieved. "Alright. The grunts are down. Now, it's just you and me, Captain."

The Team Magma leader's face darkened.

"Damn brat…" Nakamura growled, clearly irritated at how effortlessly Aoki had wiped out his underlings.

He immediately threw three Poké Balls.

"Go, Houndoom, Camerupt, Torkoal!"

Other Team Magma members followed suit, sending out their Numel and another Houndoom.

In an instant, over a dozen Pokémon stood in formation.

Aoki quickly analyzed the enemy team using his system:

• Camerupt (Quasi-Elite)

• Houndoom (Gym-level)

• Torkoal (Gym-level)

• Numel (Advanced)

• Houndoom (Superior)

A quasi-Elite Camerupt was the only real threat. But the key advantage? Camerupt was quad-weak to Water—which meant Relicanth could easily counter it.

The two Gym-level Fire-types were also at a disadvantage against Relicanth. The only real problem was Team Magma's superior numbers.

Aoki clenched his fists. "So, this is your lineup? Not bad, but not good enough."

"Stupid brat!" Nakamura snarled, eyes blazing with greed.

"That Boss Lairon of yours… It's wasted on you! I'll take it for myself!"

His voice dripped with jealousy. He had served Team Magma for years, yet his strongest Pokémon barely scraped the Gym level. Meanwhile, this random rookie had a Boss Lairon that was already quasi-Elite—and could even reach Mega Evolution in the future.

If he had a Pokémon like that, he could rise through Team Magma's ranks, maybe even become a high-ranking officer!

He wouldn't let this chance slip away.

"I'm taking that Pokémon from you, brat. Get ready."

Aoki smirked. "You're welcome to try. But don't blame me when your entire team gets wiped out."

The battle was about to begin.