"It would be the same no matter who came."
Vio gave a sinister chuckle.
As his words fell, three connected black shadows swiftly darted toward Drayden.
In the pitch-black night, the obscured moonlight provided them with the perfect cover.
They were Team Plasma's Dark Trinity!
As though sensing an inexplicable threat, every muscle in Drayden's body tensed.
Though he was already old and looked rather like Colonel Sanders, those knotted muscles of his were no decoration. They were proof of the strength he had gained through daily hand-to-hand battles with Dragon-type Pokémon.
But Drayden was better at facing enemies and opponents head-on.
Against people like the Dark Trinity, who enjoyed lurking in the shadows and resorting to schemes and Nasty Plot, he was somewhat at a disadvantage.
"Gym Leader Drayden, watch out!"
Officer Jenny vaguely caught sight of the Dark Trinity's path and instinctively called out a warning.
A red light flashed from Drayden's waist.
An exceptionally burly and powerful Haxorus appeared at his side, guarding against an attack that could come at any moment.
However.
Faced with an assault from three directions, even Haxorus seemed somewhat overwhelmed.
"Haxorus, Dragon Dance!"
Drayden barked in a low voice.
Hearing this, Haxorus immediately understood Drayden's intentions. Its body darted rapidly as its momentum and speed rose, while one afterimage after another appeared around Drayden.
With the confusion caused by the afterimages and Haxorus's own formidable strength, it was enough to make the Dark Trinity wary.
Seeing this, Vio showed no surprise at all. He even could not help praising him.
"As expected of Drayden."
But for a single Pokémon to leave the Dark Trinity unable to act, that strength was unquestionably formidable.
Yet the moment Drayden saw Vio's smile, his heart skipped a beat.
He suddenly turned and roared at Officer Jenny