After returning to his room at the Pokémon Center, he released all his Poké Balls, and his partners appeared one by one in the living room.
As soon as Blaziken came out, they sat down beside the sofa and rubbed their still slightly numb arms. Their blue eyes held a weary yet satisfied gleam.
Although they had lost the battle again, the sense of progress accumulated from facing a powerful opponent left them feeling especially grounded.
Setting down the Spatial Backpack on his back, Xinhai distributed Pecha Berries and muffins to his partners. He placed a plate of Pokéblocks before Blaziken, then walked to the window and stood there, gazing at the city skyline outside as he let out a long breath.
The two weeks of special training at Mauville Gym had officially come to an end today.
Early the next morning, Xinhai woke up a little earlier than usual.
The sky outside still carried a faint gray-blue hue, while Mauville City's morning light slowly spread across the horizon like a layer of pale golden gauze washed clean by water.
He quietly got up, washed up, and completed two sets of morning exercises in the living room.
The movements of the Dewford Twelve Forms had become smooth and relaxed. The Closing Form of Tai Chi stirred up a faint current of air that slowly dissipated around him.
After a simple breakfast, he packed all his belongings into the Spatial Backpack and carefully checked the room once more to make sure he had not left anything behind.
The checkout went smoothly. There were not many people in the lobby, and Nurse Joy smiled at him as she accepted his room card. "Mr. Xinhai, have a safe journey."
"Thank you." Xinhai took back his Pokédex and turned to leave the Pokémon