In Mauville City, as the thunderclouds weakened, the weather returned to normal. A gentle drizzle dampened the city's splendid exterior, while a cool breeze blew, pleasant and refreshing.
The Pokémon League Investigators and Gym Trainers also lowered their guard. Everything seemed to have returned to normal.
But had it really?
After having dinner at Chengjie's home, Yong said goodbye to the welcoming family and rode alone along the bike path toward the Pokémon Center. The earlier deafening rumble and intense flashes of lightning had aroused plenty of curiosity. Everyone had noticed the abnormal weather and felt uneasy, but thanks to the League Trainers' reassurance and the weather gradually returning to normal, they had finally relaxed.
Yong, however, recalled the roar he had heard at the end of his special training.
He knew he hadn't misheard it. Something must have happened, but certain people had suppressed it.
"Looks like this world isn't exactly the same!"
He thoughtfully reflected on everything that had happened since he came to this world. His peaceful life before the age of ten had led him to mistakenly believe this world was just like the one shown in the anime. Although sinister organizations existed, most of them targeted Legendary Pokémon and wouldn't affect ordinary people's lives too much.
But ever since he began his journey, the successive Pokémon rampages and the appearance of an unknown organization had made Yong realize that the real world differed from the one he had imagined. An organization he had never even heard of in his previous life had dared to attack a major city like Rustboro City, causing widespread destruction. Then there were the mysterious ruins, Regirock's awakening, and the unnatural thunderstorms around the ruins.
Gradually, Yong felt more and more that relying on knowledge from his previous life was no longer much use. Although certain events would still happen in the future, this was a real world, and things were bound to unfold differently when the time came.
Even a tiny butterfly could stir up a storm!
"There's no point overthinking it. Since I'm here, I should enjoy the adventure and accomplish my goals. Everything else is none of my business. Besides, if the sky falls, Arceus will be there to hold it up!"
He repeatedly reassured himself, telling himself, You're just an ordinary person. You don't have what it takes to save the world. Don't go copying Ash!
Before he knew it, he had arrived at the Pokémon Center.
Back in his room, he washed up and lay on the bed, gazing at the sky outside his window. With tomorrow's Gym battle, his next companion, and the road ahead on his mind, Yong gradually drifted off to sleep.
The rain grew lighter and lighter, and the moon slowly emerged. Its clear light shone through the clouds onto the land, as though smoothing away its wounds.
On the southeastern coast, Raikou's figure flashed past a mysterious cave and vanished.
As the sun rose, Mauville City bustled with life once more. People left their homes to begin a new day.
After the downpour, the fresh air carried the scent of earth. A rainbow arched over the city, its luminous colors even more beautiful in the sunlight.
Under the Pokémon League's information blockade, no news of the unusual events or strange phenomena reached ordinary people. Standing in the sunlight, they gazed delightedly at the rainbow hanging in the sky and made happy, contented wishes.
Only a small handful of people understood the changes that had occurred in the world.
After all, no matter the world, there were always a few people who shouldered every burden and pressed on for everyone else's sake!
After waiting for Steelix and the others to finish breakfast and get into good condition, Yong set off for the Mauville Gym. It was time to earn his second Badge!
He rode his bicycle along the express bike lane, crossed the park in the city center, and headed straight into the northern district. This was the Pokémon League's base in Mauville City, filled with official departments and facilities. The Mauville Gym was located here as well.
Beside the tower of Mauville TV, the Mauville Gym looked like a large power station from a distance. Golden-yellow walls enclosed the entire Gym, topped by an inverted triangle. Lightning-shaped decorations extended to either side of its entrance, giving it a grand, splendid appearance.
After Yong waited briefly by the entrance, Chengjie finally arrived on his bicycle.
"Whew! Sorry, Yong! I'm late. Lightning destroyed the bike path in the southern district last night, so I had to take a detour!"
Worried that he had held things up, Chengjie looked a little embarrassed.
Yong waved it off and parked his bicycle.
"No problem. I only just got here too! Let's go in!"
"Heh, sure!"
Since Yong had declined Chengjie's offer to explain the Mauville Gym's challenge rules in advance, he had no hints to go on, only confidence in his own strength. Full of anticipation, he headed toward the Gym.
Through the entrance was a rather dim lobby. Three doors stood directly ahead, each leading in a different direction.
"Hello! Are you here to challenge the Gym?"
A boy with dyed yellow hair, wearing a yellow uniform with black lightning stripes, hurried over to ask as the two approached.
"Hello! I'm Yong, and I'm here to challenge the Gym. This is my friend. He's here to watch!"
Yong stopped and answered him.
Chengjie said nothing, merely nodding beside him.
The boy smiled in understanding and spoke again.
"All right. You're here early! My name's Harada. I'm an apprentice Trainer at the Mauville Gym, responsible for guiding challengers before their Gym battles!"
Yong nodded and asked,
"Could you explain the rules here?"
Harada turned and pointed at the three doors before them.
"These three doors correspond to different Trainer ranks. The left is for novices, the middle is for beginners, and the right is for intermediate Trainers and above! You can choose a door based on your own strength."
So the first test is whether Trainers know their own limits? Not bad!
"Some rookies win a battle or two and start thinking they're strong. If someone only has novice-level ability but arrogantly chooses beginner or even intermediate, they've already failed!"
Harada explained in detail,
"If you can't recognize your own strength and make unrealistic choices, things won't end well."
Chengjie grinned broadly and reached out to pat Yong's shoulder.
"Don't worry. This guy's really strong!"
Hey, hey! Don't go saying things like that!
Pushing the excitable boy aside with a look of distaste, Yong awkwardly asked another question.
"What do I do once I go inside?"
Harada answered seriously,
"Behind these three doors are electric mazes guarded by Gym Trainers of different ranks!"
"Electric mazes?"
Yong asked in confusion.
"Yes, exactly what they sound like. Mazes!"
Harada explained with a smile,
"You can only continue the challenge after defeating the Trainer guarding the way. Bear in mind that if you can't get through the electric maze, you won't meet the Gym Trainer, much less reach the final arena where the Gym Leader is waiting. So give it your best in there!"
"You'll be fine, Yong!"
Chengjie patted his chest and hinted,
"You've got a complete type advantage here. Don't worry!"
Harada gave him a curious glance but said nothing more about it. He turned to Yong.
"So, what will you choose, Yong?"
Hmm... Aron will definitely be my main fighter! Marshtomp can serve as backup. But this maze... I wonder if it's just three simple pillars like in the games from my previous life?
After thinking for a moment, he answered Harada seriously.
"I choose the door on the far right. Intermediate!"
"Oh? Are you sure?"
Once Yong nodded to confirm, Harada said no more and opened the rightmost door.
"Then your challenge begins. Go on in, Yong!"
"Good luck, Yong! I'll wait for you in the final arena! You've got this!"
Without hesitation, Yong gave Chengjie a thumbs-up and walked straight through the door on the right as the two watched. Harada then closed the door again and spoke to Chengjie.
"If you're here to watch, please follow me to the spectator seats! A screen will show his entire challenge through the maze!"
"Ah! All right! Thank you!"
Glancing once more at the door representing intermediate-level strength, Chengjie chuckled.
"Even with Marshtomp leading the way, it won't be that easy, Yong!"