By the time a small black-and-red passenger ship entered the harbor, Yong had already been waiting on the pier for quite a while.
Today was the day he would head to the Battle Zone!
After more than ten days of training, Yong was very pleased with his partners' progress. There had even been a few unexpected surprises, giving him more confidence in the challenges ahead.
At the moment, he had only Steelix, Swampert, and Aggron with him!
His other partners were all back at the Pokémon Home at his house. Once he reached the Battle Zone, he could have them transferred over at any time.
Yong boarded the passenger ship and entered the cabin after passing the Pokémon League staff's inspection.
The ship followed the coastline south, crossing the Cold Northern Seas.
Yong had no idea how much time had passed when he saw a vast cluster of almost interconnected islands outside the cabin. He frowned slightly...
Had they just appeared out of nowhere?
Still puzzled, Yong felt the ship tremble slightly and peered carefully out the window.
It was broad daylight now!
Almost no ice remained on the water outside. As the ship sailed onward, it became clear that the islands ahead must be where the Battle Zone was located.
From a distance, aside from the steadily approaching pier, all he could see was a tall mountain farther away, its reddish slopes dark and dull...
Yong stepped off the ship, but before he could take a good look around, a slightly portly middle-aged man with sunglasses and curly hair approached him. Smiling broadly, the man clasped his hand and greeted him warmly.
"Oh, welcome! You must be Yong! Welcome to the Battle Zone challenge! Trust me, you've made the right choice!"
"Ah... hello!"
The middle-aged man laughed and