The interior of the Opelucid Gym was just as Yong had imagined.
It was dim throughout, styled like ancient ruins, with stone carvings and runes scattered across the gray-brown walls.
They followed the passage until they finally reached an open arena. A Druddigon and a Haxorus lay on the field, with an elderly man standing beside them, cleaning their scales.
Meanwhile, a little girl with a noticeably different skin tone kept running around the two Pokémon, looking positively overexcited...
Kofu led Yong over.
"Grandpa Drayden! I'm back! This is Yong. I brought him to see you."
The old man stopped what he was doing and looked at them.
He stroked his graying beard, his scrutinizing eyes studying Yong with imposing authority.
Yong smiled faintly, stepped forward, and said softly,
"Hello, Gym Leader Drayden! I'm Shiyan Yong. You can call me Yong!"
Drayden nodded slightly, then suddenly smiled.
"Not bad! You're brimming with confidence. Clearly, you have real strength! Kid, I'm the Gym Leader of the Opelucid Gym, and you're the Gym Leader of the Rock Solid Gym. Since we rarely get a chance to meet, why not have a spar? What do you say?"
The unexpected challenge caught Yong off guard, but he quickly recovered and smiled in surprise.
"Sure! If you're in the mood, Gym Leader Drayden, I certainly have no objections!"
"That's the spirit!"
Drayden laughed heartily and nodded in satisfaction.
"Good! I like people who get straight to the point! One Pokémon each! How does that sound?"
Yong smiled and nodded.
Kofu, on the other hand, looked completely bewildered.
"Old man... you had me bring Yong here just so you could battle him?"
Drayden turned and headed toward one side of the field. At those words, he rolled his eyes at Kofu and scoffed.
"This is to