After lunch, having accepted Nemona's invitation to battle, Qingyu found a nearby clearing and prepared to get started.
Before he knew it, he had already spent over a month in the Pokémon world.
He wasn't the only one who had improved during that time. Nemona, who had still been a little inexperienced when they first met, had already raised her first fully evolved Pokémon.
Her growth had been remarkably fast. She certainly had the makings of a Champion.
"Then I'll be your referee for this battle!"
Lacey, serving as their temporary referee, walked to the middle of the field and extended a hand, smiling at Qingyu.
"Teacher Yu, what rules will we be using?"
"Let's have an exciting three-on-three battle!"
Nemona excitedly raised her hand.
"Teacher Yu, I want to see your full strength, so don't hold back like you would in a Gym Challenge!"
Qingyu raised an eyebrow. He had originally intended to turn down her suggestion and make it a one-on-one battle, just to get a sense of her current skill at giving commands.
"All right, we'll do it your way."
Since Nemona put it that way, wouldn't refusing be disrespectful?
Though he actually only had two battle-ready Pokémon at the moment...
Bagon had only just hatched and wasn't ready to fight yet.
Miraidon was even less dependable. Getting him out of his Poké Ball would count as a success!
Strictly speaking, that left him with only Riolu and his newly evolved Sylveon as viable battlers.
But that should be enough.
Even if Nemona won, he could simply count it as her passing the Gym assessment early and have Victory Road send her the Badge later.
Though, knowing Nemona, she would probably still challenge him again afterward, wouldn't she?
"Then the rules will be a three-on-three Single Battle!"