After leaving the foot of Sunyshore Tower, Xia You took out his Poké Balls and recalled Gardevoir and Charizard. Even Gengar returned to his shadow.
Following behind him and watching his back, May suddenly laughed.
"Xia You, I was wondering... how you'd handle things in the end. I never expected you to just stop battling!"
"Do you really think I'm some villain? That I had to push him into disbanding his Gym?" Xia You glanced back and glared at her. "Never mind whether the Pokémon League would even allow that. I just wanted to show him that there's always someone stronger out there. With his level of skill, he can bully ordinary Trainers, but did he really think he was Invincible?"
Cheryl blinked. "What's Invincible? Is that a reference to some story or book?"
Xia You glanced at her. "It means exactly what it sounds like. You don't need to know the details."
Cheryl took no offense at Xia You's dismissive manner, accepting it meekly. Instead, she considered it a sign of how close they were.
After all, he couldn't have spoken that way to an ordinary friend.
She merely took out the Beacon Badge she had picked up for Xia You outside the Sunyshore Gym, held it out to him, and asked, "Will you accept this Badge now?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Xia You took the Badge with barely a glance. "Don't forget what we came here for. Wouldn't this whole trip have been for nothing if I didn't take it? Besides, unlike the people who just walked off with Badges, I earned this one fair and square by beating Volkner!"
"Yes, yes." May stifled a laugh. "But didn't you just spare that Luxray and leave? So that battle only counts as a draw."
"I was saving face for the