"Well, are you confident you can do it?"
"All right, it's a deal."
Shen Qi hardly had a year. Three months at most.
But it wasn't hopeless. Leaving aside whether he could master Mega Evolution or Dynamax in the future, there was what he had now.
He could sort out Florges's move pool and improve Lopunny's strength;
Dodo would serve as the main damage dealer, and there was Blissey too;
Lilligant's move pool had actually already taken shape, and her overall abilities could use some more training.
A lineup like that wasn't without a chance of clearing the Gym, or of trying to reach the threshold of upper T3.
"I'll be waiting for your challenge."
Once she reached the door, Sabrina turned back and offered a reminder in a quieter voice. "If you need help, you can come practice at Saffron Gym and get a feel for the assessment."
"Miss Sabrina..."
Shen Qi knew very well that Sabrina intended to lend him a hand.
Going easy on him was out of the question, but she was willing to offer some training assistance to improve his chances of passing the Badge assessment.
Sabrina was a Gym Leader, a T1 Class Professional Pokémon Trainer, and the head of Saffron Gym. Even if she acknowledged Wude's wish to face death with resolve, she still needed a reasonable basis for accepting his challenge.
This was a chance she was leaving for Wude, and also a chance for Shen Qi to repay his teacher for his guidance.
"You're actually very kind, Miss Sabrina."
Rather than looking pleased at Shen Qi's words, Sabrina shot him a fierce glare. "You want to become a Cloth Doll, don't you?"
Bang-
The door slammed shut, the noise making Shen Qi squint.
He really shouldn't have offered a compliment that