Cynthia's signature Pokémon is Garchomp.
A pseudo-legendary Pokémon in the Sinnoh region, with the Dragon and Ground typing.
In terms of strength and potential, it is not inferior to Metagross and Tyranitar, as all three are pseudo-legendary Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution.
It's unclear whether Cynthia's Garchomp has fully evolved yet. If it hasn't, Aoki still has a glimmer of confidence. After all, pseudo-legendary Pokémon only reveal their true potential after reaching their final evolutionary stage.
However, if the Garchomp has already evolved, Aoki will be at a severe disadvantage.
He stepped onto the battlefield opposite Cynthia.
Aoki had explained to Cynthia earlier that challengers facing that they could only use one Pokémon in a one-on-one battle.
Currently, Aoki only has his Slowking as a viable combatant—his Poliwag and Mudkip are still too young to fight seriously.
Cynthia assured him that the battle format didn't matter to her. Whether it was a single battle or multiple, she was prepared.
Cynthia traveled across regions to challenge strong Trainers, refining her battle style by learning from diverse opponents. Her goal was to adapt strategies that best suited her and her Pokémon.
Aoki couldn't help but admire her approach.
Once both Trainers were in position, the battle was ready to begin.
No further words were exchanged—everything would be decided in combat.
The referee standing at the center raised his flags.
"The Gym Challenge of Verdanturf Town's Gym begins! The challenger is Cynthia of Celestic Town, Sinnoh! The defending Gym Leader is Aoki of Verdanturf Town!"
"This will be a one-on-one battle! The match ends when one Pokémon is unable to continue or a Trainer concedes!"
"Begin!"
With a sweep of the flags, the battle commenced.
As the Gym Leader, Aoki sent out his Pokémon first.
"Go! Slowking!"
He tossed a Poké Ball onto the field, releasing his strongest Pokémon—the only one currently capable of a serious battle.
"Yah dong!!" Slowking bellowed with authority.
This was its first official Gym battle, and it was determined to prove itself. The infusion of Mew's essence had significantly boosted its power, and now was the time to demonstrate that growth.
Slowking were exceptionally rare—their evolution method remained undisclosed to the public. While wild Slowpoke were common, Slowking sightings were almost unheard of. The fact that Verdanturf's Gym Leader possessed one stunned the audience.
Cynthia's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Though she didn't specialize in Water-types, Sirona had extensive knowledge of them—she even owned a powerful Water-type herself, second only to her ace.
She understood just how scarce Slowking were—rarer than most pseudo-legendaries, though not as inherently powerful.
Still, facing such an unusual opponent thrilled her.
This battle would be enlightening.
Originally, she had considered using her Water-type to test Aoki's skills. But now, she decided to bring out her strongest Pokémon.
With a confident smirk, she threw her own Poké Ball.
"Fight, Garchomp!"
"Roar!!!"
The moment Garchomp appeared, a deafening roar shook the Gym, silencing the crowd for a brief moment before erupting into cheers.
This was a true Gym battle—the energy was electrifying.
For Aoki, this was a new experience. In both lifetimes, he had never fought in such an environment. Team Rocket relied on ambushes and underhanded tactics, aiming only to win by any means.
But this—this was different.
The spectators roared, thrilled by the matchup.
A rare Slowking versus a fully evolved pseudo-legendary from Sinnoh? This battle would be unforgettable.
Spectators scrambled to call friends, urging them to come watch. Others pulled out recording devices, eager to capture the fight for future viewing—this would be a classic.
Aoki's system, still recovering from yesterday's jet lag, finally processed Garchomp's data after a brief delay:
Pokémon: Garchomp (Blue)
Gender: Female
Level: 48
Type: Dragon/Ground
Ability: Sand Veil
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Dragon Breath, Outrage, Take Down, Metal Claw, Iron Tail
Basic Moves: Crunch, Dual Chop, Fire Fang, Tackle, Sand Attack, Dragon Rage, Sandstorm, Body Slam, Sand Tomb, Slash, Dragon Claw, Dig
Learnt Moves: Draco Meteor, Stomping Tantrum, Earth Power, Dragon Pulse
TM Moves: Bulldoze, Hidden Power (Fire), Earthquake, Flamethrower, Sandstorm, Stone Edge, Rock Slide
Aoki's stomach dropped.
The comparison was brutal.
In terms of potential, Cynthia's Garchomp rivaled Steven's Metagross—and Steven had the advantage of wealth boosting his team's resources.
At Level 48, this Garchomp hadn't been fully evolved for long, meaning it might not have mastered its power completely. That was Aoki's only hope.
Garchomp had a glaring weakness: its Dragon/Ground typing made it four times vulnerable to Ice-type moves. However, its resistances to Poison, Rock, and Fire, along with complete immunity to Electric, made it a nightmare for most opponents.
Aoki's expression darkened.
First, a billionaire's heir. Now, a prodigy with a pseudo-legendary.
The universe was mocking him.