Dr. White had the research team come over to deliver the ancient seals and other items.
During this period, faced with the questions about the super ancient text posed by Professor Oak, Dr. White, and Miss Hilona, Fang Yuan knew everything there was to know.
His unique and profound understanding of the super ancient language gradually convinced the three of his genuine knowledge and scholarship.
"Others say I'm a genius in deciphering ancient texts, but now it seems, Mr. Fang Yuan, you are even more incredible," Dr. White said with admiration.
"I also did not expect to meet someone who understands the super ancient civilization so well," Dr. Oak sighed.
"Mr. Fang Yuan, I heard that you are a Trainer from the Sinnoh Region?" Miss Hilona asked.
Now, she was becoming more and more curious about Fang Yuan's background. Even her grandmother, the chief researcher at the Sinnoh History Research Institute, did not have such deep research into the super ancient civilization. Fang Yuan, looking so young, even younger than her by a bit, knew so much. Who exactly was he?
"You flatter me," Fang Yuan said to Dr. White and Professor Oak.
At the same time, he turned to Miss Hilona with a smile, "Yes, Miss Hilona, I come from Sandgem Town."
"Sandgem Town..." Hilona nodded, she hadn't heard of the name before, but she could investigate it later. There were many places in Sinnoh she could not remember in their entirety.
At this moment, as Fang Yuan successfully became part of the inner circle and chatted happily with Professor Oak and the others, Xiaozhi began to be dumbfounded.
What's going on.
It was he who brought Fang Yuan here to join in the fun. Now, Fang Yuan seemed to fit in with the atmosphere here even more than him.
"Bwoo..." The Eevee on Fang Yuan's shoulder glanced at Xiaozhi.
You don't understand, do you? This is called, the power of PY (Presence and Youth)!
Turning from guest to host, that's Fang Yuan for you.
"That..." Xiaozhi sighed at the side.
Noticing Xiaozhi's lack of enthusiasm, Dr. White couldn't help but say with a laugh:
"Well, my companions might take a while to deliver the items. How about you guys start a battle first, Xiaozhi?"
"Sure!!" Xiaozhi instantly revived with full energy.
"Miss Hilona..." Xiaozhi looked toward Hilona.
"I'm always ready for a battle," Hilona smiled.
"That's good... then I will provide the battleground," Professor Oak also said.
There really wasn't much to discuss regarding the texts at the moment. The key things would not be visible until later.
While waiting for the items to arrive, the idea of seeing Xiaozhi getting thrashed and lightening the mood didn't seem too bad, everyone thought.
......
In the backyard of Professor Oak's Research Institute.
The so-called backyard, like Fang Yuan's research institute, was excessively large, directly connected to the mountains behind and immensely vast.
Professor Oak casually selected a battle area for Xiaozhi and Hilona to use.
Their battle didn't have much demand for the venue.
Although Hilona was very strong, Xiaozhi was too weak, definitely leading to a one-sided crushing. Professor Oak wasn't worried that the battle would become too fierce and cause serious damage to the area.
A moment later.
Hilona arrived at one side of the field with ease. The aura around her completely changed, as if she was a completely different person from Hilona who sat in the hall before.
Opposite her, Xiaozhi swallowed and clenched his fists, his blood boiling with excitement.
The Champion of the Sinnoh Region...
He couldn't believe he was fortunate enough to have a direct battle with such a powerful Trainer.
"As soon as the battle starts, Miss Hilona seems to become a different person," Misty commented from the sidelines.
"Yeah, yeah, and even more beautiful," Brock said, starry-eyed.
"After all, Miss Hilona is the Battle Goddess of the Sinnoh Region," Dr. White added.
Fang Yuan nodded silently, feeling that Xiaozhi was in danger!
By this time, Professor Oak had taken his place in the middle, acting as the referee.
As agreed by both parties, this would be a 3VS3 battle.
Hilona looked at Xiaozhi and smiled, "Then Xiaozhi, let's begin."
"Ready!" Xiaozhi replied.
Hilona smiled slightly and immediately sent out her first Pokemon.
"Dance in the skies! Garchomp!"
As Hilona finished speaking, the next second, a ferocious shark-like Pokemon with sharp teeth and claws covered in deep blue scales took the stage!
"Grrr!!!" Garchomp swung its Dragon Tail and the forelimbs with white bone spurs effortlessly whipped up a fierce storm, changing the weather of the field as its fiery red eyes turned towards Xiaozhi and Pikachu, stopping Pikachu in its tracks, who was just about to step forward.
Killing intent...
Although Garchomp did not actively exude a killing intent, its aura, accumulated over years, caused Pikachu to break out in a sweat.
[No data found—]
Xiaozhi, holding his Pokédex, heard the notification sound and took a deep breath.
It's okay, Garchomp from the Sinnoh Region, he had already heard about it yesterday. Even though the Pokedex hadn't updated the information, it's no big deal.
He could handle it!
"Pikachu, go!!!" Despite the pressure, Xiaozhi commanded.
"Pika... Pikachu..." Pikachu turned pale, holding its stomach.
"Huh? Pikachu, are you not feeling well?"
Xiaozhi lowered his head to look at Pikachu clutching its stomach suddenly and asked in confusion, "Ah, I told you to eat less yesterday... No choice then, Squirtle, you go first."
"Pika! (Yay!)" Pikachu nodded.
With Pikachu feeling unwell, Xiaozhi chose to send out Squirtle first. Seeing this, Fang Yuan was taken aback and turned to look at Eevee.
"Bwoo..." Eevee nodded with relief. Little Pikachu, you've made a wise choice.
Going on stage in this situation would have been a disaster.
"I figured it was you..." Fang Yuan said with a face full of black lines.
............
"Grrr!!!"
"Squirtle!"
On the field, as both Pokemon were ready, the battle was about to ignite.
Hilona and Xiaozhi both spoke at the same time.
"Squirtle, Water Gun—"
"Garchomp, slice through."
Xiaozhi's Squirtle launched a swift blue Water Gun, powerful and furious, while Garchomp raised its head, stretching out those strong scythe-like wings to slice through the oncoming Water Gun with "Spitfire."
It wasn't the move Spitfire, using no energy, but purely slicing through with physical strength.
In an instant, the Water Gun turned into a spray of water, its droplets shooting out like bullets with the strong wind pressure brought by the swing, flying towards the bewildered Squirtle.
"Squirtle—!" Squirtle was baffled, this was the Great Move it and Xiaozhi had trained so hard to master for the battle against Hirona!
Hearing Squirtle's desperate cry and seeing Xiaozhi's confusion, the corners of Hirona's mouth lifted.
......
"This…" Fang Yuan was aware the battle held no suspense.
But he didn't expect Hirona to be so ruthless.
She wasn't just sending out her ace Garchomp at the start but also crushing Xiaozhi utterly.
Fang Yuan turned his head and exchanged a look with Eevee.
In their battles with Xiaozhi, they would at least hold back a bit, but Hirona… this...
As expected, the following battle was even less suspenseful.
Misty and Brock covered their foreheads, unable to bear watching any longer.
Professor Oak also wore a look of helplessness; he had forgotten... Hirona took every battle seriously and gave it her all.
Anyway, next, Bulbasaur… and the disobedient Charizard were one after another called out by Xiaozhi to the rescue.
But the outcome... well...
Bang!
After the battle, Xiaozhi sat down on the ground muttering to himself, "So strong..."
"The gap between me and the Champion... is so big."
Every one of Xiaozhi's Pokemon was knocked out with a single strike.
Bulbasaur's vines, Charizard's Flames, couldn't even leave a scratch on Garchomp.
Xiaozhi was dumbfounded.
"Pika pika..." Pikachu comforted Xiaozhi, isn't this normal...
"Xiaozhi."
After the battle, Hirona turned to Xiaozhi and shook her head slightly, "Although I can feel your love for Pokemon, being a Trainer isn't so simple."
"To become a strong Trainer, you still have much to learn."
"I... I understand," Xiaozhi got up, bowed, and said, "Thank you very much, Miss Hirona."
Although Xiaozhi was sad, he was also okay because everyone had reinforced the impression that Hirona was very formidable yesterday. So now, losing the match wasn't as upsetting as when he lost during the Quartz Alliance competition, after all, Hirona was a top-level Trainer.
Now, knowing the Champion's strength, Xiaozhi's fighting spirit was even more ignited.
"However, I won't lose the next time we battle!" Xiaozhi clenched his fists and said to Hirona.
"Pika!" Xiaozhi's Pikachu also showed a full spirit of determination, nodding. It would go and train its level first!
"Good, I'll wait for you at the Champion League," seeing how quickly Xiaozhi recovered, Hirona smiled slightly.
"By the way..." Suddenly, Xiaozhi seemed to remember something, turned to the crowd, and spoke, "Mr. Fang Yuan, aren't you also challenging Miss Hirona? If it's your Dragonite, it could definitely have an exciting battle against Garchomp, right?!!"
Although he couldn't defeat Hirona himself, Xiaozhi immediately thought of the even stronger Fang Yuan.
Thinking of Fang Yuan's Dragonite, which looked just like his idol Du's, Xiaozhi was filled with anticipation.
As Xiaozhi finished speaking, Hirona, Oak, and others unexpectedly turned their eyes to Fang Yuan.
And Fang Yuan, under everyone's gaze, was rather speechless.
This Xiaozhi... just sold me out like that?
I'm not ready yet!!
And what's with bringing up Dragonite, to send the poor thing to its demise?
That Garchomp probably has the strength of a high-level Guardian God in its normal state.
If Eevee were to fight, it wouldn't be impossible, but do you want to turn Professor Oak's Research Institute into ruins??
Fang Yuan was helpless.
"Mr. Fang Yuan, shall we have a battle?" At that moment, Hirona also turned to Fang Yuan.
From what Xiaozhi implied, Fang Yuan is also a very formidable Trainer?
Although there is an important match coming up, not suited for many private battles, thinking of the mystery surrounding Fang Yuan, Hirona still made the invitation.
She wanted to understand Fang Yuan more.
"Okay..." Fang Yuan contemplated for a moment, then smiled and nodded, well, let's give it a try.
However.
No sooner did Fang Yuan think of stepping forward, a violent explosion sound suddenly came from afar.
"Boom," a change in the distance attracted the attention of Fang Yuan and others.
They looked up towards the hillside over there, dark clouds darkening the sky, an impressive stream of black air like swimming fish weaving through the sky.
This scene made Dr. White, Professor Oak, Xiaozhi, and others change their expressions.
It felt eerily familiar.
At that moment, Dr. White's communicator suddenly went off. As Dr. White quickly opened it, a voice came through:
"Bad news, Dr. White, we've been attacked by a gang calling themselves the Rocket Team with Meowth. They tried to steal the Super Ancient Tools, but due to a blunder, the two Ancient Elves were accidentally released—"
As the voice stopped, Dr. White's face turned pale.
She looked up towards Hirona and the others, despairing, "Um... Miss Hirona, you can handle Ancient Elves, right?"
Hirona: "..."
Fang Yuan, Xiaozhi, and the others: "..."
Damn, the Team Rocket Trio never does anything right.
Hirona said, "Let's put aside our battle for now, let's set off immediately, or they'll be in danger."
"I'll help too," Fang Yuan said.
In his memory, the ancient creatures from the show weren't very big and didn't seem too strong, so he and Hirona should be able to suppress them easily.