Even if I apply for a challenge now, it's likely too late.
But as it turns out.
The Superpower User overthought it. There weren't many challengers in a hurry like him due to the influence of promotional sales, so everyone was leisurely taking on various Gyms.
And because of the fame he accumulated from his previous two Gym challenges, as soon as he showed up, he was caught by the reporters in the arena's lobby who were there to prepare for the opening ceremony.
[You intended to use Instant Movement to escape, but remembering Luozi's instructions, you chose to cooperate]
The Superpower User was clearly unprepared for such a situation. Without a prepared script, he could only remain silent in the face of the reporters' numerous questions, formulating his words in his mind before speaking.
Unexpectedly, the reporters patiently waited for the Superpower User to speak.
Baimu thought it must be the patience trained by Onio —
Mmm... the similarity in their personalities always made him think of that unfortunate kid.
After dealing with the reporters, the Superpower User followed their hints to the designated meeting point for Gym challengers.
[You've arrived at the Budew Inn and heard that all staying here are Gym challengers. You can't help but pause in the lobby, trying to see what future formidable opponents there are]
The Superpower User stood silently in the bright lobby of the inn, unobtrusively looking around with Orbeetle.
The latter's Trait is [Perception], enabling it in the game to spy on the opponent's items through this trait, which is actually a case where highly developed Spiritual Power affects observational abilities.
In other words, in terms of distinguishing and observing, Orbeetle possesses quite remarkable talents.
The Superpower User decided to use it as a base and thoroughly explore Orbeetle's power. After all, Hypno can now run a Rapidash with one arm, and crush ten of his former selves with its chest muscles, all thanks to the Superpower User—
Actually, that's not entirely true. Their muscle growth was the result of joint efforts progressing together; neither side intentionally trained to become this way, but rather a natural outcome.
However.
The Superpower User didn't stay long in the lobby, as he knew he would truly see his opponents on the day of the opening ceremony.
In a screen change, we arrive at the day of the opening ceremony. The inn's originally quiet lobby suddenly becomes lively, with many Trainers carrying Pokémon gearing up and heading towards the adjacent Mechanical Arena.
[Watching those Trainers, you can't help but feel a bit surprised. It turns out there are as many Gym challengers in the Galar Region as in any other]
The Superpower User was relatively noticeable among the Trainers, wearing a pure white lab coat and not exactly having the muscular build of a hulking man, but still quite upright.
Once all the Gym challengers donned their competition uniforms, this impression became even clearer.
The opening ceremony's process was rather simple, mainly featuring the eight Gym Leaders and the Gym challengers. The Galar Alliance actually had eighteen Gyms, but they are divided into first and second teams, with only the eight first-team Gym Leaders being considered formal Gyms.
This conveniently explains why Inheritance Town and Circhester Town would have two different Attribute Gym Leaders due to version differences.
Baimu actually thought there were ten people in the first team, with Onio, Bea, Ma Gu, and Mei Rong competing with each other in the league without much of a strength gap.
Unfortunately, in the end, due to Luozi's arrangements, the representative for the Inheritage Arena was Bea, and for Circhester Arena was Mei Rong. Clearly, Onio and Ma Gu got overshadowed by these two in the last league.
The卷 of Gym Leaders in the Galar Region is truly as terrifying as this.
As the Superpower User gradually understood the Galar Alliance, he developed a similar feeling.
[Watching those high-spirited Gym Leaders, you feel not just the glory, but also the enormous pressure behind their brilliance. You can't help but start pondering your original intention of becoming a Trainer]
Thinking and thinking.
The Superpower User's third Gym Battle officially set sail.
The Gym Leader of the Mechanical Arena, Kawu, is an aged elder known as the "Ever-Burning Strongman." Although he once lost the official Gym Leader position and was demoted to the second team, he made a comeback with a considerable amount of Perseverance and skill.
Incidentally, Kawu hails from the Hoenn Region.
Once both sides' Pokémon were on the field, the BGM played again.
But compared to the previous two times, Baimu was already calm and accustomed, focusing intently on watching the Superpower User and his Pokémon's operation.
Kawu's first choice was a Ninetales with the Sunlight Trait. Under sunny skies, the sun becomes particularly intense, putting the Superpower User with two Water Attribute and one Bug Attribute at a disadvantage.
However, the latter made a decisive choice.
He immediately dispatched Slowking again and withdrew it, causing the BGM to jump into a climactic rhythm within seconds of starting, and instantly opening the rain with a Gigantic Water Jet, dealing significant Severe Injury to Ninetales.
Can Ninetales withstand it? Ninetales can't withstand it at all. Even if the Gigantic Water Flow was used under sunlight, the rushing Torrent still slammed it into the ground fiercely.
If not for its barely adequate Special Defense, it would have likely already fallen.
And although Kawu is a strongman, he's not reckless. Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, he immediately withdrew the barely-surviving Ninetales.
Baimu knew very well that Kawu intended to use Ninetales as a tool to change the weather but underestimated the power of the Superpower User and Slowking.
The second Pokémon, in the battle environment resembling a waterlogged land under the Gigantic Water Flow, Kawu sent out the more agile Arcanine to respond.
The purpose was very clear—to survive Slowking's three Gigantification attack opportunities.
Unfortunately, even when its body became "large," the way Slowking fought didn't change much. What to do against agile opponents?
Expand the damage area!
You saw the Gigantified Slowking take off the "screw cap" on its head, unhesitatingly smashing it toward the ground and using another Gigantic Water Flow. This special move method changed what should have transformed into a gigantic water column into a gigantic "wave," making it impossible for Arcanine to dodge.
With rain, highly effective, and Attribute-based techniques, Arcanine was directly taken down.
The Superpower User, having tasted the sweetness, decided to take down Kawu's last Pokémon in one go, but the latter's return to the first team wasn't just due to exploiting age.
As its core, Centiskorch instantly Gigantamaxed upon entering the field. Its body, resembling a visible Great Wall, used its exclusive Gigantic Technique [Gigantamax Hundred Flames Wildfire], transforming itself into a rope tightly binding the Gigantified Slowking, scorching its surface with high-temperature zones inside its belly.
Fire Attribute's power is limited in rain, but Gigantamax Centiskorch still seemed fierce, enduring Slowking's final Gigantic Water Flow like its Trainer, taking it down with Gigantic Prairie.
And the grassy terrain effect brought by Gigantic Prairie gave Gigantamax Centiskorch a breath of respite.
The Superpower User also knew he was likely just one step away from victory, so he sent out the most trusted Hypno to face Gigantamax Centiskorch's Gigantic Insect Gu, then put it to sleep with Hypnosis Techniques.
Seeing Centiskorch asleep, Kawu wasn't flustered. Gigantic Insect Gu had the effect of reducing the opponent's Special Attack, making Hypno's Special Attack output negligible, incapable of using Water Attribute or Rock Attribute techniques, only competent in some close-range techniques, so what was there to worry about—
Good heavens!
Kawu never expected Hypno to know Wake-up Slap!
The most painful thing in the world is to be woken up in the middle of deep sleep by someone smacking you with two big slaps while shouting "wake you up to party."
Baimu wanted to applaud the Superpower User.
Centiskorch also expressed its extreme discomfort. Not comfortable sleeping under the rain, and now getting slapped.
Too much!
Kawu's eyelids twitched frantically, quickly withdrawing the enraged Centiskorch, sending out Ninetales to change the weather back, worried that the former would fall into the Superpower User's trap.
But little did he know he was the one trapped, as the Superpower User forced Kawu to exchange Pokémon, while he quickly sent out Starmie. Both sides clashed with Water Cannon and Sunlight Beam, and, unable to withstand the pressure, the depleted Ninetales crumbled and failed.
Starmie then used Rain Seeking to change the weather back to face the unfit Centiskorch.
The result, naturally, didn't need much saying; Kawu couldn't stir any waves with a Fire Attribute Pokémon in the rain, especially against one in near full state.
[You defeated the Mechanical Gym Leader Kawu and obtained the Mechanical Badge]