Lionel chose an open area and released Milotic and Tyrantrum.
Milotic wasn't very interested in a sand bath; it disliked the feeling of dirt sticking to its body.
Lionel let it play in the river while he greeted the fans who were arriving.
Many fans gathered around with excited smiles, some asking for photos, others offering to help dig sand pits.
Lionel smiled and "entrusted" Tyrantrum, Metang, and Larvesta to the fans, letting them play with the Pokémon.
The fans cheered and took the tools from the staff, busily digging sand pits for the three Pokémon.
Tyrantrum was the largest and needed the deepest pit; several young fans worked together to dig it, and many others brought Lavaridge Town's specialty, hot spring buns, to feed the three Pokémon.
Tyrantrum, being the most greedy, munched on its steamed bun while clumsily digging holes for everyone with its claws, occasionally nuzzling those around it with its head, eliciting laughter from all.
Soon, several appropriately sized sand pits were dug.
Tyrantrum curiously peeked into the pits, and after a fan gently nudged it, it obediently lay down inside.
It let everyone bury its belly in sand, leaving only its head and tail exposed, and purred contentedly.
Larvesta, the most active, darted into the soft sand before the pits were even finished.
Only its round head peeked out, its small eyes curiously surveying the surrounding fans, prompting everyone to take out their phones to take pictures.
Metang, like Milotic, was somewhat of a germaphobe and refused to go into the sand pits.
It hovered above the pits, watching the lively scene below, occasionally using its telekinesis to scoop up a small pile of sand and sprinkle it on Larvesta's head, eliciting a disgruntled "humph" from the little guy, causing laughter from those around it.
Lionel stood to the side, watching the heartwarming scene of fans interacting with their Pokémon, a relaxed smile on his face.
Sunlight, sand dunes, a river, and the chattering crowd and joyful shouts of the Pokémon created a lively and pleasant picture.
Viewers in the live stream watched this through their screens, the chat filled with envy and blessings:
[The atmosphere here is amazing! I'm so jealous!]
[The way the Larvesta is buried in the sand is so cute! Like a big glutinous rice ball!]
[The Tyrantrum is so well-behaved? I thought it was fierce when I saw it fighting, but it's actually a clingy little guy!]
[The gym battle is in over an hour, and the streamer is still so relaxed, his mentality is really good!]
Lionel watched the lively scene but didn't join in the sand bath.
There was a gym challenge later, and changing clothes and showering after the sand bath was too much trouble.
He simply sat under the parasol watching, occasionally chatting and interacting with fans, or taking photos with the Pokémon at their request.
Before he knew it, two hours had passed.
Around 11:30, Lionel smiled and said to everyone, "It's about time to head to the gym. Those who want to watch the challenges live can come along."
The fans quickly packed up their things and followed Lionel towards the Lavaridge Gym.
The large procession attracted the attention of many local residents along the way.
Larvesta was still sitting on Metang's back, but this time it had a small gift:
a pair of sunglasses given to it by a fan, which it perched crookedly on its eyes, looking both comical and adorable.
The Lavaridge Gym, located in the center of town, was a building with a volcanic theme.
The roof was designed in the shape of a crater, and the walls were inlaid with dark red rocks, making it look like a small volcano from afar, exuding a calm yet intense aura.
Lionel entered the gym, and the fans behind him followed the directions of the staff at the gym entrance to the viewing platforms around the battle arena, taking their seats.
At this moment, the Lavaridge Gym Leader, Flannery, was accepting a challenge from another trainer.
The battle was reaching its climax, and the air seemed to be filled with the scorching heat of flames.
In the arena, facing off against Flannery was a young trainer in a blue short-sleeved shirt.
He appeared slightly younger than Lionel, his still-childish face revealing a stubborn, unyielding spirit in his eyes.
The Pokémon the boy had sent out was one of the well-known starter Pokémon of the Hoenn region:
Mudkip!
This Mudkip was sturdy, its grey-blue body covered in fine, moist scales, its gills opening and closing gently with its breath. Its robust limbs stood firmly on the ground, exuding a sense of steady power.
[Pokémon: Mudkip]
[Type: Water/Ground]
[Category: Swamp Fish Pokémon]
[Ability: Torrent (When HP is low, the user's Water-type energy is greatly increased, enhancing the power of Water-type moves)]
[Moves: Tackle, Growl, Water Gun, Rock Throw, Protect, Ultrasonic, Water Pulse, Rock Slide, Mud Shot]
However, the Pokémon sent out by Flannery was not Torchic, one of the local Hoenn Fire-type starters, but a small Pokémon resembling a weasel. Its brownish-yellow fur was glossy and smooth, with a cluster of orange-red flames burning on the top of its head and at the end of its tail, the flames swaying like flowing ribbons of light as it ran.
It was none other than Cyndaquil, one of the Fire-type starters of the Johto region.
[Pokémon: Cyndaquil]
[Type: Fire]
[Category: Volcanic Pokémon]
[Ability: Blaze (When HP is low, the flames around the body become increasingly intense, greatly increasing the power of fire-type moves)]
[Moves: Tackle, Leer, Smoke Screen, Ember, Quick Attack, Flame Wheel, Spherical, Fire Punch, Phosphorus Flare, Flamethrower, fire Blast, Overheat]
The moment Lionel saw the Cyndaquil, his eyes narrowed slightly, especially when he noticed its move list, he was secretly surprised.
Even before evolving into Typhlosion, it had already mastered powerful fire-type moves like "fire Blast" and "Overheat," a truly astonishing talent.
Lionel suddenly recalled information he had seen on a Pokémon forum: While Moore was one of the former Hoenn Elite Four, its ace fire-type Pokémon wasn't the native Hoenn starter Blaziken, but rather a fire-type starter from the Johto region, Typhlosion.
That Typhlosion had single-handedly reversed the tide of battle in the Elite Four tournament, leaving behind many legendary achievements.
Therefore, it seems that Flannery's exceptionally talented Cyndaquil must be a descendant of Elite Four's Typhlosion.
That makes sense.
Lionel thought to himself:
In the anime of his previous life, Flannery only had two Magcargos and one Torkoal, how could that be?
She is Elite Four's granddaughter, how could she not even have a decent Fire-type starter Pokémon?
Just as Lionel was pondering this, the battle on the field had reached its climax.
Mudkip's condition was visibly terrible:
its body was dull and scorched, and a few wisps of eerie blue flames occasionally flickered on its surface.
This was what it looked like to be burned. Every movement of Mudkip was accompanied by undisguised pain, and its movements became much slower.