Chapter 131: 131. AJ
If you enjoy the chapter, don't forget to drop some Power Stones! Your support keeps me inspired to create and share more. Thank you!💎💎💎
---
Opening the door, the two stepped into the luxurious independent dormitory.
The dormitory was spacious, bright, and impeccably clean, with no trace of dust. It boasted six or seven rooms spread across two floors ample space for over a dozen people to stay comfortably at once.
However, apart from Chloe, Kai was the only other occupant of this grand house. Its emptiness made the place feel desolate despite its grandeur.
They each picked rooms that suited their preferences. Chloe, though a bit shy about staying under the same roof, didn't voice any concerns.
After placing her backpack in her room, she wandered curiously through the house, exploring each room with wide-eyed wonder.
"Alright, that's enough exploring," Kai said, stopping her with a hand. "We'll be staying here for a few days. If there's time, we can take a walk and enjoy the scenery together!"
As he spoke, he rubbed his empty stomach with a wry smile. "But for now, I'm starving. Let's head to the restaurant and find something to eat!"
Hearing this, Chloe nodded in agreement. She hadn't had a proper meal in days, and the thought of delicious food made her stomach growl.
Before leaving, she pulled out her phone, sent a message to Professor Cerise and her mother, and let them know they had arrived safely.
After leaving the dormitory, they found a nearby restaurant. It was lunchtime, and the place was bustling with trainers and their Pokémon, filling the air with lively chatter and noise.
The restaurant featured more than a dozen serving windows, with long tables underneath glass cases displaying an array of sumptuous dishes.
The sight of the colourful food, combined with its tantalizing aroma, was enough to make anyone's mouth water.
Kai filled his plate with food, and the two of them settled into a quiet corner by the window.
As they ate, Kai's eyes swept across the room, and he spotted a familiar face Gary Oak.
Gary was seated confidently with several girls surrounding him. Reclining in his chair with legs crossed, he sipped a cup of coffee, looking smug.
However, his quick, calculating glances at the other trainers betrayed his true thoughts he was secretly sizing up their potential as rivals.
When their gazes met, Gary raised his coffee cup in acknowledgement, a cocky smile playing on his lips like a character from a drama.
Kai returned the gesture with a slight nod but didn't approach. Though they knew each other, their relationship wasn't close enough to warrant a conversation.
Continuing to scan the room, Kai also noticed familiar faces from New Island Corey, Fergus, and Neesha.
They were scattered among the crowd, but Mewtwo's memory erasure meant none of them would recognize him now.
Shaking off those thoughts, Kai returned his attention to his meal, chatting casually with Chloe until they were both full. Stretching lazily in his chair, Kai leaned back and relaxed.
At that moment, a voice called out from behind him.
"I was wondering if I'd see you here, and look at that I did!"
Turning around, Kai saw a slightly stocky man with green hair it was AJ, the "Beast Tamer."
"So you're participating in the Pokémon League too," Kai said with a sigh.
"Of course!" AJ replied confidently. "After you defeated me last time, I trained hard and built up a 100-match winning streak before starting my journey. Now I've earned all eight badges!"
"Impressive," Kai acknowledged. "I'm guessing your Sandshrew has evolved by now?"
"Naturally!" AJ said with pride, tossing a Poké Ball in his hand. His gaze flicked to Gardevoir, who stood beside Kai. "Looks like your Pokémon have evolved too. I hope we get to face each other in battle it'll be great to settle the score!"
Kai nodded. "It would definitely be a good match. I'm looking forward to it."
AJ waved and started to leave, but after a few steps, he turned back with a smirk.
"By the way, watch out for some tough competition in this tournament. One of the favourites is Gary Oak, the grandson of Professor Oak and a star student of Pokémon Tech. Still, be careful if you face them."
"Thanks for the heads-up," Kai replied.
---
The next day, the Pokémon League held its torch relay event.
Contestants took turns carrying the torch every few hundred meters, passing it along the route to the Indigo Plateau.
Kai didn't participate but stood among the crowd, soaking in the atmosphere. During the event, he reunited with Ash, Misty, and Brock, who had donned athletic outfits to join the relay.
Their movements were broadcast live, giving them a chance to shine before millions of viewers.
As expected, Team Rocket wasn't far behind. Jessie, James, and Meowth attempted to steal the torch, causing chaos.
Fortunately, their scheme failed, and the torch safely reached the Pokémon League President, Charles Goodshow.
President Goodshow, a short, jovial man with a casual demeanour, accepted the torch with pride.
Despite his laid-back appearance, complete with an upside-down baseball cap, he commanded immense respect as the League's executive committee chairman.
Kai learned from others that the flame in the torch came from Moltres itself.
"Moltres..." Kai muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Having already caught Articuno and Zapdos, Moltres was the last of the legendary birds he had yet to encounter.
A smirk crept onto his face as he imagined riding all three in turn one fiery, one icy, and one electric.
"That'll be something," he mused.
---
For early access to advanced chapters and exclusive illustrations made by me, visit my P@treon:
P@treon/iamxeno
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!