Guga's Challenge

The Viper sitting in the stands was surprised for a moment before he couldn't help laughing and cursing.

"This stubborn boy... I don't know what he said to that Murkrow. This time, he really didn't hold back anything at all!" He stared at the large white characters on the trial stone, carefully reading them again to confirm there was no mistake, then chuckled to himself.

As the chief instructor of Team Rocket who had been stationed on Trial Island for years, he was the one who understood the achievements of trainers like Aoki the best.

It could be said without exaggeration that this achievement of Aoki's was outstanding among all previous testers!

"Cough!"

Hearing the Viper's cough, the examiner quickly snapped out of his daze and loudly announced, "Trainer, number: 234! Attack value: 458!"

"Hiss!"

The sound of collective inhalation filled the air, and the entire square erupted into chaos.

"Look!"

"Incredible!"

"Unbelievable!"

Aside from such extreme exclamations, no one could find words to describe their feelings at that moment. Aoki had completely secured his place as the first in this trial, leaving everyone else far behind with an undeniable, crushing performance.

Under the test bench, Jasmine's mouth opened slightly, her cheeks stiff with shock. She stared at Aoki and the Murkrow on the stage. After a long moment, her chest rose and fell as she murmured under her breath, "Is this his true strength? The variable they spoke about?"

Guga, who stood nearby, opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately muttered, "He already surpassed me last time, but this time... he's so far ahead! What kind of monster is he?!"

"In one week, he jumped from an attack value of 200 in the last test to over 400 now. Truly a mysterious figure. This trial is becoming more and more interesting!" Alec commented calmly while standing amidst the crowd. However, the trembling hand resting on his Poochyena's head betrayed his nerves.

"Is this... the real strength of the boss?" Skye, who stood under Aoki, stared at the trial stone's results with disbelief, muttering to himself. Originally, Skye believed that even if Aoki could secure first place again, it would be by a narrow margin, just like the last time. But no one could have anticipated such an overwhelming gap.

Though some were shocked, others stared at Aoki with unclear expressions, their thoughts hidden behind calculating eyes.

After the examiner recorded the results, Aoki led Murkrow off the trial bench, returning to his original position. The crowd around him, who had been jostling before, instinctively made way, the space around him now more compact. The trainers closest to Aoki seemed eager to stay within his sphere, as though proximity to his power would shield them from future trials or elevate their own status within Team Rocket.

After Aoki's performance, no other results were as noteworthy. Skye's 288 attack value with his newly acquired Koffing stood out but wasn't enough to draw attention away from Aoki's dominance. Skye's score was surprising, given Koffing was not a direct attacker and had only recently been tamed. It demonstrated Skye's natural talent as a trainer.

Soon, the testing concluded. Despite some surprising results, the rankings didn't change much. Aoki crushed everyone with his 458 attack value, cementing his position as the first.

The rankings were as follows:

First place: Aoki, Murkrow, Attack Value: 458

Second place: Guga, Ekans, Attack Value: 337

Third place: Alec, Mightyena, Attack Value: 330

Fourth place: Jasmine, Zubat, Attack Value: 308

Fifth place: Skye, Koffing, Attack Value: 288

Other than Skye's rise to fifth place with Soros' former Koffing and Alec's improvement thanks to his Mightyena's evolution, the top ranks remained mostly unchanged. However, Aoki's keen observation, sharpened by the Viper's guidance, revealed a few participants hiding their true strength. Though their current scores placed them in the lower ranks, something about their demeanor hinted at untapped potential.

"Cough." On the trial bench, the examiner's cough once again brought the square to silence.

"The basic testing is complete. According to the updated trial rules, anyone unsatisfied with their performance may challenge a trainer ranked within ten places above them. Each participant is allowed one challenge. If the challenger wins, they claim the defeated trainer's rank. If they lose, their own rank will drop by ten. These battles are to be fought until one trainer's Pokemon can no longer battle. This challenge is a life-or-death battle!"

The examiner's stern voice and piercing gaze swept over the participants. The mention of "life-or-death" created a heavy pressure. Trainers who had initially been eager to climb the ranks suddenly hesitated, their confidence waning in the face of such high stakes.

For a moment, the square was filled with silent tension. Trainers exchanged nervous glances but avoided making eye contact with those ranked higher. The fear of losing—and potentially dying—outweighed the desire to advance.

Aoki stood quietly, observing the group. His eyes eventually fell on Guga, whose expression shifted uneasily. Guga's clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil as he glanced between his Ekans and Aoki's Murkrow. When Aoki's piercing gaze finally met his, Guga's resolve hardened.

"Enough of this!" Guga shouted, stepping forward. His voice carried an edge of desperation as he declared, "I'll go first! I challenge... first place, Aoki!"