Chapter 751 - Dependence

Aoki first followed Route 209 to the east, riding Flygon at an extremely fast pace. Within just a few hours, he reached the terminus of Route 209. From there, only a large forest stood between him and his destination of Lake Valor. Since this journey was meant for both relaxation and training, Aoki chose not to fly directly over the forest on Flygon. Instead, he ventured into the woods and summoned all the Pokemon that would be participating in the upcoming Sinnoh League competition.

Neither his Swampert nor his Poliwhirl possessed sufficient strength to guarantee Aoki a spot in the top sixteen, so intensive training was necessary to enhance their capabilities. Initially, Aoki had assumed Steven's situation mirrored his own - that without three fully trained Pokemon, Steven would only achieve a moderately high ranking. However, Aoki soon realized their resource disparities meant Steven's Pokemon developed at a much faster rate than anticipated.

Both Steven's Armaldo and Cradily had reached elite level, never becoming liabilities, while his Aerodactyl proved most surprising - scanning revealed this fossil Pokemon had reached pseudo-champion status. From Steven's training methods, it was clear this Aerodactyl wasn't gifted but personally raised. This revelation dramatically increased the pressure Aoki felt.

Having trained alongside Wallace's team, Aoki knew their Pokemon well. If Hoenn's representatives possessed such strength, what about other regions? While Lorelei might only be an Elite Four member in Kanto rather than champion, Kanto's Elite Four could likely claim championship titles in other regions. This didn't even account for Sinnoh's Cynthia, Kalos' Diantha, or numerous talented trainers from Johto.

Though rankings weren't Aoki's primary concern, a true competitor couldn't enter battles already defeated in spirit. Poliwhirl's evolution concerns merely provided an excuse for this training excursion - the real motivation stemmed from feeling outpaced by his peers. His original top-eight goal now seemed increasingly difficult, prompting Aoki to head for Lake Valor, hoping intensive training would strengthen his team while providing personal respite.

By summoning his entire team, Aoki planned to battle through the forest, using constant combat to accelerate his Pokemon's growth while implementing recently trained techniques. He had redesigned each Pokemon's move combinations based on their current capabilities. For Swampert, this meant combining Hammer Arm with Earthquake - using the fighting-type move's momentum to amplify the ground-type attack's destructive power into a devastating "Earth Hammer" technique.

Alternatively, Swampert could focus purely on ground-type moves, maximizing their potency through perfect synchronization. Though recently developed and not yet mastered, these combinations already showed impressive results. A properly executed Earthquake could devastate vulnerable opponents, with quadruple-effective hits potentially ending battles instantly. However, the moves' substantial energy requirements currently slowed their execution, leaving Swampert vulnerable against agile foes - an issue requiring refinement through practical experience rather than mere training.

Similarly, Aoki had redesigned move combinations for his other Pokemon, gradually correcting flaws during daily sessions. But true mastery could only be assessed through real combat. The forest's initial stretches along Route 209 contained only low-level wild Pokemon. Swampert and Poliwhirl took point while Slowking and Florges remained beside Aoki, ready to intercept ambushes or support teammates.

Drapion marched behind them, its powerful pincers clicking menacingly. This formidable Pokemon was developing into a true powerhouse, though its energy control still required work - a common trait among physically gifted species. Few Pokemon could master the elemental fang attacks naturally, but those capable of learning them typically possessed exceptional energy manipulation abilities, much like Aoki's Flygon.

Gengar darted through the forest shadows, alternately scouting ahead to warn of approaching Pokemon and checking their rear for stalkers. For an experienced wilderness battler like Aoki, this environment posed little challenge. Having navigated the treacherous Safari Zone - where quasi-champion level Pokemon might appear unexpectedly - a standard Sinnoh forest felt almost relaxing.

Orienting himself toward Lake Valor, Aoki battled any sufficiently strong wild Pokemon encountered along the way, paying little heed to territorial boundaries. This carefree approach brought unexpected relief, alleviating subconscious pressures Aoki hadn't fully acknowledged. Unknown to him, these stresses had emerged when his system entered an indeterminate dormant period.

His unexpected reliance on the system had created subtle anxiety when it became unavailable, manifesting as unfounded concerns about falling behind trainers like Steven. Overcoming this mental hurdle would ultimately make Aoki less system-dependent, even if he continued using it - the underlying mindset would fundamentally change. Fortunately, his partial self-awareness and the catharsis of continuous combat were helping him through this transition.

Under Aoki's direction, his team fought with exceptional coordination, creating constant commotion through the forest. Their passing left no wild Pokemon undefeated, the endless battles inducing an almost trance-like state in Aoki. The three Unown marks on his wrist began glowing brightly, their pulsations intensifying as battles progressed more smoothly. Subtle spatial distortions even began forming unconsciously, though neither Aoki nor his Pokemon noticed, being completely absorbed in their combat rhythm.

The forest echoed with the sounds of battle - Swampert's earth-shaking strikes, Poliwhirl's spiraling water attacks, Drapion's venomous assaults, and Gengar's shadowy maneuvers creating a symphony of conflict. Slowking's psychic powers shimmered in the air as it redirected enemy attacks, while Florges danced gracefully, petals swirling around her in defensive patterns. Flygon remained airborne, its wings humming as it surveyed the battlefield, ready to dive bomb threats with draconic fury.

Each Pokemon moved with precision, executing their newly designed move combinations with increasing confidence. Swampert's Earth Hammer technique sent shockwaves through the ground, uprooting trees and sending opponents flying. Poliwhirl's spiraling Hydro Pump combined with Ice Punch created freezing whirlpools that trapped foes. Drapion perfected a toxic lunge, injecting venom while knocking opponents back with its massive claws. Gengar experimented with combining Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb, creating corrosive shadow orbs that exploded on impact.

As the hours passed, their coordination reached new heights. Aoki's commands came faster, his understanding of each Pokemon's capabilities deepening without relying on his dormant system. The Unown symbols on his wrist now glowed steadily, their light pulsing in time with his team's movements. Strange energy gathered in the air, making the forest shadows stretch unnaturally and leaves float without wind. Yet the battling group remained oblivious, focused solely on their training.

By sunset, they reached a small clearing where Aoki called for respite. His team gathered around him, various levels of exhaustion showing but eyes bright with accomplishment. Even without his system's analysis, Aoki could see their progress - moves executed more cleanly, combinations flowing more naturally, reactions sharpened. As he distributed Pokeblocks for recovery, Aoki realized something important - he hadn't thought about his system for hours. The constant battles had pushed all other concerns from his mind, leaving only the present moment and his Pokemon's growth.

This revelation brought quiet satisfaction. Perhaps, Aoki mused as he watched his team rest, true strength came not from external aids but from this - the unbreakable bonds between Trainer and Pokemon, forged through shared struggle and mutual trust. The system might return someday, but now he knew he could progress without it. As night fell over the forest, Aoki and his team settled in to rest, ready to continue their journey to Lake Valor at dawn, their spirits lighter and determination stronger than before.