One week later, in Hammerlocke City.
The second largest city in the Galar region after Wyndon.
A city full of medieval charm and historical ruins.
This is also where, three thousand years ago, Zacian and Zamazenta faced off in a battle to the death against Eternatus.
Upon entering the city, Sonia stretched and remarked:
"When I used to travel, the first thing I'd do in any new town was take a shower at the Pokémon Center, but that's not necessary anymore."
As a young lady who wants to look her best every day.
The most inconvenient part of traveling is bathing and using the bathroom.
After all, during travels, most time is spent in the wilderness far from urban areas.
It's fine for guys, they can just strip and jump in the river.
That's not possible for girls.
But with Sun Wuming's capsule house, neither Sonia nor Marnie had to worry about this anymore.
They could take nice fragrant baths every day.
Thinking back to comparing sizes in the bathroom, both Sonia and Marnie's cheeks turned rosy.
"I want to challenge the gym."
Marnie said, holding her head high.
At these words, Sun Wuming and Sonia exchanged glances.
Sonia worriedly said: "Marnie, Hammerlocke's Gym Leader is Raihan, you know."
The strongest Gym Leader in the Galar League after Leon, with Champion-level strength.
For a rookie like Marnie to challenge him?
She might get crushed.
Marnie knew what Sonia was worried about, but she still nodded firmly, "I want to try."
As she spoke, Marnie turned to look at Sun Wuming, seemingly seeking his opinion.
"Then give it a try."
Sun Wuming didn't object.
It would be good for Marnie to understand her future opponent's strength early on.
Besides, Sun Wuming didn't think Marnie was that emotionally fragile.
...
...
At Hammerlocke Gym, two massive dragon statues stood at the entrance of Dragon-type trainer Raihan's gym, looking imposing.
Since the number of gyms in Galar had reached double digits, very few trainers had the courage to challenge Champion-level Raihan.
So after Marnie registered to challenge Raihan, she didn't even need to wait - the gym battle could be held that same afternoon.
"One-on-one?"
During lunch break, Sun Wuming learned of Marnie's strategy from her.
She planned to challenge Raihan with her Morpeko, who had been by her side since she was five years old.
The Galar League's gym challenges had one convenient aspect.
That is, challengers could decide their own battle rules when registering.
For example, since Marnie only had one battle-ready Pokémon, Morpeko.
So she chose a 1v1 battle format.
Besides that, you could choose 2v2, 3v3, or even double battles if you wanted.
This was a reform Rose made to advance the Galar League's Pokémon tournaments.
Unlike other regions where Gym Leaders set the rules.
Like when Ash first went to the Hoenn region.
Since he only had Pikachu, Roxanne, the Rustboro City Gym Leader, refused to battle him.
Because Rustboro Gym's rules required 3v3 battles.
Sun Wuming always thought Ash was pretty stupid for releasing all his previously trained Pokémon whenever he went to a new region.
Though this was the writers' fault, just so Ash wouldn't be too overpowered in new regions.
But it's still dumb!
If he had kept Pikachu, Charizard, Sceptile, Infernape, Krookodile, and Greninja together.
Even with Ailan's Stored Power cheat move, they could've wiped the floor with him!
***
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