Chapter 93

The next day, Jax was sitting in Headmaster Leon's office again. As his endorser, Leon figured that he should be the one to take Jax to the Gym since it was his debuting battle. Plus, as the one who leaked the news to the Alliance, he knew a massive crowd of reporters would be waiting in front of the Gym's doors ready to pounce on the young trainer with their questions.

The academy only accepted students every 5 years and all the kids who enrolled in the first semester were 5-6 years old. That means that as of right now, there was only one batch of kids at the academy who were only 8-9 years old!

Since they already knew the Big 5, the press immediately ruled out Ally, Olivia, George, Walter Jr., and Evie. A new trainer! The strongest of the Big 5! A young trainer who was endorsed by the undefeated Galarian Champion! Just any of those facts would be worthy of a front-page headline so imagine if they got the exclusive interview!

As the two were finishing up any last-minute preparations they needed to go over or documents to sign, Evans, the Rock-type Gym leader was having his own meeting with his employer.

"Sir, I'm sure you already know but some cheeky brat has challenged our Gym for the veteran badge."

"Mhm. I have been informed by the Alliance since yesterday. They were as shocked as I was. I believe the challenger's name is Jax."

Hearing that name, a blue haired boy perked up his ears. It was a name that he was all to familiar with, after all!

"Wait, father. Did you just say the challenger's name is Jax? How old is he?"

"From what the Alliance told me, the boy is only about 7 or 8 years old. Why?"

"I know him! I have had dealings with him in the past and even now, you could consider us friends. You know those evo stones and Rock-type and Steel-type pokemon corpses that I've been selling? He is my supplier! My exclusive~ supplier." The blue haired boy didn't forget to emphasize the exclusive part to let his old man know that even if he wanted to, it was too late to make a contract with their gym's challenger today regarding selling and buying those stones and corpses!

While the three were still busy discussing in the office, Jax and Leon had already arrived at the gates of the Gym. Well, almost the gates since in front of it was a mass of flashing camera lights and reporters all shouting out their questions hoping one of them would get answered.

"QUIET!" Leon barked out his order at the press and with his intimidating aura, they all hushed down.

"Mhm. That's better. I thought I would go blind and deaf from all those lights and shouts."

"Psh, boy. That wouldn't even matter since you can see and hear perfectly fine with your aura and psychic abilities even if you were blind and deaf."

"Still, who would guess that this many reporters would be out here so early in the morning waiting for me. Hehe. I almost feel like a celebrity."

"Well, you are the star of today. I had to inform the Alliance since this will be an official battle but I had no idea they would do their own promoting, those sly foxes. With Team Rocket on the rise, they're trying to paint you as the world's savior or something."

"Let them plan all they want. The Alliance can't do anything to me until I reach the age of 10 anyways. By then, I'll have become stronger, so strong that in the face of my strength, plans mean nothing."

Passing through the gates, Jax could finally see the Gym for what it was. A monstrous building built into the side of a cliff, large marble columns much like the ones the Romans and Greeks used in the olden days, and pristine marble walls and steps, the building stood its solid ground in all of its glory.

Walking into the building, the first thing to greet him was a pressuring aura. Not aura ability but the aura that someone extremely strong just subconsciously exudes; that person's presence carried authority, power, and struck awe as well as fear into anyone who was observing him .

Standing at the far end of the battleground was a man with a yellow construction vest, cargo pants and steel-toed boots. If he had a hard hat, Jax reckoned that that man could have been a long-lost cousin of Bob the builder! With an amused smirk, Jax proceeded to what he figured was his designated spot on the battleground.

Noticing that the boy who just casually strolled in was not intimidated by his aura, Evans had an appreciative smile on his face. It took more than just courage to walk so naturally towards one's spot when a bestial aura was weighing down upon you. And a boy who was younger than his son had done just that! Evans could not help but admire the boy's grit.

"Welcome! I am Evans, leader of this Rock-type Gym. I heard you were planning to apply for the veteran level badge battle today. After seeing me in person, are you still willing to go through with your foolish plan?"

"Mhm. I can tell you have fought your fair share of battles but I have not spent the past two years out in the Great Beyond playing around either. Plus, I have something much more important to win than just your badge after beating you." Jax was still thinking about the bet he had made with his master.

Although winning against a Gym would be nice, the only real reason Jax was doing that now was to proceed with his quests. Nice, but unnecessary. Winning the bet, on the other hand, would have two master class trainers, Guardians, at that, helping him look for traces of his mother. That was even more important to Jax than some stupid quest that only gave him 10 SP.

"Very well, boy. As the challenger, send out your first of three pokemon."