Without the ability to use Mauville Racing Grounds, there were very few places in Hoenn where Josh could satisfy his need for speed. New Mauville was one of the few places he had left to do it, with the underground facility being home to the dizzying MOBIUS RING course. Only electric and steel-type Pokémon were able to use the course, its entire surface electromagnetically charged. This bestowed the ability for those types of Pokémon to run while upside down; it was important due to the titular shape of the course.

While it was still the day before the time trials, the Hoenn Racing Federation had the track's electromagnets on to allow for those interested to practice. Unsurprisingly, it was not very crowded; the time of day as well as the course's physically demanding nature chased many squeamish amateurs away, Josh noticed a young man call out to him. Reining Raikiri toward him, he returned the call. "Oh, hello there! You here to practice for the race tomorrow, too? Elite Ranger Devlin or Gym Leader Devlin, but I go by Josh. I'm a liaison for Hoenn's Pokémon Racing Federation." The on-fours Zeraora greeted him with a purr that got a high-pitched cry out of his rider.

Josh certainly wasn't expecting to meet one of Hoenn's ultrawealthy in a place like this. "Just Josh is okay, if you want. Nice to... make your acquaintance, Mr. Volkov," he replied, abruptly and awkwardly becoming more formal as he reached down to accept the man's handshake. It was a bit of a reach to do so from the thundercat's back, but he managed. He was used to it by now. "Opening a branch in Mauville has done my city's elderly a great service. Medical at Mauville Racing Grounds has even started using your company as a supplier now. I just wish I could see the rewards of that benefit... but I can't right now." He thought about his suspension every day, and would certainly never make another mistake like that again.

When asked about the race tomorrow, the Mauville Leader was more than happy to indulge Michail. "Yep, and on one of the more unique courses in Hoenn, too! I need to get some practice in! Come, I can show you!" Provided Michail agreed to, he would lead him to the course's observation deck. Regardless, he and his Pokémon would take the elevator to the course level, an ambient hum filling the air from the generators needed to maintain the unusual platform's electromagnetism.

Just as Raikiri lined up, a wild Manectric took interest in the mythical Pokémon, looking like it wanted to challenge the duo to a contest of speed... and took off without them, DISCHARGING a burst of electricity from its four paws and sending it shooting forward at a blistering rate of acceleration. "After it, Raikiri!" The two Pokémon hovered inches above the course through the power of electromagnetism, yet could still grip the track as though they were on the ground.

The MOBIUS RING's claim to fame, and the reason only electric and steel Pokémon could use the course, was its backstretch. The back half of the ovaloid course twisted 180 degrees to the left, causing the Pokémon to shift to the underside of the oval and run while upside down. If Michail was watching, he would have been easily able to see the inverted bodies of the Gym Leader and the two electric-type Pokémon.

It was only through Josh's improved constitution due to training so hard with Alexei Ivanov 's flying-type Pokémon that he avoided losing his lunch, even pushing his Zeraora faster to overtake the wild. Once he did so, he never gave the lead back. He hid a Poké Ball in the thundercat's fur, only taking it out and hurling it at the electric wolf as it was to cross the finish line.

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD PINCURCHIN APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] FEMALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] LIGHTNING ROD
[attr="class","wildtabox"]BUBBLE BEAM	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]CHARGE
[attr="class","wildtabox"]CURSE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]ZING ZAP
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]jayden cross Josh Devlin

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD MAGNEZONE APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] GENDERLESS	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ANALYTIC
[attr="class","wildtabox"]MAGNETIC FLUX	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]TRI ATTACK
[attr="class","wildtabox"]BARRIER	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]SPARK
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ELECTROWEB	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]jayden cross Josh Devlin

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

BOTH OF YOUR CAPTURE ATTEMPTS ARE SUCCESSFUL!

Josh, likewise, had his tagline. Though his Gym wasn't providing as important of a service, what with his business being closer to the leisure industry, it still taught an important skill. Pokémon had become so integrated into Hoennisn society that having one for travel was almost expected for those physically able to. It was one of the reasons the Mauville Racing Grounds were so bustling. He longed to go back there. When he was at his deposition, he didn't think about just how much he took his life's work for granted. Six months didn't seem like a long time, but every day he worked among his city's least fortunate was a living hell by comparison.

"I tried," Josh replied, still a little woozy. "I don't know how familiar you are with the Hoenn Pokémon Racing Federation, but there was a big race at Fortree City a couple months ago. Alex, kyle lopez , and I finished one-two-three." Courses had popped up all over the region, particularly when the Paldean Cyclizar Racing League merged with Hoenn's organization. That very merger jumpstarted the popularity of the sport in the region, every professional and most semi-pro events getting television coverage on at least one local channel.

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD TYNAMO APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] MALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] LEVITATE
[attr="class","wildtabox"]TACKLE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]SPARK
[attr="class","wildtabox"]---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]---
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]jayden cross Josh Devlin

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD LUXIO APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] FEMALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] RIVALRY
[attr="class","wildtabox"]THUNDER SHOCK	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]SWAGGER
[attr="class","wildtabox"]CHARGE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]DISCHARGE
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]jayden cross Josh Devlin

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

jayden cross CAUGHT THE MAGNEZONE!

Josh whistled at seeing the familiar Gym Leader's Badge. "Oh, Alex and I have known each other for a really long time. Before I became a Gym Leader, even." he mused. "I love it, but it's definitely not for everyone. Hoenn in particular puts a lot of pressure on its Gym Leaders." That was just with what was publicly known; internal matters were a whole different thing. "I'm just happy I was able to seamlessly integrate what is now the Hoenn Racing League into Mauville Gym. Been quite a road getting there, but since then, it's become mainstream here. It's just as big as auto racing is regions like Unova."

The Shuppet's reflexes were top notch, a sign of a strong Trainer. "You're... really good. Were you on Champion's Road at all before going into business in pharma?" he casually asked, considering catching the Luxio that dashed by Raikiri, though ultimately deciding against it. Though he thought of expanding his pride to include all big cat Pokémon, the Master of Faster ultimately decided to keep it Pyroar only for now. He also wanted to voice his opinion on prescription drug prices, but that was a question better debated in national representative bodies. He kept those words to himself.

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD CHARJABUG APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] MALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] BATTERY
[attr="class","wildtabox"]STRING SHOT	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]STICKY WEB
[attr="class","wildtabox"]MUD SLAP	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]BUG BITE
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]jayden cross Josh Devlin

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

[attr="class","wildtemp"]

[attr="class","wildbgsaf"]

[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD PROBOPASS APPEARED!

[attr="class","wildshiny"]

[attr="class","wildpkmnbox"]

[attr="class","wildpkmn"]

[attr="class","wildtab"]

[attr="class","wildtabox"] FEMALE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] MAGNET PULL
[attr="class","wildtabox"]MAGNET BOMB	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]TRI ATTACK
[attr="class","wildtabox"]TACKLE	[attr="class","wildtabox2"]ZAP CANNON
[attr="class","wildtabox"] ---	[attr="class","wildtabox2"] ---

[attr="class","wildtag"]jayden cross Josh Devlin

[attr="class","wildnote"] WHAT WILL YOU DO?

jayden cross CAUGHT THE TYNAMO!

It seemed Josh's suspicions were correct. "No wonder you're such a talented trainer," he replied. "I've heard a lot of people talking about the Hoenn Star Tournament. Was it just a really big, region-wide Pokémon tournament?" Little did he know that through the tournament was how MATIAS SILPH met the Virizion Josh got to ride on earlier in the year. It was a rush he would never forget, the blindingly fast moves comparable to a Beast with more of a focus on agility than raw speed. While it was fun in its own right, he still preferred the electric feline's raw speed over rapid turns that swung his body madly about.

In the meantime, Josh caught sight of a motionless Charjabug. Having studied Alolan, Galarian, and Paldean species during his time away from the Gym, he knew the kind of Pokémon it would evolve into. The Battery Pokémon's eyes were quite dark, a sign that it was very low on power. "Hey Raikiri, mind if I hop off so you can give this big guy a pick-me-up?" With a nod, the thundercat let his rider slide off before walking toward the shuddering bug-type. He gently touched the nearly motionless Charjabug's pylons, forming an ELECTRO BALL between his paws so that the wild could feed off it.

Refreshed, the Charjabug nuzzled Raikiri, eyes and pylons looking much healthier now. "Wait, you want to come with us?" the Gym Leader asked as the cubic Pokémon's eyes rapidly flickered among different shades of blue. "Alright then! Welcome to Team Devlin," he replied with a smile, tapping the happy wild with a blue Great Ball.