Ample and robust signage would lead Althus Rex to the Main Sector, where the Racing Grounds' battle courts were located. There, he would find Josh removing the saddle from Saber, one of the Gym Leader's most iconic Pokémon. He had known the electric wolf since well before coming to Hoenn. "Challenger Rex?" the Leader greeted him. "Champion Devlin, but please, you can call me Josh!" As much as he appreciated Althus' enthusiasm, the redhead's badge count forced him to hold back. "I'll battle as hard as I am permitted to, based on your Badge count. If you want to face me at my full strength, you're more than welcome to drop by for an unofficial match another time!" Was he aware that the Champion's full might included the husk of a legendary Pokémon?

While most Gyms' battle courts had some variance to how large they were, Mauville's was notable for being extremely large; it was triple regulation size, and it was wide open, with plenty of channels for aquatic Pokémon to swim. Pokémon had plenty of room to run and nowhere to hide, playing into the ultrafast Pokémon on Josh's Gym squad and giving them quite the home field advantage.

The Gym Leader and Champion directed the challenger toward the west side of the triple-sized court, toward the Trainer's Box on the challenger's side. "According to your application, this will be a three-Pokémon Singles match. The first side to incapacitate their opponent's entire Pokémon team will be the winner. This match will have a ten-minute time limit, and ties will be broken by sudden death. Good luck to you; you'll need it."

Once the two trainers were positioned, the small gallery cheered, primarily for Josh, as the platforms rose to a height of roughly ten feet. The Gym Leader pointed toward the circular pool surrounding the inner ring of the battle court, a mean-looking Sharpedo surfacing to do battle. "Now, bring forth your Pokémon and ponder your opening move. I can assure you it will be the only decision you will have time to think on," Josh taunted, his Manectric barking from the top of the platform while his Shiny Charizard stood next to him, occupying most of the platform's space.

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"Not to worry, this won't take more than five minutes." Rex gave another cheery wave and took a deep breath, regarding the Gym Leader's three Pokémon thoughtfully. "Huh. Maybe not."

Althus Rex had a gift. It wasn't a gift of blood or natural power or anything particularly special. Rex's talent was the internal compass that ticked in his chest, guiding him to the strongest opponent nearby. Mauville was one of the most populous cities in Hoenn, with a large swath of talented trainers.

Normally, his compass would be going haywire. Now? It focused solely in on Josh Devlin. He was the strongest trainer in the city. That was a fact that nobody could deny, unless they were blind or deaf or stupid.

"Good." Rex's eye fell upon the Shiny Charizard. It was a very cool Pokémon. Strong, too.

"Not bad." Sharpedo came next. Acceptable.

"That's his strongest one. I can feel it." Josh's starter oozed aura, and the name rang out in Rex's mind. Yet names were irrelevant. Nothing mattered. Only the win.

He took a deep breath. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. A change went over the young man as the distant echoes of Littleroot disappeared into a box nestled somewhere in the back of his mind. This was badge one. He closed his eyes, thinking of the path forward. A thousand different lights coalesced towards a singular point in his mind: victory.

Rex opened his eyes.

"Turtonator!" Rex threw the Pokeball, and the turtle-like dragon stepped onto the battlefield, regarding the Gym Leader with a derisive expression. With a huff, Josh was met with the Pokémon's back as it shuffled towards him, poison oozing from crevices as a Venoshock erupted forward.

---

Josh Devlin

Josh was more than the strongest trainer in Mauville City. He was one of Hoenn's greats, being one of only six Champion Ranked trainers in the entire region. As a Gym Leader, his strategy was much more linear than battling with all his might. For his role here was not to crush the opposition with everything he had learned as part of his Champion Assessment. His role was to educate trainers on how to handle one specific aspect of Pokémon.

A Turtonator was quite the defensive Pokémon; that magmatic shell would be quite the challenge to pound through. The shark opened his jaws wide, putting on a great SPEED BOOST to evade direct contact with the toxic goop that polluted the pool. There was no true escape from the foul liquid as it became diluted with the water around it. Every bit of venom the Sharpedo took in ate at his insides, making his rear jet less effective and offsetting any speed gained. "Snacker, make him come to you!" Josh ordered, the dark-type harnessing his pain to flail harder than he normally could. From beneath his skin, red eyes stared down the Turtonator as the SWAGGERING shark bucked and writhed, looking to goad the dragon-type into making a dangerous mistake.

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Snacker Swaggered. Turtonator came.

In a world where Rex actually bothered to utter the turtle dragon's true name, it was possible that the young man would've been able to keep his dragon under control. As it was, the dragon simply let out a roar and stumbled forward foolishly, omitting the safety of the shell in favor for the Sharpedo's jaws.

"Damn. I can't afford to spend time messing with this Sharpedo." Rex grimaced as his dragon continued to lumber towards a shark he'd never be able to catch. "Calm down! Turtonator, get your head in the game!"

That suggestion was denied, unfortunately, as the dragon attempted to actually tackle the shark. Rex rolled his eyes. It was such an obvious blunder.

"I warned him." Rex shrugged and whistled innocently, waiting for his plan to come into motion, "Ohhhhh well!"

Yet faintly there was a click emanating from the Turtonator. Not an attack, but a promise. A vow for something that would come when he eventually got his head back into the game.

---

Josh Devlin