There was no telling what Swift would be capable of under Josh's command. Under Kyle's command, the Raikou ferried the Gym Leader around eastern Hoenn at paralyzing speeds, taking him from Pyre Lake to Mauville Bay in a matter of minutes. "Oh, they do," Josh reiterated of Virizion's speed. "With how agile they are, Virizion and Swift would be competitive in a race, I imagine." Perhaps, one day, when Lam and Virizion understood one another better, that dream would be a reality.

Lam seemed to have a grasp on how daunting of a task controlling a legendary mount was. Unlike Swift, who was a reflection of Josh's inner emotions, the Virizion was an independent Pokémon, capable of their own thought. "It is a lot like riding a Sawsbuck or Stantler," he confirmed, having had experience with all of those Pokémon. "They can put on a lot of speed, but there's flow to every motion. Unlike Swift, who doesn't care about how he looks when he runs." The speed was brutal for both rider and prey, the same immense muscle power that tore his quarry to shreds also harshly bounced the one sitting on his thundercloud. "Whether it's my limit or his limit, we'll find it together."

Swift purred loudly at Lam's cautious words, rattling Josh and making his hair stand on end. "Whoa, this really is where the expression 'purring like a motor' comes from, doesn't it?"

Even as a standard Pokémon, Skarmory were capable of withstanding immense physical force. They were some of the few Pokémon that could dive into the ground at full speed, crash, and take right back to the air without injury. That toughness multiplied when Dynamaxed; not even the G-MAX WIND RAGE left much of a scratch on the Pokémon itself. There was a small scratch on the red DYNAMAX BARRIER enveloping it, but the harm the massive move inflicted looked trivial.

"Now, MAX ROCKFALL," the Gym Leader commanded, Bladestorm slamming her bladed wings into the ground to unearth sharp stones of a colossal scale. The resulting stone rain could have felt like a meteor shower to the comparatively tiny Corviknight.

Once the smoke had cleared, Josh took a brief time-out to share his observations. "So Dynamax Pokémon, from what I can see, exchange complete mobility for extreme toughness. Do you have a Pokémon that can also Dynamax, Lam?" he asked, curious to see what would happen when two of them would collide. That, in his eyes, was the purpose of the field test.

That way, he could come up with a worst case scenario in the event of a Dynamax attack on his city.

"Sometimes, all it takes is a little branching out," Josh mused as the big jump approached, the Gym Leader tensing his hold on Ecco's reins. "Just like us, a Pokémon can try something new and have no idea they'll like it so much. Who knows, maybe Aura will challenge me for a Badge one day!" he joked. Unfortunately for Aura, challenging trainers had to compete directly. Per Gym policy, a Pokémon could not race in lieu of a human rider.

It seemed that Jade wasn't quite ready for a leap. "If that's the case, then we'd better turn around and head back to the starting line before we fall over the edge," Josh advised, tugging hard on his Palafin's reins to induce a sweeping reversal. As cute as the blue, aquatic Pokémon was, Ecco had the agility to match!

Josh had been desensitized to denying trainers Badges. Even today, the percentage of trainers that were denied for the Quick Badge was astonishingly high. While popular, the racing challenge was quite physical, requiring the trainer to be in just as fit physical shape as their Pokémon. On top of that, it required trust beyond that a simple battle would.

The challenge made Josh more self-aware; there was a place for aggression and speed, and there was a place for defense and patience. Today's challenge would reflect on the way he prepared for the title match with kyle lopez , and even within the battle itself. He would have Hideo to thank for the external perspective.

For without his guidance, Josh would never have been crowned a Champion.

The specific phrasing Hideo used seemed deliberate, to shame him for the past that lingered. "I understand. Mauville Gym has a similar policy; we make challengers wait 45 calendar days in between challenges." Josh's language, too, was decidedly neutral, as if he could sense Hideo's seething emotions toward him. "I'm really impressed with your Gym; it's a great test of character, and it's engaging, too. Have a good one, and don't work too hard." With that, he turned around and left Littleroot Gym, sitting astride his stoic Absol and beginning the long trek home.

Josh's heart warmed as Airi recognized the sacred artifact. "I did," he answered. "I was the last person the late Top Champion kyle lopez bestowed the title of Champion on before he passed away. Instead of fighting against his normal team in the title match, I had to battle Ho-oh."

The question about recommended Gym order was one Josh got a lot. "A surprising number of people go to my Gym first, despite how difficult it is. A lot of people struggle following the speed. If you don't come to me first, I would recommend CIAN MAHER 's Weather Gym or noah faber 's Fighting-type Gym. Noah's Gym was the first one I went to, and it definitely made me uncomfortable fighting there. In a good way." He remembered how much he had to improvise in order to battle in the cramped quarters of the fighting-type master's ring.

Before continuing to entertain Airi's questions, Josh noticed ashes falling from the RAINBOW FEATHER's quill, glowing yellow with crackling sparks. Was his subconscious telling him to bless Airi with Swift's presence? He listened to the voice deep within him and began drawing the sign, an enormous crash of lightning falling perhaps uncomfortably close to his acquaintance. When the bright light faded, she was in the presence of a monochrome Raikou, the legendary Pokémon comprised of SACRED ASH.

"Swift here is... a special case."

Josh didn't blame Roze one bit; the upper floors of the Sky Pillar were dangeous, and often home to fully-grown Pokémon. He turned his Roaring Moon around, the paradox Pokémon also retreating toward the first floor. "Of course! It's more common to find fully evolved dragon Pokémon higher up. It can get nasty here; wouldn't want you to get in over your head."

At the mention of lacking in strength, Josh's smile grew. "I don't know if I told you this, but I'm also Mauville City's Gym Leader. If you want to get stronger, the Gym circuit is one of the best ways to do so." Though the masses signed up for the Leader's racing challenge, the facility was still an official place for regulated battles. "Feel free to make an appointment! I'll be happy to show you around and give you some pointers."

As Ghost stared at Josh for a long time, the Sylveon-mounted Champion would approach him. "You stuck on this last one?" he asked, figuring locating the Druddigon storm leader might be a bit of a challenge. They were typically located deeper in caves like this one; he might need to go beneath the surface level to find them.

"Use your resources. The information's there. You just have to find it." While the examination prohibited the Elite from giving Ghost any direct advice. there was nothing stopping him from reminding him where he could find the information he needed. "If it's not in one--OWWW!!" he wailed as Xeno's teeth barely pierced the Gym Leader's right leg, the rider instinctively kicking the Gible away. He knew the dragon-type species well, and knew their bite force was much worse than that. Was this truly a wild Pokémon?

"Got it!" Josh chirped back, grabbing two more of his Poké Balls. The Dragonair and Floatzel that emerged from them looked ready to dive. Josh, though, was distracted by the non-response. Did she not remember meeting him? Or was the only one that had that dream him?

He shook his head. He couldn't be distracted by ephemeral, even astral happenings. Clearing these blocked corridors would relieve water pressure and allow salvage teams that followed them to recover what they needed. Josh and Kopala dove to the sea bed, a large collapse completely blocking the entrance to an underwater cave. The Champion reached for Resheph's Poké Ball and clicked it open. All it took was seeing Josh's eyes and the pileup before her to know what to do.

The serpent glowed a purple-white before ramming into the pile of debris at EXTREME SPEEDS, Josh and Kopala buffeted backward from a current due to the water pressure difference. An entire school of Horsea and Seadra surrounded the dragon, Mantine, and trainer, clearly happy to be freed from the collapse.

With the two aboard, Josh was about to hop onto his Dewgong when he got a radio message from the Captain asking for an update. Quick to respond it, he did as she asked. "Captain, it's Devlin. They've been found and secured. My Dewgong will be building an ice slide for them to get back to the surface safely. You should see it on the south side of the island. Will rendezvous ASAP. Over and out."

His reporting done, he helped the trio get astride the water Pokémon before ordering Ulysses to fire an ICE BEAM from the tilting platform's surface. A slide began to form from its edge. "Hold on tight, all three of you," he warned before Fumiko gave the ice-type a push over the edge. Despite his efforts to keep this slide's grade as light as possible, all three of the guest riders screamed like they were going down the hill of a roller coaster. Even Josh himself let out a whoop; he had never gone so fast on a Dewgong before.

Not long after Kairi had ferried the distressed man to safety, Josh got a radio message from silverio delfino . The crashing noise was concerning, to say the least. "What wing and floor are you on? I'll be there as quickly as I can!" Provided he was able to promptly get the report from his coworker, Josh and his Palafin would arrive in record time, the water-type's swiftness of response impressive. All of that racing experience sure was coming in handy!

Several of the cabins near the rear had completely collapsed, their windows broken out. The Champion had a sinking feeling that he couldn't save everyone. Despite his systematic searching, he could not locate silverio delfino . "Are you holding up okay? I'm trying to find you still!" he called out over comms, hoping he would get a quick response. Silverio better not have been inside one of those debris-filled cabins...!

It wasn't just the Boltund; there were other enormous Pokémon wandering the Sector, let alone the entire outdoor complex. Several Cyclizar weaved around one another, a screech from one making a sharp turn catching the Gym Leader's attention briefly. "I am!" Josh answered. "The two types of students I enjoy teaching most are beginners, then experts looking to become masters."

Nearby would be several Pokémon that looked quite beginner friendly. The golden, fanning tails of a Ninetales waved in the light breeze, the fox standing as tall as Josh would on the ground. The calming feelers of a Shiny Sylveon would reach out toward Absinthe, touching her and attempting to calm her if she allowed it. A female Pyroar approached, as well, the Mauville Rangers' emblem emblazoned upon her tack. Finally, Braver the Kantonian Arcanine approached, standing taller than the other Pokémon present. He looked to be the most traditional of the four ride Pokémon, though the speed his species was known for may have made them look intimidating.

Another scratch may have been added to that pen today from Eriette's hoof. Perhaps it gave the pen that much more character. "Not as much as I used to," Josh replied. "Only when my Ranger work takes me out here anymore." Much of his Ranger work was predicated around the Mauville area. It was one of the most biodiverse counties in all of Hoenn; within a couple hours' ride, one could find beach, plains, rainforest, mountains, canyons, and desert.

His eyes briefly shifted toward Littleroot Gym nefore turning back toward Morrighan Cahill . "Gym Leader Devlin or Champion Devlin, but please, you can call me Josh," he introduced himself, twirling the Spectrier's ghostly mane. "And these two are Eriette and Hylda." The Glastrier's mist may have been refreshing amidst the summer heat, floating all around the ice-type except directly above her saddle.

As Eriette galloped through the sleepy town, passing Littleroot Gym, Josh scowled; why couldn't Hideo Kino accept that perfection was not possible in war time? Mauville's Leader had learned the hard way that saving everyone was impossible. Why did the psychic child insist otherwise? When every second mattered, being able to make a snap judgment call that saved the most lives was important.

After the Eris incident, it was clear the two would never see eye to eye.

As soon as he heard Keenan Toral 's voice, the Master of Faster reined the Spectrier to a stop, the Pokémon rearing and sounding a ghostly neigh. "Hey, Kee! Fancy running into you here!" Josh greeted the young trainer, though the sudden change of emotion may have been obvious if the blonde was paying attention. "You and your Shaymin lookin' great!"