At this moment, among the challengers who initially stood up, only three remained.
During this time, Terrance had not suffered a single defeat, and after battling these three, Terrance was able to confirm their strength—far inferior to Brawly and others.
Mismagius and Castform went on stage again for their respective battles, and finally, all the challengers who had stood up first were defeated.
“No one else?” Terrance looked up and noticed that the dozen or so people who had stood up first and couldn’t wait in line had all been defeated.
Terrance recalled Castform from the arena and sent out Altaria once again. Concerned about the possibility of a hidden, powerful Trainer among the challengers, Terrance had deliberately conserved Altaria’s stamina, the strongest member of his team in overall strength.
Having rested until now, Altaria’s strength had returned to its peak condition.
Seeing Terrance send out Altaria, many people’s lips twitched. It was evident that those confident in their strength had already stepped forward. Since they had all been defeated, it was likely that the remaining challengers were no match for Terrance either.
Looking at the majestic and elegant Altaria, many people had already guessed Terrance’s intent—this was clearly his trump card.
“This is… he’s not planning to let anyone off, is he?”
From start to finish, Terrance had been meticulously ensuring the stamina and condition of every Pokémon he sent out. Only when a Pokémon could maintain at least 80% of its strength would Terrance allow it to continue battling. His approach was clear…..
Terrance did not want to lose—not even once. Therefore, in every battle, despite the limited number of Pokémon at his disposal, he always prioritized stability and refused to put himself in a risky position.
If a Pokémon could still perform at over 80% of its strength but lost, Terrance wouldn’t feel too regretful. If an opponent had that level of strength, they would earn his recognition.
“Are there any more challengers?!”
Scarlet called out.
As it turned out, there were still challengers. Having come all this way, they were unwilling to leave without even challenging.
Although they knew their strength was lacking, some still stepped forward to challenge Terrance.
In Altaria’s first battle, with a single Dragon Claw, Sceptile was defeated.
In the second battle, with a single Dragon Pulse, Swalot was blasted away.
In the third battle, with a single Dragon Breath, Victreebel was scorched and lost its ability to fight.
In the fourth battle, with one swipe at Torkoal, the ground cracked open.
In the fifth battle…
No Trainer could force Terrance’s Altaria to use Dragon Dance or unleash trump cards like Dragon Rush and Draco Meteor with full strength.
Altaria’s successive victories firmly established Terrance’s dominance, making him shine brightly.
“No one else is stepping forward…”
Finally, after three minutes passed, no more Trainers came forward to challenge. In the quiet battle room, where even breathing could be heard, only Terrance and Altaria remained in the arena.
“I wonder how he managed to grow so strong,” Roxanne murmured softly.
Many others shared the same thought. Indeed, Terrance’s humble beginnings contrasted starkly with his current strength.
His rise has been so rapid that they didn’t know how to express their feelings about it. It seemed that ever since he earned the title of Top Coordinator, Terrance’s potential had erupted out.
Not long ago, Terrance’s starting point was far worse than most of the people present, lagging behind by who knows how much.
Take Rustboro Gym’s Gym Leader Roxanne as an example. This young Gym Leader had been studying Pokémon knowledge for no less time than Terrance and had achieved significant success; otherwise, she wouldn’t have earned the title of “The Rock-Loving Honors Student”
But her strength was still no match for Terrance, and only Terrance himself knew the reason for this.
A comfortable growing environment and ample resources naturally provided convenience for most people. However, for Trainers like Roxanne, who came from good backgrounds, it also led to a lack of urgency.
Terrance, on the other hand, had clear goals. He knew what he wanted to do and what he desired. Not only did he make the most of his time, but he also leveraged every advantage he had, transforming them into resources to fuel his growth.
This experience not only gave him strength far beyond his peers but also broadened his horizons, leaving 99% of those in his age group far behind.
Terrance’s growth in strength was explosive. Four years of accumulating breeder knowledge may have meant that he didn’t show obvious improvement in strength at the beginning, or even while traveling. Two more years of advanced study at Crown Academy similarly didn’t allow Terrance to widen the gap with his peers; he even lagged behind some excellent individuals.
But when all that accumulated potential finally erupted, Terrance achieved a complete turnaround!
His deep exploration of breeder knowledge earned him countless opportunities. His research into Pokémon Contests not only allowed him to achieve specific goals but also brought him numerous resources that helped unleash his Pokémon’s potential and significantly enhance their strength.
“If he had been born into a better family…” Grandma Arlan, the eldest present, felt deeply emotional as she saw the changes Terrance had undergone. If Terrance had grown up in a happy and well-off family, he might not have worked so hard to change his fate.
Now, Terrance was receiving attention that most Trainers couldn’t achieve even after a lifetime of effort.
That said, the two circumstances couldn’t really be compared. Everyone’s circumstances were different; there were no “what-ifs,” nor was there room for regret.
At the very least, Terrance had succeeded. Among the hundred or so Trainers present, no matter how they felt, none of them had any complaints left. No one doubted Terrance’s strength anymore.
This kind of recognition would undoubtedly boost Terrance’s fame even further, making him renowned across Hoenn!
There were many grassroots Trainers, but none could purely rely on their humble origins to reach such heights. Terrance understood this well. He had benefactors, people who imparted knowledge, and people who solved his doubts. He also took advantage of many external factors. Without these, achieving his current accomplishments would have been a mere pipe dream.
However, this is nothing to be ashamed of; it is also a reflection of one’s own ability.
“In that case, let’s conclude today’s challenges. From this day forward, the Fallarbor Gym is officially open. You are all welcome to come and challenge again,” said Terrance.
However, in Gym Battles, he would no longer go all out like this.
…
…
By the time the Fallarbor Gym had completely quieted down, no one could say exactly what time it was.
At such a moment worth celebrating, it was only natural to have a grand meal. The people of the Old Green House gathered together with smiles on their faces, enjoying this peaceful and wonderful time.
However, at that moment, Ayan suddenly slapped his forehead and quickly pulled out the communicator that Terrance had entrusted to him earlier.
“Brother Terrance, this is what you left with me before the battle. I forgot to return it to you. Oh, right, there seems to be a message that came in during that time.”
Terrance took it with a puzzled expression. After opening the message, his expression subtly changed, and he finally spoke with a bit of frustration.
“I’ve just taken up the role of Gym Leader, but it seems I have to make a long trip right away.”
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