The striking appearance of the Flygon still drew considerable attention from the surrounding crowd.
Aoki paid no mind to the onlookers. He gently patted the Flygon's neck, signaling it to land on the shore near the Cave of Poseidon. After dismounting, he ran his fingers along the dragonfly Pokémon's shimmering scales in silent praise before retrieving a handful of Pokeblocks from his bag. The Flygon eagerly accepted the treat, its wings buzzing softly in appreciation before Aoki returned it to its Pokeball.
The Cave of Poseidon was indeed a renowned location, evident by the sheer number of Trainers gathered near the entrance. The shallow waters teemed with activity—some Trainers played with their Pokémon along the beach, while others engaged in battles further inland within designated sparring zones. The arrival of the Flygon had caused a stir among them; after all, it was a powerful and highly sought-after Pokémon, and the aura it exuded was undeniably formidable.
Ignoring the murmurs and curious glances, Aoki strode confidently into the cave, cradling his Ralts in his arms. Before venturing deeper, he instructed the small Psychic-type to leave a Telepathy marker at the entrance.
As the apprentice of Slowking, a Pokémon naturally gifted with Teleport, Ralts had inherited its mentor's teachings well. Though its psychic abilities were not yet as refined as Slowking's, and its teleportation range was more limited, it was still more than capable of performing the task.
This was precisely why Aoki had felt comfortable leaving Slowking behind for the time being. Slowking needed time to reach Champion-level strength, and Ralts was more than capable of handling routine teleportation duties in its stead. Besides, Aoki rarely encountered life-threatening situations these days, so there was little cause for concern.
The interior of the Cave of Poseidon was damp, the air thick with the scent of saltwater and moss. The rocky ceiling was porous, allowing droplets of seawater to seep through and fall intermittently, creating a rhythmic pitter-patter against the stone floor. The ground itself was slick, making each step echo faintly in the cavernous space.
This environment was ideal for Pokémon that thrived in cold, shadowy habitats, and indeed, many Water-types could be seen lounging in the shallow pools dotting the cave. However, the sheer number of Trainers present made it difficult to appreciate the natural serenity of the place.
Most visitors were here hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary birds said to reside within. A handful were adventurers seeking rare Pokémon, while a few were simply here to battle. Very few, like Aoki, had come purely for sightseeing.
The cave's layout was straightforward, with few branching paths. Within half an hour, Aoki reached the deepest chamber—a vast, open space dominated by a towering stalagmite formation resembling a petrified tree. This was rumored to be the perch of the legendary birds.
Aoki couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. The birds, if they had ever rested here, would surely have been driven away by the constant human presence. The cave held no hidden secrets, no ancient inscriptions—just an ordinary hollow in the rock.
Seeing nothing of interest, Aoki signaled to Ralts, and in an instant, the two vanished in a flash of blue light, reappearing outside the cave. With a flick of his wrist, Aoki summoned Flygon once more and took to the skies, leaving the crowded landmark behind.
His next destination was a secluded island in the Azure Bay—somewhere remote, where he could train his Pokémon undisturbed.
The island he chose was thick with vegetation, its undergrowth dense and untouched. Clearly, few people ever set foot here.
One by one, Aoki released his team: Pupitar, Lairon, Blaziken, Swampert, and Politoed, along with the Ralts still nestled in his arms. The only Pokémon not present were Flygon, now resting in its Pokeball, and the Mismagius lurking within his shadow. The rest had been sent back to their respective training grounds via Limone's portable Pokémon transporter—a device that made wilderness travel far more convenient.
There was also the matter of the Riolu egg, still nestled within its incubation pod alongside Mismagius. Neither Aoki nor his system had yet found a way to repair the egg's cracked shell or determine the cause of the damage. For now, it remained in stasis, kept viable by a steady supply of nutrient-rich solution.
Blaziken, though still recovering from the lingering effects of the talent-enhancing potion, insisted on training despite its weakened state. Of all Aoki's Pokémon, it had suffered the mildest side effects from the serum, and its determination was unwavering. The moment it was released, it locked eyes with Politoed, and the two immediately launched into a sparring session on the grassy field.
Swampert, being the highest-leveled member of the team, trained alone, its powerful limbs striking the earth with controlled force. Meanwhile, Lairon and Pupitar engaged in their own mock battle, testing each other's endurance and reflexes.
Ralts remained at Aoki's side, honing its psychic abilities. Despite being only level 10, its psychic energy was already comparable to Aoki's own mid-tier Telepathy. In fact, during a recent telekinetic tug-of-war, Ralts had emerged victorious—though Aoki hadn't used his full strength. Still, the feat was impressive, proving that Ralts' potential was extraordinary.
As an egg Aoki received from the League, and one that had hatched with a rare light-blue aptitude, Ralts was arguably the most promising member of his team. Even Pupitar, whose aptitude had risen to blue after absorbing Groudon's energy and the serum, had started as a dark-cyan Larvitar. Ralts' natural talent placed it in a league of its own, and its growth ceiling was staggering.
The island's wild Pokémon were sparse, leaving Aoki's team to train without interruption. Blaziken, in particular, was recovering at an accelerated rate, steadily regaining its former strength. Aoki looked forward to the day it would attempt Mega Evolution—a feat now within reach, thanks to the Blazikenite and Key Stone in his possession.
Unlike his Altaria, which had been caught fully evolved, Blaziken had been raised from a Torchic. The bond between them was deep, and Aoki was confident that their first Mega Evolution would be a success.