Mauville City,
One week later, Alex had already arranged his next S Badge match, wasting no time as he continued moving forward with his plans in a steady and deliberate manner.
Unlike many trainers who allowed themselves periods of rest between major battles, Alex saw no value in slowing down when progress could still be made.
His next opponent was Wattson, the Gym Leader of Mauville City.
Wattson was already over 60 years old, making him one of the older active trainers within the region, yet despite his long career and vast experience, he had never managed to break into the ranks of truly elite trainers. (level of an Elite Four member)
At his peak, a decade ago, he had come close, closer than most Gym Leaders ever would, but even then, he had ultimately fallen short of reaching the level.
Back in his fifties, Wattson had possessed a Manectric with extraordinary potential, a SS-rank Pokemon.
That Manectric had reached level 64, placing it firmly within the top bounds of Low Champion-level strength, while several of his other Pokémon also had stood at the late elite level, forming a team that, while not quite complete by Elite Four member standards, was undeniably formidable.
Now, things were different.
Time had taken its toll, not only on him but also on the Pokémon that had once defined his strength. His strongest partner, the Manectric that had carried him to the edge of greatness, had long since died.
Pokémon like Manectric simply did not possess lifespans comparable to humans, and even with the use of life-extending items, there were limits that could not be overcome. By the time it reached 35 or 40 years of age, its life had come to an end.
What remained was a new Manectric, one that Wattson had trained in the years since, but the difference between the two was undeniable.
This replacement had reached the late elite level, which was respectable by most standards, but it lacked the overwhelming talent of its predecessor.
As a result, Wattson's overall strength had declined significantly.
Other members of his team, such as Magneton, benefited from far longer lifespans, allowing them to remain by his side for decades without the same concerns of aging.
These Pokémon, while reliable and experienced, were the ones with the lowest potential on his team and despite all the time they had been given, they had never managed to reach the Champion level.
This left Wattson in an unfortunate position. He still possessed experience, knowledge, and a well-trained team, but the peak of his power had already passed, leaving him at one of the lowest points in his career in terms of raw strength.
He was not considered the weakest Gym Leader in Hoenn, largely because trainers like Flannery, Brawly, and Roxanne were still very young and relatively inexperienced in comparison.
(Flannery became a gym leader a month ago.)
However, aside from those younger trainers, Wattson was widely regarded as the weakest Gym Leader currently active in Hoenn.
Alex, however, had little interest in such rankings. To him, comparing Gym Leaders based solely on their current strength missed the point entirely, especially when dealing with someone like Wattson, whose decades of experience as a trainer carried a different kind of value.
The reason Alex had chosen him for his S-Badge match had nothing to do with difficulty or reputation, but rather with expectation.
He hoped to learn something.
His previous battle against Norman had left a deep impression on him, not because of the loss itself, but because of what that battle had revealed. Pokémon battles aren't as restrictive as he'd previously thought.
Since that defeat, Alex's perspective had shifted a bit.
Wattson, with his long Pokemon career and near Mid-Champion level peak in the past, was exactly the kind of opponent Alex wanted to face.
When Alex entered the Mauville Gym, he was immediately greeted by the receptionist, who seemed to have been waiting specifically for him and wasted no time on formalities.
After briefly confirming his identity, she asked him to follow her and quickly led him through the gym's interior, skipping any kind of trial or delay that lower-level challengers might normally face.
The walk did not last long, and within a minute, they arrived in front of the battle room.
She said, stepping aside. "The match room is inside. They're already waiting,"
Alex gave a small nod before pushing the doors open.
Inside, the battlefield had already been prepared, and a small camera crew was positioned around it, adjusting their equipment as they got ready to record the match.
On the opposite side stood Wattson, who appeared completely relaxed as he waited, his gaze immediately settling on Alex the moment he walked in.
Wattson walked up to Alex with a wide grin, his posture relaxed as a cheerful laugh escaped him.
He said, clearly in high spirits, "Hahaha! So you're Alex! I saw your match with Norman. Wow, he actually kicked your butt even though I thought you were going to win before the match. Haha."
Alex smiled as he joked. "Wow, I didn't know I had such old fans."
Wattson really laughed at Alex's bad joke.
Alex thought for a moment. 'I knew Steven Stone and Maria had no sense of humor.'
Alex smiled faintly, "I try not to make a habit of that, though."
Wattson stopped laughing and said, "You're a funny cookie, I have a feeling our fight is going to be great."
Alex gave a small shrug, glancing briefly at the battlefield and the cameras before looking back at him. "That's fair, I'm actually curious what you'll show me."
Wattson raised an eyebrow slightly, his grin turning playful. "Oh? Most challengers just want the badge. You actually want to learn something? Wow haha, I didn't think you were such a nerd."
Alex laughed a little " Haha, What else would you have thought when you heard my title? Winning is nice, but it's not the only reason I'm here."
Wattson laughed again, clearly amused by the answer. "Hahaha! I like that, makes things more interesting for both of us if you value this match so much."
Alex was still smiling but showed a slightly serious expression as he said, "Yes, I have very high expectations for this match."
Wattson then stepped back toward his side of the field, still smiling as his eyes sharpened just a little. "Alright then, Alex, let's see if this old man can live up to your expectations!"
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