Not long after the Starfall Street team defeated Mela, the path to the next town was open to the Victory Road Group, and it was time to let both teams connect on the subject.
"Shun'ei, do you read us?" Mayumi asked on the comm. "Mela has been defeated, and the Schedar Squad has been dissolved. You are clear to go."
"So it's safe to travel to Levincia? Thanks for the update, Mayumi." Frosta said.
"No problem. Let us know if any of their other crews are blocking the way." Mayumi said.
"Got it. We'll keep an eye out." Shun'ei said as the transmission ended..
"Shall we be on our way to Levincia then?" Perfuma asked.
"Yeah. The way is clear, so now's a good time to get going." Shun'ei said.
"Then let us sally forth!" E. Constance said.
And so, the group continued forward through the western providence towards their destination.
"Hmm?" Mari asked, looking at a holo map of Paldea on her comm.
"Something catch your attention, Mari?" Frosta asked.
"Looks like a strong energy signature near Levincia, seems like something those who went with Arven should check out when they can." Mari said.
"So, why exactly did you girls want to come with Shun and me any away?" Meitenkun asked.
"Well, I got such a thrill out of watching Titanica's battles back in Galar, I wanted to see how things were in Paldea. So, here I am." Frosta said.
"And I'm here because I didn't want Frosta to travel around Paldea on her own." Perfuma admitted.
"I'm here to help provide additional support and info for the gym battles ahead." Mari added.
"As for I, I merely wish to find companions like Noa who see me as worthy so that I may rebuild House Nuvelle." E. Constance said just as the sun began to come out from some clouds.
"Been able to find the perfect ones?" Frosta asked just as the sun beamed down on Constance, turning her Depressive.
"Unfortunately, it has only been Noa. And forgive me for sounding selfish just now. It was not my intention to be disrespectful." D. Constance said. "Though that little one, I believe was called Pawmi seemed like another fond companion."
"Well, if we backtrack back to the south province, you'll be able to catch one." Perfuma said.
"But first we should continue to follow and support Sir Shun'ei and Sir Meitenkun on their journey." D. Constance said.
"Well, this next Gym is said to be quite…electrifying." Meitenkun said. "Almost like Benimaru."
"You're right about that, Meitenkun. According to the travel guide, Levincia's Gym Leader specializes in Electric types." Frosta said. "Although I've got no idea who the Gym Leader really is or what theyre like."
"If the Gym Leader is an Electric type specialist, you best watch your guard if you bring out Quaxwell." Mari said.
"Good thing I picked up something in mind for Electric-type specialists like her." Shun'ei said.
It was after a while of walking that the group arrived in Levincia. It was a bustling costal city built right near the ocean waters surrounding Paldea. In fact, it was built right on the water, connecting two different areas of the Western Province.
"A city built right on the water between two areas, now this is cool!" Frosta said.
"I know, right? Look at all those lights!" Meitenkun said.
"Let's get you signed up for the Gym Test, Shun'ei. I can't wait to see what they'll have for you." Frosta said.
The group headed towards the Gym building and headed inside to meet with the receptionist.
"Welcome to the Levincia Gym! Shun'ei and company, correct?" the receptionist asked.
"Yep. That's us." Shun'ei said.
"Okay, you're all registered. For your Gym Test here in Levincia, our Gym Leader has a very amazing challenge for you. Head outside to get started, and have fun!" the receptionist said.
"Roger that." Shun'ei said.
"Oooh, this is so exciting!" Perfuma said as they headed outside. "I wonder what sort of test it is if they're keeping it mysterious?"
As soon as they were out the doors….
"Ladies aaand gentlemens! It's time for the Iono Zone!" an energetic young female voice suddenly rang out.
"I think that was the Gym Leader just now." Mari said.
After that, an intro to some sort of video series popped up a before the group was suddenly caught on camera, likely being shown on screens all over the city. A video screen nearby showed this to the group, as someone popped up in the bottom left corner.
It was a young girl with bi-colored hair like Penny's, but hers was in long pigtails flowing down to behind her kneecaps, the left side being bubblegum pink with a teal highlight at the end, and the right being teal with a pink streak at the end as she had a headband of the two colors that resembled two Magnemites. Her outfit consisted of a yellow open neck jacket with black linings and black on the lower part that showed a play button inside a star with a lightning bolt zapping, her arms being completely covered up by its big sleeves. It was over her real apparel that glittered like a disco ball, with yellow bolts decorating her shoes.
"Hey hey, heyyyy!" the girl greeted the group. "Your eyeballs are MINE—caught in my Electroweb! Whosawhatsit? Iono! I'm the Gym Leader here! 'Ello, 'ello, hola! Ciao and bonjour!"
The Supercharged Streamer
Iono
"Wait… YOU'RE the Gym Leader?!" Frosta asked.
"Indeedy-doo! I kick it as Gym Leader when I'm not producin' sweet content on the internet as an influencer to bring dreams to the masses! And, uh...I hope this doesn't come as too much of a surprise, but you're all bein' broadcast live to the world right now! Smile!" Iono said, noting that they were on camera.
"Oh so you're a livestreamer." Mari said.
"Anywho, guys! Thanks for coming out to the Levincia Gym to see me!" Iono said. "And O-M-G! Who should be my challenger today but one of the Breakout Stars of the last two King of Fighters tournaments, the Amped-Up Illusionist himself, Shun'ei!" she said, the camera focusing on Shun'ei.
"Wait, you know about us?" Meitenkun asked.
"Duh, I'm a Livestreamer! Keepin' up with the latest trends is sorta my job description!" Iono reminded. "But anyway, Shun'ei! If you came to Levincia looking for a electrifying Gym Battle with yours truly, then I'm interested! Oh, but you don't get to battle me for free just cuz you're famous. See, I'm also a bit of a celeb, ya know? I'm all kiiinds of busy! So I can't collab with you unless I know you can bring in those sweet, sweet viewer numb—"
"Excuse us?" Frosta asked, catching Iono before she could finish her sentence.
"...Er, I mean, I gotta make sure you can bring some real passion to my stream! Nyohoho! Now…let's introduce…Mr. Walksabout!" she said as a man in a red and violet jacket with white hair stepped out.
"Oh. So you're the gym challengers. I've heard of you from a friend of mine." he said.
"Hmm…who are you?" Frosta asked.
"My name is Clavell…I'm the Director of the academies in Mezagoza." he said.
"Whoa, no way! What are you doing all the way out here?" Meitenkun asked.
"I do owe the league a few favors and that girl just happened to drag me over here." he said.
"Yes! Cause today's challenge is…finding Mr. Walksabout!" Iono said. "Here's the deal, Shun. You're gonna get access to the cities security cameras observing the streets, and Mr. Walksabout will be hiding in plain sight. Find 'im three times, and you can consider this Gym Test passed!"
"Sounds quite interesting. Let's see how good my eyes are." Shun'ei said.
"Alrighty! Then without further ado, let's begin "Where in the World is Mr. Walksabout?"!" Iono declared.
"Huh?" Frosta asked, confused at the name.
"I thought the challenge could use a better name." Iono shrugged.
"Okay then Shun, make this stream a smash hit!" Meitenkun said as the group headed out so Shun'ei could do his thing.
"Okay, let's see… Where's the first place he's hiding…" Shun'ei pondered as he was inspecting the city through the cameras.
Scanning through the city, he found Clavell sitting under one of the umbrella tables near the Gym Building.
"There he is." Shun'ei said.
"Wowzah! You're good at this!" Iono said. "Onto the next stage of my totally rad test! Everybody loves it, it's the Pokémon Center!"
After a bit, the next stage of Iono's test was set up stationed near the Pokémon Center by the southern entrance to Levincia.
"Mr. Walksabout is once again hidin' in the feed somewheres! Panic! Ahhh! Find 'im quick!" the Gym Leader played out for dramatic effect.
"Hmmm… Let's see… Ah, there he is. Behind that counter." Shun'ei said, finding Clavell behind the counter of the Pokémon Center.
"Oh? And here I thought I had blended in quite well." Clavell said.
"You're somethin' special, Shun'ei! Not just good with your hands, but your eyes too!" Iono said. "Now…one more time!" she said.
The last camera feed was seen at the Battle Court at the very center of the city, where a battle was taking place between a Magnezone and Electrode. Shun'ei's group was there as well.
"Your final stage takes place here at the Battle Court, where battles are a ragin!" Iono said. "Can you find Mr. Walksabout among your posse and all the other randos? Let's find out! Readyyy? GO!"
"Oh wow. This arena looks really big." Shun'ei said as he checked the scope of the arena.
"I know, right?" Iono asked. "All to make the battles all the more electrifying!"
"No doubt about that. But I believe the person I'm looking for is away from the action. Right on that boat." Shun'ei said.
And sure enough, there Clavell was, sitting on a boat in the water to the very far right of the screen.
"My, My. Admirably done." Clavell praised. And with that, Shun'ei passed the Gym Test.
"Woo! My subscriber numbers are on the rise like a super-fast Eelektross crawlin' out of the ocean! Err, I mean…. congratulations on passing my Gym Test!" Iono said. "Good time, right? You had people on the edge of their seats worldwide! Ever consider live streaming? I bet you and I could have some super rad streams if we collabed!"
"Yeah…guess we could." he said before Iono grabbed him and dragged him onto a large arena over the sea.
"Now, my lovely fans. You all get to watch me mop the floor with this sucker in a battle." Iono said. "Who's ready to see me kick some butt?!"
The crowd at the battle court cheered for Iono, a lot of comments on the stream being posted too, along with a generous donation from one.
"Looks like you're all gettin' hyped! Ah... Thank ye muchly, Electro King!" Iono thanked.
"Don't let her psych you out, Shun'ei! Battle like you always do, and you'll be fine!" Frosta cheered as the two of them took their positions.
"Let's get this show on the road! How strong is our challenger? I 'unno! Let's find out together!" Iono said.
(Cue: Resonant Objects- King of Fighters XV)
"Hope you're ready. You're up first, Charcadet." Shun'ei said as he sent out Charcadet.
"Let's shock them all, Wattrel!" Iono said, sending out a small black and yellow bird.
"Ah, A new bird Pokémon." Mari said, scanning it. "Wattrel, the Storm Petrel Pokémon! A Flying and Electric type. When its wings catch the wind, the bones within produce electricity. This Pokémon dives into the ocean, catching prey by electrocuting them."
"Let's start this off strong. Flame Charge!" Shun'ei said.
Charcadet jumped straight into the action, surrounding himself in flames and slamming into Wattrel for a good first hit, raising his speed in the process.
"Right back at ya! Use Spark!" Iono said as the Petrel Pokémon returned the favor and rammed Charcadet right back with an electrifying charge.
"Now, Night Shade." Shun'ei said. Charcadet unleashed the Ghost type move and blasted Wattrel with it, sending it down as Iono recalled it.
"Not bad! But I'm just getting charged up!" Iono said. "Now, say hello to my super-cute partner!"
Iono tossed out her next Pokémon, revealed to be….some sort of green and black blob-like frog creature with a little light coming from its belly button.
"A frog?" Mari asked as she scanned it. "Bellibolt, the Elefrog Pokémon, and the evolved form of Tadbulb. An Electric Type! What appear to be eyeballs are actually organs for discharging the electricity generated by Bellibolt's belly-button dynamo."
"Is it even a frog? I can't really tell." Perfuma said.
"Well, I can tell that my challenger's Charcadet is in big trouble!" Iono replied. "Bellibolt, use Water Gun!"
The frog blasted a stream of water right at Charcadet, hitting dead center for super effective damage.
"Oof… Should have seen that coming." Shun'ei said as he returned Charcadet and sent out a Fomantis.
"Switching it up from Fire to Grass huh? I dig it!" Iono said. "Use Spark, Bellibolt!"
Just like Wattrel before it, Bellibolt charged up and rushed right at Fomantis, looking for the early lead.
"Razor Leaf, now!" Shun'ei said.
The Mantis Pokémon responded by unleashing a torrent of leaves that buffeted and cut into Bellibolt's malleable body.
"You're not gonna bring him down that easy!" Iono said as Bellibolt continued with his attempt of Spark and hit Fomantis, both of them taking damage.
"Now, close in and Slash!" Shun'ei said, Fomantis obliging and cutting down Bellibolt with one fast cut across the chest.
"Yeowch! That's gonna hurt until tomorrow…" Iono said, recalling the elefrog. "Now…light them up, Luxio!" she said sending out Luxio.
"Luxio… This one is quite fast. Razor Leaf!" Shun'ei said.
Fomantis launched the attack, and was able to hit Luxio on a few lucky leaves, but the Spark Pokémon kept on the move and evaded a lot of it. It helped even more that Luxio's intimidate lowered Fomanits's attack.
"Can't keep up? Use Bite!" Iono said as Luxio got close and bit right into Fomantis.
"Pull it together. Fury Cutter!" Shun'ei said.
Fomantis unleashed the Bug type move at close range as she slashed Luxio across the face.
"Don't take that from him! Give em' another Spark!" Iono said as Luxio electrocuted Fomantis right back.
"Yeah, I think it's time to switch again." Shun'ei said as he swapped Fomantis for another new catch of his, Gabite.
"Alright, finally!" Frosta said.
"Good thinking. Ground types have the edge over Electric types." Mari said.
"Say whaaa?! You actually had that in reserve?!" Iono asked. "Looks like I'll have to wing it! Use Bite, Luxio!" she called as Luxio charged at the Cave Pokémon.
"Now, Sand Tomb!" Shun'ei said. Gabite obliged and trapped Luxio in a damaging sandstorm, stopping its movement.
"Nice, Shun! That should stop Luxio from moving!" Meitenkun said.
"You bet. Now, Dragon Breath!" Shun'ei said.
Gabite unleashed the Dragon type attack on a wide open Luxio, dealing the final blow and sending it down, leaving Iono down to her last Pokémon.
"Oh noes! This isn't good! Loyal fans—I need to hear you cheerin'! Gimme all you got!" Iono said to the audience as they started cheering loudly for the Gym Leader. "Yeah, that's what I need! Now, here comes my ace! Go for it, Mismagius!"
Iono tossed out her last team member to reveal the Magical Pokemon herself.
"Now we're really going to enter the Iono Zone…starting now!" Iono said as energy started gathering into her Tera Orb as she then tossed it. Mismagius soon Terastalized as on its head appeared a large lightbulb.
"She has planned for this. Mismagius has the Levitate ability. Which means any Ground-type attacks I use would be useless." Shun'ei said. "Guess I'm gonna have to wing it a bit too. Use Bite!"
Gabite charged in and got the first hit on Mismagius with its jaws. Relatively, it did normal damage.
"Iono really thought two steps ahead. Dark type moves like Bite would be good against Mismagius normally, but since it's been Terastalized into an Electric type, that's out the window." Frosta said.
"And Shun'ei can't target it with Ground type attacks because of the aforementioned Levitate." Perfuma said.
"Well, guess it's time to swap out again." Shun'ei said as he switched Gabite for his Shroodle Isla.
"Got rid of your Ground type, huh? Great, that means I can do this!" Iono said. "Mismagius, Charge Beam!"
Mismagius fired off her Tera Types corresponding attack, dealing big damage to Isla, but she held on. And in that brief moment, she started to glow.
"Hey, Isla's evolving!" Frosta said.
Isla grew bigger as she turned into an entirely different creature. It was now a lemur-like Pokémon that was all black and white with large ears and bushy tail. Its hands ended in three red fingers, the fingers on the end coated in blue saliva.
"Wow, talk about a complete change of species!" Mari said, scanning the new appearance of Isla. "Isla's now Grafaiai, the Toxic Monkey Pokémon, and the evolved form of Shroodle! A Poison and Normal Type! The color of the poisonous saliva depends on what the Pokémon eats. Grafaiai covers its fingers in its saliva and draws patterns on trees in forests."
"Maybe now we might have a chance here. Poison Fang!" Shun'ei said.
Isla leaped at Mismagius and bit into it with its poisonous fangs, dealing it damage and poisoning it.
"You know, I just thought of something… If Mismagius is no longer a Ghost-type, that means Normal-type attacks have an effect on it now, right?" Shun'ei asked.
"Oh, I think you are onto something, Shun'ei!" Perfuma said. "Use this opportunity!"
"Alright, Isla. Give her a dose of Fury Swipes!" Shun'ei said.
Isla got up close and rapidly attacked Mismagius, slashing into the former Ghost type and hitting up to 4 times.
"Don't think Mismagius isn't able to use Ghost type attacks because she's not a Ghost type! Hex that Monkey!" Iono said. However, to both the surprise of Iono and Mismagius, nothing happened. "Huh?! Why didn't it work?!"
"Because my Pokémon is still a Normal-type. Ghost-type attacks have no effect on them!" Shun'ei said.
"I think it's time you put Iono's lights out, Shun'ei!" Frosta said.
"And to bring that point home, one last Slash!" Shun'ei said.
With that, Isla cut straight into Mismagius, bringing it down for the count.
(End Song)
"Our challenger has come out victorious! Well done, Shun'ei!" Iono declared, some comments popping up on the stream for both of them. "I hate to say it, but I lost! Thanks for cheering me on, my loyal fans! I'll tell ya this, Shun'ei! Be it in KOF or with Pokémon, you sure know how to fight!"
"Heh. Thanks, Iono. That means a lot." Shun'ei said.
"And with that, you've won the Electric Badge. A big hand to our lucky winner!" Iono said as the crowd applauded.
The group capped off Shun'ei's victory with a stylish selfie with Iono.
"Alrighty. 3 Gyms down, 5 to go!" Meitenkun said.
"There's two further up North in Glaseado and Montenevera, but it looks like the path to them is being blocked by one of the Team Star bosses." Mari said, bringing up the map. "Hmm…so instead…we'll go all the way around to Cascarrafa."
"Sounds like a good idea. We can leave Team Star to our little…demolition crew." Shun'ei said.
"There is a base close to there too. But given how large the land is, they'll likely have it dealt with long before we even get there." Mari said.
"So we have to wait for a Team Star base to go down before we get anywhere, from what I'm hearing." Meitenkun said. "Not that we mind."
"Gives us a chance to explore and maybe catch." Shun'ei said. "So…let's go."
