After seeing that the evolved Gyarados had a gentle temperament, Yui and Karen gradually became more courageous.
In the end, they climbed onto Gyarados' back and let it carry them around the lake while Milotic played alongside them.
Yuli, seeing this scene, found it both amusing and exasperating. However, knowing there was no danger, she did not disturb their fun and simply watched them play happily.
At this moment, Rex finally had time to take out his Pokédex and scan Gyarados to see how many moves it had mastered after evolving.
Moves learned by Gyarados:
- Tackle
- Splash
- Leer
- Bite
- Twister
- Whirlpool
- Ice Fang
- Brine
- Scary Face
- Waterfall
- Hyper Beam
Like Milotic, Gyarados instantly learned many moves upon evolving, including powerful moves like Waterfall and Hyper Beam.
With these moves and its formidable size, Gyarados was now capable of facing most Pokémon head-on, no longer the easily bullied Magikarp it once was.
Most importantly, Gyarados now felt it had the strength to be friends with Milotic, a shift in mindset brought by its increased power. If it were still a Magikarp, its only friend would be Feebas, not Milotic.
Gyarados would experience a period of growth in strength after evolving. If it could seize this time to train well, its power would increase several times over.
Rex planned for Gyarados to continue battle training with Milotic. Although Gyarados might not yet match Milotic in strength, it could still pose a significant challenge.
Over time, Gyarados' strength would likely catch up with Milotic's, unless Milotic also made substantial progress during this period.
After Magikarp's evolution, Rex finalized his team for the Ever Grande Conference: Swellow, Heracross, Politoed, Machoke, Milotic, and Flaaffy.
Sandslash, Haunter, and Gyarados were backups. Rex planned to adjust based on the actual competition.
Gyarados was not included in the main team because it needed time to adapt to its new form, and the main team already had two Water-type Pokémon—Politoed and Milotic.
With less than half a month before the Ever Grande Conference and the considerable distance between Fallarbor Town and Ever Grande City, which included crossing the sea, Rex decided to leave a week early to ensure timely arrival.
Rex planned to fly from Slateport City Airport to Ever Grande City, minimizing travel time. If all went well, they could even spend a few days sightseeing in Ever Grande City.
When Rex shared his plan with Yuli and the others, they unexpectedly fell silent.
"Boss, we've discussed it and decided not to follow you to Ever Grande City this time. We'll cheer for you from the farm," Yuli said, somewhat embarrassed.
Although they had previously planned to support Rex in person, they realized the long distance from Fallarbor Town to Ever Grande City would disrupt farm operations for at least half a month. Yuli was also concerned about the delicate Gracidea seedlings.
Initially, Yuli planned to stay behind while Yui and Karen accompanied Rex, despite the hardship. However, Yui and Karen refused, not wanting Yuli to be overworked.
Understanding their reasoning, Rex felt touched and agreed, realizing he had not considered everything.
In the following days, Rex went to Slateport City to purchase home appliances and upgrade the farm's power facilities.
Initially, due to budget constraints, the farm's power setup could only meet basic needs. The new generator, with increased battery capacity and solar power capability, would now support most household appliances for over a week when fully charged.
With ample funds, Rex bought essentials like a TV, washing machine, refrigerator, and microwave, modernizing the farm and making life more comfortable.
The additions delighted Yuli and the others, who could now watch TV to relax and keep up with news and Rex's tournament performance, filling the gap of not being there in person.
Soon, it was time for Rex to depart. With Yuli, Yui, and Karen staying behind, Rex could leave for Ever Grande City with peace of mind.
"Boss, good luck! We hope you win!" Karen and Yui chorused.
"Boss, I made some snacks for your flight. Be careful on the way," Yuli handed Rex a bag, smiling.
"Thank you all. Take care of the farm, and contact me if needed. The farm and you all are more important than the tournament!" Rex said sincerely, taking the bag.
With Swellow's wings flapping, Rex set off for Ever Grande City, marking a significant milestone in his journey as a trainer.
Slateport City Airport, located in the city's north, offered flights to Ever Grande City and other regions. Future travels to other regions would likely start here, given the shorter flight times compared to sailing.
Rex soon boarded his pre-booked flight to Ever Grande City without incident.
(Chapter End)