"That's enough."
Paul recalled Honchkrow. He wasn't the type to force things.
If he knew something couldn't be done, he didn't push it. Just like when he once challenged Cynthia—his goal had been to see how his full team fared against her Garchomp. But after just three of his Pokémon were wiped out, he'd made the call to surrender.
Unlike Ash's always-forward style, Paul was cold, calculating, and decisive.
The livestream chat let out a collective groan.
"C'mon, purple-haired dude! You were right there! Just a little more!"
"It's okay, brother. Join the Anti-Dirty-Tactic Society—we'll one day cleanse the world of these freaks."
"Yes, just shout the phrase and we become your brothers!"
Caleb reached over and shut off the big screen broadcasting the stream.
If he let those guys keep talking, Paul might actually get convinced to join them. And knowing Paul's temperament? That was dangerously plausible.
After the battle ended, Paul casually shoved his hands in his pockets and headed for the exit, like it was nothing.
Just as he was about to leave, Caleb called out: "Wait, hold on!"
He reached into his coat and pulled out a metallic, feather-shaped badge that gleamed in the light.
"You didn't beat me this time, but your battle awareness, your command in the heat of the moment, your tactical planning... all of that more than qualifies you for this badge."
Originally, Caleb had thought about giving Paul the Solaceon Badge just to thank him for helping watch the gym.
But after that match? It didn't feel like a favor anymore.
Paul earned it.
Paul stared at the badge for a long moment, then chuckled softly—and handed it back.
Hands still in his pockets, he turned and walked off, leaving only a few words floating behind him:
"Forget it. Next time we meet, I'll beat you properly."
Watching him disappear, Caleb squinted.
Show-off.
Could've just said that to his face—what's with the dramatic exit?
Then again, Paul was barely fifteen. It was normal for teens to act like anime protagonists sometimes.
Caleb shook his head with a sigh.
And then he remembered something.
"Hey! Don't leave yet!" he shouted. "At least stay and finish your food! We didn't even touch half the dishes!"
But the only reply was silence. Paul was long gone.
Caleb sighed again. "Guy really does bolt, huh?"
...Well, guess that leftover's going to Haunter.
Soon after, the internet exploded.
"Riolu sweeps three at full HP?!"
Then someone dug up that recent footage—Riolu fresh out the egg beating a Mega Gyarados.
"You're telling me this thing JUST hatched? This dude has 'hacks' written all over his face."
"Who hatches a mon and sends it out against a Mega?!"
"Hey, it's you again, bro! You trying to scam free meals again?"
"As we all know, videos don't lie. So which public restroom are you eating in today?"
"Make sure you choose one without a Muk in it. That sludge don't share snacks."
And it wasn't just the public going nuts—Caleb's DMs were blowing up.
Crasher Wake: "If you plan to evolve Riolu into Lucario, hit me up. I know a great Aura master."
Blue: "That Riolu handles Aura way too well for a newborn. Got any egg-incubation secret training methods?"
Flint: "?? Wait, when are you guys getting back to Sinnoh?"
Red: "That Riolu's something else. I'd love a match someday."
...
Wait a minute. Flint?
Oh crap. They left him behind in Unova.
No wonder something felt off on the plane...
Then his phone rang—Professor Elm was calling.
"Hey, Caleb! How've you been?"
"Doing good, Professor."
After some small talk, Elm got to the point.
"My assistant showed me a clip from one of your battles. So... the Riolu's hatched, huh?"
"Ah—yeah, a few days ago. I forgot to call, sorry."
"No worries. Even if you had, I probably wouldn't have picked up—been slammed lately. Mind switching to video chat? I'd like to see it with my own eyes."
"Sure."
Caleb tapped the screen. Elm's face popped up instantly, way too close to the camera.
He coughed awkwardly and pulled back. "Still getting used to these newfangled phones..."
"Riyah?"
At that moment, Riolu padded over, tilting its head at the screen.
Seeing Elm's face, Riolu froze.
Wait... wasn't this the guy who pulled me out from that tree?
Sure, the tree was great for training. But even so, Riolu was still just a kid. And it had always wanted to see the outside world—safely.
So yeah... it owed this guy a lot.
Elm beamed. "It looks great. I knew I made the right call leaving it with you."
Imagine if I'd given it to Gold, he thought darkly. That kid'd have taught it blackjack before Quick Attack.
"At least Caleb understands raising a child starts from the egg!"
Now look at it. Already beating a Mega Gyarados.
Caleb scratched his head, smiling awkwardly. "Eh... I wouldn't say that. I kinda lucked out."
I mean, he really hadn't done anything.
How was he supposed to know this Riolu had been training before it even hatched?
That was anime-level nonsense.
Then he asked, "Hey, Professor... do you know who Riolu's parents are?"
After all, Riolu belongs to the "Undiscovered Egg Group"—just like most Mythical and Legendary Pokémon.
And the way Riolu fought... there was no way this wasn't some divine bloodline.
Riolu looked up suddenly, narrowing its eyes.
Its aura was screaming: This guy's thinking rude stuff again.
Caleb laughed and patted its head. "Nothing, nothing."
Let's see... the way it punches kinda reminds me of Urshifu...
Speed-wise? Maybe Zeraora or Regieleki...
But the Aura stuff... that's gotta be Mew. What if—what if Riolu is Mewtwo's baby bro?!
Elm's voice interrupted his spiraling thoughts.
"Riolu's parents? Hmm... I actually don't know. Truth is, I sorta... found the egg."
"Found it?"
Elm nodded. "Yeah. I stumbled upon it while investigating the Tree of Beginning. It was nestled inside a blooming Time Flower."
...Wait a minute. Tree of Beginning? Time Flower?
That sounded... way too familiar.
Sensing confusion, Elm continued, "Let me explain..."