As Eddie expected, the Pokémon and Trainers in this area were only at levels 25 to 30.
At this stage, they weren't strong enough to battle against Eddie's Greninja and Sceptile, let alone his more powerful Charizard and Lucario.
However, Gible had just hatched and was only level 5, making it impossible for the Dragon-type to battle against these Pokémon right away.
Fortunately, Eddie possessed an Exp. Share, so as long as he engaged in a few battles with Sceptile and Greninja, he could help Gible "level up" quickly.
Of course, before Gible reached level 24 and evolved, Eddie would witness several interesting encounters.
"You're a Trainer, right? My name's Abigail. Let's battle!"
Picnicker Abigail appeared and challenged Eddie to a battle!
Abigail sent out a level 26 Gloom! Eddie sent out a level 39 Greninja!
"What? Facing my Grass-type Gloom, you actually sent out a Water-type Pokémon. Are you looking down on me?" Abigail exclaimed in disbelief.
"Gloom, let's show this person who underestimated us how powerful we really are! Giga Drain!"
Gloom appeared aggressive, preparing to attack Greninja, eager to demonstrate the power of type advantages against the Water-type ninja frog.
However, Greninja didn't even need Eddie's command. The Water-type charged forward with Aerial Ace.
Before Gloom could launch its attack, the battle was over.
The Grass-type had been knocked out instantly by Greninja's Flying-type move.
"Ding! Gible gained experience! Level +10! Reached level 15! Learned Dragon Rage, Sandstorm, Take Down!"
After the battle, Eddie felt slightly embarrassed looking at Abigail, who seemed on the verge of tears. He quickly departed from the scene.
Then he encountered an "ambush." Someone suddenly appeared from the bushes and rushed in front of Eddie.
"I just saw your battle! You must be a strong Trainer. I'd feel so accomplished if I defeated you! Let's battle!"
Youngster Colton sent out a level 27 Pidgeotto without further words, clearly hoping to use Eddie as a stepping stone to fame.
Seeing this, Eddie felt nothing in his heart, and even wanted to laugh a little.
But this level wasn't worth laughing about, so he calmly sent out Sceptile.
"Hmph! Do you think I'm as weak as Abigail just now? Gloom was only overwhelmed by your Pokémon's speed. If it had launched its attack, you definitely would have lost," Youngster Colton declared.
The shorts-wearing boy seemed to have analyzed the previous battle and looked very proud of his deduction.
"But my Pidgeotto is different. Its speed is beyond your imagination! Today, I'll let you, the arrogant one, witness my strength! Pidgeotto! Quick Attack, followed by Air Slash!"
The fact that this Pidgeotto knew Air Slash made Eddie take a second glance, but knowing this move wouldn't change the outcome of the battle.
Pidgeotto's speed was indeed impressive, but in Sceptile's experienced eyes, the bird's movements were so slow that the Grass-type starter almost yawned.
In fact, Sceptile actually did yawn, clearly not taking Pidgeotto seriously at all.
This reaction made Youngster Colton simultaneously angry and excited. He was furious that the opponent's Pokémon was as arrogant as its Trainer, yet pleased because he believed that against such a careless enemy, Pidgeotto would surely win...
But the smile on his face soon froze.
As Pidgeotto rushed toward Sceptile, preparing to unleash Air Slash—a move that should have been super effective against the Grass-type—Sceptile casually reached out and grabbed the bird Pokémon mid-flight.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Sceptile delivered a Thunder Punch.
Pidgeotto collapsed and couldn't get up again. The battle was over.
"Ding! Gible gained experience! Level +5! Reached level 20! Learned Sand Tomb!"
Eddie looked at the Youngster with blank eyes as the boy kept repeating "This is impossible." Eddie simply shrugged his shoulders and walked away.
However, this route wasn't particularly long or short, but it was populated with many Trainers positioned fairly close to one another.
So before Eddie had taken more than a few steps, he encountered another ambush.
"Young man, you're quite strong, but it's not right to bully children like this. I'll stand up for them now!"
Hiker Tyson appeared. He seemed very dissatisfied with Eddie's apparent bullying of younger Trainers and was determined to teach him a lesson.
"...Um, they actually challenged me to battles, so how am I bullying children?" Eddie questioned.
Although he silently added in his mind that he would have approached them even if they hadn't initiated the challenges.
So perhaps Eddie truly was the villain who enjoyed battling against weaker Trainers.
Hiker Tyson ignored Eddie's explanation and immediately sent out his level 29 Infernape.
In this level 25-30 area, Hiker Tyson's strength could be considered the highest among the local Trainers.
Looking at the Fighting-type Infernape, Eddie sent out his level 43 Lucario with a rather mischievous smile.
Today, Eddie decided, he would be a reverse type-advantage scoundrel!
"Wow! This Pokémon is also a Fighting-type. It seems you recognize how powerful I am, so you didn't dare send out a Pokémon with a type advantage."
The Hiker from the Kanto region didn't recognize Lucario's type, but seeing its fighting stance, he assumed it was a pure Fighting-type Pokémon.
Tyson was pleased to see that Eddie hadn't sent out a Pokémon with a type advantage this time. He believed it was his own strength that made Eddie take him seriously.
Of course, Lucario was currently the highest-level Pokémon in Eddie's possession. In that sense, Eddie could indeed be considered "serious."
"Sir, Lucario is actually a Fighting and Steel-type Pokémon," Eddie informed with a wicked smile as Hiker Tyson laughed proudly.
The damage of Fighting-type moves against Fighting-type Pokémon remains neutral, but Fighting-type moves deal double damage against Steel-types.
Although Lucario is part Fighting-type, its Steel typing means Fighting-type moves will still be super effective against it.
In other words, Eddie sending Lucario to battle Infernape was actually putting his Pokémon at a type disadvantage.
When Hiker Tyson heard this, the smile on his face instantly froze. A burst of anger at being mocked and underestimated suddenly erupted, and his face visibly reddened with rage.
"Young man, you're very brave. Okay, I'll use my full strength today to show you what a Trainer who's about to reach advanced level is capable of!"
The Hiker, who was only an intermediate Trainer, said this to Eddie, who was actually an Elite Trainer. Eddie's smile grew even wider after hearing this boast.
But in Tyson's eyes, this smile was mockery, which only fueled his anger.
"You're underestimating me! Infernape! Let this person who underestimates us know how powerful we are! Cross Chop!"
The Hiker repeated almost the exact words Eddie had heard from the previous Trainer and commanded Infernape to attack.
"Lucario, Blaze Kick!" Eddie countered.
Hearing this command, Lucario leaped into the air, performed a graceful flip, and descended upon Infernape with a perfectly executed kick, his foot blazing with fire.
Infernape raised both arms to execute Cross Chop, attempting to block Lucario's Blaze Kick and counterattack.
However, the Fire-type couldn't withstand the impact for even a second before being sent flying by Lucario's powerful kick.
Infernape lost consciousness immediately, and the battle was over.
"Ding! Gible gained experience! Level +5! Reached level 25! Learned Slash!"
After only three battles, Gible had reached a level where it could evolve. Eddie mentally praised the Exp. Share—truly an exceptional tool for training Pokémon quickly.
"Young man, who are you?" Hiker Tyson finally comprehended Eddie's true strength and genuinely wanted to know his identity. There weren't many Trainers so young yet so powerful.
Hearing this, Eddie gave the Hiker a friendly smile and a thumbs-up.
"I'm just a Trainer passing through. You don't need to remember me."