After spending a day in Sootopolis City, the morning was spent preparing supplies, followed by an intense afternoon of training with two Pokémon.
Though Aoki lost a total of 600,000 Pokécoins in the process, the experience gained far outweighed the financial cost.
Yet from that moment on, a legend began circulating in the Pokémon Center.
Rumors spread that, on rare occasions, an unknown Trainer would appear in the battle arena, challenging others with their Pokémon and generously rewarding those who fought them. If one was lucky enough to encounter this mysterious figure, the advice was simple: accept the battle without hesitation!
Unbeknownst to Aoki, he had earned himself a nickname—The Three Thousand Boy.
The next day, Aoki left Sootopolis City.
Since Sootopolis was not far from the Hoenn League headquarters, Aoki flew directly there aboard his Flygon.
With the Sinnoh Tournament approaching, the Hoenn League had arranged daily flights connecting the Hoenn region to Sinnoh.
The Sinnoh region, located northwest of Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn, was geographically isolated from the others. Most of its routes were land-based, with landmarks like Mt. Coronet situated at its heart, much like how Mt. Silver connected Kanto and Johto.
The flight to Sinnoh landed in Jubilife City, a central hub of the region.
Jubilife City was one of Sinnoh's largest urban areas, densely populated and a popular residence for families with children.
The reason the transfer flight from Hoenn went to Jubilife City instead of the Sinnoh League headquarters was simple—Jubilife City was hosting the Sinnoh Tournament.
Upon arrival, Aoki noticed construction crews bustling everywhere, erecting a massive battle stadium.
From the outside, it resembled a colossal circular arena, with various battlefield environments in the center and spectator stands encircling them.
Though still under construction, the Sinnoh Tournament venue was already taking shape.
With ten days remaining before the tournament, Aoki had arrived at the edge of Sinnoh.
For the remaining time, he no longer needed to travel extensively.
This being his first visit to Sinnoh, everything felt fresh.
As a region developed after Hoenn, the Pokémon League had gradually integrated into daily life here.
After exploring Jubilife City and experiencing local customs, Aoki decided to move on.
While city life was comfortable, it wasn't ideal for Pokémon training.
Now that he was in Sinnoh, Aoki wanted a local guide—and the first name that came to mind was the only person he knew in the region.
Cynthia.
Her hometown was Celestic Town.
As the oldest settlement in Sinnoh, Celestic Town predated the region itself, steeped in ancient history.
Cynthia, its sole representative to the outside world, carried the weight of her heritage as the town's only successor.
Outwardly calm and composed, the icy elegance she displayed masked a deeper responsibility—constantly traveling, battling, and honing her skills as a Trainer. Whether this was her true desire, Aoki didn't know, but he respected her dedication.
Previously, Aoki had viewed Steven as a privileged figure, while Cynthia was the relentless hardworker. But in truth, Cynthia's family had a profound legacy—one that, despite its decline over time, still held immense historical significance.
If compared, Steven's Stone family might pale in comparison.
With the interregional tournament being held in Sinnoh, Cynthia stood as one of the strongest contenders for the championship.
After arriving in Jubilife City, Aoki messaged her, asking if she was in Celestic Town and if he could visit.
Her reply was brief: "Okay."
While visiting Cynthia was part of the plan, Aoki was more interested in Celestic Town's history.
From what he'd gathered, the town held legends of Sinnoh's most powerful Pokémon—including Arceus, the creator of the Pokémon world, and Giratina, the Renegade Pokémon that opposed it.
Sinnoh was unique in its legends of both the Creator and the Distortion World's ruler, and Celestic Town was the origin of these myths.
Though many details remained unclear, some legends—like those of Dialga, the Temporal Pokémon, and Palkia, the Spatial Pokémon—were more defined.
While Aoki might never encounter such beings, knowledge was valuable.
In the Pokémon world, certain creatures were beyond human comprehension—forces even Champion-level Trainers had to avoid.
Moreover, Aoki's system could help him analyze these Pokémon, ensuring he didn't accidentally awaken ancient powers while exploring ruins.
With this mindset, Aoki left Eterna City, heading southeast toward Solaceon Town—a necessary stop before reaching Celestic Town.
Taking Route 209 to Solaceon, then Route 210 to Celestic, was safer than attempting to cross Mt. Coronet directly.
The journey would be long, but it offered excellent training opportunities.
Sinnoh was the native region of Drapion. Upon reaching the outskirts of Jubilife City, Aoki summoned his.
Having hatched from an egg outside Sinnoh, Drapion knew little of its homeland. After Aoki's explanation, it displayed rare contemplation.
It knew Aoki had raised it, and it didn't know its biological parents—but that didn't matter. To Drapion, Aoki was family.
Father? Mother? The distinction wasn't important.
After a moment of reflection, Drapion perked up.
With Aoki on its back, they set foot on Sinnoh's Route 209, beginning the journey to Celestic Town.
Aoki knew little about Sinnoh beyond Celestic Town's ruins—unaware that even Solaceon Town held its own secrets.