James Davy

Pokémon Galar

"Daughters, I sense you two share animosity toward each other," Saisei opened, "Please tell me why and know I will not bite unless I have a reason to."

Pokémon Galar

"Apology accepted," Shiranui replied. He addressed Jen and told her, "Jen, you defeated me in the semis back at Alola. As far as I know, you're one of us in terms of battle strength." He looked over at Kalama Kirara and the Dragapult 'Morph and had his hand on Saisei's Master Ball ready to call out their antecedent in case things got dicey.

Pokémon Galar

"Arguably," Shiranui wisely thought to himself at Aki's last statement. He remembered Haruka from the last time he visited the Battle Pyramid where the legendary Raikou, Raijuu, paid back the same Team Rocket members that kidnapped them.

Pokémon Galar

"I hope her siblings came back as Dreepy," Shiranui commented offhandedly, "Anyway, with whom are you battling?"

Pokémon Galar

Shiranui recalled his Pokémon, thinking, "Only a goon of Nobunaga or the Shinobi no Shiki would dare to use a Pokémorph against us."

Pokémon Galar

Shiranui made a snap alteration to his party and sent out Niwatori and Sapphire (Zoro in Illusion). "Niwatori, pull Liam free if you can!" While Shiranui's Blaziken tried to rescue Liam from the ghostly portal, Shiranui's Sableye struck a threatening pose.
"Unhand him, you shadowy parasite!" Sapphire shouted in Poké Speech, using a Taunt attack to get the point across.

Pokémon Galar

"Thanks," Shiranui replied, recalling a very happy Kohaku, "Is there anything else we need to do before we make our way back to Hammerlocke?"

Pokémon Galar

"Salazzle vs Excadrill. Begin!" the Rotom Drone called.
"Salazzle, Poison Gas!" Aya called.
"Mogura, Earthquake!" Shiranui called. Salazzle breathed out a poisonous gas and through her Corrosion ability, managed to poison Mogura. Mogura jumped into the air, brought her claws to her head and drilled into the ground, causing a quake that shook Salazzle into a one-hit knockout.
"Salazzle is unable to battle," Rotom Drone arbitrated, "Excadrill wins!"

Aya switched out her downed Salazzle and sent out her Venomoth. "So your Venonat finally evolved," Shiranui noted.
"To cut a long story short," Aya explained, "Lots of training in Pokémon jujitsu to the point of achieving ichidan*, defeated a challenger back at the Fuchsia Gym and my Venonat at the time evolved into the Venomoth you see. Are you sticking with your Excadrill?"
"I think I'll switch," Shiranui answered, recalling Mogura and sending out his Aerodactyl, Kohaku.

"Venomoth vs Aerodactyl. Begin!" Rotom Drone called.
"Venomoth, Sludge Bomb!"
"Kohaku, Stone Edge!" As Shiranui's Aerodactyl swooped down with stones orbiting her head, Venomoth fired a gob of sludge at Kohaku and scored a direct hit, poisoning the Aerodactyl and leaving it somewhat blinded.
"Kohaku, Roost at the double!"
"Venomoth, Venoshock attack!" Kohaku didn't need to be told twice as she landed and proceeded to wipe the sludge from around her eyes. Venomoth spat some poison at Kohaku and landed a hit, the poison reacting with the toxins Kohaku previously felt and causing extra damage. "Venomoth, Substitute!"
"Kohaku, wait for it…" As Venomoth made a Substitute, the substitute fell to the ground. On impact, Shiranui called, "Now, Kohaku, Stone Edge!" The Aerodactyl stomped the ground with her foot and a bunch of sharp stalagmites burst out of the ground, breaking Venomoth's Substitute.
"Venomoth, Sludge Bomb!"
"Kohaku, Fly!" Kohaku took to the sky and increased her altitude to evade Venomoth's Sludge Bomb.
"Venomoth, Venoshock!" Shiranui's Aerodactyl dived down at Venomoth and struck the moth at high speed with a critical hit. Winded and giddy, Venomoth crash landed into the ground.
"Venomoth is unable to battle," Rotom Drone arbitrated, "Aerodactyl wins! The winner of this battle is Shiranui Tsukiko of Ecruteak City! Congratulations, Shiranui, your rank is now high enough to be inducted into the Ultra Class." Shiranui was almost speechless when he heard he was in the top 100 trainers in the PWCS. "Thank you, Rotom," he replied and the Rotom Drone flew off in pursuit of its next battle.

"Mark my words, Shiranui;" Aya vowed, "You and I will battle in the Masters Eight and may the best shinobi win."
"I would not have it any other way, Aya," Shiranui replied. The trainers bode each other goodbye and Shiranui continued to digest being in the Ultra Class.

* 1st-level black belt

Pokémon Galar

Shiranui caught up with Aya and the Rotom Drone at the outskirts of Azalea Town near Ilex Forest where there were fewer Slowpoke. He had made an adjustment to his party in preparation for his battle. "Trainers Aya and Shiranui, this PWCS sanctioned battle will be a 2-on-2 single battle with no time limit," the Rotom Drone recited, "Please send out your opening Pokémon."

"Go Salazzle!"
"Mogura, I choose you!" Aya sent out a Salazzle while Shiranui sent out his Excadrill. "Under normal circumstances, the type advantage goes both ways," Shiranui mused, "But Aya favours the Poison aspect so Mogura may still get poisoned at worst thanks to that Salazzle's ability."

Pokémon Galar

"Unless someone from over there requests our assistance, it's not our business," Shiranui replied before he got called to retrieve his Pokémon. At that point a female voice chimed in, "Shiranui-kun, long time no see." The voice belonged to Aya of the Fuchsia Gym.
"アヤちゃん、どうぞよろしく、*" Shiranui replied.
"Rotom is waiting outside for us," Aya stated, "Don't keep it waiting." With that, Aya left the Pokémon Centre.

* Translation: Likewise, Aya