Everyone training at the All Star Fitness Club shared a deep, burning sense of purpose. So when they learned that Icirrus City was in danger, none of them hesitated—they followed Layton out to defend the city from the incoming Pokémon horde.
Naturally, Rex was among them. He had complete faith in his and his Pokémon's abilities. Now that he'd officially become a martial artist, his own strength was enough to deal with most threats.
Of course, he didn't bring his entire team along—it would've been too much trouble.
Aside from Swellow, Rex chose to bring only Machamp, Blaziken, Heracross, Haunter, and Jumpluff. Except for Jumpluff, who would serve as support, the others were all heavy hitters—perfect for holding the line during a massive clash like this.
As Fighting-types, Machamp, Blaziken, and Heracross were itching for battle the moment they heard what was coming. Their aggressive instincts made them fearless—and eager to take on as many opponents as possible.
By the time the All Star group arrived on the outskirts of Icirrus City, a sizable crowd had already gathered. But Rex could tell that many of them were locals—folks who had probably once been trainers but had long since left that path behind.
Among them, Rex even spotted the fruit vendor who'd given him directions earlier. The man stood with a Zebstrika at his side, and when he noticed Rex, he gave him a friendly nod.
The vendor appreciated that Rex, a complete outsider, had come to help protect their city. For the locals, defending Icirrus was personal—they were protecting their homes and families. But for someone like Rex, who had no ties here, to step forward purely out of duty… that meant a lot.
As everyone waited anxiously, a silhouette came speeding through the sky.
"That kid Brycen—he's finally here. Looks like he's been through a lot," Layton grumbled, though there was a note of relief in his voice.
"Still the same old you, Master Layton," Rocky quipped beside him. "Didn't you round everyone up in a frenzy the moment Brycen called?"
"Why you little—when this is over, I'm going to make you regret that!" Layton barked, red in the face.
"Yeah, yeah—same threats, different day."
Rocky clearly knew how to handle his master and waved him off.
"You rascal…" Layton muttered, exasperated.
By now, Brycen had landed. He leapt gracefully off his Noivern and strode forward, his tall frame and composed demeanor cutting a commanding figure.
"Thank you all for coming to protect Icirrus," Brycen said loudly. "There's no time for speeches—those Pokémon will be here any minute. We must stand united and hold them back. They cannot reach the city."
After bowing respectfully to Layton, Brycen began working with Officer Jenny to organize the defense.
Soon, all the trainers were deployed along the outer fields of the city, forming a defensive perimeter.
That's when the ground began to shake—a low, ominous tremor that grew with each passing second.
"They're here! Everyone, get ready!"
From the horizon, a horde of wild Pokémon came stampeding down the slopes—Cryogonal, Beartic, Vanillite, Sneasel, and more. All native to the snow-covered mountains, they surged forward in a frenzied wave.
A chilling wind swept across the fields with their arrival, and frost began forming on the once-green grass.
Most of the Pokémon in the horde weren't especially strong individually—but there were so many of them that sheer numbers threatened to overwhelm everything in their path. The cold alone changed the battlefield—snow began to fall, and icy mist rolled in.
With no more time to hesitate, the battle erupted.
"Swellow, Hyper Beam!"
"Blaziken, use Flamethrower!"
"Machamp, Heracross—you two are free to fight however you like. Jumpluff and Haunter—stay close to me!"
Amid the chaos, Rex quickly issued orders. He personally commanded Swellow and Blaziken, sending them into the thick of it.
Swellow's Hyper Beams blasted clusters of wild Pokémon, scattering them in confusion. Blaziken's flames, super effective against Ice-types, wreaked havoc—pillars of fire surging into the sky, carving through the frozen ranks.
Meanwhile, Machamp and Heracross charged headfirst into enemy lines, throwing themselves into close-quarters combat with the more dangerous Pokémon in the horde.
"Hey kid—are you some kind of Elite Four or Gym Leader?"
A middle-aged man nearby, clearly impressed by Rex's commanding presence and powerful team, couldn't help but ask.
Thanks to Rex and his Pokémon, their portion of the battlefield wasn't under too much pressure. Most of the wild Pokémon here were already being held back.
No one could believe such a strong trainer wasn't already famous.
Rex didn't answer the question—his focus was locked on the battlefield.
"Watch out! They're attacking again!"
From the horde, dozens of Ice-types launched a freezing wind in unison, creating a massive wall of glacial energy.
The sky dimmed, and everything in the path of the wind froze solid. Ice spread rapidly, thick and unyielding.
But the trainers didn't back down. Those with Fire-types countered immediately—blasting out fire to halt the icy advance.
The clash of flame and frost shrouded the battlefield in a dense, white mist. Visibility dropped instantly, and the fighting paused.
Many of the wild Pokémon hesitated—some breaking away from the horde to flee, their survival instincts taking over.
Seeing this, the defending trainers, including Rex, focused their attacks on the ones still charging forward. Their aim was clear: break the morale of the others and drive them away.
And it was working.
The tide was starting to turn.