"Nidoking has lost its ability to battle. Garchomp wins."
Reggie's voice echoed clearly across the battlefield.
With that announcement, the second round was decided.
Both Trainers recalled their Pokémon almost simultaneously. Paul's expression remained cold and unreadable, while Gary calmly selected his next Poké Ball.
The final round would determine the winner.
Paul looked down at the Poké Ball in his hand and spoke in a low voice.
"Torterra… I'll leave it to you."
A beam of red light burst forth, and a massive, green-shelled Pokémon landed heavily on the ground.
Torterra.
[LV55 Torterra | Elite]
The enormous tortoise Pokémon lifted its head, letting out a deep, steady roar.
"Torrraaa…!"
When Torterra's eyes met Gary's, they burned with fighting spirit.
This wasn't the first time it had faced him.
During their previous encounter, Torterra had suffered defeat, and that loss had remained etched into its memory. This time, when Paul challenged Gary again, Torterra had volunteered without hesitation.
It wanted revenge.
Gary studied it calmly.
Not bad… it's grown stronger.
He remembered clearly that a few months ago, Torterra had only just reached Level 54. For a Pokémon with limited growth potential, its progress was already impressive.
Torterra's upper limit was around Level 59. Once it crossed Level 50, its growth would slow dramatically. It might take years of training to advance just a few more levels.
For it to reach Level 55 so quickly meant Paul had been training it relentlessly.
Gary raised his Poké Ball.
"Metagross, you're up."
The Poké Ball opened with a sharp flash of light.
A massive steel Pokémon appeared, its four legs landing with mechanical precision.
Metagross.
[LV60 Metagross | Champion]
Its body gleamed with a strange pale sheen, almost white under the sunlight.
Reggie stared in shock.
"A… a white Metagross?!"
Paul's eyes narrowed as well.
Though he was surprised by Metagross's unusual coloration, what truly concerned him was its aura.
Metagross was one of Hoenn's pseudo-legendary Pokémon. Any Trainer capable of evolving Beldum all the way into Metagross had to be exceptionally skilled.
And this Metagross…
Its pressure was unmistakably that of a Champion-level Pokémon.
"Torterra, Stone Edge!" Paul commanded immediately.
Torterra stomped its foot heavily.
The ground trembled as jagged pillars of rock rose from the battlefield and shot toward Metagross like spears.
"Meteor Mash, charge through!" Gary ordered.
Metagross raised both arms.
A translucent layer of steel energy wrapped around its body, and magnetic force surged from behind it.
It charged forward like a living battering ram.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The Stone Edges struck its body in rapid succession, but each one shattered upon impact, unable to halt Metagross's momentum.
BOOM!!
Metagross slammed into Torterra and sent the massive tortoise Pokémon sliding backward nearly ten meters.
Torterra dug its claws into the ground and barely managed to stabilize itself.
Paul frowned.
"Giga Drain!"
Torterra roared as green energy surged from its body. Thick vine-like tendrils extended from the trees growing on its shell and lashed toward Metagross.
"Gyro Ball."
Metagross spun rapidly, turning into a steel top surrounded by a sharp silver aura.
The rotating energy field acted like a blade.
Every vine that touched it was instantly sliced apart.
Metagross shot forward again, closing the distance.
Paul gritted his teeth.
Ordinary moves won't stop it…
"Hyper Beam!"
Torterra's mouth glowed bright orange as massive energy gathered.
"Torrraaa!!"
A blazing beam erupted forward and struck Metagross head-on.
BOOOOM!!
The explosion forced Metagross to halt its advance, smoke billowing around it.
But Torterra's body stiffened immediately afterward.
The recoil of Hyper Beam left it unable to move.
Gary's eyes gleamed.
"Finish it. Ice Punch."
Paul's pupils shrank.
"Ice-type move?!"
He hadn't expected Metagross to possess Ice Punch.
Against a Grass/Ground-type Pokémon like Torterra, this was a deadly counter.
Metagross's fist glowed blue as frost gathered around it.
"Meta—gross!"
It rushed forward and delivered a crushing punch to Torterra's head.
BANG!!
Torterra's huge body was knocked backward several meters.
Ice spread rapidly across its face and neck.
Its eyes rolled back.
With a heavy thud, Torterra collapsed.
Reggie raised his hand.
"Torterra has lost its ability to battle. Metagross wins!"
The battle was over.
Paul stood silently for a moment before recalling Torterra.
His face quickly returned to its usual expressionless calm.
"Thank you for the match," he said stiffly. "I'll seek your guidance again next time."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Reggie scratched his head awkwardly.
"Sorry… my brother is like that. He doesn't show emotions very well."
Gary smiled faintly.
"It's fine. I understand."
Paul was cold, but not malicious.
He simply despised weak Trainers and refused to acknowledge those who failed to meet his standards.
Reggie bowed slightly.
"Then I'll be going too. I sneaked out to watch this match. I need to get back to the breeding house."
Gary nodded.
Afterward, Gary canceled his afternoon training session and let his Pokémon rest.
Paul had already challenged the Veilstone Gym, which meant Ash and the others would likely arrive soon.
Two Days Later
That evening, Gary went to the Pokémon Center for dinner.
As soon as he entered the dining hall, he saw a familiar group walking in.
"Ash!"
"Gary?! It really is you!"
Ash, Dawn, and Brock had just returned from visiting Reggie's breeding house and were stunned to see Gary sitting there.
"What a coincidence," Gary said with a smile. "Didn't expect to meet you here."
The group quickly got their food and sat at Gary's table.
"Gary, you're traveling way too fast," Ash said. "How did you reach Veilstone City so quickly?"
"I'm still traveling," Gary replied. "Just not the same way you are."
"What do you mean?" Ash asked, confused.
"It means I've already collected all my Gym Badges," Gary said calmly.
"What?! Already?!" Ash nearly dropped his fork.
Gary felt Ash's reaction was strange, but when he thought about it, it made sense.
"You don't have to be so shocked," Gary said. "If you really want speed, you could call Charizard over and fly between gyms."
Ash scratched his head.
"That wouldn't feel right. I want to use Pokémon I caught here in Sinnoh. Charizard is too strong."
Gary sighed.
"I give you methods, and you refuse to use them."
Ash grinned sheepishly.
But Gary knew something Ash didn't.
This year's Lily of the Valley Conference wasn't normal.
There was a terrifying participant—Tobias.
A Trainer who possessed Darkrai… and Latios.
Both were at Elite-level strength.
Ash would eventually defeat them—but only with his strongest team from Johto and Hoenn.
Even then, it would take Pikachu and five high-level Pokémon to win.
Ash's Sinnoh team alone simply wasn't enough.