"Kabutops, use Liquidation!"
Kabutops's sickle-like arms glowed with a surging blue light as torrents of water wrapped around its blades. With a burst of speed, Kabutops lunged forward, its body crossing paths with Machamp in a blur.
BANG!!
"Machaaamp!!"
The four-armed Pokémon let out a deep groan as the impact sent it sprawling across the battlefield. Machamp hit the ground hard, its limbs twitching once before falling still.
"Machamp is unable to battle! Kabutops is the winner!" Hannah raised her flag decisively.
"All three of the challenger Kenji's Pokémon have been defeated. The winner of this Gym battle is the Viridian Gym Leader—Gary Oak!"
"Tch… damn it, just a little more!" Kenji growled, clenching his fists in frustration. He had managed to knock out Gary's Omastar earlier and came close to forcing out Gary's third Pokémon.
Gary's voice was calm but firm. "You're strong, Kenji—but you're still a step short. Take your Machamp to the Pokémon Center quickly."
Kenji grit his teeth, still refusing to accept it. "I'll be back. Next time, I'll win for sure!"
Gary smirked. "I'll be waiting."
Kenji left with an annoyed huff, returning Machamp to its Poké Ball.
It had already been a month since Gary had accepted the position as temporary Gym Leader of Viridian City. In that time, he had fought fifteen official Gym matches.
When the news broke that Giovanni had resigned, many trainers assumed the new Gym Leader wouldn't be nearly as strong. Some of them, who had previously lost here, came back thinking they could finally claim victory.
They were wrong.
Gary had defeated them all.
But because of his age, word spread quickly online—rumors claiming that the "rookie Gym Leader" of Viridian was inexperienced, and that challenging him was an easy way to get a badge.
As a result, streams of reckless trainers flooded in to battle him.
Most of them weren't even ready for the Viridian Gym's requirements. They couldn't last long against Gary's Kabutops or Omastar, let alone push him into using his stronger Pokémon. Each battle was more tedious than the last.
Gary finally understood the burden of being a Gym Leader.
If it's like this for years, I can see why some Gym Leaders burn out, he thought. For trainers who truly love battling, facing weak opponents over and over must drive them insane.
"Gardevoir, come on out. Help tidy up the field."
"Voooiiiir~." Gardevoir appeared gracefully in a shimmer of light, bowing slightly before beginning to sweep scattered rubble aside with psychic energy.
"I'll give you a hand." Hannah grabbed a shovel and started covering overturned soil.
Though Hannah was officially only a referee sent by the Trainer Association, she often stayed behind after matches to help Gary restore the battlefield. Gary respected his dedication—and to show appreciation, paid him a fair salary out of his own pocket.
The referee pay from the Association wasn't high, and Hannah needed extra income to help her family.
After half an hour of cleaning, the battlefield looked presentable again.
"Finally done." Gary stretched his shoulders.
Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong!
The doorbell echoed through the hall.
"Another challenger already?" Hannah sighed.
Since Gary wasn't a local of Viridian, the only visitors were challengers. Tourists usually stopped at the gates to take pictures of the legendary Gym, but never came inside.
Gary scowled. "Unbelievable. Don't these trainers realize the Indigo Plateau Conference hasn't even started yet? Just because I'm young, they think I'm an easy mark."
Even Gary, usually calm, was growing irritated. He needed time to train his Pokémon, but challengers kept showing up at all hours, ignoring any sense of courtesy. It was nearly noon now, and another battle request was already waiting.
Hannah gave a bitter smile. "It can't be helped. A new Gym Leader will always attract opportunists."
"Fine. I'll turn this one away," Gary said, brushing off his hands. "Tell them to come back in the afternoon if they really want a match."
"That's reasonable." Hannah nodded.
Gary strode toward the front entrance and opened the heavy double doors.
Standing there was a boy around his age, maybe a little younger. His eyes were sharp and cold, his face stern. Dressed in simple training gear, he radiated an intensity Gary instantly recognized.
"Paul!!"
Gary blinked in surprise. The visitor was none other than Paul—the rival Ash had once described to him in detail, the merciless trainer from the Sinnoh Region.
Paul's gaze locked onto him. "Are you the Gym Leader here?" His voice was serious, almost demanding.
"Yes." Gary straightened.
Paul's expression didn't waver. "Strange. Last I knew, Viridian Gym's Leader was Giovanni. Are you certain you're in charge?"
Gary gave a curt nod. "Giovanni stepped down. I'm the acting Gym Leader for now."
"…I see." Paul crossed his arms. "In that case, when can our Gym battle begin?"
Gary thought for a moment. "Two o'clock this afternoon."
Paul gave a short nod. "I'll be here. Goodbye." Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Gary watched him go, an unexpected grin tugging at his lips. "That guy… really is as cold as shown in anime. This afternoon might actually be fun."
2:00 PM.
Paul arrived ten minutes early, as expected. By the time Hannah called both trainers to the field, Gary and Paul were already standing in their respective command areas.
Gary sized him up. "So, Paul—how long have you been a trainer?"
Paul's tone was flat. "Two and a half years."
Gary raised his eyebrows. Only two and a half? And he's already this strong? No wonder Ash considered him such a rival.
"Hannah," Gary said. "Start the match."
Hannah stepped forward, holding her flags high. "This is an official Gym Battle between the Viridian Gym Leader, Gary Oak, and the challenger, Paul from Veilstone City. Each trainer will use three Pokémon. The match will end when all three Pokémon on one side are unable to battle. Only the challenger has the right to switch Pokémon. Do both sides understand the rules?"
Paul gave a short nod. "I understand."
Gary's said casually. "Let's get started."
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed his Poké Ball.
"Kabutops, let's go!"
"Kaabutoooops!!" The fossil Pokémon landed on the battlefield, scythes gleaming in the light. Its piercing cry echoed through the gym as water mist curled faintly around its body.
Gary sent out a female Kabutops. Both Kabutops and Omastar are currently at level 49. After the male finishes the battle, he lets the female take the field.
"This is…!"
It was also Paul's first time seeing an ancient Pokémon, and he immediately took out his Pokédex to scan it.