The sun hung high in the sky, beating down on the barren landscape surrounding the Battle Factory.
The heat shimmered across the asphalt and metal structures, but Gary walked with purpose, sun hat shielding his eyes, the latest PokéNav device glowing faintly in his hand.
He had called Scott the previous day and arranged his visit to the factory, eager to test his skills against the facility's elite Trainers.
Scott had sent him the precise coordinates, which Gary was now following on the PokéNav.
A small red dot blinked and pulsed across the device's screen, steadily moving closer as he approached the destination.
"Ugh… really bothersome," Gary muttered, squinting at the device.
"When will they finally merge all these functions into a phone app? Three years and we still can't have proper mobile connectivity."
Indeed, in this world, mobile technology had yet to catch up to the needs of modern Trainers. Phones could make calls, send text messages, and display crude color screens.
Some could access the Internet, but speeds were glacial, and wireless networks were barely present even in major cities.
A Rotom Phone, fully integrated with GPS, Pokédex, and live battle feeds, was still years away from development.
A sudden cry interrupted Gary's thoughts.
"Moltres!!"
Gary looked up to see his fiery Legendary Pokémon, wings flaring brilliantly in the sun, alerting him to a sight in the distance. A massive factory loomed two to three kilometers ahead, its steel walls reflecting the sunlight.
"That must be it… the Battle Factory," Gary said with a nod. Moltres tilted its wings in acknowledgment, then surged forward, blazing across the sky.
As they approached, Gary began descending toward the main gates. Moltres landed gracefully, landing on the concrete with a soft thud. The legendary bird's fiery presence immediately drew attention.
"Articuno!!"
From the factory doors, a majestic Articuno took flight, its azure wings glimmering in the sunlight.
The two Legendary Pokémon exchanged cries, echoing across the facility. Moltres let out a powerful, resonant
"Ahhh!", while Articuno's icy tone replied with an equally commanding "Ahhh!"
Within moments, a group of factory staff poured from the building, led by a man in a peaked cap who immediately froze at the sight of Moltres.
"W-What! Moltres?!" one staff member gasped.
"Impossible…" another whispered.
"Did it come here because of Articuno?!" a third asked, wide-eyed.
Their amazement was palpable. Legendary Pokémon were rare, nearly mythical, and only Trainers of exceptional skill could capture them. Yet here was a young man, barely older than a teenager, commanding one with absolute authority.
"Who… who is this boy?" muttered Noland, the Battle Factory's head, clearly astonished.
He had seen Articuno countless times as part of the factory's collection, but encountering a Trainer capable of commanding Moltres was almost unthinkable.
Gary's eyes scanned Noland's Articuno. The Pokémon's level and aura suggested its potential.
[Level 60 Articuno ♂ / Champion-class potential]
This Articuno, like many Legendaries in recent memory, was impressive but not the pinnacle among Legendary Pokémon.
Gary knew that even the weakest Legendary Pokémon would have at least Champion-level potential. His own Moltres and other captures had never displayed potential lower than this.
"To avoid drawing unnecessary attention," Gary whispered, calling Moltres back into its Poké Ball. The bird gave a low "Ahhh!" of compliance, wings folding as it vanished.
All eyes were on Gary. The staff had witnessed him summon, command, and retract a Legendary Pokémon with ease. That alone confirmed his status as Moltres' Trainer.
Gary stepped forward confidently.
"Hello. My name is Gary Oak, and I'm here to challenge the Battle Factory."
The murmurs around him quieted as the staff processed his words. Noland, recovering from his shock, stepped forward.
"Greetings. I am Noland, the Factory Head," he said formally.
"Can we begin the battle?" Gary asked without hesitation.
"Hold on," Noland replied, adjusting his cap. "The Battle Frontier isn't open to everyone. Do you have the qualifications to challenge it?"
Unlike Gyms, the Battle Frontier did not allow any Trainer to walk in and demand a match. Battles here were complex, strategic, and highly regulated. Only Trainers with approval—or explicit invitation—could challenge its elite facilities.
"Scott invited me," Gary replied evenly. "Do I have the qualifications now?"
Before Noland could respond, the distant roar of an engine interrupted them.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
A high-end sports car tore toward the factory, tires screeching as it braked to a perfect stop near the gates. The car slid slightly from inertia, coming to rest in flawless alignment. Scott had arrived, his signature flair evident in the precision of his driving.
"Finally… I made it," Scott exclaimed, jumping from the vehicle. "I got your message yesterday and rushed here as quickly as I could."
"Did you invite this Trainer?" Noland asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Scott replied confidently. "Gary is exceptional. I want to see his Pokémon in battle. Please, give him your full effort."
Noland's eyes widened slightly. "Full strength?"
Scott smiled knowingly. "Yes. The Battle Frontier's main Pokémon teams are strong enough to rival the Elite Four. Some Frontier Brains, like Brandon or Palmer, are outright equivalent. Ash only won against Brandon because Brandon held back his full power. Similarly, my Articuno is trained for testing purposes, not to its maximum potential—its main team is far stronger."
Gary listened intently as Scott briefed Noland.
"Yes… Gary has even battled Ms. Agatha," Scott added, "and emerged victorious."
"Defeated Ms. Agatha…?" Noland's eyes widened in disbelief. Agatha of the Elite Four? That was no small feat.
Gary shrugged modestly. "It was a one-on-one match. But winning is winning. She chose to challenge me—there's no dishonor in victory."
"Interesting," Noland murmured, a small smile playing at his lips. "This battle will be… quite engaging. Follow me."
The group moved toward a wide, open grassland adjacent to the factory. The area was enclosed but expansive, dotted with jungle foliage and rocky outcrops—the perfect arena for diverse Pokémon battles.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves!" Noland shouted.
From the jungle, twelve Pokémon emerged, each trained and ready. There was Venusaur, Machamp, Breloom, Rhydon, Rhyhorn, Sandslash, Camerupt, Manectric, Vibrava, Pinsir, Golduck, and Aggron.
Including Noland's Articuno, there were thirteen Pokémon in total. However, only a select few possessed the kind of potential that made them truly formidable opponents.
[Level 58 Machamp ♂ / Elite potential]
[Level 62 Venusaur ♀ / Elite potential]
[Level 64 Pinsir ♂ / Champion potential]
The rest were strong, but their levels ranged from quasi-elite to elite. Machamp, while impressive, still had room to grow; Venusaur and Pinsir were dangerous, fully capable of challenging high-level Trainers.
Noland explained the rules. "Here at the Battle Factory, challengers may choose the format: 1v1, 2v2, or 3v3. You may also select which Pokémon you wish to battle against."