"Mr. Noland, Mr. Scott, nothing else—I'll take my leave."
Gary's tone was respectful but brisk. The battle had been won, the Symbol secured, and his next goal was already on his mind. He still needed to upgrade and train his Pokémon before the next challenge, so lingering here any longer was pointless.
Scott tilted his head, smiling faintly. "Don't be in such a rush, Gary. Which facility are you planning to challenge next? I'd like to see it live, if I can."
"Next will naturally be the Battle Arena," Gary replied confidently. "I'll be challenging each of the Battle Frontier facilities one by one, in order."
"Ah, the Battle Arena." Scott chuckled, folding his arms. "Then I'll make my way toward the Pokémon Center near there. Once you arrive, just call me. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Gary nodded. "Understood. I will."
With Noland and Scott accompanying him to the entrance, Gary stepped outside the Battle Factory. The air felt different now—lighter, sharper, the kind of clarity that followed a hard-fought victory.
He reached for his belt, unclipped an Ultra Ball, and tossed it into the air.
A brilliant flash burst forth, and the blazing wings of Moltres unfurled against the sky.
"Skraaaahh!!" The Legendary bird of fire let out a piercing cry, flames dancing along its feathers as it spread its wings wide.
Scott's eyes went wide. He had only heard rumors, whispers that Gary possessed something beyond the ordinary. When he had first rushed here earlier, Gary had already recalled Moltres, so he hadn't seen it in person until now.
"Gary—you actually have Moltres?!" Scott's voice trembled with astonishment.
Gary smirked slightly. "Yes. I captured it some time ago."
Without further explanation, he leapt onto Moltres's back with practiced ease.
"Moltres—take me to the Pokémon Center we passed earlier!"
With a powerful beat of its fiery wings, Moltres launched into the air. Heat waves shimmered behind it as it soared higher, then banked smoothly toward the nearest Center.
Scott stood there, momentarily frozen. Then, shaking his head with a mixture of disbelief and amusement, he hurried to his sports car, fired the engine, and sped off toward the Battle Arena.
At the Pokémon Center
Arriving at the Pokémon Center closest to the Battle Factory, Gary handed over his team to Nurse Joy for treatment. Afterward, he stepped outside, pulled another Poké Ball from his belt, and released his Gabite.
"Gaaabite!"
The dragon Pokémon appeared with a flash of light, its fin-like crest swaying as it blinked at the unfamiliar surroundings. It gave Gary a questioning look, clearly assuming it was time for more training.
But Gary shook his head. "No training today."
"Bite…?" Gabite tilted its head, confused. If there wasn't training, why release it at all?
Gary knelt slightly, placing a firm hand on the dragon's head. "This is for something else. To improve your potential."
He retrieved a shimmering Silver Crown, and pressed it to Gabite.
A soft light enveloped the Gabite.
[Ding! The Silver Crown was used successfully.]
[ Pokémon: Gabite]
[ Type: Dragon / Ground]
[ Level: 30]
[ Potential: Champion]
[ Ability: Sand Veil (Evasion increases during sandstorms)]
[ Known Moves: Tackle, Dig, Dragon Breath, Bulldoze, Bite]
[ Inherited Move: Metal Claw]
[ TM Moves: Shadow Claw, Rest, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Dragon Pulse, Body Slam, Fire Blast, Iron Tail]
[ Intimacy: 200 (max 255)]
Gary skimmed the results and nodded in satisfaction. Though he wasn't fond of Sand Veil—it was situational and heavily weather-dependent—the leap in potential was undeniable. He couldn't help but wonder, though, about Garchomp's other ability: Rough Skin. Could it return more damage than expected? Could it tip the balance in close battles?
His musings were interrupted by a thought he couldn't shake. "If only Gabite could master Dragon Dance…"
"Bite?" Gabite chirped curiously. The name sounded familiar. It was a dragon move—surely, if it had 'dragon' in its name, Gabite should be able to learn it.
Gary laughed lightly. "Don't get your hopes up. Just thinking aloud."
He knew the truth. Dragon Dance was indeed a Dragon-type move, one that boosted both Attack and Speed simultaneously. But even in games and theory, teaching it required specialized TM learners crafted from Garchomp's scales. Gabite couldn't naturally pick it up yet.
Still, the thought lingered. Dragon Dance was one of the most dangerous set-up moves in existence, and having it in his arsenal could change everything.
But he had to be practical. His team already had plenty of offense. What he truly lacked were defensive tools—barriers that could turn a fragile moment into a decisive survival.
"System," Gary said aloud, his tone sharp, "exchange Reflect for me."
[Ding! Skill exchange successful.]
Reflect—a defensive move that halved incoming physical damage for several turns. A practical, reliable skill.
Gary immediately got to work, summoning his Pokémon one by one and attempting to teach them the move.
Blastoise, Magnezone, and Weavile successfully learned Reflect, their energy adjusting to the technique. When Charizard and Electivire returned healed later, they too managed to master it.
Glaceon, however, failed. Gary frowned, puzzled.
Ice should reflect light. Logically, Glaceon should've had affinity for skills like Reflect or Light Screen. But no matter how many attempts he made, the Glaceon couldn't grasp the concept.
Gary exhaled, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Glaceon. I really thought this one would suit you."
The Glaceon chirped softly, brushing against his leg as if to say it was fine.
Satisfied, Gary decided to rest for the night at the Center. Tomorrow would bring new challenges.
The Next Morning
At sunrise, Gary mounted Moltres once again and soared toward his next destination.
The Battle Arena, commonly mistaken for the "Stadium" due to its coliseum-like design, was located just outside Cerulean City, a short distance from Saffron.
As Moltres cut across the sky, Gary's thoughts drifted. The name Saffron City brought someone to mind—Sabrina.
It had been nearly two years since he last saw her in person. Sabrina, the formidable Psychic-type Gym Leader, had since become something of a celebrity. Her beauty and aura were undeniable: regal, composed, an icy queen whose gaze could both intimidate and captivate.
Gary recalled catching glimpses of her in films and television dramas. Under the guidance of Tsuneko, she had entered the entertainment world in Pokémon Hollywood. Within a single year, she had risen to become one of the most popular rookies, and by now, she had carved out a permanent place in Unova's entertainment scene.
They used to speak often by phone. But as time passed, their schedules grew heavier. Sabrina rarely answered calls directly anymore, and their conversations shifted to brief messages, often at night when she finally had free moments.
Gary had begun to sense the distance. She still reached out, still asked after him, but it felt… restrained. Practical. Almost as if she was checking boxes rather than pouring in genuine affection. And yet, when he so much as had another woman nearby, she would flare with that sharp, possessive Psychic energy.
A relationship like that—complicated, stretched thin by distance and time—couldn't last forever. Gary knew it. But he let the thought slip away for now.
"We're here," he murmured as Moltres began to descend.
Following his navigation, the fiery bird landed gracefully near the Pokémon Center adjacent to the Battle Arena.
The structure itself was imposing—a vast coliseum of stone and steel, built on Cerulean's outskirts where the land opened wide. Few casual travelers came this way; it was remote, reserved for those who sought real battle.
The Pokémon Center here was small, built less for convenience and more as a lifeline. Trainers who battled here or trekked through the surrounding wilds relied on it heavily.