"Nothing! I just think you're too full of yourself. Do you know my big sister is incredibly strong? A third-rate Trainer like you should speak respectfully to her, got it?" the blonde girl snapped, glaring at Gary with fiery eyes.
Gary blinked in disbelief, at a loss for words.
What was this? Just another loudmouthed street brat acting tough because she had someone powerful backing her. The kind of person who strutted around like the world owed them respect, when in truth, they couldn't back up a single word they said.
Before Gary could retort, Scott stepped in with his ever-jovial tone, though even he looked a little uncomfortable.
"Gary, don't mind her—she doesn't mean any harm~."
Gary exhaled through his nose and shook his head. "It's fine. When can I battle?"
"Hey! Don't ignore me!" The blonde's voice rose an octave as her cheeks puffed with frustration. She balled her fists but didn't actually make a move against Gary. She might have been bold, but she clearly wasn't stupid.
"Enough, Barbara."
The girl's companions stepped in, tugging her back before she could cause any more of a scene.
"Don't stop me! If you let me go, I'll teach him a lesson for real!" Barbara shouted, thrashing in place, though her struggles were half-hearted at best. She only made a scene once she was being restrained—a paper tiger through and through.
"Come with me," Scott sighed, quickly ushering Gary deeper into the facility before Barbara's ranting could continue.
The Battle Pike was an odd structure compared to the other Frontier facilities Gary had seen.
The building wasn't large, but its interior was designed like a winding serpent—long hallways stretched out with dim torchlight flickering on the walls.
The trek felt longer than it really was, each step echoing ominously off the stone floor. Nearly a full minute passed before they finally reached the main battle arena at the back.
There, waiting for him, was a woman unlike any other. Her straight, jet-black hair cascaded all the way to her waist, and her amber eyes glowed faintly in the dim light. Draped in a sleek, snake-patterned outfit, she carried herself with the poise of royalty.
This was Lucy—the Pike Queen.
"Lucy, the challenger is here," Scott announced respectfully.
Lucy inclined her head ever so slightly, her expression cool and unreadable.
"Welcome. I am Lucy, Frontier Brain of the Battle Pike."
Gary squared his shoulders and stepped forward. "Gary Oak. Can we begin?"
Lucy's lips curved into the faintest of smiles. "Of course. Prepare yourself."
With a silent gesture, she instructed her attendants to ready the battlefield.
Three minutes later, both Trainers stood in their respective command zones.
The arena was unusual. Lucy's half of the field contained a large, ring-shaped pool, suggesting a preference for Water-types. The rest of the field was barren stone, offering little cover—perfect for direct, brutal clashes.
At the side, Barbara had somehow wriggled her way into the referee's seat. She smirked as she raised her arm.
"Big sis, this brat wasn't polite to me earlier. You've gotta crush him good!" she called out.
Lucy exhaled softly, shaking her head. "Just announce the match, Barbara."
Barbara pouted but complied. "Fine! The battle between Frontier Brain Lucy and the challenger Gary will now begin! Each side may use three Pokémon, with no substitutions allowed. Got it? Now—send out your Pokémon!"
Gary frowned slightly. No substitutions?
He recalled that Ash had fought Lucy in a two-on-two match, but for him, it was a strict three-on-three with no swapping allowed. That restriction would make things harder. But if that was the Pike Queen's rule, he'd accept the challenge head-on.
System Notification
[Ding! New Mission Issued.]
Objective: Defeat Lucy and earn the Luck Symbol.
Rewards: 6× Advanced Rare Candy, 1× Silver Crown, 1× Ability Breakthrough Stone, 1× Permanent Skill Learning Device (Self-Select).
Gary's eyes sharpened. Alright. Let's do this.
"Go, Seviper!" Lucy declared, tossing her Poké Ball with precision.
"Se-viiiper!"
The massive snake uncoiled itself onto the battlefield. Jet-black scales gleamed under the arena lights, with golden markings running along its body and crimson fangs glistening like freshly sharpened blades. This was no ordinary Seviper—it radiated killing intent.
[Lv. 65 – Seviper ♀ – Potential: Champion]
Gary's brows rose. "Her ace, right off the bat, huh?"
Lucy's Seviper was famous—even among Frontier Brains—for its ruthless strikes and sheer ferocity. Its base stats weren't impressive compared to true powerhouses, but Lucy had trained this Seviper to push past those limits.
Gary tightened his grip on his Poké Ball. "Let's go, Rhyperior!"
"Rhyperiorrr!"
The ground shook as the massive Drill Pokémon emerged in a flash of light, bellowing with a roar that rattled the walls. Its rocky armor glistened like jagged mountains, its horn spinning slowly in anticipation of battle.
The crowd—small as it was—buzzed with excitement.
Barbara raised her arm. "Battle start!"
"Seviper, Flamethrower!" Barbara shouted almost immediately, trying to get involved.
Lucy didn't stop her, so Seviper obeyed.
"Se-viiiiiiper!"
A jet of scorching flame burst from Seviper's mouth, racing across the field in seconds.
Gary's eyes widened slightly—fast. "Rhyperior, Earthquake!"
"Rhy—PERIOR!"
Rhyperior gritted its teeth, bracing itself against the flames as its massive foot slammed into the ground. Cracks spiderwebbed outward as a violent tremor tore through the battlefield.
The fiery torrent scorched Rhyperior's rocky hide, but the Earthquake shook the entire arena.
Lucy's sharp eyes glinted. "Bounce with Iron Tail—then strike back!"
Seviper lashed its bladed tail against the ground, launching itself into the air like a coiled spring. Its body twisted mid-air before it unleashed another Flamethrower downward, streams of fire cascading toward Rhyperior.
Gary didn't flinch. "Stone Edge!"
Rhyperior raised its arms, slamming both fists into the ground. Jagged stone spires erupted upward in a deadly barrage, intercepting the falling flames. Some cut straight through the firestorm, piercing the air toward Seviper.
"Se-viiiperrr!"
The serpent screeched as shards of rock tore into its body mid-air, halting its attack and knocking it backward.
Gary seized the opening. "Close in—Drill Run!"
Rhyperior's horn spun violently as it thundered across the field, each step cracking stone. It aimed straight for the falling Seviper.
But Lucy remained calm. "Iron Tail—counter!"
Seviper's body twisted at the last second. Its tail gleamed silver as it whipped the ground, using the rebound to stabilize itself mid-fall. With lightning reflexes, it redirected its weight and lashed its glowing tail at Rhyperior's spinning horn.
CLANG!
The impact reverberated like a gong. The sheer force compressed Seviper's long body into a coil, but Rhyperior's sheer momentum and weight forced the serpent back.
Gary's voice cut through the collision. "Follow up—Stone Edge again!"
"Rhy-PERIOR!"
Rhyperior slammed the ground again, stone blades erupting in a relentless storm from beneath Seviper's position.
"Se-vii—!!"
The serpent shrieked as the jagged blades pierced through its defenses, sending it crashing violently to the floor. Its eyes swirled into spirals, body collapsing in a heap.