After scolding her students, Candice turned back to Gary with a slight bow and an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry. My students caused you trouble," she said gently. "They're still children. Please forgive them."
"It's fine. Let's just start the Gym battle," Gary replied calmly.
He wasn't the type to lose his composure over a few careless words from kids. Gary had participated in League Conferences for many years. He had faced far worse situations—malicious challengers, deliberate provocation, even smear posts and false news spread online. Compared to those, this was nothing.
"Alright," Candice nodded.
She walked to the command platform and raised her hand, signaling the Gym assistant.
At her cue, the Gym assistant stepped forward and announced clearly:
"The following is the official Gym Battle between Challenger Gary and Snowpoint City Gym Leader Candice! Each side may use three Pokémon. Only the challenger is permitted to switch Pokémon during the battle!"
At the same time, a familiar system notification echoed in Gary's mind.
[Ding! New Mission Released!]
Obtain the Snowpoint Gym Badge
Reward: Intermediate Rare Candy ×6, Ice Fang (Permanent Skill Learner), Top-Quality Never-Melt Ice ×1 Use Sinnoh-region Pokémon to obtain the Snowpoint Gym Badge
Reward: Intermediate Rare Candy ×6, Ice-Type Move Selector (Permanent Skill Learner), Random Pokémon Item ×1
Judging by the number and tier of Rare Candy rewards, Gary quickly analyzed Candice's lineup.
All three Pokémon she prepared were clearly above Level 40.
Gary knew the system's reward logic well.
If a Gym Leader used Pokémon below Level 30, the total reward would not exceed junior Rare Candy.
Pokémon between Level 30 and 39 only yielded one Intermediate Rare Candy, equal in value to a single mid-tier unit.
Pokémon between Level 40 and 49 doubled that efficiency—one slot equaled two Intermediate Rare Candy.
Under standard Gym rules, the maximum reward cap was 12 Rare Candy.
Unless the Gym Leader violated regulations and used Pokémon above Level 50, rewards would never exceed the intermediate tier.
From the mission panel alone, it was clear.
Candice was serious—but she was still playing strictly by the rules.
"I invite Gym Leader Candice to send out the first Pokémon," the assistant announced.
Candice adjusted her gloves and nodded.
"You must win the first round, Snover."
She tossed her Poké Ball forward.
Flash!
A small Pokémon with a white upper body and green lower half appeared on the icy field.
"Yeah! It's Snover!"
"Teacher Candice sent out Snover!"
"So cool!"
The students watching from the side erupted into excited chatter. Most of them had never seen a real Gym battle up close before.
[Lv. 40 Snover ♂ | Elite]
The level wasn't particularly high, but for an official Gym match, it was more than sufficient.
Gary didn't hesitate.
"Weavile, you're up."
He flicked his wrist and released his Poké Ball.
Flash!
A sleek, dark figure landed lightly on the ice, crimson feathers fluttering.
[Lv. 57 Weavile ♂ | Champion]
"It's… Weavile?!"
Candice's eyes widened slightly.
After researching challengers who had come to Snowpoint Gym, she knew most Trainers avoided using Ice-type Pokémon here. Sending Ice against Ice was usually a disadvantage.
In all her years as a Gym Leader, she had rarely seen someone challenge her with an Ice-type Pokémon, let alone one as sharp and aggressive as Weavile.
Still, she steadied herself.
"The battle begins!" the assistant declared.
"Weavile, use Fake Out!" Gary ordered.
"Wea—!!"
Weavile vanished in a blur.
On the icy battlefield, its speed was terrifying. In less than a heartbeat, it closed the distance.
Candice reacted instantly. "Snover, use Bullet Seed!"
"Sno—ver!"
Green energy gathered at Snover's mouth as it fired seed after seed like a barrage.
But—
Weavile's claws flashed.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Every Bullet Seed was knocked aside effortlessly. Then, in one smooth motion—
Smack!
Weavile struck Snover squarely, sending it tumbling across the ice.
The field fell silent.
"Come on, Snover!"
"Get up!"
"Why isn't it moving?"
The students shouted encouragement, but Snover lay motionless, fainted from the single blow.
After confirming the result, the Gym assistant raised a flag.
"Snover has lost the ability to battle! Weavile wins!"
The stands erupted in disbelief.
"What?!"
"Snover lost already?"
"I only saw one move!"
"Is the challenger that strong?"
Gary said nothing. These were just elementary-school students. Most of them probably didn't even understand Pokémon levels yet.
At this stage, their lessons focused only on basics—types, abilities, habits—not battle efficiency or stat distribution.
Candice recalled Snover and exhaled slowly.
Then she threw her second Poké Ball.
"Abomasnow, it's your turn."
Flash!
A towering Pokémon emerged, covered in thick white fur, massive arms flexing as it landed heavily on the ice.
[Lv. 48 Abomasnow ♂ | Elite]
"Aboma—SNOW!!"
Cold air surged outward.
Dark clouds gathered overhead as snowflakes began to fall.
Abomasnow's Snow Warning ability activated instantly.
Snowstorm weather spread across the battlefield.
Under snowy conditions, Ice-type Pokémon received a 1.5× boost to physical defense—a clear advantage against a physical attacker like Weavile.
Candice's expression sharpened.
"Weavile, use Power-Up Punch," Gary commanded.
"Wea—veil!"
Weavile lunged forward, skimming across the ice like a blade.
"Abomasnow, use Wood Hammer!" Candice countered.
Abomasnow roared, its massive arm glowing with dense grass-type energy as it swung forward.
BOOM!
Fist met claw.
The shockwave rippled across the frozen field.
Abomasnow staggered backward several steps—
but Weavile was pushed back as well.
The crowd gasped.
"They're evenly matched?!"
"But Abomasnow is huge!"
"How can Weavile be that strong?!"
To the students, size equaled strength.
The massive gap between Abomasnow and Weavile made the result unbelievable.
Gary's eyes narrowed slightly.
He could tell—Abomasnow's raw power was still lower than Weavile's.
The draw was only because Power-Up Punch had a relatively low base output.
"Don't stop. Dynamic Punch!"
"Wea—VAIL!!"
Weavile twisted its body, fists glowing with violent fighting-type energy as it surged forward once more—