"Wood Hammer!"
Candice had no choice but to continue attacking head-on. The distance between the two Pokémon was far too close for elaborate tactics, and Abomasnow simply did not have enough time to prepare any other technique.
Abomasnow roared, its massive arms glowing with green energy as it launched forward once more. The Wood Hammer came crashing down, colliding directly with Weavile's raised fist.
The moment their attacks met, Abomasnow felt something terribly wrong.
A terrifying force surged through its arm, far stronger than expected. The impact rebounded violently, sending Abomasnow's arm snapping backward as if it had struck solid steel.
But Weavile didn't budge.
Not even an inch.
"Wea… vile!"
Weavile's crimson eyes burned with ferocity. Its right fist tightened, muscles coiling like a spring ready to explode. In the next instant, it vanished from its original position.
BANG!!
The punch landed squarely in Abomasnow's abdomen.
The sound echoed through the gym like a cannon firing. Abomasnow's enormous body was launched backward, skidding violently across the icy battlefield for more than ten meters before finally crashing to a halt.
"…!!"
Abomasnow groaned, one eye squeezed shut while the other remained half-open, unfocused and trembling. Its breathing became erratic, and its body swayed unsteadily.
The referee raised a hand.
"Abomasnow is unable to continue."
Candice clenched her fist.
"Get in close and finish it… Weavile, Ice Punch." Gary said
"Weavile!"
Sliding smoothly across the frozen ground, Weavile closed the distance in a flash. Its fist shimmered with icy energy as it delivered a decisive blow.
Abomasnow collapsed completely, its massive body hitting the ground with a dull thud. It didn't move again.
"Abomasnow has lost its ability to battle. Weavile wins."
The spectators — Candice's students — stood frozen in shock.
They stared at the battlefield, disbelief written across every face.
"That… that was Teacher's strongest Pokémon…"
"How could it lose so easily?"
"This challenger is terrifying…"
Candice stood silently, her expression composed. Whether she was truly calm or merely forcing herself to remain dignified in front of her students was impossible to tell.
But inside, she knew the truth.
She had been completely overwhelmed.
Gary, on the other hand, calmly observed the field. His gaze sharpened with curiosity.
So… what's your final Pokémon?
In the original timeline, when Candice battled Ash, she used Sneasel, Snover, and Abomasnow. But now, both Snover and Abomasnow had already fallen.
That meant her last Pokémon would be something else entirely.
Candice took a deep breath and raised her Poké Ball.
"Please… help me show my pride as a Gym Leader. Froslass!"
A flash of white light erupted.
"Great!"
[LV49 Froslass | Elite]
Froslass hovered gracefully above the ground, its kimono-like body swaying as cold air spread throughout the battlefield. Its crimson eyes locked onto Gary, radiating an eerie chill reminiscent of a snow spirit from ancient legends.
Gary's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Weavile, return."
He recalled Weavile without hesitation.
Candice blinked, clearly surprised.
He had the advantage… so why switch now?
Moments ago, Gary had looked like he intended to sweep her entire team with a single Pokémon. Yet the moment Froslass appeared, he changed strategies.
Gary understood the situation clearly.
Weavile lacked any reliable way to strike airborne targets. Its special attack power was also too low to effectively threaten Froslass in a prolonged fight. Continuing would only result in unnecessary delays.
He tossed another Poké Ball.
"Magnezone, you're up."
A metallic roar echoed as Magnezone materialized, electromagnetic waves crackling around its body.
"Great!"
[LV59 Magnezone | Champion]
Before she could react, Gary spoke calmly.
"Magnezone, Gravity."
A powerful magnetic pulse erupted from Magnezone's core. The entire battlefield trembled as gravity intensified dramatically.
Froslass gasped, its floating body suddenly dragged downward.
"Froslass!" Candice shouted
The ghostly Pokémon was forced to the ground, its ability to levitate completely nullified.
"Use Shadow Ball!"
"Fro—lass!"
Dark energy condensed rapidly between Froslass's hands before being hurled forward in a swirling orb of shadows.
"Mirror Coat."
Magnezone's surface shimmered unnaturally, becoming smooth and reflective like polished glass.
The Shadow Ball struck Magnezone — but instead of exploding, it bent, twisted, and was violently reflected back.
BOOM!!
The attack slammed directly into Froslass.
"The effect is outstanding!"
As a Ghost-type Pokémon, Froslass was heavily damaged by its own reflected Ghost-type attack. It screamed in pain as its body was thrown backward.
The gym erupted in stunned whispers.
"What was that move?"
"He reflected the attack!"
"I've never seen anything like this!"
Gary's voice remained calm, almost indifferent.
"Thunderbolt."
Electricity surged from Magnezone, forming a blinding pillar of lightning that tore across the battlefield.
"Froslass, Ice Beam! Quickly!" Candice cried.
Froslass forced itself upright, ignoring the pain as it gathered ice energy. Multiple Ice Beams shot forward, colliding with the incoming Thunderbolt.
For a brief moment, the attacks stalemated.
Then —
CRACK!
The Thunderbolt tore through the Ice Beams, shattering them like glass. The lightning struck Froslass directly, slamming it into the ground with overwhelming force.
The battlefield fell silent.
Froslass lay motionless.
The referee raised both flags.
"Froslass has lost its ability to battle. All three of Gym Leader Candice's Pokémon are unable to continue."
He paused, then announced loudly:
"The winner of this Gym Battle is — Gary!"
The battle was over.
Candice stood still for a long moment, then exhaled slowly.
"So strong… Your power is far beyond that of an ordinary challenger. At this rate, you may very well become the champion of the Lily of the Valley Conference."
Gary smiled faintly. "You flatter me, Gym Leader Candice."
In truth, Gary remained cautious. There was still one unpredictable variable in the upcoming conference — Tobias. Until the final outcome was decided, modesty was safer than arrogance.
Candice stepped forward and handed him a badge shaped like an icicle.
"This is the Icicle Badge. You've earned it."
"Thank you."
Gary accepted it respectfully.
[Ding! Task completed. Rewards have been sent to the space backpack.]
After saying his farewells, Gary left the Snowpoint Gym. Instead of heading to the Pokémon Center, he released Articuno and departed Snowpoint City directly, returning to Veilstone City to wait for Ash and the others.
Once settled, Gary checked the reward he had received.
[Best Icy Rock]
Effect: When held, weather moves last twice as long. Additionally, Ice-type moves gain a 30% power boost.
"…Not bad at all."
Gary hadn't expected such a powerful enhancement. Extending weather duration while directly boosting Ice-type attacks made this item exceptionally valuable.
"System," Gary said, "use the Ice system to permanently learn Ice Beam."
[Ding! Skill acquisition successful.]
Gary already possessed Ice Punch, a physical Ice-type move. Adding Ice Beam gave him a reliable special Ice-type attack with excellent accuracy — far more practical than Blizzard in most battles.
Later that day, after replacing Articuno and riding Garchomp, Gary returned to Veilstone City before lunchtime.
During his stay, he focused on training and gathering information around the region. He learned of a place called Flower Paradise, near a small settlement known as Transfer Village.
Shaymin…
Though classified as a Mythical Pokémon, Shaymin existed in notable numbers and frequently migrated. Capturing one wouldn't severely disrupt the ecosystem.
Gary decided that once Ash arrived, he would head there.
If he could obtain a Shaymin, all the better.
And if not…
Well, fate would decide.