Danny grinned, a sharp, weathered look that suggested he didn't mind Zeth's cold attitude. "A man of action. I like that. But these trials aren't just about power, kid. They're about precision."
Trial 1: The Geyser Freeze
In the center of the peak, a massive geyser erupted every thirty seconds, shooting a pillar of boiling water a hundred feet into the air.
"The rules are simple," Danny shouted over the roar of the water. "Use your Pokémon to freeze that pillar. If the ice holds for ten seconds without shattering, you pass."
Zeth didn't reach for Cloyster—the Deep Gold pressure would be overkill and reveal too much. Instead, he released Armarouge (Lvl 40).
"Psychic Lens: Thermal Inversion."
Armarouge didn't fire a move. It raised its golden-plated arms, its Solid Gold potential flaring. Using its psychic energy, it didn't just chill the water; it targeted the kinetic energy of the molecules. Danny watched, baffled, as the boiling water reached the apex of its arc and then instantly crystallized into a shimmering, ornate spire of sapphire ice.
Armarouge held the pose, its psychic grip acting as a structural skeleton for the ice.
Result: The ice didn't just hold; it was so dense that the next geyser blast couldn't break through it.
Danny's Note: "Psychic-based thermal control... Efficient. Most trainers just spam Ice Beam until they run out of breath."
Trial 2: The Ice Sled Construction
"Next, you need a vessel," Danny gestured to a pile of raw, jagged ice blocks. "Carve a sled. It has to be aerodynamic enough to beat me down the mountain, and strong enough to survive the jagged rocks."
Zeth released Ceruledge (Lvl 43). The shadow knight's blades glowed with a faint, violet-black light.
"Flash Fire: Precision Shear."
Ceruledge moved in a blur. It didn't hack at the ice; it moved with the grace of a master sculptor. By utilizing a controlled, low-output Bitter Blade, it "hot-knifed" through the ice blocks. Ceruledge used its Weak Armor speed to circle the sled, carving out air-intakes and a reinforced hull that looked more like a sleek jet than a mountain sled.
"Rhydon, take point," Zeth commanded.
Rhydon stepped onto the back of the sled, its new Tectonic Plating adding immense weight. Normally, this would sink the sled, but Ceruledge had carved the runners to distribute the mass perfectly.
Result: A sled that possessed the weight of a tank but the drag of an arrow.
Danny's Note: "Fine craftsmanship. Your 'Knights' have high coordination."
Trial 3: The Mountain Race
The race was a vertical nightmare. Danny used his Nidoqueen to surf down the mountain on a slab of rock, navigating the sharp turns with veteran ease.
Zeth stood on his sled, Armarouge at the front and Ceruledge at the back. As they hit the first slope, the sled picked up terrifying speed.
"Core Manipulation: Localized Slipstream."
Zeth didn't activate a full Battlefield Core, but he pulled a fraction of the Desolate Solar Eclipse's heat into the runners of the sled. This created a thin layer of steam between the sled and the ice, effectively removing all friction.
They flew.
When Danny reached the finish line at the mountain's base, Zeth was already there, leaning against the sled with a bored expression, his Pokémon standing guard like silent statues.
Danny wiped the snow from his face, laughing. "Alright, kid. You've got the technical skills. But now we see if those 'Knights' of yours can handle a real fight. No more tricks. This is a battle for the badge."
Danny released his team. They were seasoned, rugged, and built for the mountain.
Danny's Roster:
Nidoqueen (Lvl 58) - The Powerhouse.
Machamp (Lvl 57) - The Combatant.
Scyther (Lvl 55) - The Speedster.
"This is a 3v3 Simultaneous Skirmish," Danny announced, his tone shifting to that of a true Gym Leader. "No switching. We fight until one side is completely down. Let's see your real face, Zeth!"
Zeth's cold eyes didn't flicker. He didn't reach for his Level 60 aces. This was the perfect moment to test the limits of his lower-level squad under pressure.
"Ceruledge, Armarouge, Croagunk—Formation.
Danny's Nidoqueen lead with an Earthquake. The mountain began to shake.
"Armarouge, Wide Guard! Croagunk, Vacuum Wave the tremors!"
The battlefield at the base of Navel Mountain became a chaotic theater of shifting weight and thermal energy. Danny wasn't like the Kanto leaders; his style was rugged, focusing on high-stamina brawling and using the environment as a blunt instrument.
As the Earthquake from Nidoqueen ripped through the permafrost, the ground fractured into jagged plates.
"Armarouge, Wide Guard!" Zeth commanded, his voice sharp and steady.
Armarouge slammed its hands together, projecting a shimmering geometric barrier that absorbed the shockwaves before they could reach his teammates. But Danny didn't let up.
"Machamp, Dynamic Punch on the barrier! Scyther, Air Slash from the flank!"
The Machamp moved with explosive speed for its size, its four arms glowing with chaotic energy as it hammered against Armarouge's shield. Simultaneously, Scyther became a green blur, raining down crescent blades of wind from the sky.
"Ceruledge, Bitter Blade—Intercept."
Ceruledge vanished in a burst of Weak Armor speed. It didn't just block the Air Slashes; it cut through them, the violet flames on its blades consuming the wind energy. It moved like a ghost, weaving between Machamp's four arms to land a searing strike across its chest, siphoning away the fighter's stamina.
Croagunk was the odd one out. At Level 51, he was technically the highest level on the field, but he was facing Nidoqueen—a beast with a massive weight and power advantage. Every time Croagunk tried to slip in for a Poison Jab, Nidoqueen's Sludge Wave forced him back.
Zeth watched Croagunk closely. The toxic Pokémon's throat sac was vibrating with an intensity Zeth had never seen. The pressure from the D-Rank Gate earlier, combined with the stress of facing a Level 58 evolved powerhouse, was pushing Croagunk's biology to the limit.
"He's hitting the ceiling," Zeth muttered.
"Nidoqueen, finish it! Earth Power!" Danny roared.
The ground beneath Croagunk erupted in a pillar of molten energy. Croagunk was tossed into the air, his body glowing with a faint, flickering white light—the precursor to evolution. But it wasn't a clean transition. The "Level 60 Wall" and the sheer power of the incoming attack were trying to snuff out the spark before it could ignite.
Croagunk (Lvl 51) was the tactical anchor. He was facing Nidoqueen—a beast with a massive weight and power advantage. Every time Croagunk tried to slip in for a Poison Jab, Nidoqueen's Sludge Wave forced him back.
Zeth watched Croagunk closely. The toxic Pokémon's throat sac was vibrating with intensity, but he wasn't ready to evolve yet—not here. The "Level 60 Wall" was a looming shadow, and Zeth knew that every scrap of experience Croagunk gained in this unevolved state would make his eventual transition at the Winner's Cup that much more explosive.
"Hold the line, Croagunk," Zeth muttered. "Don't give him an inch."
"Nidoqueen, finish it! Earth Power!" Danny roared.
The ground beneath Croagunk erupted. He utilized the Aura Zeth provided to perform a desperate, high-speed Bounce, narrowly escaping the pillar of molten energy. He landed on the jagged ice spire Armarouge had created earlier, looking down at the Queen with a defiant, poisonous smirk.
Zeth realized that without a Legacy Move or Evolution, this would be a battle of attrition. He decided to end it with a demonstration of Battlefield Synergy.
"Ceruledge, Shadow Sneak into Armarouge's shadow! Armarouge, Armor Cannon—aim for the steam!"
As Armarouge fired a massive blast of heat at the icy ground, a thick fog of steam blinded Danny's team. Ceruledge erupted from the mist behind Scyther, grounding the speedster with a Night Slash.
Simultaneously, Croagunk dove from the ice spire, using the momentum to deliver a Sucker Punch directly to Nidoqueen's jaw, staggering the heavy hitter long enough for Armarouge to pin Machamp with a focused Psychic grip.
The mountain fell silent. Danny stood paralyzed, looking at his disorganized team. He slowly recalled them, a respectful grin finally breaking through his rugged exterior.
"You've got a hell of a team, kid," Danny said. "Most trainers would have panicked when Nidoqueen took control of the terrain. You just... played around her."
Danny reached into his jacket and pulled out the Sea Ruby Badge. He handed it over. "Take it. You earned it. But keep an eye on that Croagunk—he's vibrating like a live wire. When he finally pops, it's going to be something the world won't forget."