Gary spent the night resting at the Pokémon Center in the Survival Area.
Compared to other cities in the Sinnoh Region, the Survival Area was rougher and more primitive. The buildings were sturdy rather than elegant, built to withstand ashfall, tremors, and sudden temperature changes.
Most of the Trainers staying here were either veterans preparing to challenge Stark Mountain or explorers who had already failed multiple times.
Still, the Pokémon Center here was well-maintained. Nurse Joy was clearly experienced, and even severely injured Pokémon could be treated efficiently.
That night, Gary slept deeply.
The Next Day
Early in the morning, Gary woke up to the faint smell of volcanic ash mixed with fresh air drifting in from the open window.
Instead of rushing straight back to Stark Mountain, Gary chose a different approach.
He spent the morning organizing and supervising his Pokémon's training, focusing especially on the Pokémon he had caught and trained in the Sinnoh Region. Heatran was important, but charging blindly into Stark Mountain every day without progress was inefficient.
Some battles were won with patience.
Arcanine practiced movement drills and Ability control. Blastoise trained precision Water-type attacks to counter Fire- and Ground-types. Magnezone focused on Gravity control and electromagnetic output stability.
By noon, Gary had finished training and ate lunch at a small diner in the Survival Area.
In the afternoon, he deliberately chose not to search for Heatran.
Finding Heatran was not a task that could be completed quickly. Without a clear trail, even a month of searching might not be enough.
Heatran's mobility was extremely high.
Because of its ability to cling to cliffs and walls, almost the entire Stark Mountain could be considered its territory. Even if Gary passed within a few dozen meters of it, Heatran could easily evade detection by climbing vertically into cracks or hiding within magma-adjacent tunnels.
Time passed quickly.
Days blurred together.
A full week went by.
Gary had already mapped most of Stark Mountain's outer layers and several mid-level tunnel systems. He even attempted to dig exploratory passages using heavy Pokémon, but the volcanic rock here was far harder than expected.
Even Rhyperior, with its terrifying drilling power, could not easily penetrate the mountain wall in a short time.
During this period, Gary encountered many powerful wild Pokémon.
One encounter stood out in particular.
A Camerupt with near-Champion potential appeared from a magma fissure, its back volcanoes glowing red as it released a scorching roar.
"Graaaaah!"
The Camerupt was strong—close to Elite level—and its potential was excellent. With Mega Evolution, it could have become a terrifying Pokémon.
But Gary frowned.
"I'm not interested."
Despite Camerupt's strength, Gary disliked its combat style and appearance. Without hesitation, he released Blastoise, suppressed Camerupt with overwhelming Water-type pressure, and drove it away without capturing it.
By the end of the seventh day, Gary stood at the foot of Stark Mountain, staring at the massive volcano in front of him.
"…Does Heatran really exist here?"
He exhaled slowly.
He had searched the outer mountain, the mid-level tunnels, and the side caverns.
Still nothing.
At last, Gary realized something important.
He had been searching too safely.
So far, he had avoided the most dangerous area—
The volcano entrance itself.
That was the most extreme environment in Stark Mountain, where magma churned openly and sulfurous gas filled the air. Even with Arcanine's strengthened Flash Fire, staying there for too long would be unbearable.
But—
If Heatran was anywhere, that place had the highest probability.
Gary left the Survival Area and released Moltres, flying toward the volcano entrance.
As Moltres descended, waves of heat distorted the air. Lava bubbled and burst violently below, and the smell of sulfur grew stronger by the second.
Gary landed at a safe distance and recalled Moltres, releasing Arcanine instead.
"Arcanine," Gary said calmly, "let's check the area around the volcano entrance. Look carefully for hidden caves."
"Woof!"
Arcanine nodded seriously and began scanning the terrain.
Wild Pokémon near the volcano were extremely cautious. Most of them fled immediately upon sensing Arcanine's reinforced Intimidate. However, one presence stood out.
Arcanine suddenly stopped.
"WOOF!"
It barked sharply at a massive boulder—more than a meter tall and nearly two meters wide.
Gary's eyes narrowed.
Something was behind that rock.
Most wild Pokémon would have fled instantly. The fact that this presence chose to hide instead of escape meant it wasn't ordinary.
"Whoever's behind that rock," Gary called out, "come out now. If you don't, I'll attack."
For a brief moment, silence followed.
Then—
"W-Wait! Don't attack! I'll come out!"
A human voice answered.
Gary froze.
"…A person?"
A moment later, a young man stepped out from behind the rock.
He wore a red short-sleeved shirt and cropped pants, clearly designed for high-temperature environments. His red hair was tied back messily, and his face looked nervous but sincere.
Gary's eyes widened slightly.
"Buck?"
This was not an ordinary Trainer.
This young man was Buck—the younger brother of Flint, one of the Sinnoh Elite Four.
In game canon, Buck was deeply involved in the Stark Mountain storyline and played a crucial role related to Heatran and the Magma Stone.
"Uh—y-yes," Buck said quickly. "My name's Buck. I didn't mean to hide like that. I swear I had no bad intentions!"
Gary studied him carefully.
Buck looked around the same age as Gary. His clothes were worn, and his skin was slightly tanned, clearly someone who spent a lot of time around Stark Mountain.
"Why were you hiding?" Gary asked.
Buck scratched his head awkwardly.
"I saw Moltres flying down earlier. I thought it was a wild Legendary Pokémon coming to rest. I didn't want to disturb it, so I hid. I didn't expect Moltres to be your Pokémon."
Gary considered this explanation.
It made sense.
Anyone living near the Survival Area would naturally fear or revere Legendary Pokémon. Avoiding unnecessary trouble was common sense.
"…Alright," Gary said. "I believe you."
Buck visibly relaxed.
"Thanks. I really didn't want to cause trouble."
Gary turned slightly.
"In that case, you can go."
Buck hesitated.
"Um… before I go… could I ask you something?"
Gary glanced at him.
"What is it?"
"…Could I take a photo with Moltres?"
Gary paused.
"…That's it?"
Buck nodded eagerly.
"I grew up here. I've never seen Moltres up close. I promise I won't get in your way."
Then he added quickly, "I know Stark Mountain really well. If you need help finding something, I can definitely help you."
Gary's eyes flickered.
That last sentence mattered.
Buck was born and raised in the Survival Area. He knew Stark Mountain far better than most Trainers.
"…Alright," Gary said. "I'll let you take a photo. In return, answer a few questions."
"Deal!" Buck said immediately.
"Do you know any caves near the volcano entrance?" Gary asked.
Buck's expression changed slightly.
"I do," he admitted. "But those caves are dangerous. Most of them lead directly to magma chambers. The sulfur smell inside can make you dizzy or pass out if you stay too long."
"You've been inside?" Gary asked.
Buck laughed awkwardly.
"When I was a kid. I went in once and fainted almost immediately. If my grandfather hadn't pulled me out, I'd probably still be there."
Gary couldn't help but admire Buck's courage.
"So," Gary said slowly, "show me where those caves are. I'll let you take a photo with Moltres—and I'll even give you a Moltres feather."
"R-Really?!"
Buck's eyes widened in disbelief.
Moltres feathers burned with eternal flame that didn't damage objects. They were priceless collectibles with enormous market value.
"Of course," Gary said calmly.
Buck suddenly remembered something.
"…What are you looking for in those caves?"
Gary answered honestly.
"Heatran."
"HEATRAN?!"
Buck froze.
Growing up in the Survival Area, Buck had heard countless legends about Heatran. The guardian of Stark Mountain. The embodiment of volcanic wrath.