"Is this really the same gym?"
Gary walked through the corridor and headed straight for the battlefield inside the gym. There were tables and chairs set up beside the entrance.
A floating machine hovered right next to them.
When it detected Gary, the floating machine flew over and announced, "The Gym Leader will arrive shortly. Please rest here. There is tea and communication equipment on the table. Feel free to make yourself comfortable."
Gary walked over to a chair to rest, and sure enough, there was hot tea and some snacks waiting.
"This is a big change."
He had known Volkner had changed, but not to this extent. It really exceeded Gary's expectations. Not only was he willing to accept challenges now, he even prepared food and drinks for Trainers.
Gary wasn't one to help himself. He simply sat in the chair and waited, drinking the water he'd brought with him.
After about ten minutes, a handsome blond man walked in through the entrance.
The blond man was Volkner, the Gym Leader of Sunyshore Gym. But Volkner wasn't alone—a red-haired man with an explosive hairstyle followed behind him.
"Flint!"
Gary was surprised. He hadn't expected Flint to be here as well.
Flint was a member of the Sinnoh League's Elite Four, ranked third, but his actual strength was no weaker than Lucian's.
However, Flint was extremely enthusiastic and had always wanted to defeat Cynthia, so every time the Sinnoh League held its internal ranking battles, Flint would go straight for Cynthia. As a result, the rankings never changed.
Volkner came over and greeted him first. "Hello, I'm the Gym Leader of Sunyshore Gym. My name is Volkner."
"Hello, I'm Gary, from the Kanto Region," Gary replied.
"Oh! You came from Kanto too?" Flint, standing beside him, said in surprise.
Gary looked at Flint, puzzled.
Seeing this, Volkner explained, "Don't misunderstand. It's just that a Trainer from Kanto challenged me not long ago. He's a very good Trainer."
"Was it Ash?" Gary asked, though he already knew.
"What! You know Ash?" Flint said, surprised.
Volkner was surprised as well—Gary knew Ash.
"We both come from the Kanto Region and grew up in Pallet Town, so of course we know each other," Gary said.
"I see. Then I'm looking forward to our battle," Volkner said with an excited smile.
At heart, Volkner was a battle fanatic, and he genuinely hoped to face strong Trainers.
"Mr. Volkner, can you use your full strength?" Gary asked.
"Of course I'll use my full strength," Volkner said.
"No." Gary shook his head. "I don't mean full strength within gym battle rules. I mean your true strength, Mr. Volkner."
Volkner hadn't expected that. He never imagined Gary would make such a request.
"Mr. Volkner, don't worry about which Pokémon you send out. I'm strong enough to handle them. And if it really doesn't work out, you can pause the battle at any time," Gary said.
"Alright! I accept."
Volkner didn't think it over much and agreed right away.
"Interesting. You'd better give it your all, or you'll get run over."
Flint found this very entertaining and went off to the side to sit down.
Gary and Volkner walked onto the field, each taking his place in the command area at either end. The floating machine moved to the referee's position and announced, "This is a gym battle between Sunyshore Gym Leader Volkner and challenger Gary. Each side may use three Pokémon. The battle ends when one side has no Pokémon able to continue. Only the challenger may substitute Pokémon."
[Ding! Missions released: 1. Obtain the Sunyshore Gym Badge. Reward: Advanced Rare Candy ×3, Electroweb Permanent Move Learner, Premium Magnet ×1!]
[2. Obtain the Badge using Sinnoh Region Pokémon. Reward: Advanced Rare Candy ×3, Electric-type Self-Selected Permanent Move Learner, Random Pokémon Item ×1.]
The reward was Advanced Rare Candy, but unfortunately only three, which meant the three Pokémon Volkner had prepared were between level 50 and 60. If they were above level 60, defeating one should have rewarded two Advanced Rare Candies.
Still, three was already quite good, and Gary was satisfied.
"Understood. We can begin," Gary said.
Hearing this, the machine referee announced, "Gym Leader and challenger, please send out your Pokémon."
"You can go first. Go, Luxray." Volkner threw out a Poké Ball.
A flash of light appeared.
[LV54 Luxray – Elite]
Gary was momentarily speechless. He had thought Volkner would send out a different Pokémon, but he hadn't expected Luxray as the opener.
When Ash battled Volkner, Volkner had used Luxray as well. In other words, Volkner had already broken gym battle rules in his match with Ash by using a Pokémon beyond gym-level standards.
The key point was that this Luxray's potential wasn't low. With Elite potential, if it was already level 54, that was probably about two and a half years of growth.
After all, at the World Championships a few years later, Volkner would still be using this same Luxray against Ash, and by then Luxray would naturally have grown to Elite level.
"Electivire, I'm leaving it to you." Gary threw out a Poké Ball.
A flash of light appeared.
[LV63 Electivire – Champion]
"Vire."
Electivire appeared, saw that its opponent was Luxray, and looked bored.
With the Motor Drive Ability, Electivire wasn't afraid of Electric-type moves at all. Pokémon with Motor Drive or Volt Absorb could be called invincible against their own type.
"Electivire!"
Volkner was surprised as well. Electivire was his own signature Pokémon, and he hadn't expected a challenger to use one.
"Interesting. So we're finding out whose Electric-type Pokémon is stronger?" Flint watched the two Pokémon on the field with obvious interest.
Seeing that both sides had sent out their Pokémon, the machine referee announced, "Battle start!"
"Luxray, use Fire Fang!" Volkner attacked first.
Luxray dashed forward, flames igniting in its mouth.
"Stop Luxray's attack and counter," Gary ordered.
"What!"
Volkner was caught off guard. He hadn't expected Gary to give an order like that.
That kind of command could only be given when there was a large level gap between the two Pokémon.
Volkner's Luxray was no pushover. Even if Fire-type moves didn't have a type advantage against Electric-types, they could still deal normal damage—and Volkner's Luxray was strong.
"Vire!"
Electivire waited for Luxray to close in, then stretched out its left arm and let Luxray bite down on it.
"Lux…!"
Luxray didn't hold back. Its flaming Fire Fang clamped onto Electivire's left arm and thrashed, but aside from shaking Electivire's arm a few times, it had no effect.
"Vire!"
My turn!
Electivire clenched its right fist and punched.
Bang!
The fist landed on Luxray's head. The sharp pain forced Luxray to let go, and its body flew backward.