"How can Ash possibly deal with Regirock and Registeel?" Max asked, sounding troubled.

"It's… really difficult," May answered, her brows furrowing.

At first, Brock and the others didn't think much of it, but when Gary suddenly mentioned Brandon's two Pokémon, the seriousness of the situation dawned on them. Both May and Max began to worry about Ash's upcoming battle.

"Don't trouble yourselves too much," Scott said casually. "I doubt Brandon will use both of those Pokémon in a single match."

"Really?" May asked, surprised.

Scott nodded confidently. "Of course. Those two are Legendary Pokémon. Brandon will most likely use one of them at most in a Frontier Battle—it's meant to test the challenger's true abilities."

"That's a relief," Max exhaled. "If it's only one, Ash should be able to handle it."

But Gary's face showed a hint of dissatisfaction.

Brock, ever observant, noticed immediately. "Gary, what's wrong? You seem bothered. Are you upset about something?"

Gary crossed his arms, his expression firm. "It's nothing like that. I just want to battle Mr. Brandon when he's giving his all. If he only uses one Legendary Pokémon, it won't mean anything."

"Ah!" May gasped.

"Gary, you…!" Max started, unable to find the words.

May and Max had both hoped Brandon would hold back, using fewer Legendary Pokémon for fairness' sake—but Gary's attitude was quite the opposite. He wanted the full challenge.

What they didn't realize was that Gary's motivation wasn't arrogance—it was system rewards. He needed to fight truly powerful opponents for a meaningful reason.

In Gary's mind, Brandon's Regirock and Regice were clearly champion-tier Pokémon. If he fought and defeated Pokémon of that level, the reward from the system would yield a Master Rare Candy.

Currently, Gary commanded five champion-level Pokémon. However, most of them had hit their growth ceiling after reaching around level 70. Even his trusted Blastoise, despite having legendary potential, was capped at level 72.

He recalled his last major battle with Lance, the Pokémon League Champion. Lance's Dragonite had been level 75—and even then, it was far from its peak. If he did the math realistically, it would take Blastoise nearly three years to catch up in raw power.

Of course, Lance didn't rely on just Dragonite. His entire team consisted of champion-level Pokémon. Some might be slightly weaker, but every one of them could push a high-level challenger to the edge.

Gary also thought of Leon, known as "the World's Mightiest King." Leon's Charizard had reigned for years as nearly untouchable. Gary suspected that Charizard's power had reached the threshold of quasi-legendary.

Gary looked down at the items in his backpack: ten glittering Master Candies.

They weren't nearly enough to raise his current team. But if Blastoise's latent potential could be awakened further, level growth would accelerate dramatically.

However, there was a catch. To unlock that potential completely, Gary would need to use a Crown of God, an extremely rare artifact that enhanced a Pokémon's full evolutionary and combat potential beyond champion tier.

Unfortunately, Gary only possessed two such Crowns—and he had been very reluctant to use them.

For now, his Pokémon's growth had reached a frustrating plateau.

After a long pause, Gary clenched his fist. "No point saving forever," he muttered to himself. "Blastoise… it's your turn to reach new heights."

He made up his mind to use one Crown on Blastoise, evolving its potential to what he called "divine-level." With that, he estimated he could raise Blastoise's rank by at least two levels within a single year rather than waiting several.

Professor Oak, who had been quietly observing, nodded with approval.

"You truly are my grandson," he said warmly. "It seems ordinary trainers no longer offer you any challenge."

Oak's tone held both pride and a trace of wistfulness.

Professor Oak had long cared for many of Gary's Pokémon during his travels. He was intimately familiar with their power—and truthfully, Gary's roster outclassed Ash's in both strength and discipline.

The crucial difference lay in Gary's main team. Even Oak, with his vast experience, could no longer accurately gauge the depths of their prowess.

Scott looked startled. "Wait—you're Professor Oak's grandson?!"

Professor Oak blinked. "Oh? Didn't Gary tell you that?"

"No! This is the first time I've heard it!" Scott admitted, still shocked.

Oak chuckled softly. "Well, I suppose Gary's always been modest. Most young trainers these days like to brag about who they're related to—'my father's a district chief,' 'my uncle's a champion trainer.' But Gary's never once boasted."

Scott nodded in agreement. "Yes, he's definitely low-key… in reputation, at least. But in battle? That's another matter entirely."

Professor Oak laughed heartily. "Haha! True—Gary may not show off outside the arena, but inside it, he lets his skill do the talking!"

Scott mused, "He even defeated the Frontier Brains without hesitation. He fights to the limit every battle."

Gary smiled faintly but didn't speak. He didn't enjoy fame; he enjoyed progress.

The conversation slowly tapered off as they shifted to lighter topics, discussing the day ahead before leaving the Pokémon Center for dinner.

That night, the air around Fennel Valley was calm but charged with anticipation. Tomorrow would mark the beginning of Ash's third and final challenge against Brandon.

The next morning came with the golden light of dawn washing over the mountains. Everyone gathered at the entrance of the Pokémon Center, the excitement palpable among the group.

By around nine o'clock, two figures appeared from the far end of the road—walking side by side in conversation. The faint gleam of Brandon's headband confirmed who they were.

Ash and Brandon had returned together.

"Hey, I'm back!" Ash called cheerfully, waving.

Ash greeted everyone enthusiastically, but his eyes widened in surprise when he spotted Gary.

"Gary?! You're here too?"

"Of course," Gary replied coolly. "I'm here to challenge the Battle Pyramid."

"What—already?" Ash exclaimed. "Didn't you just clear the Battle Palace?"

Gary smirked. "My challenge pace is fast. Unlike you, I don't take time off between battles."

Ash laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

Brandon, standing nearby, regarded Gary with quiet interest. Even at a glance, he could sense the young man's unshakable confidence. This wasn't just an ordinary trainer—this was a rival worthy of respect.

Scott stepped forward eagerly. "Mr. Brandon, did you manage to capture that Pokémon you mentioned before?"

Brandon nodded. "Yes," he said simply. "After several days of searching, I finally caught it."

Scott smiled. "Then I'm really looking forward to today's battle."

Everyone else exchanged curious looks. Nobody outside Brandon's immediate circle knew exactly what Pokémon he had just caught—but judging by Scott's excitement, it must have been something extraordinary.

Gary already knew the truth. Brandon's newest capture was none other than Regice—the third member of his legendary trio.

Regice. The Iceberg Pokémon. Its body was pure crystal ice—cold and unmelting. Its power was said to chill the air to subzero levels in mere seconds.

And coincidentally, this very Regice would soon carve its name into history—for it would become the first Legendary Pokémon ever defeated by a Pikachu.

Gary turned his gaze toward Ash's ever-loyal partner. Pikachu stood at Ash's side, tail swishing proudly, cheeks sparking faintly.

"Pikaa!" the mouse cried, sensing everyone's attention.

Gary's eyes looked at the status of pikachu:

[Lv. 66 – Pikachu – Champion Tier]

He couldn't help but be impressed. Pikachu had grown quickly—its level already rivaled many of Gary's top team members.

At level 66, Pikachu was no ordinary Electric-type. It had matured into an elite capable of standing toe-to-toe with champion-level opponents.

"That Regice won't make things easy," Gary thought silently. "But with Pikachu's power now, Ash might actually stand a chance."

Even so, he doubted the battle would be simple. Brandon's Regice may not have reached full champion level, but it was close—remarkably close. Even if its stats surpassed Pikachu's by only a single level, the experience gap could make a huge difference.

After brief greetings, everyone returned to the Pokémon Center. Ash handed over his four chosen partners to Nurse Joy for a final treatment: Pikachu, Charizard, Squirtle, and Venusaur.

"Take good care of them, Nurse Joy," Ash said seriously.

"Of course," she smiled. "They'll be in peak condition by the time your battle begins."

As for Brandon, he returned to the Battle Pyramid to make his preparations. The massive, golden structure loomed in the distance—its surface gleaming under the morning sun. Inside, it housed high-tech training systems and advanced healing chambers, capable of restoring even the most exhausted Pokémon.