"I'm here to challenge the Battle Castle. I have Mr. Scott's authorization—please confirm it," Gary said calmly.
His tone was steady, neither arrogant nor pleading.
The estate before him stood like a noble manor pulled straight from a historical epic—arched stone windows, towering pillars, and wrought-iron gates engraved with intricate patterns. The Battle Castle was clearly no ordinary Battle Frontier facility. It resembled a private aristocratic residence more than a competitive arena.
Guards in fitted black suits stood at measured intervals along the perimeter. Their posture was disciplined, their gazes sharp. They were stationed not only at the main gate, but also along the outer walls and within the gardens beyond.
Security here was layered.
Deliberate.
"Understood. Please wait."
One of the guards stepped forward, maintaining a respectful but firm distance. From his inner pocket, he retrieved a sleek communication device and placed it near his ear.
"Sir Darach," he spoke evenly, "a Trainer has arrived to challenge the Battle Castle. He claims to be qualified under Mr. Scott's recommendation."
There was a brief pause.
The wind rustled softly through the tall trees lining the estate walls.
Gary stood quietly, hands in his coat pockets, observing everything without outward impatience.
He was accustomed to controlled environments like this.
Back Garden – Battle Castle
In the expansive rear garden of the estate, Darach stood beside a round marble table, carefully pouring tea into delicate porcelain cups.
Steam curled upward in thin spirals.
Across from him sat Caitlin, posture relaxed, expression serene yet faintly amused. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the trellised pavilion above them, casting patterned shadows on the polished stone floor.
Darach's earpiece crackled softly.
"Sir Darach, a Trainer has arrived to challenge the Battle Castle. He claims to be qualified."
Darach did not immediately respond. He finished pouring the tea with meticulous precision before lifting his head slightly.
"I understand," he replied in his calm, refined voice. "Please allow him to enter."
The call ended.
Caitlin lifted her teacup delicately, inhaling the fragrant steam before taking a slow sip.
"Scott recommended another Trainer to challenge the Battle Frontier?" she asked lazily, though a glimmer of curiosity flashed in her eyes.
"Yes, Miss," Darach answered with a respectful nod.
Caitlin tapped the rim of her cup lightly with her fingertip, then turned toward the elegant blonde seated across from her.
"Cynthia, would you like to watch?" she asked with a playful lilt. "It might be entertaining."
Cynthia gave a faint smile.
"Alright. A short distraction wouldn't hurt."
Recently, Cynthia had been occupied with a far more pressing matter.
Team Galactic.
Since the Adamant Orb and Lustrous Orb had been stolen, the organization had seemingly vanished into thin air. The Sinnoh League deployed investigators across every major city and known hideout. Patrol routes were expanded. Surveillance intensified.
Yet no trace emerged.
It was as if Team Galactic had dissolved into smoke.
Cynthia herself had traveled tirelessly throughout the region in pursuit of clues. From Celestic Town to the lakes, from mining facilities to remote mountain passes, she searched.
Nothing.
The silence was more unsettling than activity.
By coincidence, she had arrived in Sunyshore City to follow a lead that ultimately proved fruitless. Caitlin, who happened to be attending a business engagement in Sinnoh, invited her to stay at the family estate.
The two shared a close friendship.
The Caitlin family, one of the world's most influential real estate magnates, owned grand villas and estates in nearly every major city across multiple regions. Wherever Cynthia traveled, a residence was available to her.
Hospitality here was not casual—it was lavish.
Darach set his gloves aside and straightened.
"It appears our guest has arrived," he said softly.
Outside the Castle
After receiving Darach's approval, the guard returned and inclined his head slightly.
"You may enter."
The heavy gates opened smoothly.
Gary stepped forward, the ironwork sliding apart with quiet authority.
He was escorted along a shaded forest path lined with carefully cultivated trees. The gravel beneath his shoes crunched softly, and faint birdsong echoed from hidden branches above.
The transition from city noise to aristocratic quiet was immediate.
After several minutes, the path opened into the meticulously maintained back garden.
Trimmed hedges curved in elegant geometric patterns. Blooming flowers were arranged in symmetrical clusters by color and height. A central fountain shimmered under sunlight, its water flowing in perfect arcs.
Precision.
Wealth.
Control.
From beneath a pavilion near the garden's center, Gary spotted two familiar figures seated at a marble table.
Recognition came instantly.
Caitlin.
And Cynthia.
Both women possessed a presence that was difficult to overlook.
"Gary? It's you?" Cynthia's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"Miss Cynthia. It's been a while," Gary greeted politely with a small nod. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Caitlin tilted her head, studying him with renewed interest.
"You two know each other?"
"Yes," Cynthia replied. "We met in Celestic Town. Gary assisted me in dealing with Team Galactic."
Caitlin's gaze sharpened slightly as she reassessed him.
She had expected a capable Trainer recommended by Scott.
She had not expected someone who had directly assisted the Sinnoh Champion.
"Oh?" she murmured softly.
Darach stepped forward gracefully, adjusting his gloves.
"Miss Caitlin," he said quietly, awaiting instruction.
Caitlin smiled faintly.
"Don't hold back, Darach. I want to see his full strength."
"Yes, Miss."
Darach's expression remained composed.
"Even without your instruction, I intended to give it my all. Mr. Scott personally informed me—if I underestimate Gary, I will lose badly. He has already defeated Mr. Brandon."
Caitlin's eyes widened.
"He defeated Brandon?"
The Pyramid King of the Battle Pyramid was no ordinary Frontier Brain. His strength rivaled that of the Elite Four. Multiple regional Leagues had extended invitations for him to serve as an Elite Four member.
He declined every time.
He preferred exploration.
Preferred mystery.
For someone to defeat Brandon—even within Frontier constraints—was significant.
Cynthia looked at Gary with renewed interest.
"I didn't expect that," she admitted softly.
Gary shrugged faintly.
"It was only a Frontier challenge, not a fully unrestricted battle. There's no need to exaggerate it."
He disliked boasting.
Unfortunately, Scott had no such restraint.
"Enough," Caitlin said brightly, clapping her hands lightly. "Darach, begin the match."
"Very well. Shall we use the backyard battlefield?"
"Of course."
Gary had no objections.
The backyard battlefield was revealed beyond the pavilion—a pristine arena of polished stone and embedded mechanisms. Unlike conventional League arenas, this one carried an aristocratic aesthetic: decorative pillars framed the edges, and subtle energy panels were integrated seamlessly into the floor.
The design emphasized strategy and resource management.
Gary and Darach walked to opposite ends of the field.
A maid in formal uniform stepped forward, holding a small signaling device.
"This will be a three-on-three Battle Frontier challenge between the challenger, Gary, and the Battle Castle's steward, Darach. The match will continue until all three Pokémon on one side are unable to battle."
[Ding! Mission acquired: Obtain the Castle Symbol.]
[Reward: Advanced Rare Candy ×6, Ability Enhancement Stone ×1, Silver Bottle Cap ×1, Self-Selected Permanent TM ×1.]
Gary's eyes flickered briefly.
From the system's reward scale, it was obvious—
Darach's team would not fall below Level 65.
This would not resemble Barry's battle.
This would be precise.
Calculated.
Dangerous.
"Now," the referee announced, "the Battle Castle's steward, Darach, will send out the first Pokémon."
Darach gave a refined nod.
"Then let us decide the outcome."
He raised a Poké Ball with elegant restraint.
"Staraptor, take the stage."
The Poké Ball burst open in a flash of light.
"Staaaar—RAPTOR!!"
A powerful cry echoed across the garden as Staraptor descended sharply from the burst of light. Its wings sliced cleanly through the air before it landed with commanding presence, talons gripping the polished battlefield with perfect balance.
Staraptor – Level 65 – Elite Tier
Gary's gaze sharpened.
Staraptor.
Again.
He had faced one earlier that morning.
But this one radiated something entirely different.
Discipline.
Experience.
Controlled aggression.
The moment Staraptor locked eyes with Tyranitar's Poké Ball, its Intimidate Ability activated.
A fierce glare pulsed outward.
The atmosphere tightened.
Tyranitar's physical attack power dropped subtly under the pressure.
Gary's expression turned serious.
A high-level Staraptor frequently carried Endeavor.
A dangerous equalizer.
If executed properly, it could drag even a Champion-tier Pokémon down to critical condition in a single exchange.
He could not afford complacency.
"What an imposing aura," Caitlin murmured softly, watching from beneath the pavilion. "This should be interesting."
Gary lifted his own Poké Ball without hesitation.
"Go—Tyranitar!"
The ball exploded open in brilliant light.
"TYRANITAR!!"
The emerald-armored behemoth landed heavily, the impact sending faint tremors across the stone floor. Grains of sand stirred instinctively around its feet as its Sand Stream Ability activated subtly, fine particles dancing at ground level.
Its crimson eyes locked onto Staraptor.
Unwavering.
Unimpressed.
Cynthia's eyes widened slightly.
She had witnessed Gary's Garchomp before.
But this Tyranitar—
This was new.
And its presence alone spoke of overwhelming, battle-hardened power.