Eiscue was a black penguin Pokémon with a white belly marked by light blue markings. Its legs were yellow, and a single tuft of hair stuck up from the top of its head.
This species was quite unusual. Due to its signature ability, it could change its appearance.
Normally, its entire head would be covered by a huge square block of ice, even bigger than its body, giving it a very odd look. But that block of ice could protect it from a single physical attack.
Once the block was broken, its head would return to its small oval shape. Then, if the weather changed to hail or snow, the ice would reform around its head, allowing it to block another attack.
It was a very useful ability.
On the battlefield, the penguin skated across the frozen ground as if gliding on ice. Its massive square ice head looked like a brick as it charged toward the Barbaracle, who still stood in confusion, unsure whether to attack or retreat.
Boom!
A loud thud echoed across the arena as the impact sent Eiscue flying back. Its small body was nothing compared to its opponent's size.
A simple Tackle had no way of harming a giant like Barbaracle.
Ryan immediately seized the chance to speak. "Eiscue used Tackle! Yes, Tackle! I can't even remember the last time I saw this move used. It's usually a toy for novice-level Pokémon, yet now I'm seeing it in a Gym Challenge battle, between two Gym-level Pokémon no less. Unbelievable!"
He put on an exaggerated expression of shock before turning to his partner. "Lily, I really don't understand why Tackle would be chosen here. Do you see any deeper strategy?"
"Mm…" Lily frowned as if deep in thought. After a second, her expression cleared and she said, "Could it be that Gym Leader Melony doesn't want her son to lose right at the start? Maybe she's using Tackle just to stall for time?"
Melony, standing on the field, broke into a nervous sweat. She had no better options.
'That fool Gordie. Why won't he just go back and put on clothes? Even if he raised his hand to pause the fight and had someone bring him something warmer, it wouldn't be a big deal. Would it kill him to wear clothes?'
Her anxiety was building, yet she failed to notice that her son hadn't said a word for quite some time.
Ryan, however, was still going on relentlessly. "Challenger Gordie's Barbaracle doesn't seem to be following orders. And why is he crouching on the ground, refusing to move even as he shivers from the cold? This is supposed to be a mother and son match. What exactly is happening here?"
His instructions from above were clear: just stir up conflict. It didn't matter if the match was fake or not, as long as the regular audience couldn't see through it. Both sides were gym people anyway, so there was nothing to worry about.
In fact, if issues arose, the League could simply step in officially, strip positions, and move on with the excuse of enforcing strict standards. The same explanation had already been used the day before.
All he had to do was keep adding fuel.
Melony's hands clenched tight as she considered shouting another command to let Eiscue keep attacking. Ryan also cleared his throat, ready to speak once more.
But this time, Lily suddenly interrupted, "Wait… something seems wrong with challenger Gordie."
Her words made everyone pause.
The sound through the microphone carried clearly across the entire arena, drawing every spectator's attention away from the Pokémon and back toward Gordie himself.
He was still huddled in his bathrobe, squatting on the ground. He hadn't moved in a long while.
Even Melony froze when she realized this. She almost rushed forward to check, but forced herself to stay put.
League staff and gym workers were already sprinting onto the field from both sides, quickly surrounding Gordie.
They shook him gently, calling his name. When he didn't respond, they touched his face and discovered his skin was ice cold.
"His temperature is dangerously low! He's suffering hypothermia and has lost consciousness. Get him out for emergency treatment!" one of them shouted loudly.
Two Gym Trainers hurried over. They lifted Gordie's heavy body and carried him through a side door, disappearing from view.
The arena dissolved into chaos. Staff ran around spreading the news, others rushed to clarify details, and Melony, along with the two commentators, started talking with officials trying to explain the situation.
Off to the side, Shiro watched the scene unfold with interest. His eyes followed the confusion, wondering how they would handle this mess.
Gordie clearly couldn't continue. What would they decide?
If they counted it as his loss, would Melony accept it so easily? But if they didn't and postponed the battle, then what would that say about the Gym Challenge? The match already looked suspicious, and this would only make it worse.
The situation was fascinating to him. It was just a shame Marvin wasn't here to see it with him.
He let out a sigh at the missed opportunity.
Right then, Ryan, who had gotten word from the staff, announced, "According to the medical staff, Gordie has collapsed from the cold and can no longer continue the Gym Challenge. Under the official rules, this is considered an accident caused by the challenger's personal mistake. Therefore, the challenge is declared a failure."
"It is not a failure!" Melony stormed forward, her voice sharp with anger. "The battle isn't over!"
"But those are the rules, Gym Leader Melony," Ryan said smoothly, chin lifted and lips curling into a mocking smile. "Besides, you still haven't explained the accusations of going easy on your son during this match."
Her jaw tightened. She had no answer, and silence pressed heavy on her.
Ryan scanned the area, spotting Shiro waiting calmly by the edge. His grin widened.
"There are two challengers today! Gordie has forfeited due to personal reasons, but the next challenger is Shiro from Spikemuth! He already exposed Piers' cheating in Spikemuth Gym, and now he's here again, facing another troubled gym in Circhester."
Shiro walked forward with a faint smile. The cameras swung to follow him, and he gave the audience a brief wave in greeting.
Melony's face twisted, her eyes locked on him.
It wasn't fair. Her son had just been stripped of his chance to fight, and now another challenger was taking the stage.
'No. If Gordie can't battle, then no one else should either,' she thought, then called out.
"This is Circhester Gym's challenge trial! A trial!"
"A challenge trial?" Ryan repeated in shock. "You mean…"
Most gyms set up simple trials before battles began, small obstacles designed to test a challenger's skill. But for strong trainers, they were usually nothing more than a minor nuisance.
Melony's gaze turned cold, though her lips curved in a sly smile. "A trainer's strength includes more than just their Pokémon. To test the challengers' endurance, they must wear only thin clothes and a bathrobe while battling."
The words dropped into the arena like ice water. For a moment, silence spread across the crowd.
Shiro raised his brow, then laughed softly.
So that idiot Gordie had been forced to dress like that and frozen stiff… all because of the Gym's so-called trial. Wasn't that right?
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