At Rastor Gym, Arthur stepped forward, urging the audience not to leave just yet—because a formidable challenger was about to appear.
Rosaria had likely realized it too. While the first match was decent, it hadn't sparked the reaction she'd hoped for from the crowd. So, she decided to take matters into her own hands and become the second challenger.
After all, Arthur's Pokémon research was something she had personally funded. The future of Pokémon wasn't just a business investment for her—it was deeply tied to her private military force, the Bloodthorn.
In terms of individual combat strength, the Bloodthorn had started to fall behind compared to the other factions led by her siblings. The reason? While the others focused on personal combat training, the Bloodthorn had shifted their time and energy toward raising and training their Pokémon.
At first, even the Bloodthorn themselves were skeptical. But now? No one considered raising Pokémon a waste of time.
Their growth potential was just too high.
They had already run mock battles against First Ring, and even some Second Ring apprentice Mages and Knights, just to test the effectiveness of their Pokémon.
The results had exceeded all expectations.
The only notable drawback was the move limitations—most Pokémon could learn up to nine core moves, with an exception like Reden's Eevee, who somehow managed ten. Technically, they could still use moves they had previously forgotten, but their effectiveness was significantly reduced—especially for status-effect moves, which lost their intended effects entirely and only dealt minimal damage once replaced.
There was one more drawback, though this one varied between species and depended heavily on the Trainer: food costs.
Some Pokémon were low-maintenance. Others—like Munchlax—were a walking financial black hole, devouring supplies and draining wallets.
So despite their generous pay as members of Bloodthorn, Munchlax had quickly become the least desirable option.
Who in their right mind would build an army of Munchlax?
Munchlax Army Strategy: Self-sabotage via supply depletion?
No, they'd grown quite fond of Growlithe instead.
Partly because a large number of the Pokémon Eggs they received happened to be Growlithe Eggs—but also because the fiery pups were easy to raise, fiercely loyal, intelligent, capable of working in teams… and, of course, fluffy.
In the Krosia Kingdom, where Fire was the dominant elemental affinity, many Mages and Knights naturally specialized in Fire-based spells. That made Fire-type Pokémon an ideal match for them.
Growlithe felt like it was born to be their perfect partner.
Several Bloodthorn members had even "subtly" hinted—repeatedly—to Wentia that Rosaria should get one for herself.
And after spending time with Wentia's Growlithe, Rosaria had started to fall for them too. She was dangerously close to giving in and making Growlithe her fourth Pokémon.
But as someone with insider knowledge, she knew the current Safari Zone only had Generation 1 Pokémon.
Wouldn't it be smarter to wait and see what Fire-types Gen 2 or even Gen 3 had to offer?
There might be one she liked more than Growlithe.
Besides, after learning the importance of type advantages from Arthur, she had become more aware of the flaws in her current team composition. With Ponyta, Charmeleon, and Flareon, she was basically begging to be countered.
Adding another pure Fire-type like Growlithe? Probably not the best decision.
She was also intrigued by Fighting-types—especially after seeing her father's Mankey in action.
If possible, she hoped her next partner could be a dual Fire/Fighting-type… hopefully one would appear in Gen 2 or Gen 3.
If Arthur could hear her thoughts, he probably would've burst out laughing—given how many Fire/Fighting starter Pokémon existed in future generations.
At the moment, Rosaria was stuck on the first riddle, slightly confused.
However, it didn't take her long to figure it out. "A bug-shaped coin," she answered aloud, then frowned, already criticizing the riddle's creator in her mind.
Did Arthur come up with this? Seriously? Just slap 'bug' onto a classic riddle and call it a day? Rosaria pouted slightly, already planning to give Arthur a lesson later on how to craft proper riddles.
Once past the first hurdle, she breezed through the maze, solving the remaining four riddles with ease. And yet, she couldn't help but feel a little speechless.
Was Arthur really the one who wrote these? She began to doubt it. He couldn't be this uncreative… right?
After solving the fifth and final riddle, Rosaria took a deep breath. She adjusted her posture, smoothed out her expression, and let her signature cold, indifferent gaze return. With practiced ease, she slipped into her "Princess Rosaria" persona.
As she stepped into the battle arena, she immediately noticed that nearly half the audience—most of them Joey's friends—had already left.
In the distance, she could hear Arthur doing his best to hype up the next Gym Challenge, scrambling to keep the remaining crowd interested.
"The next challenger commands Fire-type Pokémon—a natural nemesis to Bug-types! This match is one you don't want to miss! Can our Gym Leaders overcome such a tough matchup?!" His voice echoed across the stadium, desperate to hold the audience's attention—even if it meant outright spoiling the type of her team.
Rosaria almost giggled as she watched Arthur grow increasingly frantic with each person who left.
The moment Arthur spotted the hooded figure of Rosaria standing at the challenger's side of the field, he secretly let out a sigh of relief and gave her a small, fleeting smile.
Thankfully, Rosaria's group had stayed—they wouldn't miss the chance to watch their Princess battle. Most of the villagers from Rastor had also remained; those who left had gone to train their Pokémon for their own upcoming Gym Challenges.
Some merchants, adventurers, and travelers who had come just for entertainment had trickled out as well—but many still stayed behind, each with their own reasons.
As for Joey's friends... Arthur hadn't expected much from them. But the fact that about half of them remained was already more than he'd hoped for.
Arthur stepped up to his position at the side of the field, assuming his role as referee. "Welcome the second challenger to Rastor Gym! Will our newcomer be able to earn the recognition of our Gym Leaders—and claim the Swarm Badge?!"
Wait... I'm the referee, not an announcer, Arthur thought, wincing inwardly. I should've hired someone to hype up the match properly.
But then again, who would even be qualified for the job? A proper announcer would need to know at least the basics of Pokémon strategy to give decent commentary.
Also… I forgot to give Rosaria a Fresh Water... He glanced at the crowd—over five thousand people in attendance. Yeah, giving her a bottle of water now would be... awkward...
Arthur decided to pretend he didn't remember that part of the tradition.
Lowering his voice to address both sides, he continued more formally, "Are you ready?"
Hector and Anna, fresh off their first official win, had newfound confidence. Even with only half the original audience still present, they showed no signs of stage fright. They smiled at Arthur, then turned toward their next challenger.
It didn't take them long to recognize her. Even with the shift in demeanor and expression, they could tell it was Princess Rosaria.
What an honor—to have an official battle against the princess herself!
Rosaria was used to being the center of attention, so having thousands of eyes on her didn't faze her. But commanding Pokémon in battle while maintaining a composed, indifferent facade? That made her just a bit uncomfortable.
Truthfully, she would've preferred to throw off her cloak and energetically swing her arms around as she called out commands to her Pokémon. But in front of her Bloodthorn, she had an image to uphold.
Still, being slightly uncomfortable didn't mean she'd perform any worse. After all, she'd been living behind a carefully crafted persona for most of her life. At this point, slipping into it was second nature.
Once Rosaria gave him a subtle nod, Arthur raised his voice for the crowd: "Rastor Gym Leaders Hector and Anna have been challenged for the second time—by Pokémon Trainer The Scarlet Veil!"
A wave of cheers swept through the stadium.
The Bloodthorn wanted to cheer too—but they kept their composure, not wanting to disturb Her Highness's focus. That said, some among them still quietly disliked the idea of their princess battling a pair of commoners. Their displeasure quickly faded, however, when Wentia turned and gave them all a calm yet piercing stare.
Reden, on the other hand, had no such restraint.
"Go get them, Scarlet Veil!" she shouted—surprisingly normal this time, for once skipping her usual barrage of nonsense and cheering sincerely from the heart.
Rosaria's eyelid twitched slightly at the nickname Arthur had randomly given her—but... it didn't sound bad.
As both sides held their Poké Balls at the ready, Arthur continued his announcement: "This will be a double battle! The side whose Pokémon are both unable to continue will be declared the loser!
"Gym Challenge—begin!"
Though this was technically a formal Gym Challenge, both sides understood the unspoken truth: they were also putting on a show for the audience.
So they didn't hold back.
"Ponyta. Charmeleon."
Rosaria's voice was calm and composed as she pulled her hood down, shadowing her face. With a flick of her hands, she sent out her Pokémon—Ponyta and Charmeleon—who landed gracefully in the mini-jungle arena, their gazes fierce and ready to set the entire battlefield ablaze.
"Let's go, Beedrill!"
"Butterfree, good luck."
Hector and Anna responded in unison, summoning their signature partners: Beedrill and Butterfree.
These three—Ponyta, Charmeleon, and Beedrill—were undeniably among the highest-level Pokémon currently in the world of Ocasia. Born as the first Pokémon of this world, their experience and strength far exceeded that of most Pokémon.
"Beedrill, Focus Energy!"
"Butterfree, Hazard Zone: Ball"
"Charmeleon—Sunny Day, then Flame Charge! Ponyta, Agility and Flame Charge!" Rosaria commanded with smooth precision.
The Gym Leaders immediately unleashed their signature combo—the very tactic they had used against Virelyra. Beedrill braced itself, enduring the effects of Hazard Zone, while Butterfree focused its psychic energy to gather the released spores and powders into a dense, swirling orb.
It was the setup for a devastating combo: Beedrill's Assurance, summoning shadowy hands to carry the Hazard Ball toward its targets with deadly precision.
Meanwhile, Charmeleon opened its mouth and launched a blazing sphere of fire high into the air. The orb rose and hovered just beneath the ceiling—radiating searing heat and brilliant light.
A miniature sun now hung above the mini-jungle, intensifying the ambient temperature, boosting Fire-type moves, and instantly vaporizing moisture from the air.
The sudden burst of light blinded the audience—forcing many to shield their eyes with mana. The once-lush jungle now shimmered under the weight of oppressive heat.
The audience erupted in cheers, their excitement ignited as they realized—this match was definitely going to be exciting!
Both Charmeleon and Ponyta exchanged a brief nod before quickly enveloping themselves in Flame Charge. Ponyta combined it with Agility, further boosting its speed as the two tore through the trees, burning down the mini-jungle without hesitation and rapidly closing in on their opponents.
Rosaria had battled Hector and Anna multiple times before, but this was the first time she'd seen them use the Hazard Zone combo. Still, she could roughly guess their plan—and had prepared a counter in advance.
"Beedrill, Assurance!" The shadowy hands materialized in front of Beedrill, floating over the swirling Hazard Ball.
But just then, Ponyta—sped up by Flame Charge and Agility—raced effortlessly through the mini-jungle, outpacing its companion Charmeleon as it crashed into the Assurance hands clutching the dense ball of spores and powders.
Ponyta didn't stop. Its fiery body shattered the shadowy grasp, exposing the Hazard Ball inside.
Hector and Anna's eyes widened as Ponyta opened its mouth, seemingly about to devour the ball!
Is she planning to sacrifice Ponyta and let Charmeleon handle both Beedrill and Butterfree? they wondered, shouting their commands in unison:
"Beedrill, slap Ponyta away with Assurance!"
"Butterfree, release the psychic control!"
The shadowy hands materialized, swiping toward Ponyta's cheek as the Hazard Ball started to break apart. But Ponyta had already opened its mouth wide, gobbling up most of the spores and powders before the shadowy hand could shove it away.
Despite the impact, Ponyta's jaws snapped shut, holding back any sign of pain as it forced the hazardous ball down its throat, swallowing it whole.
Almost immediately, Ponyta's body twisted and contorted. Its fur darkened to a sickly purple as paralysis crept through its limbs, and heavy drowsiness washed over it.
At that moment, Rosaria commanded, her composed voice tinged with a slight spark of excitement, "Ponyta, Rest. Then, Sleep Talk."
"Po~... Zzzz."
Immediately, Ponyta collapsed into a deep sleep, but its body relaxed and returned to normal as Rest cleansed all status effects. It stood upright, entering a state of sleepwalking.
Hector and Anna were stunned—but quickly regained their composure.
"Beedrill, Poison Sting!"
"Butterfree, Whirlwind!"
With their sure-kill tactic thwarted by this unexpected turn, they decided to engage head-on.
Butterfree prepared to flap its wings, intending to blow Beedrill forward to boost its speed, but a sudden wall of flames erupted before it.
Seizing the perfect moment, Charmeleon dashed through the half-burned jungle and struck Butterfree with a Flame Charge—empowered by the miniature sun—interrupting Whirlwind just in time.
Beedrill's Poison Sting missed Ponyta, who had leapt backward with eyes still closed, avoiding the attack effortlessly.
"Ponyta, Flame Wheel. Charmeleon, Weather Ball." Rosaria ordered.
Ponyta spun forward, transforming into a fiery wheel aimed at Beedrill.
Meanwhile, Charmeleon condensed a grey orb inside its mouth before launching it at Butterfree. Mid-flight, the orb absorbed the sunlight, igniting into a blazing fireball. Intense heat radiated outward, causing the Bug-type Butterfree to shrink back in fear.
"Beedrill, Assurance!"
"Butterfree, Psybeam!!"
Butterfree's wings shimmered with a purple glow as it focused a beam of psychic energy and unleashed it forward.
BOOM!
Though Butterfree boasted a higher Special Attack than Charmeleon, the Fire-type Weather Ball packed a punch of 100 power, amplified by Sunny Day. In contrast, Psybeam only had 65 power—and both Pokémon were not far in level.
The collision ended with Butterfree's defeat as the fiery orb easily pierced through the Psybeam and struck Butterfree!
"Free~!" Butterfree cried out in pain, flapping its charred wings to try to douse the flames—it was burning!
Meanwhile, Beedrill's Assurance caught Ponyta off guard. Still deep in sleep, Ponyta's reaction was slower than usual.
The Flame Wheel attack was cut short as Ponyta's body was slapped away by double strikes from the shadowy hands.
Seeing Ponyta crash into the half-burned tree and momentarily rendered harmless, Beedrill swiftly shifted its focus to Charmeleon.
At Hector's sharp command, "Cut!", Beedrill charged forward, its sting glowing with an intense white light, poised to strike.
"Ponyta, Charmeleon, Growl!"
Rosaria's voice broke through her usual indifferent facade—excited yet commanding. Both Pokémon growled in unison, their fierce cries aimed directly at the aggressive Beedrill!
Struck simultaneously by the intimidating growls, Beedrill's momentum faltered. Its stinging hand lunged toward Charmeleon, but the fiery lizard met the attack head-on and retaliated with a searing Fire Fang—a move Rosaria had specifically instructed it to use if Beedrill came too close.
Beedrill groaned in pain as the flame-covered fangs clamped down, struggling to break free from Charmeleon's relentless grip.
Meanwhile, Butterfree, after countless orders from Anna to use String Shot on itself, finally managed to smother the flames. Though the fire was out, its body and wings bore heavy burn scars, and it looked on the brink of collapse.
"Butterfree, Air Slash!" Anna commanded, knowing this might be the last move before her companion fainted.
Butterfree's wings glowed with a radiant white light as it unleashed a barrage of razor-sharp wind blades—not at Charmeleon, but at Ponyta, who was sneaking behind Beedrill, still locked in Charmeleon's tenacious bite.
"Ponyta, dodge!"
But Ponyta, clearly still untrained in Sleep Talk, failed to respond. The wind blades tore into its body, making it flinch, stagger backward, and groan in pain.
The sharp sting of pain finally jolted Ponyta awake, its eyes snapping open as it shook off the Rest-induced sleep. It swiftly dodged half of the incoming wind blades before charging fiercely at Beedrill with a blazing Flame Wheel.
"Beedrill, Poison Sting! Venoshock!" Hector commanded.
As if anticipating Ponyta's move, Beedrill ignored the pain caused by the relentless Charmeleon and twisted its lower stinger toward the charging Ponyta, while its stinging hand, glowing dark purple with toxic energy, also targeted the fiery horse.
Beedrill took the hit from Flame Wheel, but Ponyta wasn't spared—Poison Sting struck true, and Ponyta's body immediately darkened with the purple hue of poison.
Hector's gamble had paid off—Ponyta was poisoned!
Before it could react, a poisonous mist struck Ponyta's face with critical force, triggering the poison inside its body to explode with Venoshock!
"Nyy!" Ponyta cried out as its body convulsed and contorted in pain before collapsing, fainted and unable to continue the battle.
Beedrill, too, was battered from the fierce fire attacks. It finally faltered, crashing into the scorched grass beside Ponyta, unconscious.
Only Butterfree and Charmeleon remained standing—Butterfree badly injured, while Charmeleon was mostly unscathed.
"Butterfree, Sleep Powder!"
"Charmeleon, Dragon Breath!"
Butterfree's wings shimmered as it unleashed the powder, but the attack was instantly swallowed by Charmeleon's wide-ranging Dragon Breath.
Anna had miscalculated—she expected Rosaria to command Charmeleon into close combat with Flame Wheel or Fire Fang.
"Free~!" Butterfree's body convulsed violently as the Dragon Breath's paralyzing effect took hold.
Rosaria's eyes sparkled with determination, seizing the moment. "Charmeleon, finish it! Weather Ball!"
"Butterfree, Air Slash!"
But Butterfree's paralysis held it frozen, unable to act.
The blazing Fire-type Weather Ball struck Butterfree squarely. It collapsed to the ground, fainting, black smoke curling from its charred body.
Only Charmeleon remained standing amid the smoldering wreckage of the jungle arena!
Suddenly, Arthur's voice echoed through the Gym's battle arena. "The Gym Leaders' Pokémon can no longer continue—the mysterious Trainer Scarlet Veil and her Pokémon are the winners, and have earned the first-ever Swarm Badge of Rastor Gym!"
A brief silence was followed by a roar of cheers and applauses!