Crossing Route 4, Alex entered a vast and majestic area—the Moon Mountain range. The mountains stretched endlessly, with sheer cliffs and treacherous terrain that looked daunting even from a distance.
Most ordinary travelers chose to pass through the underground cave system instead of climbing, as it was both safer and less exhausting.
Moon Mountain was famous not only for its untouched beauty but also for the abundance of wild Pokémon that lived there. In addition, it was one of the few places where meteor fragments regularly fell—a rare phenomenon in the Pokémon world.
It took Alex more than half a day to traverse the mountainous region. Occasionally, he heard the fluttering echoes of Zubat wings deep in the caves, or caught glimpses of Geodude camouflaged among the rocks.
When he finally left Moon Mountain behind, a peaceful yet lively city appeared before him—Pewter City.
Upon arriving, Alex immediately decided to visit the Pewter City Museum, a must-see landmark for any traveler.
Inside, rows of ancient Pokémon fossils were displayed in pristine glass cases. Each exhibit had detailed notes about the fossil's origin, age, and the Pokémon species it once belonged to. Alex studied each fossil carefully, jotting down their shapes and characteristics.
One section in particular caught his attention—a joint research project between the Pewter Museum and the Red Lotus Institute. Here, a massive machine was showcased, capable of extracting DNA-bearing tissues from fossils and using advanced technology to resurrect ancient Pokémon.
When this technology first emerged, it caused a frenzy. Trainers, treasure hunters, and even ordinary civilians flocked to mountains in search of fossils. Their value skyrocketed—even a common fossil could sell for 300 to 500.
If a fossil was intact and in good condition, the price could be several times higher.
However, among all fossil types, one was the cheapest—Old Amber, used to revive Aerodactyl. Its price was only half that of ordinary fossils.
The reason was simple: although Aerodactyl wasn't the strongest ancient Pokémon, it was by far the most aggressive. Many trainers had been seriously injured because they couldn't control its wild nature.
This made most people wary, and its market value plummeted. Still, even at a reduced price, it was far from worthless.
Alex thought to himself: "Who knows… maybe one day I'll stumble upon a fossil. I've already met Suicune, so it's not impossible."
Leaving the museum, Alex noticed a bulletin board a few steps away. Several trainers were gathered around it, grumbling in displeasure.
"Brock increased the difficulty. If you don't take on the Elite Trainers first, you have to defeat his Onix directly to earn the badge."
"Hey, his Onix is huge and powerful. If my Squirtle takes a direct hit, it's over in one blow."
"Yeah, before challenging Brock, you now have to beat two of Pewter Gym's Elite Trainers in a row."
"This is too hard! It's basically shutting out rookie trainers from getting the badge."
Hearing this, Alex frowned slightly.
Brock, the Pewter Gym Leader, was one of the key Gym challenges in Kanto—especially for rookie trainers starting from Pallet Town. This was usually their first Gym battle, so making it tough was understandable—it tested their skills and preparation.
But forcing challengers to face the main Pokémon right away meant rookies had almost no chance.
Alex stepped closer to the board. On it was a single large poster with bold text:
"Pewter Gym Leader Brock eagerly awaits a challenge from a truly strong trainer!"
Alex smirked faintly. "Since I'm already here, why not see just how strong Brock really is?"
He didn't know why Brock had changed the rules, but since he was in Kanto, it was worth the challenge. Besides, with Gardevoir newly evolved, this would be the perfect opportunity to test her strength in a real battle.
With that thought, Alex walked straight toward Pewter Gym.
As usual, the Gym was the most prominent building in the city. Despite the increased difficulty, the inside was still bustling. Local spectators seemed excited to watch the intense matches.
The interior housed three massive battle arenas, where trainers were taking on the Gym's Elite Trainers one by one.
From an elevated position, Brock stood shirtless, arms crossed, observing the matches with sharp eyes. Behind him, a massive Onix coiled, radiating an overwhelming presence.
To face Brock, a challenger had to defeat at least two Elite Trainers. But even those who succeeded were often exhausted before they could stand against Onix.
Alex glanced over the arenas before heading to the registration desk. After receiving his number, he waited calmly.
The battles followed a simple "rotation" style—basic tactics, little creativity. With an average level around 20, these trainers were beyond rookies but far from elite.
Finally, on Arena 1, a trainer with a Pidgeotto fell to Rumble Stone, one of the Gym's Elite Trainers.
The loudspeaker crackled to life:
"Contestant number 11, Alex, please proceed to Arena 1 and take your position."
Alex rolled his neck slightly, a calm smile forming.
"My turn."
He stepped onto the stage, eyes sharp and focused directly on the opponent ahead.