The morning mist still clung to the Baidai River as the group packed their gear. After a final, competitive glance between Dawn and Zoey—the kind only two rival Coordinators can share—they officially parted ways. Zoey stayed behind to hunt for more Water-types, while the trio set their sights on the horizon.
"So, Ash," Dawn started, walking with a rhythmic bounce in her step, "what kind of place is the Eterna Gym? Do you think it'll be as intense as Oreburgh? I still remember Roark's Tyranitar... those roars were terrifying!"
Ash let out a dry chuckle. He remembered Gardenia, the Eterna Gym Leader. She wasn't just a Grass-type specialist; she was a woman whose obsession with her chosen type bordered on the supernatural.
"She's powerful, Dawn. But in a different way," Ash explained. "She's been a Leader for a long time. They say she's practically immune to Grass-type moves herself. I've heard she considers a Cacnea's Pin Missile to be a relaxing massage."
"A massage?!" Dawn's eyes widened, her scalp tingling at the thought. "That's... that's definitely a unique constitution."
"Are you going to send in the 'Big Three' again? Pikachu, Snorlax, or Sceptile?"
"Actually, no," Ash said, glancing at the Poké Balls on his belt. "This Gym is for the new generation. Grotle, Aipom, and Staravia—who should be arriving back from the lab soon—are going to make their debut. They've been working hard on their synergy and their 'Tank-and-Spank' tactics. Grotle is already pushing the boundary of Gym-level strength."
Dawn looked a bit disappointed. Like any fan of high-intensity battles, she loved seeing Pikachu's legendary Iron Tail cleavers, but she understood Ash's logic. A true Master grows his entire team, not just his aces.
The Shadow of the Elite
By noon, the historic architecture of Eterna City loomed ahead. They checked into the Pokémon Center and headed straight for the cafeteria. As they ate, the large television mounted on the wall caught everyone's attention. It was a replay of a high-stakes Elite Challenge.
The screen showed the most recent Lily Valley Conference Champion—a trainer who had conquered all eight Sinnoh gyms—facing off against Lucian (Okido), the Psychic-type member of the Sinnoh Elite Four.
The battle was a massacre.
"This is insane..." Dawn whispered, her fork suspended mid-air. "The challenger has a full team of six, and Lucian hasn't even switched out his first Pokémon."
The footage showed Lucian's Girafarig effortlessly dismantling the Champion's team. When the challenger's ace, a Scizor, was sent out, the crowd expected a comeback due to the type advantage. Instead, Girafarig's eyes glowed with an abyssal purple light, and a single Psychic blast bypassed Scizor's double-resistance, knocking it out instantly.
"A 1-versus-6 sweep," Brock noted, his expression grim as he consulted his notes. "That's Lucian for you. He's not just a Psychic specialist; he's a strategist who reads his opponents like an open book."
Ash nodded, his gaze fixed on the screen. He knew the gap between a Conference Champion and an Elite Four member was a vast ocean. Most Champions were "Big Fish" in a small pond, but the Elite Four were the apex predators of the region.
If it were Paul, Ash thought, he wouldn't have been swept. He would have sacrificed three Pokémon just to map out Girafarig's cooldowns, then used Torterra to crush it.
"The world is much bigger than eight badges," Ash said, turning back to his meal. "But to reach that stage, we have to start with Gardenia."