Silas moved quietly through the glowing tunnels of Mount Moon while the sounds of battle echoed faintly ahead.
The deeper portions of the cave felt strangely alive. Moon Stones embedded within the walls illuminated the darkness with soft cosmic light while distant tremors occasionally shook loose small rocks from the ceiling above.
Another explosion echoed ahead, then came voices.
Silas was surprised because they were familiar voices. He rounded the corner and immediately froze.
Two trainers stood within a large cavern battling fiercely over a high-grade Moon Stone embedded prominently within the wall behind them.
One trainer used a Wartortle and Pidgeotto. The other commanded a Nidorino and Primeape.
Silas recognized both of them instantly.
Without hesitation, he returned Zubat and the Teddiursa before releasing Monferno and Electabuzz.
The two trainers noticed him at the exact same moment.
"Silas?"
Both spoke simultaneously before immediately turning toward each other.
"How do you know Silas?"
Again, they spoke in unison.
The awkward synchronization caused both trainers to stop talking entirely before looking toward Silas expectantly.
Silas remained calm.
"Gary," he said first, carefully controlling his expression, "what's going on here?"
Maintaining separation between his public identity and his growing Team Rocket connections remained important. The fewer people associating him with criminal organizations, the better.
Gary crossed his arms slightly.
"How do you know this guy?"
"I beat him in a battle a while back."
Rex visibly scowled while Gary looked mildly amused.
"As entertaining as this drama is," Gary interrupted confidently, "I'm taking that high-grade Moon Stone."
Silas studied him carefully. Gary radiated confidence and rightfully so.
As Oak's grandson, Gary possessed enormous natural advantages. Excellent Pokémon, premium resources, top-tier instruction, and strong League support allowed him to dominate most trainers his age effortlessly.
The problem was that comfort dulled people. Silas had learned that lesson already. Life-threatening situations forged strength far faster than safe victories ever could.
Silas quietly scanned all four Pokémon currently on the battlefield.
Nidorino — Level 39
Ability: Poison Point
Potential: B
Moves: Rank B Horn Attack, Rank B Peck, Rank B Mega Horn, Rank C Drill Run, Rank C Focus Energy, Rank C Poison Sting, Rank C Double Kick, Rank C Ice Beam, Rank C Thunder, Rank C Poison Jab, Rank C Hone Claws
Primeape — Level 36
Ability: Justified
Potential: C+
Moves: Rank B Karate Chop, Rank B Focus Energy, Rank B Fury Swipes, Rank C Fire Punch, Rank C Ice Punch, Rank C Thunder Punch, Rank C Bulk Up, Rank C Cross Chop, Rank C Low Kick
Wartortle — Level 38
Ability: Torrent
Potential: B+
Moves: Rank B Rapid Spin, Rank B Water Pulse, Rank B Water Gun, Rank C Shell Smash, Rank C Aqua Jet, Rank C Ice Beam, Rank C Protect, Rank C Skull Bash, Rank C Gyro Ball, Rank C Zen Headbutt, Rank C Brick Break, Rank C Iron Defense, Rank C Aqua Tail, Rank C Dragon Pulse
Pidgeotto — Level 37
Ability: Keen Eyes
Potential: C+
Moves: Rank B Aerial Ace, Rank B Wing Attack, Rank B Gust, Rank C Feather Dance, Rank C Steel Wing, Rank C Quick Attack, Rank C Roost, Rank C Heat Wave, Rank C Air Slash, Rank C Razor Wind
Silas mentally noted everything. Seeing an opponent's exact strengths and weaknesses remained one of the greatest advantages his system provided.
"I propose a battle royale," Silas said calmly. "One Pokémon each. Winner takes the Moon Stone."
Gary frowned immediately.
"You just got here. Why should you even get a claim?"
Silas shrugged.
"From my perspective, the Moon Stone is still unclaimed. You two are deciding ownership already, and I'm deciding to join the discussion."
Then he looked toward Electabuzz.
"You can battle this time."
Electabuzz stepped forward confidently.
Rex smiled mischievously .
"I think I can even the score with both of you this time."
Rex's Nidorino immediately advanced and Gary's Wartortle did the same.
"It seems our Pokémon already agreed," Rex said as he sighed sarcastically.
Despite his tone, he clearly didn't mind the outcome.
Gary eventually sighed in defeat.
"It looks like the battle royale is happening either way."
His eyes sharpened.
"I'm in."
Monferno, Primeape, and Pidgeotto all stepped back alongside their trainers while the battlefield opened.
Gary moved first.
"Wartortle, use Shell Smash!"
A translucent shell manifested above Wartortle before shattering violently. Power surged outward instantly.
Wartortle's aura sharpened aggressively while its muscles visibly tensed beneath its shell.
Rex responded immediately.
"Nidorino, Hone Claws and Focus Energy together."
Nidorino closed its eyes while its claws scraped together repeatedly, creating sparks. Its breathing slowed while its body lowered into a far more dangerous stance.
"Electabuzz," Silas ordered calmly, "Light Screen first."
Electabuzz crossed his arms as a massive translucent barrier appeared briefly before fading from sight.
"Now use Charge Beam on Wartortle."
Electricity condensed rapidly into Electabuzz's palm before firing forward.
Gary reacted calmly as if expecting the move.
"Use Water Pulse!"
Wartortle launched a sphere of compressed water that collided with Charge Beam directly.
The attacks exploded against each other.
At the same time, Nidorino joined the assault.
"Thunder!"
Electricity erupted from Nidorino's horn toward Wartortle.
Gary barely avoided disaster.
"Dodge it quick."
Wartortle narrowly evaded the attack before Electabuzz followed up immediately with Discharge.
Lightning exploded across the cavern. This time both opponents were caught.
The previous Charge Beam boost noticeably amplified Electabuzz's firepower, forcing both Wartortle and Nidorino to endure substantial damage but Wartortle didn't hesitate.
It immediately withdrew into its shell. Silver and white energy began radiating outward as the shell started spinning violently.
Rapid Spin. Except this version carried immense momentum behind it thanks to Shell Smash.
Wartortle became a spinning projectile of destruction. First it struck Nidorino.
The poison-type barely reacted before being launched violently into the cave wall with a heavy crash.
Then Wartortle redirected toward Electabuzz but this time things went differently.
Electabuzz had been developing a new technique recently by combining Brick Break with elemental punches. Naturally, Thunder Punch proved the easiest combination to stabilize.
"Thunder Break."
White light erupted around Electabuzz's arm.
Then lightning exploded outward violently, supercharging the attack.
The impressive part wasn't merely the power, it was the speed. Electabuzz completed the entire charging process in under a second.
He surged forward directly into Wartortle's path and slammed his electrified arm into the spinning shell.
The collision shook the cavern.
Dust rained from the ceiling overhead while nearby Moon Stones flickered from the impact vibrations.
Wartortle lost the clash badly.
The turtle Pokémon was blasted backward and forcibly knocked out of Rapid Spin as it skidded violently across the stone floor.
Gary's eyes widened in genuine shock.
In his mind, trainers capable of overpowering him directly were usually gym leaders or elite League members.
Silas's growth simply didn't make sense to him.
What Gary didn't understand was experience.
True experience.
Silas and his Pokémon survived assassination attempts, brutal wilderness environments, and constant life-or-death battles.
Meanwhile, Gary enjoyed the protection and prestige that came with being Oak's grandson.
Gary absolutely immense talent, that was indisputable but talent sharpened slowly when life remained comfortable.
To Gary's credit, he wasn't weak-willed.
He participated in dangerous battles willingly and possessed a naturally decisive personality. The issue was a lack of opportunity. He rarely found himself in those kinds of situations.
So compared to Silas, he simply hadn't faced enough situations forcing explosive growth yet.
At the same time, Nidorino slowly rose back to its feet. Blood dripped from its body while rage burned visibly within its eyes. Being launched across the cavern clearly infuriated it.
"Charge Wartortle with Mega Horn," Rex ordered coldly.
Nidorino exploded forward. This time, its speed and strength visibly exceeded what it displayed earlier.
Wartortle barely reacted in time.
"Dragon Pulse!"
Blue draconic energy erupted from Wartortle's mouth.
Mega Horn pierced through it anyway.
Nidorino's glowing horn slammed directly into Wartortle's shoulder, punching through defenses and drawing blood immediately.
Gary's expression changed instantly.
"Wartortle! Stay strong! Use Water Pulse!"
Wartortle formed a compressed sphere of water and slammed it point-blank into Nidorino's face.
The hit clearly damaged Nidorino heavily.
It still didn't retreat.
Instead, electricity surged violently from Nidorino's horn directly into the open shoulder wound.
Using Thunder like that guaranteed massive damage.
Wartortle screamed.
The attack devastated it completely. After several seconds, Wartortle collapsed unconscious.
Nidorino calmly removed its horn before returning to its starting position opposite Electabuzz.
Rex smirked.
"So we finally get that rematch."
Silas immediately understood Rex was playing into their earlier "rivalry" act, though honestly he played the villain role a little too naturally.
"Nidorino," Rex ordered, "Drill Run."
The poison-type lunged forward immediately.
"Electabuzz," Silas said calmly, "Quick Attack into Thunder Break."
Electabuzz blurred sideways at the last second.
Nidorino's horn barely missed him.
Then Electabuzz counterattacked. Thunder Break crashed downward directly onto Nidorino's exposed back.
The resulting explosion filled the cavern with smoke and sparks.
When the dust finally cleared, Electabuzz stood within a small crater with its fist buried against Nidorino's back.
Nidorino collapsed unconscious.
Critical hits were terrifying in Pokémon battles.
Powerful moves naturally created openings both before and after execution. Counterattacking during those moments often multiplied damage enormously.
Electabuzz exploited that perfectly.
Gary stared silently at the battlefield. Then realization slowly settled across his face.
Both Silas and Rex had held back against him earlier. The realization hurt more than the loss itself.
Gary Oak was a genius raised within one of the most prestigious families in Kanto. He rarely encountered setbacks severe enough to shake his confidence deeply.
Today did exactly that.
The bitterness rising inside him wasn't directed toward Silas or even Rex.
It was directed toward himself. His own weakness and shortcomings frustrated him.
That frustration quietly transformed into determination. Gary clenched his fists slightly.
He would never allow himself to fall this far behind again.
After acknowledging his defeat with surprising maturity, Gary recalled his Pokémon and departed deeper into the cave after a quick goodbye.