"Snorlax… looks fine. Let me see your strength," Gary said confidently, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Anabel raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly. "You sound awfully sure of yourself, Gary."

Scott laughed. "There he goes again—same swagger, every time."

Gary grinned back. "What can I say? Winning's a habit I don't plan to break."

"It seems you're very confident in your Tyranitar's strength," said Anabel coolly. "Then, Snorlax, let's show Gary exactly what kind of power we have! Use Body Slam!"

"Snorlaaax!" bellowed the enormous Pokémon, the ground trembling with every lumbering step. He stomped forward, gathered momentum, and then—astonishingly—launched himself into the air.

It was hard to believe something so massive could leap so high.

Gary's eyebrows arched. "Impressive…" he muttered. "But let's see if that'll be enough."

Snorlax came crashing down, a meteor of sheer weight and muscle. "Snorlaaax!"

"Face it head-on! Tyranitar, use Dynamic Punch!" Gary commanded sharply.

Tyranitar raised his head to meet the descending colossus. A golden aura flared around his right fist—the energy so fierce that it looked like a blazing flame. As Snorlax plummeted toward him, Tyranitar roared, "Tyyyrrraaan!" and swung his punch upward.

BANG!!

BANG!!

BANG!!

The collision was thunderous. The shockwave tossed dust and debris in every direction. Snorlax's immense body was hurled backward, flying over ten meters before slamming into the ground.

Anabel's eyes widened in disbelief. "What kind of power is this?!"

Even as skilled as she was, she couldn't believe her Snorlax—who weighed over a thousand pounds—had been flung so easily by one hit.

"This is terrifying…," she breathed.

Gary's voice rang out again. "Tyranitar! Stone Edge!"

"BANG!" The ground cracked and fissured as sharp, glowing rock blades erupted around Tyranitar.

With a grinding rumble, the stones shot forward, propelled by a rising Sandstorm that Tyranitar summoned with a roar. The swirling sand lent the attack even greater speed.

"Snorlaaax!" cried the giant Pokémon, shoving himself upright.

Snorlax spread his arms wide, summoning a shimmering, multicolored energy barrier in front of him to withstand the assault.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The stone blades pelted against the energy wall, sparks flying with each impact.

But one after another, the barrier fragments shattered. The subsequent volley shattered through and slammed directly into Snorlax's thick frame.

He grunted, staggering. Though Snorlax's body seemed indestructible, that endurance came from stamina, not pure defense—his hide was durable, but his resistance had limits.

"Snorlax, use High Horsepower!" Anabel commanded, her determination fierce.

"SNORLAAAAX!" The ground shook as Snorlax stomped heavily, charging power. His body glowed with earthy golden light before he barreled forward with unstoppable momentum.

Gary crossed his arms and smirked. "Alright, bring it on. Tyranitar, meet Snorlax head-on—use Giga Impact!"

With a furious roar, Tyranitar's entire body blazed with white energy. The aura twisted around him, forming a violent energy cyclone. He charged at Snorlax at full speed.

BANG!!

The arena trembled violently as both Pokémon crashed together with earth-splitting force. The explosion of power created a shockwave that swept through the crowd.

For a moment, neither moved—but then Tyranitar's cyclone of energy surged again, overpowering Snorlax's golden aura. The sheer force shattered Snorlax's High Horsepower energy and sent him crashing backward.

BANG!!

Snorlax hit the ground heavily, this time not rising.

The referee raised his flag. "Snorlax has lost the ability to fight! Tyranitar wins!"

Scott whistled softly. "What a powerhouse… Senior Spenser really chose a good location for Gary's challenge. If this had been anywhere else, Anabel's team wouldn't have stood a chance."

He sighed. "Still, seems like Anabel's not doing too well today. Guess we'll have to rely on Brandon next."

Anabel clenched her fist, her expression tightening. Tyranitar was just too much. With Snorlax down, her final Pokémon—Espeon—wasn't a great match against the Rock and Dark type.

Though her Espeon possessed incredible power, its physical frailty was a major weakness. It had already been injured earlier by Tyranitar's Iron Tail; continuing this battle was risky, but she refused to give up.

She shouted resolutely, "Espeon, it's up to you now! Let's fight!"

"Eeee-speon!" The sleek, purple-furred Pokémon appeared, her gem-like forehead stone gleaming. Her tail swayed elegantly as faint psychic energy rippled through the air.

However, the Sandstorm that Tyranitar had stirred remained. The wind battered Espeon, whipping her silky fur out of place. She winced. "Meeeow…"

"Espeon, use Zap Cannon! Quickly!" Anabel ordered.

Tyranitar was still recovering from the recoil of Giga Impact, his body stiff and momentarily immobile. This was their only chance.

The jewel on Espeon's forehead began to glow with intense electric energy. The air crackled.

"D***!" Gary hissed under his breath. He realized Tyranitar couldn't move.

With a high-pitched hum, Espeon released a massive electric sphere. Zap Cannon! It streaked toward Tyranitar like a shooting star.

But before it hit, Gary acted swiftly. "Return, Tyranitar!" he shouted, holding up a Poké Ball. A beam of red light shot out, recalling Tyranitar just in time.

The electric blast struck the empty field, detonating in a blinding flash.

Anabel's eyes widened. "No way…!"

For a second she stood frozen, realizing too late that substitutions were allowed. Her focus on revenge against Tyranitar had made her forget this tactical option.

Gary smirked slightly, tossing out another Poké Ball. "Let's finish this the smart way. Go, Scizor!"

The crimson bug Pokémon appeared with a fierce metallic clang, his pincers snapping shut with a sharp CHING!

"SCI-ZOR!!"

Anabel recovered quickly, shouting, "Espeon, use Psychic!"

Espeon's eyes glowed a bright azure, and a telekinetic wave rippled outward.

Scizor braced himself—the force struck him hard, but his steel exoskeleton endured it. He slid back a few feet, digging his claws into the sand.

"Scizor, Quick Attack!" Gary commanded.

Swoosh!!

Like a flash of red lightning, Scizor dashed forward. A streak of white light trailed behind him as he zipped across the battlefield.

Within a heartbeat, he was upon Espeon.

"Meeeee!" Espeon shrieked as Scizor's pincer came down in a powerful strike—BANG!!

The blow sent Espeon flying backward. Already weakened and dazed from the harsh Sandstorm, she had no chance to evade. She hit the ground and lay still, her jewel fading to a dull purple.

The referee raised his flag once more. "Espeon is unable to battle! Scizor wins! Frontier Brain Anabel's Pokémon are all unable to fight. The challenger, Gary, is the winner!"

The Sandstorm slowly began to subside, golden grains settling and revealing the battered field beneath.

Gary exhaled and smiled faintly, calling back his Scizor. "Good work out there."

He turned toward Anabel, who was standing silently on the other side of the dusty arena. Her expression was calm, though her usual poise was tinged with solemnity.

"The Frontier Brain of the Battle Tower truly isn't an easy opponent," Gary said with respect. "But today, victory is mine."

Anabel gave a small nod. "You've earned it, Gary. This is the proof of your triumph at the Battle Tower—the Symbol of Ability. Keep it with pride."

She reached out and handed him a gleaming golden emblem.

"Thank you." Gary accepted it with quiet gratitude. The weight of the symbol in his hand reminded him how far he'd come.

After the match, Anabel led Gary and Scott outside the Battle Tower. A gentle breeze replaced the lingering tension of the battle.

"Mission complete," came a faint mechanical tone in Gary's head. [Reward successfully stored in spatial backpack.] He smiled to himself—secrets only a true trainer knew.

Scott clapped him on the shoulder. "Well done, Gary! That makes six of the seven facilities you've conquered. Only the Battle Pyramid remains. When are you planning to take that on?"

Gary thought for a moment. "The sooner the better. But Mr. Brandon's always on expeditions, right? Will it be convenient?"

Scott chuckled. "That's right. The Battle Pyramid isn't like other facilities—it's actually a flying fortress. Moves around like an aircraft. And, might I add, it's not cheap to fuel!"

Gary smirked. "Figures."

Scott continued, "Brandon's both an explorer and an archaeologist. He's constantly traveling through different regions to study ruins and ancient Pokémon civilizations. In fact, during the Sinnoh expedition, he even flew the Battle Pyramid all the way to Celestic Town."

Gary nodded knowingly. "So if he's out exploring again, I'll just have to wait."