After the chaos of PokeKart Racing, the group was ravenous. The scent of sizzling food wafted through the arcade, leading them to a retro-themed food vendor near the second floor’s center. Neon lights framed the stand, which boasted a menu brimming with Pokémon-inspired dishes.

  The vendor’s holographic menu flickered above, proudly advertising items like Pikaburgers (complete with lightning bolt-shaped cheese), Charmander’s Blazing Wings, Snorlax-Size Pizzas, and Jigglyshakes in berry and vanilla flavors. Sides like PokéFries, shaped like miniature Poké Balls, completed the offerings.

  Amélie led the charge, practically diving for the counter. Soon, she was clutching a tray loaded with a Pikaburger combo and an Oran Berry shake. Floette hovered beside her, nibbling delicately on a leaf-shaped treat the vendor had thrown in for free. Isabelle followed, Azzy bouncing along with wide eyes locked on the PokéFries in her hand.

  Only in Lumora City would fries shaped like Poké Balls not be the weirdest thing in sight. Do they have someone in the back just carving these things by hand?

  Milo arrived next, balancing a precariously large tray piled high with food—easily enough for three people. Clara rolled her eyes as he sat down, shaking her head at the sheer volume. “Seriously, Milo? You realize we’re not staying here all night, right?”

  Milo adjusted his glasses smugly. “I’m fueling up. Unlike some people,”—he cast a pointed glance at Clara’s modest tray of fries and a drink—“I’m about to attempt something legendary.”

  Elliot sat down beside him with his own tray, holding a Charmander burger, PokéFries, and a tall shake. As usual, he didn’t say a word, simply drinking his shake with a loud slurp that filled the booth.

  Clara raised an eyebrow. “Okay, is that your intimidation strategy? Being obnoxiously loud with a straw?”

  Elliot paused, glanced at her, and then kept slurping even louder.

  Amélie burst out laughing, nearly choking on her shake. “I’m dying—Elliot’s so extra for someone who doesn’t even talk!”

  Milo smirked, leaning back in his seat. “Laugh all you want. Elliot and I are about to rewrite the leaderboard for the Mt. Silver Challenge.”

  That got Clara’s attention. “You’re kidding, right? You two think you can break the duo record?”

  Elliot shrugged mid-sip, unfazed.

  Milo leaned forward. “Last month, a team of three challengers lasted five minutes and twenty-one seconds against Red. Three people. Elliot and I only need two to beat that time.”

  “Wait—who’s Red?” Isabelle asked, casually popping another fry into her mouth.

  The table froze.

  Amélie stopped mid-bite, Floette dropping its snack in visible shock. Clara’s head snapped toward Isabelle, her jaw practically unhinged. Even Milo seemed momentarily speechless, adjusting his glasses slowly as if trying to make sure he’d heard her correctly. Elliot, for his part, paused mid-sip and stared at her with faint disbelief.

  “Uh… what?” Isabelle looked between their wide-eyed expressions. “What did I say?”

  Amélie gawked. “You’re joking. Please tell me you’re joking.”

  “I’m not. Who’s Red? Some gym leader or something?”

  Clara groaned, facepalming hard enough to echo. “Oh my Arceus, she really doesn’t know.”

  Amélie nearly stood up in her seat. “Red is THE Trainer. The Champion of Champions. The guy who beat every league, disappeared, and is basically a legend!”

  Milo, finally recovering, chimed in. “Red’s the ultimate benchmark for what it means to be a Trainer. His team is practically untouchable. He doesn’t speak—just stares at you like he’s dissecting your soul—and his six Pokémon are iconic.”

  “Pikachu, Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur, Snorlax, and Espeon,” Clara added, ticking them off on her fingers. “He’s been off the grid for years, but rumors say he’s still at Mt. Silver, waiting for worthy challengers. Nobody’s beaten him.”

  “Ever?” Isabelle asked, skeptical.

  “Not once,” Milo confirmed. “The Mt. Silver Challenge simulates a battle against him. It’s the hardest battle simulation in the region. Even with a full team, people barely last a few minutes.”

  “And he never uses more than his six,” Clara added. “Even if three Trainers go in with six Pokémon each, Red still sticks to his six. And he still wrecks everyone.”

  So, basically, he’s a mythical Trainer god whose mere existence causes existential dread. Fantastic.

  Milo leaned back, his smirk returning. “That’s why we’re taking him on. Duo mode. If we beat five minutes and twenty-one seconds, we’ll hold the new record.”

  Amélie waved a fry at him. “Wait—you’re serious? Like, actually serious? You think you can do this?”

  Elliot finally spoke, his tone calm. “We know the odds.”

  Amélie’s eyes widened. “He talks?!”

  “Rarely,” Clara deadpanned. “Guess he’s saving his energy for getting obliterated.”

  Isabelle, still skeptical, turned to Milo. “Okay, but why? You know you’re going to lose, so what’s the point?”

  Milo adjusted his glasses with a confident flourish. “The point isn’t winning. It’s pushing limits. Every second longer proves Red isn’t invincible.”

  Elliot stood, finishing his shake with a dramatic slurp. “Let’s go.”

  The group followed, Isabelle trailing as she exchanged a look with Azzy. What do you think, Azzy? Are they nuts, or am I the crazy one for being here?

  Azzy squeaked, bouncing on her tail as if to say, “Both.”

  The Mt. Silver Challenge was front and center on the arcade’s top floor, surrounded by glowing leaderboards and a cheering crowd. Spectators watched challengers flounder against Red’s relentless team on massive holographic screens. The VR station itself featured sleek pods where players suited up for full immersion.

  Milo and Elliot stepped forward, scanning their Student IDs to queue. Their names lit up under “Pending Challengers – Duo Mode.”

  Milo grinned at the group. “Any last words before we make history?”

  Clara crossed her arms. “Yeah—don’t embarrass yourselves too much. It’s a long fall from all that ego.”

  Amélie grinned. “Good luck! I’ll be here… not doing that.”

  Isabelle shook her head as she watched them prep. This is going to be a disaster, and I cannot wait.

  Milo and Elliot stepped into the VR pods, their movements fluid as if rehearsed a hundred times before. The pods' interiors hummed softly, sleek and futuristic, designed to accommodate Trainers for full-immersion battles. As the timer for team selection appeared on the translucent screens in front of them, Milo pushed his glasses up with a smirk.

  1:59

  “Stick to the plan,” Milo said, fingers moving swiftly across the holographic interface. He locked in Gardevoir—their cornerstone support, armed with Reflect, Light Screen, Life Dew, and Moonblast, holding Light Clay for extended defenses.

  Elliot selected Tyranitar, its Sand Stream activating a sandstorm to disrupt Espeon. With Crunch, Rock Slide, Protect, and Dragon Dance, and a Chople Berry for Fighting-type coverage, it was a bulky counter and potential sweeper.

  “Defense and disruption,” Milo muttered. “We’ve got this.”

  1:32

  Milo’s next pick: Rotom-Wash, a utility Pokémon built to cripple Snorlax and stall with Will-O-Wisp, Hydro Pump, Thunderbolt, and Protect, sustaining itself with Leftovers.

  Elliot responded with Lucario—a Swords Dance sweeper with Swords Dance, Extreme Speed, Close Combat, and Bullet Punch, Focus Sash ensuring it survived at least one hit.

  1:02

  Milo added Togekiss, a Serene Grace disruptor with Air Slash, Thunder Wave, Light Screen, and Dazzling Gleam, holding a Sitrus Berry for sustain. “Flinch city,” he quipped.

  Elliot locked in Corviknight, a defensive wall with Body Press, Iron Defense, Roost, and Protect, punishing physical attackers with Rocky Helmet.

  0:38

  Milo chose Mega Ampharos, a bulky special attacker wielding Thunderbolt, Dragon Pulse, Light Screen, and Protect, powered by Ampharosite.

  Elliot countered with Metagross, an Assault Vest tank boasting Meteor Mash, Earthquake, Bullet Punch, and Protect—ideal for checking Espeon and Pikachu.

  0:20

  Milo locked in Dragapult, a fast Choice Specs attacker with Dragon Darts, Shadow Ball, Will-O-Wisp, and Protect to pressure Red’s weakened team.

  Elliot followed with Excadrill, designed to abuse Tyranitar’s sandstorm with Sand Rush, Iron Head, Earthquake, Rock Slide, and Protect, hitting even harder with Life Orb.

  0:07

  For his final pick, Milo selected Mamoswine, a physical bruiser with Earthquake, Icicle Crash, Ice Shard, and Stealth Rock, utilizing Thick Fat and Focus Sash to counter Venusaur and Charizard.

  Elliot completed their lineup with Milotic, their ultimate staller, built with Recover, Scald, Ice Beam, and Haze, leveraging Marvel Scale and a Flame Orb for maximum resilience.

  0:00

  The final selections locked in. Milo adjusted his glasses with a smirk.

  “Let’s give him hell.”

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  Elliot simply cracked his knuckles. “No mistakes.”

  The Neon Arcade’s top floor buzzed with life as a crowd gathered near the Mt. Silver Challenge station, where two challengers—Milo and Elliot—had decided to throw themselves into the impossible.

  A towering AR screen displayed the simulation feed in real-time, allowing bystanders to witness their attempt in full detail. The virtual battleground mirrored the harshest peak in Johto, where the infamous Champion of Champions, Red, was rumored to still train in silence.

  Hovering above the main terminal, Rotom—the arcade’s ever-present virtual announcer—flickered to life. The mischievous AI projected itself onto the display, static crackling through its voice as it addressed the arcade.

  "And we’ve got another two reckless challengers stepping up to the plate! Give it up for Milo and Elliot, folks! Will they survive longer than their egos, or will Red break them faster than a Poké Ball with a bad throw? Let’s find out!"

  A few onlookers chuckled, some shaking their heads, while others leaned in with genuine interest.

  "Wait, they’re doing duo mode? What’s the record again?"

  "Five minutes and twenty-one seconds. There’s no way they beat it."

  "Heh, if they last three minutes, I’ll be impressed."

  "Nah, maybe these guys stand a chance."

  "Yeah, but this is Red."

  The VR pods hummed, and Milo and Elliot were pulled into the simulation.

  The first thing Milo felt was the cold.

  A bitter wind ripped through the cliffs, howling against the stone like a warning. Snow crunched beneath their boots as they materialized onto Mt. Silver’s frozen battlefield, the sky above a harsh, washed-out gray. It didn’t feel artificial. Every element of the AR simulation was meticulously designed to make challengers feel like they were actually here.

  But that wasn’t what made Milo exhale sharply.

  It was the figure standing across from them.

  Red.

  Silent. Unmoving.

  A shadow at the mountain’s peak, his cap pulled low, his posture utterly unreadable. He wasn’t a trainer looking for a battle. He was the end of the road, the summit of all summits.

  Milo forced himself to steady his breathing. The simulation might not be real, but everything about Red’s presence felt like the weight of history itself.

  Elliot, as expected, didn’t react. His breath came slow, measured, eyes locked on Red like he was already calculating every possible move before the battle even began. He rolled his shoulders once, loosening his stance.

  Milo glanced at him. “Still not feeling anything, huh?”

  Elliot’s response was as cold as the air around them. “Focus.”

  Milo huffed out a breath, shaking the tension from his fingers.

  The ground trembled.

  Without a word, Red reached for a Poké Ball. The moment it left his fingertips, the entire mountainside quaked as the simulation reacted to the sheer power of the battle to come.

  A blinding white light erupted into the air—

  Venusaur.

  The massive Grass-type landed with a heavy stomp, its vines slowly unfurling as it let out a guttural roar. Snow and frost clung to its thick hide, but its eyes glowed with fierce, unrelenting focus.

  Above them, the AR screen displayed the first match-up, flashing the names of Red’s first Pokémon and Milo and Elliot’s chosen leads.

  Red has sent out Venusaur!

  Milo sent out Gardevoir!

  Elliot sent out Tyranitar!

  Milo exhaled sharply. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

  Tyranitar landed with a thunderous crash, shaking the ice beneath its feet as a violent sandstorm erupted around them. The artificial winds clashed against the bitter cold of the mountain, forcing a clash of elements as grains of sand sliced through the freezing air.

  Gardevoir appeared beside it, serene despite the harsh conditions, its body glowing faintly as its psychic energy stabilized the battlefield.

  Venusaur lowered its massive head, vines tensing as it prepared to attack.

  Red remained utterly still. Watching. Waiting.

  Then—

  He raised a hand.

  Venusaur moved.

  The battle for survival began.

  The AR screen flared to life, illuminating the growing crowd that had gathered near the Mt. Silver Challenge station. Passersby who had no intention of stopping had found themselves drawn in by the sight of two trainers—Milo and Elliot—attempting the impossible.

  This wasn’t just any arcade challenge.

  This was a war of endurance, a test of will against a ghost from the past.

  Near the front of the crowd, Isabelle, Amélie, and Clara had claimed a prime spot, watching intently. Azzy and Floette hovered beside them, eyes wide as the battle unfolded on the massive screen.

  Rotom, the ever-present arcade announcer, crackled with energy as it zipped across the display.

  "And we’re off! Our fearless—maybe foolish—challengers are facing off against Red’s first pick: Venusaur! And, ohhh boy, folks, it looks like Red’s not wasting time! Will they last longer than a sandwich in a Snorlax’s picnic, or will Venusaur flatten ‘em into the dirt? Let’s find out!"

  A ripple of murmurs passed through the arcade.

  "Tyranitar’s a solid lead—sandstorm puts Venusaur at a disadvantage."

  "Yeah, but did they forget Red doesn’t play like a normal opponent? If they can’t set up, they’re screwed."

  “Gardevoir’s opening with Light Screen—that’s a good start. But if Venusaur gets rolling, it won’t matter."

  "Doesn’t matter. Red’s Venusaur always does this. Just watch."

  Isabelle crossed her arms, watching the battle unfold. They don’t even know what’s about to hit them.

  The wind screamed across the battlefield, a brutal mix of biting cold and sandstorm grit. Snow and sand mixed together in a chaotic swirl, pelting against trainers and Pokémon alike.

  Milo’s fingers were numb, but the real chill had nothing to do with the simulation. It was Red, standing there, still and silent, like a statue carved into the mountain itself. He had never spoken a single word. He didn’t need to.

  Milo forced himself to move.

  "Gardevoir, Light Screen!"

  Gardevoir’s eyes shimmered, casting a psychic veil across the field. A soft, ethereal glow pulsed outward, wrapping Tyranitar in a protective barrier—a crucial defense against Red’s inevitable onslaught.

  But before the screen had fully formed—

  Red moved.

  No words. No hesitation.

  Venusaur lunged forward, vines snapping through the storm like whips.

  The first Vine Whip struck like a gunshot, the impact shaking the ground. The force alone was enough to send cracks rippling across the battlefield—

  And shatter the Light Screen instantly.

  Milo’s stomach dropped.

  Venusaur wasn’t attacking to deal damage. It was dismantling them before they could even begin.

  “Tch,” Clara muttered, shaking her head. “That’s bad.”

  Amélie gawked. “Did—did it just break Light Screen immediately? I thought that was supposed to hold up for a while!”

  Clara scoffed. “Not against that. You don’t get time to breathe against Red.”

  Isabelle exhaled, her hands tightening around her sleeves. She had seen strong trainers before. But this? This wasn’t just battle instinct.

  Red wasn’t reacting to them.

  He was controlling the entire match from second one.

  Milo barely had time to process what just happened before Red moved again.

  Two fingers. A silent command.

  Venusaur responded instantly.

  Leech Seed.

  The attack lashed out like a living thing, snarling through the storm like a snake, tendrils of green energy twisting through the snow and sand toward their Pokémon.

  Milo’s pulse spiked.

  "Gardevoir, move—"

  Before he could finish, Elliot reacted.

  “Tyranitar—block it.”

  Tyranitar shifted its massive frame, stepping forward to take the full force of the Leech Seed.

  The moment it made contact, the seeds burst, wrapping around Tyranitar’s massive arms and torso like chains, digging into its thick hide.

  Tyranitar let out a guttural snarl, its energy already beginning to drain.

  Milo gritted his teeth. “That was risky.”

  “Gardevoir needs to stay clean,” Elliot said simply.

  And he was right. Tyranitar could take the hit. If Gardevoir had been caught in the Leech Seed, their entire support setup would be crippled.

  Milo exhaled sharply. Okay. We’re still in this.

  “Tyranitar, fight back—Rock Slide!”

  Elliot’s command was sharp, cutting through the wind.

  Tyranitar lunged forward, lifting massive boulders from the frozen ground before hurling them through the storm, their forms spinning violently toward Venusaur.

  But—

  Red was already one step ahead.

  Synthesis.

  A soft glow encased Venusaur’s body, its wounds sealing as the rocks crashed into it. It stumbled slightly, the attack forcing it back a step—but it had already healed a chunk of its health.

  Milo’s stomach dropped.

  Oh, hell. This isn’t just bad—it’s a full stall tactic.

  Venusaur wasn’t trying to attack—it was waiting them out.

  Tyranitar was bleeding health from Leech Seed. Venusaur had all the time in the world to recover.

  Elliot remained expressionless, but his next command was immediate.

  “Dragon Dance again.”

  Tyranitar roared through the pain, its body glowing once more as it increased its speed and power yet again.

  Milo clenched his fists.

  If we don’t break through soon, this is over before it even starts.

  “Gardevoir—Moonblast!”

  A burst of radiant energy formed between Gardevoir’s hands, launching straight toward Venusaur—

  But Red didn’t even flinch.

  Protect.

  Venusaur lifted its vines, forming a translucent barrier just in time—Gardevoir’s attack splashed harmlessly against it.

  Milo felt his pulse spike.

  This wasn’t just strategy.

  This was control.

  Red had already mapped them out. He was dictating the pace, making them burn through energy while his Venusaur sat there, regenerating.

  And the worst part?

  They were barely thirty seconds in.

  Rotom let out a dramatic burst of static laughter, its voice crackling with glee.

  "Ohhh man, I hope they’ve got a backup plan, ‘cause right now? They’re getting played like a bad flute solo!"

  The crowd was getting louder, their voices a mix of shock, amusement, and grim understanding.

  "They’re getting choked out already. If they don’t land something big soon, it’s over."

  "Dragon Dance is stacking up, though. One mistake from Red, and Tyranitar can sweep."

  "Big if. He’s not gonna give them that opening."

  Amélie clutched her Mimikyu plush tighter. “Oh nooo, this is so bad. Can they do anything?!”

  Clara exhaled through her nose. “If they can bait out an opening, maybe. But Red doesn’t make mistakes. They have to force one.”

  Isabelle didn’t say a word.

  She just watched.

  Snow and sand continued to spiral around the battlefield as Venusaur stood firm, untouched, while Tyranitar and Gardevoir were slowly losing ground.

  Red hadn’t spoken once.

  He didn’t need to.