"Congratulations, rookie Trainer Ye Lan. You've earned the Beacon Badge."
Ye Lan caught the Beacon Badge as it flew across the battlefield. After rubbing a thumb over its markings, he tossed it back. "I didn't come for the Beacon Badge. I want to challenge Volkner, the Sunyshore Gym Leader."
Silence fell over the gym. The referee and the robot acting as Gym Leader exchanged a glance, ignored Ye Lan's request, and left through a passage that had opened in the metal wall behind them.
Countless Trainers who thought themselves talented had made the same demand. But the gap in strength was too great for Volkner to feel the slightest urge to accept. Fixing a faulty circuit would be more worthwhile.
Ye Lan's expression remained calm, and his words had rung with conviction, but his heart was pounding.
He hadn't wanted to sound so provocative. A Gym Leader-level Trainer challenging an Elite Four-level opponent felt absurd. But he had no choice. If he didn't push Volkner a little, he would probably have come all this way for nothing.
Chances to battle a Trainer like this were rare, and Ye Lan had other plans besides. For Leafeon's sake and for this battle, he had to grit his teeth and go through with it.
In the central control room, Ye Lan's words came through the surveillance feed and filled every corner. Volkner's hands paused over the model he had been tinkering with. At last, he set it back on the workbench.
"Pikachu, let's go meet this rather cocky young Trainer."
"Pika!"
Ye Lan hadn't actually angered Volkner. He simply intended to show the green-haired young man that even if they used Pokémon of similar strength, the outcome would never be in doubt. Passion that ignored reality was pointless and foolish.
"Passion, huh..."
Volkner