"Excellent, excellent. I've finally collected all eight Gym Badges."
Looking at the yellow-and-white badge shaped like three icicles in his hand, Bai Shi nodded in satisfaction.
This Icicle Badge was proof of his victory over Brycen.
With the Icicle Badge in hand, Bai Shi had officially collected all eight badges, fulfilling the requirements to enter the Pokémon League tournament.
Next, he would make a determined push for the tournament crown, striving to emerge as the ultimate victor.
However, there were still more than two months before the Vertress Conference began.
Bai Shi needed to make a detailed plan to put that time to good use.
"I remember the Junior Cup will be held in Lacunosa Town in a while."
"The Pokémon Trainer who wins the Junior Cup gets to battle Alder."
"If I can make it in time, I could go join in."
"Also, while I have some free time, I should look for that Beartic."
After careful consideration, Bai Shi settled on three important tasks.
First, keep training and improve his Pokémon's strength in preparation for the Vertress Conference.
Second, use competition as training by participating in the Junior Cup in Lacunosa Town.
Third, catch another Pokémon by searching for Beartic near Icirrus City.
"I'll set the first two aside for now. Finding Beartic is the priority."
During the recent Gym battle, Brycen's Beartic had left a deep impression on Bai Shi.
On top of that, Bai Shi had long coveted a Beartic.
Thus, he made his decision without hesitation.
"In the original storyline, that Beartic could freeze vast stretches of forest with just a casual breath."
"With power that outrageous, there has to be some trace of it."
To make his search more efficient, Bai Shi took out his computer and searched for rumors of similar phenomena, looking