Snowpoint City was the northernmost city in Sinnoh. Snow drifting down from the summit of Mt. Coronet kept it cold all year round and blanketed it in thick snow. After arriving in the city and leaving his bags at the Pokémon Center, Liu Qing headed to the Snowpoint Gym.
As an Ice-type Gym, the Snowpoint Gym naturally had an ice battlefield. Liu Qing and the Gym Leader, Candice, had already taken their places. A bearded, middle-aged man in a suit served as the referee and began announcing the rules.
"The Gym battle between the challenger, Liu Qing, and the Gym Leader, Candice, will now begin! Each side may use four Pokémon. The challenge ends when all of either side's Pokémon are unable to battle. In addition, only the challenger may switch Pokémon!"
After the referee announced the rules, Candice patted her cheeks with both hands, took off her green top, and tied it around her waist. Her expression turned intensely serious as she took out a Poké Ball and threw it. "You have to win, Sneasel!"
"Archen, I'm counting on you!" Liu Qing took out a Poké Ball and threw it right afterward.
"A Flying-type?" Candice looked startled, but quickly recovered. Brimming with fighting spirit, she said, "You're really going against conventional wisdom. I don't know what kind of strategy you have in mind, but I'm looking forward to it!"
"Archen, DragonBreath!" At Liu Qing's command, Archen cried out and sent a powerful blast of breath straight at Sneasel.
"Sneasel, dodge!" Candice immediately gave her command as well. Sneasel pushed off with its feet and skimmed swiftly across the ice, evading DragonBreath in an instant and closing in on Archen's position overhead.
"So fast!" Liu Qing couldn't help praising it. Sneasel was already quick, but on the ice, it was