After walking a short way along the passage, the two came upon an open arena. It resembled an ice rink from Yong's previous life, with nothing on its icy surface.
In the middle of the arena, a slope rose gradually upward. It looked a full hundred meters long, angled twenty-five degrees from the ground, and extended all the way to the opposite mountain wall. There was a small platform there, with a door behind it!
Yong surveyed the arena. Ice enclosed it above, below, and on every side, while icicles of all sizes covered the slope before him.
"What is this place?"
Xiao Chao explained,
"This is the trial stage! As long as you can climb up and enter the room on the other side, you'll be able to meet the Gym Leader."
"It's an icy slope, sure, but with all these icicles to hold on to, climbing it shouldn't be too hard, right?"
Yong examined it carefully but found nothing unusual.
Xiao Chao said no more. He simply smiled slightly and said,
"Then let's begin! You can choose one Pokémon to help you!"
I need a Pokémon's help?
Yong frowned. After a moment's thought, he released Baltoy anyway. Baltoy could levitate and use Confusion, so it could just fly him straight up!
"Let's go, Baltoy!"
"Yana~!"
Blue light enveloped both Yong and Baltoy as Baltoy activated Confusion and floated up the slope toward the other side!
Yong followed close behind.
Just then, a white figure appeared at the top of the slope.
Purple eyes, a slender body, and white ceremonial robes-it was the familiar Froslass!
With a sweep of her hands, fierce winds suddenly sprang up throughout the arena. Snowflakes fell, and the temperature plummeted! A powerful snowstorm swept toward the boy and his Pokémon!
Caught off guard, Baltoy