The speaker was a young man with long reddish-brown hair. He wore gray mining clothes and a hard hat fitted with a spotlight, and his glasses flashed in the sunlight.
"Mr. Roark!"
"It's the Gym Leader!"
"Roark..."
The surrounding crowd gradually stirred.
Yong looked at the newcomer. He looked much the same as in the original, only a little younger.
Roark... the leader of the Oreburgh Gym, a Gym Trainer specializing in Rock-type Pokémon. He grew up on Iron Island...
Yong smiled faintly.
"It would be wonderful to have you referee, Mr. Roark!"
Across from him, Ahe nodded as well.
Roark laughed.
"I saw how lively the training area was from across the way, so I thought I'd come over and take a look! I never expected to find a new trainer challenging the central area!"
As he looked at Yong, an unreadable glint appeared in Roark's eyes.
"I'm looking forward to this! That Drilbur looks full of spirit!"
"Roark!"
Just then, another voice rang out. Huchen squeezed through the crowd with a smile.
"I didn't expect you to come over!"
"It's not often I get to watch a battle. Ever since you took over the central area, there have been fewer and fewer challengers..."
Roark shot Huchen an exasperated look, then said no more to him. Instead, he smiled at Yong and Ahe.
"So, this will be one-on-one, right?"
When both nodded, Roark motioned for the surrounding crowd to step back, leaving a larger space. Then he raised his hand, looked at the two ready trainers, and smiled.
"Serperior versus Drilbur! Let the battle begin!"
Ahe spoke in a low voice.
"Serperior! Vine Whip!"
"Serperior!"
The collar-like leaves around Serperior's neck swayed slightly, and several dark green vines rapidly extended, lashing toward Drilbur!
Yong spoke calmly.
"Watch where they'll