The battlefield outside the Pokémon Center was alive with excitement.
The elderly Ace Trainers gathered around had no intention of going easy on that idiot of a Gym Leader.
They clapped and cheered, making it as lively as a New Year celebration.
"I could tell this young fellow had promise at first glance! Though I've never seen that Pokémon before."
"Indeed. Handsome and powerful, too. Very impressive."
"Oh, I remember now! Isn't this youngster the one who won the Indigo Plateau Conference a while back?"
"No wonder he's beating that Bug Catcher so badly his own mother wouldn't recognize him..."
"He has quite a bit of my flair back when I was young."
"Pah, shameless! Were you this good-looking when you were young? Don't even get me started..."
"I meant his strength! His strength! You old coot!"
"Oh, just wait until I've taken my blood pressure medicine. I'm fighting you to the bitter end today!"
Listening from the sidelines, Gary didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The guy hadn't lost yet. He still had one Pokémon left...
Bugsy looked at his ace, Heracross, and kept encouraging himself. "One look at that build tells me the opponent isn't a power type. I still have a chance!"
Lorelei waved her little hand. "The battle continues!"
"Heracross, use Megahorn!" Meeting Gary's eyes head-on, Bugsy launched another attack!
"He is an official Pokémon League Gym Trainer, after all. He's got some backbone," Gary said with a smile. "But, Mr. Gym Leader, times have changed."
The horn on Heracross's head erupted with blazing white light as the Pokémon charged ferociously at Armarouge.
Armarouge planted both feet firmly and raised both arms. Amid the crowd's cries of surprise, they transformed into two dark red cannon barrels!
"Armor Cannon!" Young Master Mao swept his hand forward.