This is it?

"Want some?" Isaac Newton, the Chiba Gym Leader, asked, waving a chocolate bar in front of his sleepy Rowlet. The little Pokémon stirred groggily, blinking up at him.

Still half-asleep, Rowlet instinctively pecked at the treat.

"Not so fast!" Isaac yanked the bar away with a grin, taking a large bite himself.

Rowlet's feathers puffed up in indignation, its wide eyes glaring at Isaac. Hoothoot! its sharp chirp seemed to scream, Betrayal!

The moment was interrupted by the door creaking open. A tall woman with sleek black hair and an aura of authority stepped in. Her piercing gaze immediately zeroed in on the pile of chocolate bars scattered across the table. Without hesitation, she scooped them up.

"You know this junk is bad for you, right? Or do you want to develop diabetes?" Jeanne scolded, her tone as sharp as her presence.

Hoothoot! Rowlet cheered triumphantly, flapping over to perch on her shoulder. It shot Isaac a smug look that clearly said, "Serves you right!"

Isaac threw up his hands in mock despair. "How could you betray me like this, buddy?"

But one glance at Jeanne's no-nonsense glare made him drop the act. "Fine, fine! No more chocolate."

Jeanne folded her arms. "Where's my sister?"

"She's with Mark, downtown," Isaac replied, his tone turning sour.

At the mention of Mark, Isaac's jaw tightened. That boy had been around far too much lately. His daughter was like a delicate flower, and Mark was a reckless weed threatening to encroach.

Isaac couldn't resist shifting the spotlight. "Jeanne, your little sister has a boyfriend now. When are you going to—"

His words were cut short by Jeanne's icy glare, a look that could freeze the sun. Isaac wisely turned back to the monitors, muttering something about the weather.

His brow furrowed as he leaned closer to one of the screens. "What's going on here? Charles is supposed to be supervising a junior breeder exam, not going full tournament mode. Why's his Ludicolo using Hydro Pump in the middle of a rainstorm?"

Jeanne followed his gaze. On the monitor, Charles's Ludicolo unleashed a powerful blast of water, easily knocking out a Tyrunt. But the battle wasn't over. A colossal Tyranitar stomped onto the field, its sheer presence summoning a raging sandstorm that engulfed the arena.

Battlefield No. 3

The air grew tense as the towering Tyranitar roared, its power dominating the battlefield. The swirling sandstorm reduced visibility, but its presence could be felt like an oppressive weight.

Charles Darwin's jaw dropped. "A Tyranitar? How does a junior breeder even have one of those? And this one—it's enormous. No, it's more than that—it's a leader, almost like an Alpha Pokémon."

Despite his shock, Charles barked out a command. "Ludicolo, use Hydro Pump!"

Grass and water types counter rock types. I've got this. I have to win, he thought, even as doubt gnawed at him.

But when you need to convince yourself you can win, you've already lost.

Without the rain to bolster its strength, Ludicolo's movements grew sluggish. Still, it managed to fire a high-pressure stream of water straight at Tyranitar.

John, the Tyranitar's trainer, spoke calmly. "Use Hyper Beam."

The battlefield erupted in a dazzling flash as Tyranitar released a blinding beam of energy. The Hydro Pump barely held for a moment before disintegrating, and the beam plowed into Ludicolo, launching it across the arena. The impact left a smoking crater in the wall. Ludicolo lay motionless amidst the rubble.

"Ludicolo is unable to battle! Tyranitar wins!" the referee announced, his voice tinged with awe at the sheer force of the attack.

Charles clenched his fists, his earlier confidence obliterated. Moments ago, he had reveled in his triumph over a Tyrunt. Now, he stood defeated, his pride crushed under the weight of Tyranitar's overwhelming power.

John's voice was steady but laced with mockery. "Is that all?"

Charles's glare could have cut glass. "You want serious? Fine!" He snatched another Pokeball from his belt and released it.

A flash of light revealed a sleek Leafeon. Its glossy green leaf-like tail and ears shimmered in the sandstorm, and its sharp eyes gleamed with determination.

"Leafeon, use Sunny Day!" Charles commanded.

Leafeon let out a melodic cry, and the sky began to clear. The sun's rays pierced through the sandstorm, bathing the field in light. Leafeon stood taller, its energy visibly amplified.

John smirked. "Amateur." He didn't even hesitate. "Tyranitar, Sandstorm."

With a mighty roar, Tyranitar summoned another storm, the swirling sands blotting out the sun once more. John had already seen through Charles's strategy. Leafeon likely had the Chlorophyll ability, which would boost its speed in sunlight. But plans only work if your opponent doesn't have a counter.

"Use Rock Slide," John ordered.

Tyranitar roared again, summoning a cascade of massive boulders. Leafeon tried to dodge, its movements swift and graceful, but the barrage was relentless. A few hits sent it skidding across the field, battered and barely able to stand.

Monitoring Room

Isaac leaned back, grinning. "That's my boy. Not just strong—smart too. Looks like Charles bit off more than he could chew."

Jeanne, ever composed, nodded slightly. "The examinee's proving himself more than capable. But this exam has turned into a spectacle."

Isaac chuckled, his eyes still on the monitor. "Let's see if Charles has any tricks left. My money's on John cleaning house."

Jeanne remained silent, her sharp gaze fixed on the battle, anticipation flickering in her usually stoic expression.