The Rota Gym had reopened, though the number of challengers had dropped sharply.
After all, regional tournaments across the world were about to begin, and most trainers had already headed to the host cities to prepare.
In fact, many other Gyms had already closed for a break. The regional tournament season was the only time in the year Gym Leaders could officially and guiltlessly take time off.
All the Gym Leaders saw this as a chance to finally relax.
Dylan didn't particularly care. He gave himself plenty of downtime throughout the year anyway.
The morning after returning to the Gym, Dylan lounged in the backyard, basking in the sun while on a call.
"Well now, a rare guest. What brings you to call me, Giovanni?" Dylan said lazily. That's right—the caller was none other than Giovanni.
"Heh… sounds like you're in good spirits, Dylan," Giovanni's smooth, magnetic voice came through evenly.
"Can't complain. How about you, still in Johto?"
"Mm. Still no leads."
Giovanni sighed. After visiting a pharmacy in Cerulean City to refill some medication, he'd been searching non-stop for Silver—but found nothing.
"Though things have gotten a bit tense lately. Dylan, your buddy Lance is making a mess of things in Johto," Giovanni said, a touch of amusement in his voice.
"Oh?" Dylan raised a brow.
"Lance has been prowling around Johto, digging up every lead he can find."
"Looking for you, I assume," Dylan chuckled. No doubt Lance was hunting for Giovanni's trail.
While Team Rocket had been crushed in Kanto, their Johto branch still had some presence. To Lance, it only made sense that their boss had fled there to rebuild.
Not a wrong assumption—just an outdated one. Lance likely didn't realize Giovanni had no intention of leading Team Rocket anymore.
"Correct." Giovanni admitted without hesitation. The feud between him and Lance ran deep.
"Johto's Team Rocket is in a tight spot. Lance is purging them in search of me, and Karen is rallying the rest."
Giovanni mused, uncertain of Karen's true motives—why was she trying to consolidate control of the Team? There had to be a reason.
"She's backed by the Masked Organization. They're getting impatient."
"So you do know," Giovanni's eyes glinted. He'd already suspected that the people behind Karen might be the same ones who abducted Silver years ago.
"She's with the Masked Organization, and the waters run deep. Giovanni, take my advice—stay far away."
"Even if Mewtwo sides with you, you're no match for the leader of that group."
Dylan warned him plainly. The strength of that old monster Guyu wasn't something to underestimate.
"I see…" Giovanni frowned slightly. "Actually, you didn't need to warn me—I saw it for myself yesterday."
"What do you mean?" Dylan's expression shifted.
"Yesterday, near Cianwood Town, Lance found Karen. And he had Zekrom with him." Giovanni's tone grew serious.
"So he really did obtain the Black Dragon…" Dylan was surprised—but not that surprised.
With Lance's natural talent and ideals, it wasn't odd that Zekrom had chosen him. His aspirations were grander, and far more grounded, than N's ever were.
But what about Zekrom's loyalty to N?
No, Dylan figured N must have voluntarily relinquished Zekrom. A legendary dragon god wouldn't be so fickle.
Even Reshiram wouldn't abandon its hero like that—much less Zekrom.
After all, N did the same in Black & White 2, returning Zekrom to stone and entrusting it to the protagonist.
Because N was selfless. Truly selfless.
"Right. But his Zekrom got defeated." Giovanni's voice turned odd.
Dylan immediately understood. Near Cianwood? If Lance's Zekrom lost… the culprit was obvious.
"That trainer never showed up, but a single Delibird defeated Zekrom. It was terrifying."
Giovanni couldn't help but sigh. That was the Dragon of Ideals, Zekrom—under Lance's command, no less.
Lance was a much stronger trainer than N, so Zekrom should have been at its peak.
And yet it lost—to a Delibird wielding impossibly sharp Ice-type moves.
"I never thought Johto would be hiding such a powerhouse. Not a whisper of their name until now."
"The world's big. Not all that strange." Dylan offered a moment of silence for his senior, Lance.
He'd just obtained Zekrom and was eager to reclaim glory by confronting Team Rocket's leader—only to run headfirst into a hidden final boss.
"Still, I imagine we'll be seeing quite a show soon. Dylan, just wait," Giovanni said meaningfully before ending the call.
Dylan didn't follow up.
Giovanni had little interest in causing trouble these days—but if it involved Lance, he might not let the opportunity slip by.
Dylan could already guess what he was planning.
"Big bro Gym Leader, those people are back again."
Hearing Asha's voice over the comms, Dylan tidied himself and headed inside the Gym.
"Well, well—if it isn't Kieran and company."
Lillie blinked curiously at the three people waiting—Kieran, Carmine, and Lacey. That's right, Lacey had come too.
Lillie's eyes focused on Kieran. Compared to before, the boy had changed significantly.
His eyes, his presence—much calmer, more confident. Clearly, he'd matured.
"Long time no see, Lillie." Lacey smiled with squinted eyes and gave a small wave.
"It's been a while." Lillie returned the smile warmly.
"Hang on, my brother will be out soon. Kieran—did you really become the Blueberry Academy Champion?" Lillie asked, curious.
She remembered the deal Dylan had made with Kieran.
If Kieran became the Champion of Blueberry Academy before year's end, he could come to Kanto and challenge Dylan.
"Yes. I didn't let Mr. Dylan down." Kieran smiled brightly.
"He's been incredible," Lacey added. "Training and battling nonstop—he's improved so fast. He beat Drayton just days ago and became Champion of the Blueberry League."
She sounded impressed—and with good reason. She had underestimated Kieran before. His potential was far beyond what she imagined.
In just six months, he had become the Academy's strongest.
But there was no jealousy in her voice. She knew his growth came from tireless work—driven by their trip to Kitakami and Dylan's expectations.
Since returning, she'd kept an eye on him and saw how Kieran pushed himself every day. If he wasn't eating, he was training or battling.
With effort like that, his growth wasn't luck—it was inevitable.
"Even talks to me less than before," Carmine added half-jokingly, though her tone was a bit conflicted.
She never expected Kieran to make it. The little brother who once trailed behind her… now stood far above.
"This was a man's promise between me and Mr. Dylan. I had to fulfill it." Kieran shook his head resolutely.
Clap—clap—
Applause echoed from behind them. Kieran turned, eyes lighting up.
"Mr. Dylan!" Lacey's eyes lit up too as she smiled at the man walking over.
"It's been a while, Miss Lacey," Dylan greeted her with a soft smile, then turned to Kieran.
"Your eyes have grown sharp, your spirit steadier. Kieran, you didn't disappoint me."
He patted Kieran's shoulder—pleased beyond words.
"I knew I wasn't wrong about you. You really did it."
"Yes! Thank you for your belief and guidance!" Kieran said emotionally, voice filled with gratitude.
He knew his progress came from effort—but without Dylan's support and belief, he might not have come this far.
Dylan gave him something even more important than strength: a clear goal and the will to chase it relentlessly.
"So Kieran, you're here to challenge my Gym, aren't you?" Dylan smiled.
"Yes! I want to battle you." Kieran's expression turned serious.
"Good. Then let me see what you're capable of."
Dylan led him over to the roulette board.
"I'll be using Armarouge to face you—but first, let's see if you can even beat my other team members."
"Give it a spin. Let's see what type you land on."
This was the promise Dylan had made. When Kieran came to challenge him, he would face Armarouge—but first, he had to prove he was worthy.
Kieran nodded. Of course he knew the rules of the Rota Gym.
He pressed the button, and the roulette wheel began spinning at high speed.
Carmine and Lacey both watched intently. Lacey in particular felt her scalp prickle when she saw that narrow gold sliver on the wheel.
Now she understood why Dylan hadn't wanted to include the golden Legendary Team option—it was completely unfair!
Soon, the pointer stopped on the snowflake icon—Ice-type.
"Ice-type team, huh?"
Carmine thought for a moment. Not bad, considering Kieran's team was multi-type.
"Let's go then, Kieran."
Dylan and Kieran moved to their respective positions on the battlefield.
"Now commencing the official Rota Gym Challenge! Challenger: Kieran from Kitakami," Leaf, acting as the referee, announced.
"Battle format is 6 vs. 6, full team match. Gym Leader Dylan sends out first and may not switch Pokémon. The battle is won when all six of Dylan's Pokémon are defeated."
"Battle—begin!"
Leaf stepped back from the field. The scoreboard lit up with Dylan and Kieran's portraits.
Kieran took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves—but it wasn't easy.
Staring at the man in black across from him, Kieran's eyes trembled slightly.
Dylan of Rota Gym. The man he had always looked up to.
And now—he was standing across from him at last.
Kieran's heart pounded, each beat loud and strong in his chest.
Mr. Dylan… I've come!
(End of Chapter)