I, Gary, Want to Become a Pokemon Master

Gary Oak didn't pay much attention to Wallace's surprise and leapt onto Articuno's back, urging, "Mr. Wallace, what are you waiting for? Pick one and hop on."

"Oh!" Wallace hesitated for a moment, glancing at both Zapdos and Moltres, before finally settling on Moltres.

Although riding Moltres was a bit too warm for comfort, he preferred it over the risk of getting poked by Zapdos' sharp, electrically charged feathers. The static electricity from Zapdos could be painful — his feathers stood stiff like needles. One wrong move, and you'd be regretting it.

Gary had anticipated this and had chosen Articuno — especially considering Hoenn's tropical climate. Riding the Ice-type Legendary Bird was incredibly refreshing.

"Take off! Head southwest!" Gary commanded, pointing in the direction of the Aether Marine Platform.

The three Legendary Birds — Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres — soared majestically into the skies, flying in formation across the airspace over Slateport City. Their elegant, radiant forms didn't go unnoticed.

People on the ground looked up in awe. "They're so beautiful!"

Wallace, the renowned Pokémon Coordinator and the Champion of the Hoenn Region, couldn't help but marvel. Legendary Pokémon already inspired reverence, but the trio of majestic birds in flight was a spectacle of beauty even for someone like him.

"Mr. Wallace," Gary reminded, pulling Wallace out of his admiration, "we need to stay focused. Rayquaza's been captured by the Aether Foundation. Team Rocket is involved too."

Wallace's expression immediately turned serious. "Tell me everything."

Wallace hadn't seen the vision transmitted by Latios. Latios could share mental illusions, but only with others of its species — or trainers it deeply trusted.

"The Aether Foundation and Team Rocket have teamed up to capture Rayquaza," Gary explained grimly. "They're conducting experiments on it."

Wallace's eyes widened. "What's Rayquaza's condition?"

"Trapped by steel restraint rings and unconscious," Gary said, his tone heavy.

Wallace was visibly shaken. That the Aether Foundation — disguised as a philanthropic organization — had developed the technology to capture Rayquaza was staggering. Even the Hoenn League hadn't come close. How had they done it?

"Are there many trainers guarding the facility?" Wallace asked.

Gary shook his head. "Not sure. Latios' images showed several Rocket Grunts, but they didn't look particularly strong. They probably used advanced tech to trap my Latios too."

Gary's Latios was at the Elite tier, and it wasn't easy to overpower a Pokémon of that level without specialized anti-Dragon tech.

Fortunately for them, Latios possessed the power of telepathy. Even though it had been ambushed and restrained, it still managed to alert Gary through psychic imagery. The Aether Foundation wouldn't have time to evacuate now — they had been exposed.

With Rayquaza already captured, the evidence was undeniable. They wouldn't risk releasing it. Once freed, Rayquaza's wrath would be catastrophic.

"I understand," Wallace said solemnly.

The usually flamboyant Champion pulled out a high-end communicator and issued a command in a steady, urgent voice.

"This is Wallace. The Aether Foundation has illegally detained Rayquaza. I'm placing a full blockade on all operations at the Aether Marine Platform. Requesting immediate backup from the Hoenn League."

He ended the call.

By now, the Hoenn League would be fully mobilized. With all three ancient super-legendary Pokémon appearing today, the League president was probably tearing his hair out.

Over an hour later, the three Legendary Birds arrived in the skies above the Aether Marine Platform. From a distance, Gary and Wallace could see a dozen Team Rocket members in black uniforms gathered on the platform.

The enemy had clearly realized they'd been discovered and had started preparing for evacuation. But before retreating, they were determined to run one final experiment — the key to the operation's success.

"Zapdos, disrupt the local magnetic field!" Gary shouted.

"Gaaah!" Zapdos shrieked, then soared high above, releasing a powerful electric discharge.

In moments, ominous dark clouds blanketed the area, and the magnetic field became erratic. All electronics in the vicinity malfunctioned — the entire facility's systems were paralyzed.

On the platform below, chaos erupted.

"Captain Ghetsis, we've lost all internal systems. The experiment is suspended!" a Rocket Grunt reported.

"What?! This location was chosen precisely to avoid that kind of interference!" Ghetsis snarled.

"Captain! Unknown flying Pokémon approaching from the northeast!" another grunt yelled.

Ghetsis grabbed a telescope and looked toward the sky. His jaw dropped when he saw three silhouettes — unmistakably Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres — flying toward them with trainers aboard.

"Impossible... Legendary Birds?! And someone is riding them?!"

"Alert Professor Zager! If the systems can't be restored, we evacuate immediately!"

But with the comms disabled, they were forced to run back on foot. No tech, no signals — only panic.

Gary and Wallace arrived overhead, peering down at the platform, where Team Rocket had released their Pokémon and were preparing for battle.

"Mr. Wallace, most of your team is Water-type," Gary noted. "Want Moltres to drop you off near the water channel?"

"No need," Wallace replied confidently. "This distance is perfect."

Before Gary could react, Wallace leapt off Moltres' back.

"Wait — huh??" Gary blinked, stunned. What was Wallace doing?! The platform was swarming with enemy Pokémon.

Ghetsis and his grunts also noticed Wallace's bold descent.

"Attack him! Aggron, use Stone Edge!" Ghetsis roared.

Dozens of trainers followed suit, unleashing a barrage of Rock-type and Electric-type moves toward the falling Champion.

Wallace responded with perfect composure. With a flick of his wrist, he released a Poké Ball mid-air.

A beautiful Milotic emerged in a graceful arc and caught Wallace in mid-descent. With an elegant cry, Milotic summoned a shimmering green energy barrier that intercepted the incoming attacks.

[Lv. 74 – Milotic ♀ – Champion]

Gary quickly analyzed Milotic's level — 74. Not particularly high for a Champion's ace.

He recalled that when he had met Lance two years ago, the Dragon-type master's Dragonite was already at level 75. Compared to that, Wallace's Milotic seemed underwhelming.

No wonder people call him the weakest Champion, Gary thought.

"Milotic, use Blizzard!" Wallace commanded.

"Uuuugh~!" Milotic sang as it exhaled a chilling gust of ice and snow.

The storm spread across the platform in a sweeping arc. A dozen enemy Pokémon were caught in the blast — half of them frozen solid in place.