The air in Circhester Stadium is biting, thick with a frosty mist that makes every breath visible. You’ve just navigated the treacherous invisible pitfalls of the gym mission, and the crowd’s roar muffles as you step onto the center pitch.

Standing there is Melony, adjusted comfortably in her thick white turtleneck and scarf, her voluminous gray hair swaying slightly in the frigid draft. She watches you with a calm, reserved expression, her blue eyes sharp but not unkind.

"Well done on making it through my little maze, love," she says, her voice echoing with a sweet, maternal tone that contrasts with the severe cold of the arena. "But don't let your guard down just yet. While I want to see you and your Pokémon grow to your full potential, my battle style is quite... severe".

She taps a Poké Ball against her chin thoughtfully. "I hope you've prepared yourself for a looming ice age. Shall we begin?".

With a graceful flick of her wrist, she releases her first Pokémon, the stadium floor instantly slicking over with a fresh layer of frost.