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The man listened to Ash's words in silence, as if Ash's words had struck a chord deep within him. Misty was secretly taken aback as she observed his reaction. Was Ash's guess really that accurate? Could he have hit the mark so perfectly?
Although Misty knew Ash's intuition was always sharp, this seemed almost too precise. Then again, looking at the man's attire, it was reminiscent of Uncle Flint's peculiar outfit from years ago.
"These things have nothing to do with you, so leave quickly!" the man said, his tone firm. It was clear he didn't want to reveal more and was intent on warning them off before turning to leave.
"We won't leave unless you tell us the real reason why we must go!" Ash called out, stepping forward defiantly. "If you explain, maybe I'll reconsider."
Seeing the man about to walk away, Ash spoke with determination, refusing to be brushed off. Of course, he already knew about Sabrina's situation, but fear wasn't the issue here. While Sabrina was undeniably powerful, Ash was no longer the naive kid from the beginning of his journey. From this point onward, he was stepping into the true path of a trainer. To him, Sabrina represented the final challenge of the novice stage.
"…Fine. If that's how it is, I'll tell you." The man hesitated briefly before relenting, his voice calmer now.
Soon after, the four of them found a quiet spot to sit down. The man settled himself, and Ash, Brock, and Misty sat beside him.
"Sabrina is no ordinary person," the man began after a moment of thought.
"Isn't she just a Gym Leader? Brock used to be one, and I came from the Cerulean Gym myself," Misty replied skeptically, finding his words a bit underwhelming. It sounded like he was stating the obvious.
"It's not as simple as just being a Gym Leader," the man continued. As he spoke, a passerby dropped an empty soda can, which clattered onto the ground nearby.
The man's gaze shifted to the can. His eyes glinted faintly, and a soft blue glow surrounded the can. In an instant, it lifted into the air, encased in a shimmering blue aura. The can twisted and compressed, crumpling into a dense iron ball before floating effortlessly into a nearby trash can.
"Ah!" Brock and Misty gasped, their expressions changing as they processed what they had just witnessed.
"This is… Psychic power?" Brock stammered, astonished by the display. Misty and Brock exchanged uneasy glances, realizing the man wasn't just an ordinary person himself.
"So, you're a Psychic?" Misty asked cautiously. "And you're saying Sabrina isn't ordinary either…"
The man nodded. "That's correct. Sabrina is not only not ordinary, but her Psychic powers far surpass mine."
"What's the difference, though? How does that affect challenging her Gym?" Brock questioned, still confused.
"Sabrina has been completely consumed by her Psychic abilities ever since discovering her talent as a child," the man explained, his voice grave. "She's dedicated her entire life to honing her Psychic powers, to the point of obsession. Even her parents couldn't stop her as her powers grew."
"Not only does she use her Psychic abilities in Pokémon battles, but her fixation has caused her to develop a dual personality," the man concluded, his tone heavy with concern.
"One side of her personality is cold and merciless, while the other is like an innocent child, desperate for friends," the man explained, detailing Sabrina's troubling duality. He also briefly described the terror of facing her, which seemed to embody her fearsome powers.
"That sounds… awful," Misty murmured, feeling an unexpected pang of sympathy.
"The worst part," the man continued, "is that when someone manages to defeat her cold personality, they're forced to become a 'friend' to her childlike persona."
"That doesn't sound so bad!" Misty replied hesitantly. Hearing about Sabrina's loneliness struck a chord within her. Although she wasn't Psychic, she had often felt overshadowed by her older sisters, who were more talented and prettier, leaving her craving friends who truly understood her.
"You're wrong," the man said grimly. "The 'friend' she wants is like a doll—one who will never leave and who exists solely to amuse her, completely under her control. Do you still think it's a good thing?"
His words hung heavily in the air, and Misty and Brock's expressions shifted to horror. This wasn't just loneliness; it was something far darker.
"That's why very few people dare to challenge her Gym," the man continued. "It's not just her powerful Psychic Pokémon you have to face, but also Sabrina herself. She's so adept with her abilities that she can use Psychic powers to fight alongside her Pokémon, making it feel like you're battling two opponents at once!"
"You mentioned earlier that you met a young girl, Stephanie. That must have been Sabrina's other personality. In other words, she's already taken notice of you. That's why I warned you to leave."
Misty shivered involuntarily, her gaze darting around nervously as if she could feel Sabrina watching them at that very moment.
"If we've already been noticed by her," Ash said calmly, "then leaving isn't an option."
"Huh?" The man's brows furrowed. His concern deepened. If Sabrina's Psychic abilities had reached the point where she could detect challengers even before they arrived in Saffron City, it meant her powers were growing stronger.
"Let's go," Ash said decisively, standing up.
"Wait!" the man called out, stepping in front of them. "You know all of this and still plan to challenge her?"
"I'm not a Psychic," Ash replied, his voice steady, "but I am a Pokémon Trainer. I won't back down."
Though Brock and Misty were visibly uneasy after hearing the man's story, Ash's calm determination reassured them. They exchanged a glance before silently rising to follow him.
It was becoming clear to all of them who the man really was. He knew far too much about Sabrina for his connection to be coincidental. Ash's earlier suspicions seemed to have been right on target.
The man watched the trio leave, conflicted. He wanted to stop them, yet deep in his heart, he found himself hoping—hoping that Ash might succeed where others had failed. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to follow them.
Ash and his friends, however, didn't head directly to the Saffron Gym. Instead, they stopped at the Pokémon Center. There, they handed their Pokémon over to Nurse Joy for recovery and took some time to rest and prepare for the challenge ahead.