Chapter 449: Rock Gym Battle (2)
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Oreburgh City – Gym]
Roark pulled his next Poké Ball, a determined glint in his eyes as he declared, "I haven't had a thrill like this since I dug up my first Omanyte fossil. Let's go, Cranidos! Show them the power of the Oreburgh mines!"
*Pop*
The fossil Pokémon leaped out, snapping its powerful jaws. The air around it seemed to shimmer with a dangerous intensity, with its held item [Life Orb] wrapped around its neck like a necklace.
Platinum noted, her scholarly instincts kicking in, commenting, "That Cranidos... its aura is different. It's holding a [Life Orb]. And if I'm not mistaken, its Hidden Ability is Sheer Force if Roark used it like this. It's a pure offensive engine."
Azure looked at the Stealth Rocks still littering his side. If he sent out his next Pokémon, they'd take damage immediately.
He reached for a specific Poké Ball. With a sly grin, he declared proudly, "Riolu, the stage is yours!"
*Pop*
Riolu landed on the field with its held item [Expert Belt] wrapped around its waist, and immediately, the Stealth Rocks reacted. The jagged stones flew toward the small Emanation Pokémon, slicing at its fur.
*SHINNG*
Riolu grunted, sliding back as red marks appeared on its limbs. Roark murmured, "[Expert Belt] Riolu versus Sheer Force Cranidos. This is going to be a quick match. Cranidos, Zen Headbutt!"
*ZOOOM*
Cranidos's head glowed with blue psychic energy, preparing to ram its head. It charged like a freight train.
However, Azure countered, "Riolu, use Quick Attack to reposition!"
*Zooom*
Riolu became a blue streak, narrowly dodging the psychic-charged headbutt. But Azure followed up, extending his arm out, "Now, Metal Claw!"
*Wooosh*
Riolu's paws sharpened into metallic points. It spun, slashing at Cranidos's flank in its moment of weakness.
*Shink*
The move was super-effective, but Cranidos barely flinched. Roark roared, "Now, Cranidos! Head Smash!"
Azure quickly countered, "Protect!"
*CLANG*
A shimmering green honeycomb barrier appeared just as Cranidos slammed its skull into Riolu. The barrier held, but the shockwave sent dust flying to the rafters.
Platinum said softly with a smug grin, informing the two, "Diamond, Pearl, watch closely. Azure isn't just defending. He's reading the rhythm."
Azure commanded, "Riolu, use Bullet Punch!"
*TING*
Riolu's fist glowed with a dull metallic sheen. It struck with the speed of sound. It hit, but Cranidos…
But Roark countered, "Nice! Now Crunch!"
As Riolu was too close, Cranidos immediately used a Crunch. It snapped its jaws tightly on Riolu's arms.
*CRUNCH*
Riolu cried out as Cranidos's jaws clamped onto its arm. The [Life Orb] on Cranidos's neck pulsed, but it didn't drain a bit of the dinosaur's health to empower the bite.
Azure countered, "Riolu, use Drain Punch!"
*WHUMP*
While trapped in the jaws, Riolu's free hand glowed with green energy. It hammered a punch into Cranidos's chest. Riolu's eyes glowed as it sucked away a portion of Cranidos's vitality to heal its own wounds.
*Tmp*
The two Pokémon broke apart, both panting heavily. The intensity in the gym was palpable as both warily eyed each other.
The spectators were silent, absorbed in the high-speed chess match. Roark admitted, "You're good, Sky. Real good as they say. But let's see you handle the maximum output. Cranidos, use Ancient Power, then finish it with Head Smash!"
*RMBL*
Cranidos gathered the rocks from the floor, spinning them in a vortex. It was intended to keep Riolu in one place as they floated around it.
Azure's eyes narrowed. Usually, a Riolu at this level relied on physical prowess. But his Riolu... his Riolu was a student of the Aura.
Taking a deep breath, Azure's aura subtly flickered, getting Riolu's attention as he said in a calming voice, "Riolu, remember the training. Focus the life force into a single point. Don't let the physical world limit you."
Riolu closed its eyes. It stood perfectly still amidst the swirling rocks.
Pearl shouted in confusion, "Wait, what is he doing? He's going to get hit!"
Platinum whispered, her breath catching, "Look at its paws…"
*Zzzzzt*
A small spark of blue light appeared between Riolu's cupped palms. It grew rapidly, swirling like a miniature nebula…
*HUM*
The air began to hum with a low-frequency vibration that rattled the glass of the spectator booths. Roark's eyes went wide as he yelled in disbelief, "That... that's not possible?! A Riolu shouldn't be able to master that move yet!"
Azure shouted, "Now! Strong StyleAura Sphere!"
Riolu snapped its eyes open, the irises glowing with a brilliant, piercing blue. It thrust its palms forward.
*VROOOOOM*
The sphere of pure Fighting-type aura energy tore through the air, vaporizing the Ancient Power rocks in its path. It was a move that never missed, a homing missile of spiritual energy. Cranidos tried to charge, tried to Head Smash its way through, but the Aura Sphere was too dense…
*KA-BOOOOOM*
A massive explosion of blue light engulfed the center of the field. The shockwave forced Roark to shield his eyes…
*Thud*
When the smoke cleared, Cranidos was lying on its back, completely knocked out. Riolu stood panting, its blue aura slowly receding, its [Expert Belt] singed but intact. The silence that followed was deafening.
The referee stammered, clearly stunned by the whole ordeal, "Cranidos is... unable to battle. Riolu wins!"
Pearl screamed, jumping over the railing of the stands, "HE DID IT! AN AURA SPHERE! A RIOLU! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"
Diamond was just staring, a half-eaten piece of bread frozen in his hand, before responding, "That... was cool. Really cool."
Platinum stood up slowly, a small, proud smile on her lips. She looked at Azure's Pikachu, Eevee, and Pichu (Mew), cheering next to them, adding, "I told you, didn't I? My bodyguard is... exceptional."
Roark recalls his Cranidos. He looked at Azure, then at the Riolu that was currently getting a fist-bump from its trainer. The gym went silent. Roark looked at his three fallen Pokéballs, then at Azure.
He started to laugh—a genuine, hearty laugh of a man who loved his craft as he said excitedly, "Azure... you are truly something else. To have a Riolu with that level of Aura control... It's a testament to your bond."
Roark's expression then turned solemn, almost reverent, as he continued, "But before I send out my final partner, I want to thank you. The research papers you published on the 'Hisuian' variants... they changed everything for us fossil researchers. Because of your data, we were able to successfully stabilize a very special specimen."
Roark held up his final Pokéball. He hurled it as he declared in a bold voice, "It's only fitting I use it against the man who helped bring its species back to the modern era. Kleavor, take the stage!"
*Pop*
The light from the Pokéball didn't just form a Pokémon; it seemed to slice through the air itself. Standing there, with axes for arms and a body of jagged, obsidian-like stone, was Kleavor.
It let out a metallic, grating screech that sent shivers down Dia and Pearl's spines, "KLLE-AVOOORRR!!!"
Dia whispered, "Whoa... It's like a Scizor made of a mountain."
Azure's eyes lit up as he praised Roark's job raising it, "A Kleavor. Beautiful. You did a great job with him, Roark."
Azure tapped Riolu's shoulder, recalling him as he whispered gratefully, "Take a rest, Riolu. You earned it."
Again, the Stealth Rocks flared. Azure reached for his last Pokéball—the one he had been saving as he declared, "Chimchar, let's finish this!"
*Pop*
The small fire chimp appeared, landing lightly on the ground. Immediately, the Stealth Rocks struck, jagged shards of stone digging into its fur.
*Smack*
Chimchar gritted its teeth, a low growl escaping its throat. On its wrist, a small, polished [Everstone] was held in place by a leather strap.
Pearl looked worried as he muttered, "A Chimchar against a Kleavor? The type disadvantage is one thing, but that Kleavor is holding a [Rocky Helmet]! If Chimchar uses any physical moves, it's going to hurt itself more than the opponent!"
Platinum said worriedly, though her hand gripped her dress tightly, "Azure knows what he's doing. Look at Chimchar's eyes."
Chimchar wasn't afraid. It was vibrating with suppressed excitement.
Roark commanded, "Kleavor, Stone Axe!"
*Wooosh*
Kleavor blurred. It was across the field in a heartbeat, its massive axe-arm swinging in a wide, lethal arc.
But Azure countered, "Strong Style Flame Wheel, let's go!"
*Sssss*
Chimchar curled into a ball of fire, spinning rapidly. The two met in the center...
*CLANG*
The sound of stone hitting fire echoed. Because of the [Rocky Helmet], Chimchar was knocked back, sparks flying from its fur as it took damage from the contact.
But Roark pressed on, "Again! Stone Axe!"
*Wooosh*
Kleavor's axes glowed brown with Rock Type energy as it delivered a cross-slash. Azure countered calmly, "Protect, then Power-Up Punch!"
*CLANG*
Chimchar threw up a shimmering green barrier, catching the axes. The moment the barrier faded, Chimchar's fist glowed with a rising orange light. It buried its fist into Kleavor's rocky midsection.
*THWACK*
Chimchar winced as the [Rocky Helmet] jaggedly bit back at its hand, but the Power-Up Punch did its job—Chimchar's physical strength was rising by +1 Stage. The Sinnoh Dex Holders held their breaths, seeing Chimchar's struggle.
Roark called out with his arms crossed across his chest, "You can't win a war of attrition! Kleavor is too durable! Rock Tomb!"
*RMBL*
Massive pillars of stone slammed down around Chimchar, trapping it in a narrow corridor. Roark grinned as he followed up, "Now, finish it! Stone Axe once more!"
*WOOOSH*
Kleavor leaped high, its axes poised to crush the trapped Fire-type. Azure's eyes narrowed as he thought, 'Now's a good time as any to unleash your full power, Chimchar. Time to unleash that, Blaze!'
Azure calmly commanded, "Now, Chimchar... Go all out."
Chimchar's eyes suddenly snapped from black to a terrifying, glowing red. It growled as it roared in pure fury, "Chim…. CHARRRR!!!!"
*SSSSSS*
*WHOOOOOOSH*
A pillar of fire erupted from Chimchar's tail—not the usual flickering flame, but a towering, roaring inferno that reached the ceiling of the gym. The heat in the room spiked instantly, making the air shimmer.
Pearl stammered, shielding his eyes, "That... that's not Blaze. That's a volcano!"
Azure muttered, a grim smile on his face, "Blaze EX. Chimchar's ability… It's just as explosive as I first saw it. Just mesmerizing."
This was the legacy of a legendary Chimchar he had once known, a power that transcended normal limits. And now it was his to command.
Chimchar let out a primal scream, "CHARRRRR!!!"
*SSSSS*
The fire around it was so intense that the Rock Tomb pillars began to glow red-hot and crumble. Roark's eyes widened as he saw this internal thought, 'Nani?!! Its sheer heat from its Blaze is melting the rocks!!'
Roark yelled, sensing the danger, "Kleavor, get back!"
*ZOOOOM*
*SSSSSS*
But Chimchar was already moving. It was a blur of crimson light. It slammed into Kleavor with a Strong Style Flame Wheel that looked more like a falling sun.
*BOOOOOM*
Kleavor was sent skidding across the floor, its rocky hide charred. But it stood its ground, its own primal nature kicking in. It screeched, its Hidden Ability Sharpness ability fueling its next move.
Chimchar was shaking. The Blaze EX was so powerful that it was beginning to tear at its own stamina.
It looked at Azure, its eyes momentarily clearing of the red haze. Azure said softly, his voice carrying through the roar of the flames, "You've held it back long enough. You wanted to show him your true strength, didn't you? It's time to evolve!"
Chimchar reached down to its wrist. With a sharp tug of its teeth, it ripped the leather strap holding the [Everstone] and flung the stone away.
*Smack*
The rock skittered across the floor, ignored. The moment the stone left its body, the white light of evolution erupted, mixing with the crimson fire of Blaze EX.
*FLASH*
The silhouette inside the light grew. Its limbs lengthened, its posture shifted from a crouch to a confident, martial stance. The flame on its tail didn't diminish; it intensified, swirling around the evolving form like a cloak of a sun-god.
The light shattered.
Standing there was Monferno. A blue mask-like pattern adorned its eyes, and its expression was one of fierce, concentrated power. The Blaze EX was still active, the aura of fire now focused and spiraling around its crown and tail.
Platinum whispered, her Pokédex recording the data at a frantic pace, "Monferno... does it usually have a flaming crown on its head?"
Roark was floored as he whispered to himself, "It evolved mid-Blaze? So that's why he had that [Everstone] on it… just so that he can set up just for this situation! But still… The energy output is... It's off the charts!"
Azure smirked, seeing Monferno, but returned to the battle commanded, "Let's show them the results of your training. Monferno! Mach Punch!"
Roark grits his teeth, countering, "Intercept with Air Slash!"
*SHINNG*
Kleavor swung its axes, sending blades of wind forward. Monferno didn't dodge...
*BAM*
*SMASH*
It punched through the air blades, its fist coated in the combined energy of Blaze EX and its new Fighting-type STAB. It reeled its fist, connecting its Mach Punch as it lunged towards Kleavor…
*STRIKE*
Monferno's fist connected with Kleavor's jaw. The impact was so great that the [Rocky Helmet] finally shattered, pieces of metal flying everywhere.
Azure grinned as he extended his arm out, commanding, "Finish it, Monferno! Strong Style Flamethrower!"
Monferno took a deep breath. It didn't just spit fire; it unleashed a torrent of white-hot plasma that engulfed the entire half of the battlefield.
"ROAAAAAAR!!"
The sound was like a jet engine. When the fire finally died down, Kleavor was on its back, swirls of smoke rising from its body. Its eyes were swirls.
The referee stood frozen for a second before finding his voice, "K-Kleavor is unable to battle! The winner is the challenger, Azure Sky!"
The silence that followed was heavy and hot. Then, slowly, Pearl started clapping. Then Dia joined in, still holding a half-eaten Poffin. Finally, Platinum stood and gave a dignified nod, her eyes shining with admiration.
Monferno stood in the center of the charred earth. The red glow in its eyes faded back to normal. It looked at its hands, then back at Azure.
It let out a triumphant cry, "Mon-FERNO! (Heh! I did it!)"
Azure walked out onto the field and bumped his fist against Monferno's. And he gave his advice while praising his Playful Pokémon, "Perfect. Your control is still a bit wild, but we'll work on that. You were amazing."
Roark approached, recalling Kleavor. He looked a bit singed around the edges of his vest, but he was beaming as he stated, "That was... without a doubt, the most intense battle this Gym has seen in a while. Azure, you didn't just win; you gave my Pokémon a reason to get stronger."
Roark reached into his pocket and pulled out a shimmering, geometric badge and TM, proclaiming, "The Coal Badge and TM Stealth Rocks. You've earned it. Though, honestly, it feels a bit small for a performance like that."
[Item: Coal Badge
Rarity Item: A+
Type: Key Item
Description: A Gym Badge, commonly referred to as simply a badge, is an item that serves as proof of a Pokémon Trainer's victory in a battle against a Gym Leader at a Pokémon Gym. With this badge, Rock-Type Moves are increased by 12.5%, and controlling Pokémon is easier for the Trainer to command.]
[Item: TM Stealth Rocks
Rarity Item: -
Type: Technical Machine
Description: A Technical Machine used to grant memory knowledge of how to perform the move [Stealth Rocks].]
Azure took the badge, pinning it inside his Badge Case, and put away his TM in his bag. He turned to Roark, thanking him, "Thanks, Roark. It was an honor to face a Hisuian partner in the modern day."
Both shook their hands as they smiled. Thus ended Azure's first Gym Battle in the Sinnoh Region, along with an evolved partner in the making…
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Later, Oreburgh City]
As the group walked back out into the Oreburgh streets, the sun was beginning to set, casting long, orange shadows over the city. Pearl was practically skipping, "That was amazing! The way the Everstone flew off! The 'Blaze EX'! Azure, you must teach me how to do that! My Chimchar needs that kind of fire!"
Azure said helplessly, his Pikachu back on his shoulder, "It's not something you teach, Pearl. It's about the Pokémon's own internal limit. Your Chimchar, Chimlar, has its own path. Just focus on your bond."
Dia looked at the Monferno walking beside them, which was currently being pampered by Eevee, as he asked curiously, "Hey, Azure? Since we won and everything... does that mean we can go to the bakery now? I heard Oreburgh has a specialty 'Coal-Dust Muffin' that's actually made of dark chocolate."
Azure laughed, the tension of the battle finally fully leaving his shoulders. He replied, "Yeah, Dia. We can go to the bakery. My treat."
Platinum walked beside Azure, her pace matching his. She couldn't help but ask, "Azure, can I ask a question?"
Azure nodded, replying, "Yeah?"
Platinum then asked her a question as she said in a curious voice, "Today's battle... it reminded me that the peak of Mt. Coronet is not just a destination for a scholar. It is a challenge for a trainer. I hope you will continue to guide us."
Azure looked up at the massive silhouette of the mountain range in the distance. Somewhere up there, the secrets of this world were waiting. And with his team—and these three Dex Holders—he felt more ready than ever to face them.
Azure nodded his head with a smile as he said happily, "I'm not going anywhere, Platinum. We have a long way to go."
In his jacket, the Pichu (Mew) let out a soft, contented purr, sensing the destiny of the group beginning to weave together. It drifted off to sleep, tucked against Azure's heart as it snoozed off as usual.
/////
A/N: Hope you liked the chapter!