A massive Flygon beat its wings rhythmically above the Viridian Gym, its goggles gleaming in the artificial light.
High in the churning storm clouds, the Red Gyarados thrashed through the vapor, acting as the eye of the storm. Its thunderous roars echoed across the forest as torrential rain lashed down, mixing with the sand shield to turn the ground into a treacherous mire of thick, swirling mud.
The Red Gyarados manipulated the gale-force winds into a series of Twisters, which tore through the Nidoking swarm. Many of the heavy purple beasts lost their footing, swept up into the rotating funnels of water and wind.
Simultaneously, Flygon beat its wings, commanding a Muddy Water surge that crashed into the ranks of the invaders like a tidal wave of filth.
Seeing the overwhelming power of the duo, the Nidoking Alpha let out a defiant roar and opened its jaws wide. A searing white light began to coalesce at its maw as it charged a Hyper Beam. Moments later, a thick pillar of pure energy erupted, lashing out toward Flygon. Inspired by their leader, several other Nidoking followed suit, beginning to charge their own beams.
Facing the incoming Hyper Beam, Flygon remained unfazed. It exhaled a concentrated spiral of indigo energy—Dragon Pulse—to meet the strike.
The two beams collided in mid-air, creating a flash of light so brilliant it turned the night into high noon. The Alpha groaned as the atmospheric shockwave hammered against its chest, forcing it to stumble back several paces.
The Alpha was now locked in the inevitable recharge-stall of the Hyper Beam, its muscles paralyzed. Seizing the moment, the mud-slide surged forward like a breaking dam. The Alpha and its closest kin were swept away, buried up to their chests in the freezing slurry.
Nidoking Alpha: I... can't breathe... the mud is too thick...
The Alpha thrashed desperately, but even its immense strength found no purchase in the shifting disaster of the mudslide.
"Well done, Flygon! That combination with Gyarados was flawless," Feng Che praised his partners from the balcony.
The perimeter of the Viridian Gym had been transformed into a swamp. The Nidoking thrashed in the mire, struggling to free their heavy limbs.
"Now... go, Poké Balls!"
Using his Psychic power, Feng Che precisely guided several Poké Balls through the air, targeting the weakened males.
Just then, the Nidoking Alpha swung its massive, armored tail with a desperate fury, slicing a ball aimed at it clean in half.
Nidoking Alpha: I will not lose!
Looking at the chaos around it—the cries of its fallen clan and the clicking of Poké Balls capturing its kin—the Alpha felt a visceral, burning rage. Its heart felt like it was weeping blood.
Suddenly, a single purple scale on the back of its neck stood perfectly erect. The Alpha's eyes turned a manic, glowing crimson. Its body swelled, muscles bulging until it was nearly twice its original size. Two thick plumes of white vapor snorted from its nostrils as its depleted stamina began to replenish at an unnatural rate.
This Alpha is special, Feng Che noted. To recover that much energy so quickly... does it possess Draconic blood?
Feng Che knew that while true Dragon-types were rare, they often interbred with other species when no mates were found. A Nidoking born from a union with a Tyrantrum, Druddigon, or Garchomp could inherit primal traits. He looked closer and saw fine, shimmering dragon scales hidden between its primary armor plates.
Name: Nidoking Gender: Male Aptitude: Epic (Cyan) Ability: Sheer Force Level: 75 Type: Poison + Ground Moves: Toxic, Horn Attack, Earth Power, Poison Tail, Sucker Punch, Dig, Venoshock, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, Flamethrower, Shadow Claw, Outrage, etc. Status: Enraged Evaluation: A Nidoking evolved using a top-tier Moon Stone. It possesses Draconic blood inherited from its mother, granting it the power of Outrage.
"A Nidoking using Outrage... now that is interesting!"
"Gyarados, it's your turn. Show this King what a real Dragon looks like," Feng Che commanded telepathically.
The Red Gyarados descended from the storm clouds, its scales turning a shimmering gold as a lightning bolt struck its back, fueling its aura. It let out a piercing Dragon Rage before exhaling a high-pressure Hydro Pump.
The Alpha had lost all reason, consumed by the berserk desire to destroy. Seeing the Hydro Pump, it lunged forward. Its fists began to glow with a chilling blue light as it channeled Ice Punch. It slammed its frozen fists into the water jet; the contact was so cold the water froze instantly into a massive jagged ice pillar that shattered upon hitting the ground.
The Alpha glared at Gyarados, its roar vibrating the very trees of the forest.
At that moment, a blue Nidoqueen stepped out from the shadows of the woods. She looked at the Alpha with eyes full of terror and sorrow. This was the second time she had seen him forced into an Outrage. She knew he had only gone to the Gym for the sake of their unborn children—hoping the Toxic Orb would ensure their strength.
Feng Che, a Nidoqueen has arrived at the edge of the clearing, Mewtwo reported. She's the Alpha's mate. I can feel her overwhelming anxiety.
The Nidoqueen stood tall, her blue, needle-like scales shimmering in the rain. Her thick tail and powerful forelimbs indicated a high level of physical conditioning.
Name: Nidoqueen Gender: Female Aptitude: Epic (Cyan) Ability: Sheer Force Level: 72 Type: Poison + Ground Moves: Body Slam, Earthquake, Shadow Claw, Thief, Toxic Spikes, Earth Power, Smart Strike, etc. Status: Worried Evaluation: Evolved via a top-tier Moon Stone. She evolved shortly after laying her eggs to better protect the nest.
These two are excellent, Feng Che thought. Capturing them will save me months of training time. And if they evolved like this, there must be an undiscovered Moon Stone vein nearby.
He realized this wasn't a Rocket project gone wrong, but a wild clan of Nidorino and Nidorina that had stumbled upon a legendary mineral source deep in the Viridian Forest.