What terrifying pressure.
Blaine frowned slightly. After sensing the power behind Charizard's Air Slash, he decisively abandoned a head-on clash.
"Magmar, into the lava—now!"
"Into the lava?" Sam froze for a split second, unable to understand Blaine's intention.
Before he could think it through, Magmar had already acted.
It leaped from the stone pillar straight into the boiling magma below.
Splash.
The molten lava did not harm Magmar in the slightest. Instead, it looked… comfortable.
Like a fish returning to water.
Crimson energy surged from the magma into Magmar's body. Its already red skin deepened into an almost dazzling scarlet.
A frightening red.
Its entire body seemed to ignite as it reached peak battle condition.
"Hahaha! Excellent, Magmar! Show them our burning spirit!"
"Flare Blitz!!!"
In the next instant, Magmar erupted from the lava like a missile, moving so fast that there was barely time to react.
From hiding to attacking—
—in less than a heartbeat.
"Charizard, Hurricane!!!"
It was the only move Sam could think of that might stop this.
Charizard flapped its wings with everything it had.
A violent storm formed instantly.
Winds roared. Thunder cracked. Heavy rain poured down. The volcanic crater was swallowed by a raging tempest.
The hurricane tried to halt Magmar's charge.
But Magmar pressed forward like an unstoppable warrior, eyes locked on Charizard alone.
The flames on its body weakened slightly under the rain—
—but the fire in its heart burned even hotter.
Closer.
Closer.
Impact.
Magmar's Flare Blitz slammed into Charizard with devastating force.
"ROOOOAR!!!"
The scorching heat and explosive impact made Charizard cry out in pain the moment they collided.
Sam didn't blink.
He had done all he could.
Now—
he had to trust his partner.
After the initial shock, Charizard began to adapt. Its tail flame blazed brighter and brighter, signaling its fighting spirit had peaked.
Though Magmar's body burned with extreme heat, Charizard—also a Fire-type—was not so easily overwhelmed.
It endured.
Then—
it countered.
Charizard spread its wings mid-collision and forcibly stabilized its body in the air.
Magmar had used its strongest burst attack.
Now it was Charizard's turn.
Charizard locked both arms around Magmar.
"Roar?" Ever tried flying?
"Mag?" What?
Magmar blinked in confusion.
Charizard didn't explain.
It shot upward.
Higher.
Higher.
Its wingbeats reached their limit. The sky tore with the sound of splitting air.
Watching Magmar being spun through the sky, Blaine shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Heh… not good. Young trainers are getting stronger and stronger. Old men like me might really need to retire."
Magmar grew dizzy from the continuous spinning. The world blurred.
It just wanted to land.
Charizard was happy to oblige.
With a fierce grin, it dived.
Straight down.
At the last second before impact, Charizard twisted its body and hurled Magmar downward with full force.
BOOM!!!
The stone pillar shattered in half.
Fragments fell into the magma below and were swallowed instantly.
Magmar lay among the ruins, unconscious.
Unable to battle.
A red beam returned it to its Poké Ball.
"Come back, Magmar."
Blaine stepped forward and approached Sam. From his pocket, he withdrew a dark red Badge and placed it into Sam's hand.
"Accept the Volcano Badge. It is proof of your strength."
Sam inserted it into his Badge Case.
Eight Badges.
Complete.
His Gym Challenge journey had finally reached its end.
"Ding."
"Main Mission — The Final Gym: Obtain Blaine's approval and earn the Volcano Badge. Completed."
"Evaluating performance…"
"Defeated Magmar. Gained Blaine's recognition. Rating: S-tier."
"Distributing mission reward."
"Reward obtained: Spirit Essence."
Spirit Essence?
Sam frowned slightly.
He had never heard of such an item before.
But judging by the name, it was likely related to spiritual power.
Spiritual power…
He glanced thoughtfully at the Poké Ball containing Deoxys' core.
Could this be useful for it?
---------------Author---------------
Read 60 advanced chapter on
👉 patreon.com/Master_fic
U can read 10 chapters ahead just for 5$