"Come on, young man. Climbing this mountain isn't easy. Accepting your challenge is your reward for reaching Mount Miacha," Bruno laughed heartily.
"Reward?" Sam shook his head.
"Oh? Is there a problem?"
Sam took a Poké Ball from his waist and smirked slightly. "Defeating you will be my reward."
Bruno raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised—but instead of anger, amusement flickered in his eyes.
"Confidence is good for young people," he said calmly. "But it must be matched by strength."
"You'll see that soon."
"I'll be watching."
Bruno didn't care much for his Elite Four title. He had joined the Elite Four to fight strong opponents—not for status. Sam's challenge genuinely intrigued him.
"Very well. My first Pokémon will be Hitmonchan."
[Pokémon]: Hitmonchan
[Attribute]: Fighting
[Strength]: Elite — Beginner Level
[Potential]: Elite
Sam considered his options carefully.
Then he made his decision.
"Come out—Gyarados!"
A massive blue-and-white serpentine Pokémon roared as it appeared on the battlefield.
This was the Gyarados Sam had taken from Hunter K.
Under Professor Oak's guidance, its strength had steadily improved—but whether it was enough remained to be seen.
"Hmm. The Gyarados is trained decently," Bruno commented.
Though it had reached the Elite level, Bruno could see its limits clearly. Its previous training had capped its potential.
Still, Sam's command ability interested him more than the Pokémon's ceiling.
Bruno gestured casually. "You attack first."
Sam didn't hesitate.
"Gyarados—Twister!"
Against a Fighting-type, Flying-type techniques were ideal. And Gyarados could use them naturally.
Gyarados' eyes burned fiercely.
The sky darkened.
Clouds gathered rapidly above the summit. Because they stood over 1,800 meters high, the summoned storm clouds hung extremely low—almost within reach.
Thunder crackled through the sky.
Bruno nodded appreciatively. "Rain Dance combined with Twister at this altitude. Clever."
His evaluation of Sam rose slightly.
"Boom!"
Lightning split the sky as heavy rain poured down.
A bolt of thunder crashed toward Hitmonchan.
At such close range, avoiding it should have been impossible.
But Hitmonchan was no ordinary opponent.
The moment lightning descended, it took a small step—just one.
The bolt struck empty ground.
Its movement was like dancing on the edge of a blade.
The storm spiraled downward, Twister closing in around Hitmonchan, thunder flashing within the vortex.
And yet—
Just before the winds engulfed it, Hitmonchan exploded forward with terrifying leg strength.
It broke through the storm.
Gyarados' eyes widened in disbelief.
"Hahaha! Excellent coordination!" Bruno roared excitedly. "But now—it's our turn!"
"Hitmonchan—Thunder Punch!"
The storm Gyarados had summoned became its own curse.
Lightning energy from the clouds flowed into Hitmonchan's fists. Sparks danced violently around its gloves.
In a flash of saffron-colored light—
Hitmonchan appeared before Gyarados.
Boom!!!
The Thunder Punch struck.
The explosion echoed across the mountain peak.
Water- and Flying-type Gyarados took the full brunt of the Electric attack.
When the smoke cleared, Gyarados' massive body crashed to the ground.
Black smoke rose from its scales.
Its eyes turned white.
Hitmonchan calmly stepped back, awaiting the end.
Sam exhaled slowly.
He had overestimated Gyarados.
He raised the Poké Ball to recall it.
But—
Gyarados moved.
Slowly.
Painfully.
It struggled to rise.
Through their bond, Sam felt something unexpected.
Not fear of Hitmonchan.
Fear of him.
Gyarados wasn't afraid of losing.
It was afraid of being discarded.
Afraid of ending up like Hunter K's Aggron.
Sam lowered the Poké Ball.
His eyes sharpened.
"Stand up," he said quietly.
"You're not fighting for me."
"You're fighting for yourself."
---------------Author---------------
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