Now that only Red remained at the Cerulean Gym, the blood-red Gyarados that had yet to battle silently sank to the bottom of the pool, waiting for the next challenger to arrive.
After an unknown amount of time, Red keenly sensed someone approaching. He opened his drowsy eyes to see a challenger who looked about twelve or thirteen standing before him, intending to challenge the Cerulean Gym.
"I'm guarding the Cerulean Gym for a day on someone else's behalf." Seeing the challenger's confused expression as he looked around in a daze, Red took the initiative to explain.
"So someone that young can be an acting Gym Leader? Whatever. The Cascade Badge is as good as mine!" the challenger boasted arrogantly. Red only chuckled softly. The Sensational Sisters hadn't given him any extra Cascade Badges, which meant he had to defeat every Trainer who came to challenge him.
"You seem pretty confident. The match is 1VS1. I'll be using a Water-type Pokémon. You may send yours out," Red said calmly as he leapt onto a floating platform. The challenger did the same after releasing his Pokémon.
"Oh? Magneton. Not a bad choice," Red remarked casually, offering faint praise.
"Pokémon: Magneton
Attribute: Electric + Steel
Ability: Magnet Pull (Uses magnetism to trap Steel-type Pokémon, preventing them from escaping!)
Moves: Thunder Shock, Thunderbolt, Thunder Wave, Discharge, Metal Sound, Lock-On, Thunder…
…"
Magneton could float in midair without being restricted by the platform, and it could unleash Electric attacks that counter Water-types. It was indeed a solid pick—unfortunately for him, his opponent was Red.
"Come out, Gyarados."
At Red's command, the blood-red Gyarados rose from the bottom of the pool. Its massive body completely blocked the challenger and Magneton's line of sight, and the water level in the arena visibly dropped due to its immense presence.
With a ferocious roar, Magneton was affected by Intimidate, its Attack lowered.
"Pokémon: Gyarados (Mutated Shiny: Blood Red)
Attribute: Water + Dark / Water + Flying
First Ability: Intimidate
Second Ability: Moxie
Moves: Crunch, Twister, Dragon Rage, Ice Fang, Aqua Tail, Water Gun, Hydro Pump, Hyper Beam, Ice Beam…
Nature: Prone to fury, yet yearns for warmth and deeply cherishes the hard-won bonds of family.
Background: Originally evolved from a gifted golden Magikarp, but was unfortunately captured by Professor Hemlock and turned into Test Subject No. 1. Injected with violent corruption factors, its genes deteriorated, staining its original skin. Now its genetic instability is under control, allowing it to freely switch between two forms."
"What luck! I didn't expect my opponent to use Gyarados!" Though greed flickered in the challenger's eyes at the sight of the blood-red Gyarados, he was even more excited about claiming the Cascade Badge. Seeing Red's calm demeanor at first, he had assumed he was facing a formidable opponent. Who would have thought he'd send out a Gyarados that was supposedly four times weak to Electric?
Red ignored the challenger's excitement and didn't bother explaining that his Gyarados was only doubly weak to Electric in its current 'Dark Dragon Form,' being Water + Dark rather than Water + Flying.
"Aqua Tail."
The blood-red Gyarados whipped its tail, smashing Magneton straight into the water. Red had no intention of kindly reminding his opponent—battles were about seizing the initiative.
"Magneton, use Thunderbolt!"
Though irritated by Red's sudden "sneak attack," the challenger quickly regained composure and issued his command. Using the principle that water conducts electricity, Magneton unleashed Thunderbolt directly into the pool.
"Hahaha! Thanks to your Gyarados, don't forget this Gym's battlefield is all water! Water conducts electricity! Gyarados is four times weak to Electric—even your shiny one!" the challenger jeered, already imagining Red begrudgingly handing over the Cascade Badge. His arrogance knew no bounds.
"Not bad tactics. Unfortunately…" Red said calmly, showing no concern for the blood-red Gyarados enduring the current. In its Dark Dragon Form, Thunderbolt only dealt double damage.
The blood-red Gyarados endured the Thunderbolt and lunged forward, clamping its massive jaws tightly onto Magneton. Terrified, Magneton struggled desperately, but the rage-filled Gyarados refused to let go.
"Magneton, release all your power and use Thunder!" the challenger shouted, planning a mutual knockout.
Not wanting to "taste" electricity again, the blood-red Gyarados used Crunch to hurl Magneton away. The flung Magneton failed to channel its electricity into the water, sparing Gyarados from further damage.
But the enraged Gyarados didn't care what Magneton thought. Golden energy particles gathered in its mouth, and a devastating Hyper Beam struck Magneton head-on.
Amid the challenger's cry of alarm, the energy dissipated to reveal Magneton falling to the ground with spiraled eyes, completely unable to battle.
"Unfortunately, you don't yet have the strength to earn the Cascade Badge," Red said. Ignoring the challenger's reaction, he reclined leisurely in a chair and closed his eyes to rest. Victorious, the blood-red Gyarados' muscles bulged slightly as it let out a triumphant roar. Since the battle hadn't been satisfying, it gave neither the challenger nor Magneton a friendly glance before silently sinking back to the bottom of the pool.
The challenger said nothing more and quietly recalled Magneton. Anyone capable of commanding such a ferocious and powerful Pokémon was not someone he could afford to provoke.
After the challenger left, Red stood and used the Power of Viridian to heal the injured blood-red Gyarados.
The Gyarados gazed at Red with admiration as he healed it, gently lowering its face closer to him. Red showed not a trace of fear and affectionately patted its head.
Once fully recovered, Red soon received another challenge.
"Hello, I'm here to challenge the Cerulean Gym!"
This challenger was a delicate-looking girl. Her words and demeanor were far more pleasant than the previous challenger's. Though Red briefly considered telling her to give up, he ultimately remained silent. A Gym Leader could not refuse a challenge.
"The rules are 1VS1. Defeat it, and you'll earn the Cascade Badge," Red explained. Behind him, the pool stirred as the blood-red Gyarados' massive form rose before the girl.
"Gulp!" The girl swallowed nervously. This was nothing like the "weakest Gym" rumor circulating outside.
"I'm counting on you—Oddish!"
Despite her fear, the girl sent out her Pokémon. But the moment Oddish appeared, it slipped clumsily and fell straight into the pool. Even the blood-red Gyarados couldn't bear to watch and kindly fished it back out.
"…"
Red pressed down the brim of his cap in speechless disbelief. This girl was far too innocent. Putting aside Oddish's comical blunder, Grass-type moves alone couldn't possibly counter the blood-red Gyarados.
In the end, the battle concluded with a single roar from Gyarados that frightened both the girl and Oddish into fainting. It didn't even count as a warm-up. Red still had to look after the unconscious girl afterward.
More Trainers came one after another, only to be defeated by the blood-red Gyarados. When facing Fighting- and Bug-type Pokémon, Gyarados simply switched attributes, reducing incoming damage to half.
Because Red had guarded the Cerulean Gym that day, a strange urban legend began spreading throughout Cerulean City—the tale of the "Blood-Red Dark Dragon."