The battlefield of the Pewter Gym felt different now.
Heavier.
More serious.
Bulbasaur had fallen—but not without leaving its mark. Thin cuts from Razor Leaf still lined Onix's rocky body. Small fractures. Imperfections.
Openings.
Across the field, Brock studied me carefully.
"A Bug and Flying type against Rock and Ground," he said evenly. "That's a dangerous gamble."
I didn't answer.
Scyther's wings hummed softly, blades angled forward. Its golden eyes never left Onix.
From the sidelines, Leaf watched quietly this time. No teasing. No flustered remarks.
Just focus.
"Begin!" Brock commanded.
"Onix, Rock Throw!"
The massive serpent ripped chunks of stone from the battlefield and launched them like artillery.
"Scyther—Quick Attack!"
Scyther blurred forward, weaving between the first two projectiles. A third rock clipped its wing mid-dash.
It stumbled.
Not clean.
The fourth rock struck its shoulder and knocked it off balance, sending it skidding across the stone floor.
Leaf winced. "That's four times weakness… this is bad…"
I clenched my fist. "Up! Don't stay grounded!"
Onix surged forward immediately.
"Bind!"
Its massive body swept wide.
"Jump!"
Scyther leapt—but not high enough.
The coils wrapped around its lower body and slammed it into the ground.
The impact rattled the stadium.
Onix tightened.
Stone grinding against steel-like exoskeleton.
Scyther strained, blades scraping sparks off rock but failing to pry free.
Brock's voice remained steady. "Finish it with Slam!"
Onix lifted its bound opponent high into the air.
Leaf's hands tightened at her sides. "It can't take another direct hit…"
I narrowed my eyes.
"Scyther… hold. Wait for it."
Onix crashed down.
BOOM.
The floor shattered beneath them.
Dust exploded upward in a thick cloud.
For a heartbeat—
Nothing.
Then—
A sharp, strained cry.
Through the clearing dust, Scyther was visible—knees bent, blades crossed above its head, barely holding Onix's crushing weight off its body.
Its legs trembled violently.
Cracks spread across its armor.
Brock's eyes sharpened. "Onix, increase pressure!"
The serpent pressed down harder.
The ground beneath Scyther began to sink.
Leaf whispered, "Get out of there…"
"Not yet," I said quietly.
Onix began to lift its body again for another Slam.
That was the opening.
"Now! Break free and use Wing Attack!"
Scyther exploded upward, slipping out from the loosening coils at the last possible second. It spun midair, wings glowing, and carved across one of the fractured segments Bulbasaur had damaged earlier.
Stone shattered outward.
Onix roared, recoiling.
But it didn't fall.
Instead, its tail whipped around with brutal speed.
"Rock Tomb!"
Boulders erupted from the ground in a circle around Scyther, sealing escape routes.
One stone slammed into its back.
Another crushed against its side.
Scyther dropped to one knee.
Breathing heavy.
Leaf stepped forward without thinking. "It's cornered!"
I steadied my voice.
"Scyther… stand."
Slowly—
It did.
Wings buzzing harder now. Louder.
Onix lunged again.
"Bind!"
This time, the coils caught Scyther completely.
No escape.
Stone tightened mercilessly.
Scyther's blades trembled as they tried to pry space between rock segments.
Brock's voice cut through the tension.
"Slam!"
Onix lifted high—higher than before.
Leaf looked at me urgently. "You have to do something!"
I met Scyther's eyes.
And nodded.
"Tank it."
Leaf's eyes widened. "Again?!"
The Slam landed with devastating force.
The battlefield cracked deeper, fragments breaking loose around them.
For a moment—
It looked final.
Scyther lay beneath Onix, motionless.
Brock exhaled slowly. "You fought well."
But then—
The faintest buzzing sound returned.
Scyther's wings twitched.
Then beat once.
Twice.
It forced its blades against the ground and pushed itself upright—still beneath Onix's massive body.
Its legs shook violently.
But its eyes burned brighter than ever.
Leaf stared. "It… it's still standing…"
I smiled faintly.
"Scyther."
Brock's expression shifted.
"Counter."
Energy surged through Scyther's body—absorbing the full destructive force of that Slam.
Storing it.
Redirecting it.
With a fierce cry, Scyther burst upward, wings roaring, blades slashing in a precise X across every weakened fracture along Onix's body.
The amplified force detonated through stone.
A sharp cracking sound echoed through the Gym.
Cracks spiderwebbed rapidly across Onix's rocky segments.
The massive serpent swayed.
Tried to steady itself.
Its body shifted—
Then collapsed with a thunderous crash that shook the entire battlefield.
Silence filled the Gym.
The referee's voice rang out clearly:
"Onix is unable to battle! The winner is Scyther! The victory goes to Oliver Montclair!"
For several seconds, no one moved.
Then Brock allowed a visible smile.
"That," he said calmly, "was a true test of endurance. You didn't rely only on speed. You endured when you had to… and struck when it mattered."
I walked forward, placing a steady hand against Scyther's back.
"You trusted me."
Scyther let out a sharp but tired cry, blades gleaming despite the cracks in its armor.
From the sidelines, Leaf clapped, unable to hold back this time.
"That was insane! Twice you let it take Slam!
I thought it was over both times!"
She caught herself, cheeks turning pink.
"I mean… really impressive strategy."
I glanced at her, a faint smirk forming.
"Guess I had to make it dramatic."
Her blush deepened—but she held my gaze this time.
Brock stepped forward, holding out a stone-gray badge.
"You have earned the Boulder Badge."
As I accepted it, the cool weight settled into my palm.
First badge.
First official victory.
Scyther stood at my side—damaged, exhausted, but unbroken.
Leaf watched with bright eyes.
And I knew—
This was only the beginning.