[Defeated Lavaridge Gym Leader Flannery and earned a reward of 10,300 Pokedollar]
[Flannery: How could this even happen?!]
Flannery's expression was a mix of frustration and reluctant acceptance as she handed over the Heat Badge. The vibrant emblem shimmered in the sunlight, reflecting her fiery personality. She crossed her arms, clearly struggling to maintain her composure.
[Flannery: Fine, you win. This is the proof of victory for Lavaridge Gym—our "Heat Badge." With this, you will unlock the "Secret Strength" Move.]
Her tone grew sharper, though not without a hint of respect.
[Flannery: Hmph, not that I want to give it to you, but as a Gym Leader, I have my duties. This TM, Overheat, along with a Fire-type Breeder plan, was given to me by my grandfather. You better appreciate it, because it means a lot!]
She adjusted her bandana with a dramatic flourish before pointing at her opponent.
[Flannery: And don't think this is the end! I'll be waiting for you at the Pokemon Championship, where we'll have a real battle. Next time, I won't hold back! Prepare yourself, okay?!]
John stood there, unfazed by her fiery speech, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Her passionate energy was admirable, if a bit over the top.
"Oh, how dramatic," he muttered under his breath.
Still, something Flannery had said lingered in his mind. This was the fourth Gym Leader who had mentioned the Pokemon Championship. It wasn't just a passing comment—it was practically an invitation. Did he have to participate to face them again?
It wasn't a problem for now, though. John turned his attention to his latest haul:
[Heat Badge: Boosts the power of all Fire-type moves in your team by 10%. "Secret Strength" Move unlocked.]
The badge was more than just a shiny trophy; it symbolized progress. But it was the TM Overheat and the Breeder plan that caught his attention next.
Overheat was a double-edged sword. With a staggering 130 power, it could decimate opponents—but at the cost of lowering the user's Special Attack by two stages. It was the kind of move you saved for a last-resort scenario.
John couldn't help but chuckle as he imagined using it against an unsuspecting opponent. "The ultimate 'go big or go home' move," he said with a grin.
Then there was the transformation of Strength into the Secret Strength .
[Secret Strength: Attack Power 110. When the user's strength exceeds that of the opponent, an additional 20% physical damage is dealt.]
This wasn't just a power boost—it was a game-changer!
He turned to the Fire-type Breeder plan, flipping through its pages with growing curiosity. It wasn't authored by Flannery, as he'd assumed, but by someone named Moore.
'Moore... wait, isn't that her grandfather?'
The name sparked a memory. Moore had been an Elite Four member in the Hoenn region, a legend in his own right. That explained the meticulous detail and expertise in the Breeder plan.
Torkoal's section was all about training for weather control, focusing on Sunny Day and Lava Plume. Arcanine's section emphasized speed tuning, transitioning from Flame Charge to Flare Blitz. But it was the Blaziken section that made John's eyes light up.
Leg strength training, Fire- and Flying-type energy control, and Fighting-type move development—it was all there. But the real gem was an exclusive move: Flame Double Kick. The move was described in painstaking detail, even theorizing an advanced form called Flame Chain Kick.
"This is gold! With this, my Combusken's strength will skyrocket." John said with exitement.
John placed the Breeder plan carefully beside his bed, already planning to study it more thoroughly later. His next Gym challenge was against a Normal-type Leader, and Combusken would be the star of that show.
For now, though, he had another task. Following his earlier plan, he headed to a secluded spot outside the walls of Riverstone University, where no one could see him.
It was time for Onix's evolution.
Carefully, he painted flame patterns onto Onix's body using the treasure-tier Metal Coat. The process was intricate, but the results were immediate.
Onix began to glow, its massive body shifting and transforming. The once-stone exterior became a glimmering steel surface, its size growing exponentially. What had been a 30-meter-long serpent of boulders was now a 50-meter titan, each segment of its body nearly three meters wide.
The color, however, was unexpected. Instead of the anticipated silver, Steelix's body retained a diamond-like translucence but with a striking twist: its surface shimmered with a deep, translucent black, accented by faint red lines.
' Whoa... now that is intimidating.'
From a distance, Steelix resembled a mythical beast, a creature designed for pure destruction. Its appearance alone was enough to give any opponent second thoughts.
But looks weren't everything. John quickly opened Steelix's stats.
[Steelix (Steel, Ground-Type)-Shiny)
[Ability: Sheer Force (Increases the power of moves with additional effects by 30%, but negates those effects)]
[Individual Values: HP (31), Attack (31), Defense (31), Special Defense (31), Speed (27)]
[Moves: Rock Throw, Tackle, Harden, Smack Down, Rock Polish, Dragon Breath, Curse, Rock Slide, Sand Tomb, Dig, Stealth Rock, Slam, Iron Defense, Sandstorm, Earthquake, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Crunch]
[Carrying item: Smooth Rock]
The Sheer Force ability sealed the deal. With it, Steelix's moves would pack an extra punch at the cost of their additional effects.
No weaknesses. Just pure power.
Sure, Steelix wasn't fast—but who needed speed when you were an unstoppable wall of destruction? John chuckled at the thought of Steelix going toe-to-toe with a Lengendary like Groudon.
"Maybe I should teach you "Magnetic Levitation" since you guys so you can fly. Imagine a flying Steelix. Now that would be something."
Steelix roared, its voice echoing across the landscape like a thunderclap. John grinned, patting the massive creature's head—or as close to its head as he could reach.
"From now on, you're my ace. Let's show them what destruction looks like."
As Steelix loomed over him, its translucent black body glinting in the sunlight, John couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. His team was shaping up to be unstoppable, and he was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.