Alex arrived at Clair's gym early in the morning. The building followed the standard League design so there wasn't much to take in. Without slowing, he stepped through the doors and headed straight for the front desk, where he gave his name and registered with the receptionist.
"I have an appointment with Gym Leader Clair."
"Alex Wattson?"
"Yes."
"Third floor."
Alex walked through the first floor and took in the familiar layout. Like other gyms, this one was a training ground for those with the rare ability to harness Dragon type energy. The focus wasn't on battling, but on control.
Trainees stood in front of enclosed habitats, each housing a different wild Pokémon. Their task was to exert enough pressure through their presence alone to influence the creature's behavior. No attacks, no commands. Just raw intent and willpower channeled through their energy.
Alex paused near one of the enclosures. A young trainer stood stiffly before a caged Sentret, her fists clenched at her sides as she stared it down. It snarled, then hesitated, its eyes twitching toward her before letting out a reluctant huff and backing away. The girl relaxed slightly. It wasn't what she wanted, but it was progress.
It wasn't abuse, but it wasn't pleasant either. Obedience through projected dominance. That was how they used their energy.
Alex had a sneaking suspicion Clair had used it on him, but the fact he fell for it meant he wasn't allowed to complain. Perhaps in the future, when he could resist its effects, he would pay her back for the slight.
He made his way up to the second floor, where the training grounds were located. As expected, it was filled with trainers sparring alongside their Dragons, each one radiating a heavy, oppressive presence. If Alex had to describe the atmosphere in one word, it would be stifling. The pressure in the air wasn't just metaphorical; every person and Pokémon on the floor projected their energy with enough force to turn the room into a low-grade battlefield. It wasn't aggressive, but it wasn't welcoming either.
The effect was subtle to a bystander, but unmistakable to anyone attuned to aura. Muscles tensed without meaning to, instincts braced for combat, and breathing required a little more effort just to stay steady.
Alex moved through it without a hitch. Compared to the ancient Dragon he once stood before, whose gaze alone felt like being swallowed whole, this was manageable. He kept his steps calm, arms loose, his body adapting without protest. He'd been judged by worse and walked away stronger.
But when he reached the third floor, the change was immediate. A wave of heat hit him the moment the doors opened. The entire chamber radiated a blistering temperature, and not just from the floor. Actual molten lava flowed in carefully contained channels carved into the stone, casting flickering light across the room.
What truly made him stop for a moment, though, was the aura. Thick and overwhelming, like a tidal wave of Dragon type energy bearing down on him. It pressed against his skin, heavy and volatile, as if the building itself was breathing heat and challenge.
It was not as powerful as a Roaring Moon, but what it lacked in quality, it made up for in quantity, as Alex could feel he was being stared down like prey by multiple Champion ranked Dragons.
He made his way through the empty pathways over the flowing lava until he reached the Gym Leader's battlegrounds. Clair had been waiting for him on her throne ever since he entered the third floor. She was flanked on either side by a pair of Champion ranked Dragonites, their piercing gazes tracking his every step.
Alex took a moment to properly observe Clair now that he knew he was about to be manipulated. He took in her beautiful, curvaceous form. She wasn't at Maris's level, but she certainly was striking in her own right. Commanding, regal, and radiating a confidence that made it hard to look away. There was a sharpness to her beauty, like a blade wrapped in silk, and Alex knew better than to underestimate it.
He hadn't noticed it before, but there was a thin sheet of energy constantly covering her form. It showed that she was always using her energy in a minimal, controlled manner, something Alex could learn from. It allowed her to train her energy continuously while keeping its effects subtle.
The passive effect of leadership Alex had felt likely came from this, so he kept his mind sharp and ready to analyze every situation before making any decision.
"You came," Clair said with an almost sadistic smile.
"My bounty hasn't been paid yet, so yes, I came," Alex replied in an even tone, careful to avoid confrontation.
"Oh, I forgot about that," she said before swiping at her phone. "There you go."
Alex received a message and quickly checked his phone. His account had just been updated, showing he had received 10 million credits from Erika, 100 million Pokédollars from Umbraline, and 30 million Pokédollars from the League. In total, Alex now had 265 million Pokédollars and 77.1 million League credits.
With that kind of money, he could already afford a sizable plot of land in Kanto for his dream home. More importantly, by using the Pokédollars to fund construction and infrastructure, he could avoid relying on the more expensive, credit-based services typically used by professional trainers. It would take more effort, but it would allow him to start building now rather than later.
"Thank you. Will that be all?"
"No, I have a few other… requests," she said, eyeing Alex like a piece of meat. "But first, how about you show me your Dragon type Pokémon? It's your best chance at getting a professional's opinion on them."
Alex considered it briefly before accepting the request. There was no harm in getting them checked out.
He released Altaria, Kommo-o, and Hydreigon. Right away, Alex noticed an increase in the pressure in the area. They were being judged not just by Clair, but by her own Pokémon. The Dragonites beside her straightened their posture and began radiating even more energy.
Alex withstood the pressure, but the same couldn't be said of his Pokémon. Unlike Alex, who was only human, these three were Dragon types and were more susceptible to the hierarchy of power among dragons.
Altaria submitted almost immediately. Her feathers fluffed up in alarm as she let out a low chirp before taking a step back behind Alex. She lowered her head and dimmed her aura completely, hoping to be ignored.
Kommo-o held firm for longer. He squared his shoulders, flared his chest, and flexed his arms in an attempt to assert dominance. It wasn't enough. His knees bent slightly under the weight until he finally dropped to one knee and lowered his gaze. He didn't surrender completely, but he had no choice but to yield.
Hydreigon outright refused. Her three heads snarled and snapped in open defiance, aura flaring as she dared the pressure to come down harder. She held firm, wings steady and posture unshaken. Her body tensed, clearly ready for a fight, interpreting the weight pressing down on her as a challenge.
"Your Hydreigon is exceptional," Clair said as she got up from her seat and moved closer. "I have never met a dragon that does not yield to its superior."
"She's picky," Alex said with a chuckle. "She was cheap too as you can probably imagine."
"Yes, a dragon that does not yield to the hierarchy is both rare and undesirable. How did you get her to submit?" she asked while flaring her aura making Hydreigon visibly uncomfortable.
"She said I smelled nice," Alex replied, a little too agreeable.
He had been going along with everything Clair said without question. Until Hydreigon's energy flared through him carrying a message. It was defiance. A call for help, not out of weakness, but because something was wrong.
That was when he felt it, the pull. Clair's presence had been pressing down on him the entire time, smooth and subtle, steering him without him noticing.
She was manipulating him again.
Anger surged through Alex, a sudden, boiling rage that made his skin prickle and his thoughts clear. He pulled in his energy, coiling it tightly before letting it surge outward in a wave of Dark type energy that wrapped around him like armor.
His presence shifted completely. The oppressive pressure Clair had blanketed him with was met and challenged. Her influence no longer seeped in unnoticed. It slammed into a wall. Shadows twisted around his form as his aura darkened the immediate surroundings, his stance squared, his breath steady.
His cold, sharp eyes met her sadistic, sultry gaze without flinching.
"That's enough," he said firmly, his hands reaching for Stormline in his bag while mentally preparing Gardevoir in her Poké Ball.
It would be an impossible fight, with two Champion ranked Pokémon and a powerful trainer, but he wasn't one to allow himself to be manipulated. This charade had run its course.
Whatever game she was playing, it ended now.
-----
Support me on Patreon
patreon/babywrath