~ Pewter City, Pewter Gym ~
The heavy iron doors of Pewter Gym rumbled open.
A cool breeze swept through the stone hall, carrying the scent of earth and dust.
William Walker stepped inside, his steps echoing across the wide arena. The battlefield was made entirely of rock and gravel, sunlight pouring through a cracked skylight above.
Across the field stood Brock, arms crossed, expression calm but unreadable. His brown vest and sturdy stance mirrored the very walls of the Gym which is unyielding, immovable.
"You must be William, right?" Brock called out, his voice deep. "Word spreads fast. The Trainer who demolished the new trainers in the city."
William smiled faintly. "That's me."
He unclipped a single Poké Ball from his belt. "I came here for battle."
Brock's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Confident, huh? Let's see if that confidence can break through rock."
He raised his arm. "Go, Geodude!"
A burst of light flashed, revealing the Rock Pokémon hovering in the air, its rocky fists slamming together like cannonballs.
William's gaze sharpened. "Let's show him what you can do."
He threw his Poké Ball forward. "Jaw, let's make some waves!"
Sharpedo exploded from the ball in a rush of blue and foam, materializing midair before crashing into a conjured pool on William's side of the field. Water sprayed, glistening like shattered glass under the light.
Brock blinked. "Your pokemon can easily change the arena for their advantages.....smart."
William smirked. "A predator needs its territory."
Round One: Geodude vs. Sharpedo
"Geodude, Rock Throw!"
The small rock Pokémon hurled a volley of boulders like cannon fire.
"Dodge and ride the current, Surf!" William commanded.
Sharpedo plunged beneath the surface, jets of water bursting up as the rocks crashed harmlessly against the pool's edge. The water stilled and then a blue blur cut through it like lightning.
"Now uses Aqua Jet!"
Sharpedo erupted from below, trailing a stream of silver water, slamming directly into Geodude midair. The impact sent it tumbling into the rocky wall with a loud crack.
Brock narrowed his eyes. "You've got speed, but this isn't over! Geodude uses Defense Curl, then Rollout!"
Geodude spun rapidly, tucking its arms in and rolling across the ground like a boulder. The terrain vibrated from the momentum.
William's eyes narrowed. "He's building rotational energy. Smart counter for a water-type. It reduces surface exposure to minimize damage."
He raised his hand sharply. "Jaw, circle him and then Surf the current!"
Sharpedo roared, swirling its body in the pool and creating a high wave that surged forward, flooding the field's center. The rolling Geodude hit the water and instantly slowed, momentum dying in the surge.
William clenched his fist. "Now, use Ice Fang!"
Sharpedo lunged, jaws glowing pale blue. It bit down hard on Geodude's side, frost spreading across the rock's surface before it exploded from the collision.
When the mist cleared, Geodude lay fainted against the rock wall.
Brock nodded once, recalling it calmly. "Not bad. After all you got the type advantage. You've got precision and guts to use water in my Gym."
William's expression didn't change, but there was pride in his eyes. "I train for adaptation, not advantage."
"Then let's see how your adaptation handles this!" Brock said, throwing his second Poké Ball.
The ground trembled as a massive form materialized into Onix, its body made of enormous boulders, coiled and towering like a stone serpent.
It let out a deafening roar, shaking the entire Gym.
Even Sharpedo's eyes narrowed, sizing it up.
William exhaled slowly. "Jaw, don't be intimidated. Focus on my command, not its size."
Brock slammed his fist into his palm. "Onix, uses Rock Tomb! Swing your tail against the ground. Crush its advantage!"
With a thunderous crash, Onix's tail smashed into the ground , splitting the rock and cutting off Sharpedo's space. Water drained rapidly through the cracks and the large amount of boulders shut out the running areas.
William gritted his teeth. "Clever. He's forcing a land fight and gaining the advantage in movement."
Sharpedo flopped in the shallow pool, snarling.
"Let's finish this! Again use Rock Tomb!"
Giant slabs of rock rose from the floor and fell toward Sharpedo like meteors.
William's voice cut through the chaos. "Jet through the gaps with Aqua Jet, vertical route!"
Sharpedo burst forward at an angle, scraping past the descending rocks with milliseconds to spare. The water trailed from its fins, forming a glistening spiral as it flew.
"Onix, Dragon Tail!" Brock barked.
The enormous tail lashed across the air. Sharpedo barely twisted away, the shockwave blasting debris across the field.
"Now, Crunch!" William roared.
Sharpedo's teeth glowed with dark energy as it clamped onto Onix's midsection. The serpent roared, thrashing, rocks cracking beneath the pressure.
Brock clenched a fist. "Shake it off! Then use Sandstorm!"
The air howled as grit filled the Gym, turning visibility to zero. The swirling storm battered Sharpedo, cutting its skin with fine stone dust.
William covered his mouth. "A battle of endurance, huh?"
He then used his Trainer's Eyes to locate the Onix in the sandstorm. "There! Left side, 45 degree from your position." William pointed. "Hit him with Water Pulse!"
Sharpedo's body twisted, forming a compressed sphere of water and firing it forward. It struck through the storm like a cannonball, smashing against Onix's head and sending a shockwave of sound through the Gym.
Brock winced slightly. "How? Whatever Onix uses Dig!"
The giant serpent burrowed underground, the floor cracking and collapsing.
William's heart raced. "He's going for a surprise counter. Predict the exit angle. Now, thirty degrees left, rear flank."
Sharpedo hovered still, eyes scanning.
Then boom! The ground erupted behind it as Onix lunged upward, mouth open.
"Turn and counter with Ice Fang!"
Sharpedo twisted midair and its jaws open wide with large amount of ice energy infused and bite though the rock scale. That attack collided head-on with Onix's attack. The resulting explosion of steam filled the arena.
When the haze cleared, Onix was panting heavily, water dripping from its stony scales. Sharpedo floated weakly, but its eyes still burned with ferocity.
Brock's jaw tightened. "You've got heart. But let's end it. Onix uses Stone Edge!"
Jagged spikes of rock burst upward from the ground, each one glowing white-hot.
William exhaled once. "Jaw… it's time. Give it everything you've got. Final Aqua Impact!"
Sharpedo roared, summoning every last drop of water remaining in the field. A massive surge burst forth beneath it, propelling it forward faster than sound.
The shark's form vanished into a silver-blue blur.
The rocks shattered one by one as Sharpedo tore through them, leaving trails of steam and mist. Then heavy impact.
A colossal crash shook the Gym as Sharpedo slammed full-force into Onix's core, the sound like a thunderclap at sea.
Water exploded across the room, drenching both Trainers.
When the dust settled. Onix lay motionless, its rocky segments cracked and steaming.
Brock's eyes widened. Then he smiled softly. "That… was incredible."
The referee raised his arm. "Onix is unable to battle. The victory goes to William from Jubilife City, Sinnoh Region!"
The referee's flag shot up.
William exhaled slowly, eyes softening as Sharpedo landed weakly back in the water puddle, panting but grinning, pride gleaming in its gaze.
He knelt beside it. "You did great, Jaw. You fought with passion and control."
Sharpedo growled softly, pressing its fin against his glove.
Brock approached, recalling Onix. "That Sharpedo of yours… it's fierce, but disciplined. You trained it really well."
William smiled faintly. "Thank you for this battle. My pokemon really needs it."
Brock nodded approvingly and reached into his vest. "Also you've earned this. The Boulder Badge."
He handed it over, the silver emblem gleaming under the skylight.
William accepted it, sliding it into his badge case. "Thank you, Brock."
With that William recalls Jaw and turned toward the exit. The Gym doors opened to sunlight again, casting their silhouettes long across the ground.
William looked forward, eyes steady.
"One badge down," he murmured. "Let's keep moving."
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Thank you for reading my book.