Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Raging Inferno: The Titan’s Fall(Rio)
Rio nodded, his heart pounding with adrenaline. He had won this round, but the battle was far from over. His gaze shifted to Brock, who remained as calm as ever, unshaken by the loss of his Geodude. The Gym Leader reached for another Poké Ball, one larger and more ominous than the last.
"You're strong, Rio," Brock admitted, his voice steady, "but let's see how you handle this."
With a flick of his wrist, Brock launched the Poké Ball into the air. The room seemed to tremble in anticipation. The ball burst open, releasing a blinding flash of light that rapidly took form, casting long shadows across the rocky terrain.
Rio's breath caught in his throat as Onix emerged from the light, towering over the battlefield. The massive Rock Snake Pokémon uncoiled, its rocky segments grinding against each other with an echoing rumble. The ground shuddered as Onix slammed its tail down, asserting its presence. Each movement it made seemed to shake the very foundations of the Gym.
"Charmeleon, be ready," Rio muttered, his voice low but filled with resolve. His newly evolved Pokémon nodded, its flame burning with fierce determination. Charmeleon's tail flicked behind it, the fire burning brighter in the face of its next challenge.
"Onix, start with Rock Tomb!" Brock's command was swift, his voice cutting through the tension.
Onix roared in response, slamming its tail into the ground. The battlefield erupted as massive boulders shot up around Charmeleon, threatening to crush it beneath their weight. With nimble agility, Charmeleon leaped from one rock to another, dodging the onslaught, but the gaps between the boulders were closing fast.
"Charmeleon, Flamethrower!" Rio called out, hoping to turn the tide.
Charmeleon inhaled deeply, its chest glowing as it summoned a powerful stream of flames. The fiery breath shot toward Onix, engulfing the giant Pokémon in an inferno. But Onix barely flinched, the flames licking harmlessly at its rugged exterior. It was as if Charmeleon's attack had only served to irritate the massive serpent.
"Is that all you've got?" Brock taunted, a rare smirk appearing on his usually composed face. "Onix, counter with Dig!"
Before Charmeleon could react, Onix coiled and dove into the ground, its massive body disappearing beneath the surface with alarming speed. The battlefield fell silent, save for the faint rumble of shifting earth beneath Rio's feet. Charmeleon's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of its opponent, its tail flame flickering with uncertainty.
"Stay alert, Charmeleon!" Rio urged, but even he couldn't hide the tension in his voice.
The ground beneath Charmeleon suddenly erupted as Onix burst forth with a deafening roar. Charmeleon barely managed to leap out of the way, narrowly avoiding being crushed by Onix's powerful jaws. The force of Onix's emergence sent shockwaves through the battlefield, knocking Charmeleon off balance. Charmeleon tumbled across the uneven ground, struggling to regain its footing.
"Smokescreen, now!" Rio shouted, hoping to buy some time.
Charmeleon exhaled a thick cloud of black smoke, enveloping the battlefield in a shroud of darkness. The smoke billowed and swirled, obscuring Onix's vision. But even in the dense fog, the massive serpent's senses were sharp. Onix moved with an unnerving accuracy, its size and strength undiminished by the lack of visibility.
Brock's voice cut through the chaos, calm and commanding. "Rock Slide!"
Onix smashed its tail against the ground, causing rocks to cascade from above. The boulders crashed through the smoke, some missing Charmeleon by mere inches. Charmeleon darted through the debris, but it was clear the Pokémon was tiring. Each movement was slower, less precise, and the once-bright flame on its tail flickered weakly.
"Charmeleon, hang in there!" Rio's voice wavered, but he refused to back down. He couldn't. Not now.
Brock saw the weariness in Charmeleon and decided to press the advantage. "Onix, use Bind!"
Onix lunged forward, its massive body coiling around Charmeleon in an instant. Charmeleon struggled fiercely, but Onix's Bind was relentless, the constriction tightening with every second. Rio could see Charmeleon's strength fading, its struggles becoming weaker under the crushing pressure.
"Come on, Charmeleon, you can do this!" Rio's fists clenched at his sides. His mind raced, searching for a way out. Charmeleon was trapped, but it wasn't beaten yet.
With a growl of defiance, Charmeleon's eyes flared with determination. Its jaws ignited, and it bit down hard on Onix's rocky hide with Fire Fang. The searing heat of the attack sent a shudder through Onix's body, causing the bind to loosen just enough for Charmeleon to break free. Charmeleon staggered back, gasping for breath, but its spirit remained unbroken.
The battlefield was a scene of utter devastation. The once formidable terrain was now a maze of broken rocks and scorched earth, a testament to the ferocity of the battle. Charmeleon stood amidst the rubble, dirtied and bruised but still standing, its flame flickering defiantly against the odds.
Onix reared back, undeterred by the damage it had taken. Brock's expression remained unreadable, but there was a glint of respect in his eyes. "Onix, let's end this. Use Dragon Breath."
Rio's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected Brock to use such a move. The familiar blue flames began to form in Onix's mouth, the heat radiating off them in waves.
"Charmeleon, counter with your own Dragon Breath!" Rio commanded.
Charmeleon roared, summoning the last of its strength as it unleashed a stream of blue flames to meet Onix's attack. The two Dragon Breaths collided mid-air, the force of the impact creating a shockwave that rippled across the battlefield. For a moment, the two Pokémon were locked in a fierce struggle, neither willing to give an inch.
But Charmeleon's exhaustion was taking its toll. Slowly but surely, Onix's Dragon Breath began to overpower Charmeleon's, the flames inching closer and closer.
"Come on, Charmeleon! Don't give up!" Rio's voice was raw with emotion, his hands trembling as he watched the flames close in.
With a final, desperate roar, Charmeleon dug deep and poured every ounce of its remaining strength into the attack. The flames surged forward, clashing once more with Onix's Dragon Breath. The shockwave that followed was deafening, shaking the very walls of the Gym.
As the smoke cleared, Rio's heart pounded in his chest. Onix had been forced back, its body scorched from the impact. But it was still standing, its eyes burning with determination.
"Onix, use Rock Slide!" Brock commanded, his tone unwavering.
Onix responded immediately, sending another wave of rocks crashing down on Charmeleon. But Charmeleon was ready. With a burst of energy, it darted through the falling boulders, avoiding them with a newfound agility. The flames on its tail blazed brighter than ever, signaling its resolve to keep fighting.
The battlefield had become a chaotic mess of rocks and flames, both Pokémon refusing to back down. But despite Charmeleon's valiant efforts, it was clear that the battle was reaching a stalemate. Onix's sheer size and power made it nearly impossible for Charmeleon to land a decisive blow, while Charmeleon's speed and agility kept it just out of reach of Onix's devastating attacks.
Rio's mind raced, searching for a strategy to turn the tide. He could see Charmeleon's exhaustion, the toll the battle was taking on his Pokémon. But he could also see the fire in Charmeleon's eyes, the unwavering determination that mirrored his own.
This battle wasn't just about winning a Gym Badge. It was about proving something—to himself, to Brock, and to the memory of his parents. He couldn't afford to lose. Not now, not ever.
With a deep breath, Rio locked eyes with Charmeleon. "We're not done yet. Let's give it everything we've got."
Charmeleon's roar reverberated through the gym, its tail flame blazing hotter, casting flickering shadows against the rocky walls. The floor trembled as it charged forward, weaving through the hail of boulders Onix hurled its way. The jagged stones shattered upon the arena's ground, but Charmeleon's agile footwork kept it one step ahead, darting between the falling debris like a seasoned warrior.
Brock's eyes narrowed, a calculating look crossing his face. "Onix, Bind!" he commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Onix responded with swift precision, its massive serpentine body coiling through the air with surprising agility. Charmeleon's forward momentum faltered as Onix's thick body looped around it, the rough, stone-like scales pressing against Charmeleon's fiery hide. The pressure was immediate and intense, squeezing the breath from Charmeleon's lungs, forcing it to struggle for every inch of movement.
Rio's heart pounded in his chest as he watched Charmeleon twist and squirm in Onix's crushing grip again. The battlefield felt like it had shrunk to the size of a pinhead, every breath he took shallow with anxiety. His mind raced for a solution, the determination in his eyes betraying none of the worry gnawing at him. But then, amid the swirling dust and crumbling rocks, Rio's eyes caught a sudden, brilliant flash.
Charmeleon's tail was glowing, not with the familiar warmth of its flame, but with a cold, silvery light. The shine intensified, the glow almost blinding in contrast to the dim, stone-gray surroundings. Rio's breath hitched.
𝘐𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘛𝘢𝘪𝘭
His realization hit like a thunderclap. "Charmeleon, use Iron Tail!" Rio's voice rang out, clear and commanding, cutting through the tension like a knife.
Charmeleon's eyes flared with renewed vigor. The silvery glow solidified along its tail, hardening it into a deadly weapon. It twisted its body with a sudden burst of strength, the metallic tail swinging with precision and force. The impact echoed through the gym, a resonating 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 that sent tremors through the floor. Onix recoiled, its massive body shuddering from the unexpected power behind the attack.
Rio seized the moment, his mind locking onto the next move with razor-sharp focus. "Now, follow up with Dragon Breath!"
Charmeleon's chest swelled as it inhaled deeply, the air around it shimmering with heat. With a fierce cry, it unleashed a torrent of blue, dragon-like flames from its mouth. The blazing stream of energy collided with Onix just as its body was reeling from the Iron Tail, the combined assault driving the massive Rock-type backward, forcing it to teeter dangerously.
Onix's stone-hide cracked under the relentless pressure, small fissures spreading like spiderwebs across its surface. Brock's usually calm and composed expression faltered, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. But his years of experience kicked in immediately. "Onix, Dig!"
With a low growl, Onix responded, its body coiling tightly before plunging into the ground. The earth shook as it disappeared beneath the surface, leaving behind a gaping hole. Charmeleon and Rio were left standing amidst the rubble, the air thick with tension and dust.
Rio's jaw tightened. He knew Onix was biding its time beneath the earth, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But Rio wasn't going to let it happen. His eyes darted across the battlefield, searching for any sign of movement. Charmeleon stood poised, its glowing tail swaying like a pendulum, ready to react the moment Onix emerged.
The ground trembled once more. Rio's eyes sharpened, and so did Charmeleon's. Without missing a beat, Onix burst from the earth in a powerful surge, debris flying in every direction as it lunged at Charmeleon. The sudden eruption nearly caught Charmeleon off guard, but it wasn't the same Pokémon it had been minutes ago. With a swift roll, it evaded the crushing blow, the impact of Onix's body slamming into the ground with a thunderous crash.
Charmeleon didn't wait for Rio's command. Its body whipped around, the glowing Iron Tail connecting with Onix's head with a sickening . 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 The force of the blow sent Onix crashing into the rocky ground, its massive frame sprawled across the battlefield. Dust and pebbles flew up from the impact, shrouding the arena in a thick haze.
Onix stirred, its colossal body heaving as it tried to rise. But it was clear that the relentless onslaught had taken its toll. Brock's face, usually a mask of calm confidence, now showed a trace of concern. His gaze flickered between Onix and Rio, calculating his next move.
Rio's heart pounded, adrenaline surging through his veins. He could feel the tide of the battle shifting. "Charmeleon, let's end this! Use Iron Tail, one more time!"
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