---------------------Steel Menace--------------------------------
The preliminary rounds at Indigo Plateau were moving fast now matches ending in flashes of light, roars, and explosions of energy. Water Field had already seen its share of upsets and blowouts, but the Rock Field arena was a different beast entirely. Massive stone platforms rose from a central pit, jagged boulders jutting out like teeth, dust hanging thick in the air every time a Pokémon slammed into the ground. The crowd loved it raw, brutal, unforgiving.
Ash's name had been called again.
He walked out onto the green side of the Rock Field with the same calm stride he always had, Pikachu riding on his shoulder, tail flicking lazily. Misty, Sabrina, and Brock watched from the stands front row thanks to his status cheering loud enough to turn heads.
Across the field, his opponent swaggered out: a stocky guy with a backwards cap, fingerless gloves, and a cocky grin. His name tag read Johnny. He cracked his knuckles and pointed dramatically at Ash.
"Yo, Ketchum! I've heard the hype shiny Gyarados, one-hit KOs, all that noise. But this is Rock Field, baby! My turf! You're about to get buried!"
Ash just tilted his head slightly.
"Let's see what you've got, Johnny."
The announcer's voice boomed across the stadium.
Announcer: "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ROUND TWO CONTINUES ON ROCK FIELD! ON THE GREEN SIDE THE TALK OF THE LEAGUE ASH KETCHUM!"
Commentator 1 (excited): "This kid's already turned heads in the prelims! That shiny Gyarados is still trending on PokéTube!"
Commentator 2: "And on the red side JOHNNY THE ROCK CLIMBER! Local favorite, known for his tough Rock and Ground-types. Can he stop the Ketchum hype train?"
Johnny (grinning): "Three-on-three, no mercy! Go Nidorina!"
The Poké Ball burst open. Nidorina landed on a boulder with a sharp cry, spikes glinting, tail lashing. She crouched low, ready to strike.
Ash reached for his belt without hesitation.
"Alright. Let's show them what real power looks like. Steelix I choose you."
The Poké Ball opened.
The stadium went quiet for half a second.
Then the ground shook.
A low, metallic groan echoed from the Poké Ball's light. Something massive began to emerge scales of burnished steel, segments thicker than most Onix bodies, eyes glowing molten orange. Steelix rose… and rose… and rose.
It towered over the entire arena.
Ten times larger than any regular Steelix on record, its body coiled around three full boulders like they were pebbles. Its head alone was bigger than most platforms. When it finally straightened, the shadow it cast swallowed half the field. Dust rained from the ceiling. The audience sucked in a collective breath.
Commentator 1 (voice cracking): "Holy look at the size of that thing! That is NOT a normal Steelix! It's… it's enormous!"
Commentator 2: "I've never seen anything like this in my twenty years calling matches! That Steelix is an Alpha ten times the size and power of a standard one! Johnny's Nidorina looks like a toy next to it!"
Johnny's grin vanished. His eyes widened.
"Nidorina… Poison Sting! Go!"
Nidorina fired a barrage of venomous needles, glowing purple in the air.
Ash didn't even raise his voice.
"Steelix Gyro Ball."
Steelix's body began to spin slow at first, then faster, faster until it was a whirling vortex of steel. The needles pinged off harmlessly, ricocheting into the walls. Gyro Ball's momentum built, the rotation so fast it created a low whine that vibrated the stands.
Nidorina tried to dodge too late.
Steelix surged forward like a living avalanche, Gyro Ball slamming into her with earth-shaking force. The impact threw Nidorina across the field, bouncing off boulders before crashing into the far wall. Dust exploded outward.
Commentator 1: "Nidorina is sent flying! That was brutal! One solid hit and she's struggling to get up!"
Commentator 2: "She's still conscious barely! Johnny's gotta switch or he's done for!"
Johnny gritted his teeth. "Nidorina Double Kick! Fight back!"
Nidorina staggered up, legs glowing white. She charged, leaping toward Steelix's massive head with two powerful kicks.
Ash's voice stayed calm.
"Steelix use Bind."
Steelix's body uncoiled like a whip. Segments wrapped around Nidorina mid-air, squeezing tight. She struggled, gasping, but the steel coils only tightened. Nidorina's kicks weakened, then stopped.
Commentator 1: "Bind! Steelix is crushing Nidorina! She can't break free!"
Commentator 2: "This is over! Johnny, recall her before !"
Johnny's hand shook as he returned Nidorina, face pale.
"Damn it… Rhydon go!"
Rhydon materialized with a roar, horn spinning, fists pounding the ground. It was big strong but next to Steelix, it looked like a child.
Johnny: "Rhydon Horn Drill! Break through!"
Rhydon charged, horn spinning like a drill, aiming for Steelix's midsection.
Ash tilted his head.
"Steelix Heavy Slam."
Steelix reared up its full, impossible height looming like a skyscraper then dropped. The entire arena shook as its massive body slammed down on Rhydon like a falling mountain.
The impact created a shockwave that cracked platforms and sent dust billowing outward. Rhydon vanished beneath the steel bulk.
When Steelix lifted again, Rhydon lay flat, unconscious, horn bent.
Commentator 1 (almost screaming): "Rhydon is DOWN! One move! That Heavy Slam was apocalyptic!"
Commentator 2: "Johnny's down to his last Pokémon! This is a massacre!"
Johnny's hands were shaking so badly he nearly dropped the Poké Ball.
"Diglett go! Dig! Get under it!"
Diglett popped up from the ground, tiny but fast, burrowing beneath Steelix.
"Dig attack hit from below!"
Ash's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Steelix Earthquake."
Steelix slammed its tail into the ground once.
The entire arena rippled.
Cracks raced outward from the point of impact. The ground heaved like waves. Platforms shattered. Spectators screamed and held on to railings. Diglett burst out of the earth, flung skyward, eyes wide in panic before it crashed back down fainted.
Commentator 1: "And that's it! Diglett is out! Johnny's team is completely wiped zero chance to even counter!"
Commentator 2: "Ash Ketchum just demolished a full team with ONE Pokémon! That Alpha Steelix is a walking natural disaster!"
The crowd lost it cheers so loud the stadium seemed to shake.
Johnny stared at his fainted team, hands limp at his sides. His cocky grin was gone. His face was pale, eyes wide with disbelief and something close to fear.
Ash returned Steelix with a soft flash of red light. The arena felt suddenly empty without the giant steel serpent filling it. He walked to the center line and extended a hand.
"Good match, Johnny."
Johnny looked at the hand, then at Ash. Slowly, he took it his grip weak.
"You… you weren't even trying, were you?"
Ash smiled faintly. "I was testing how far I could push Steelix. You helped."
Johnny laughed once shaky, disbelieving.
"I never stood a chance."
Ash nodded once, then turned and walked off the field to thunderous applause. Misty and Sabrina met him at the exit Misty grinning ear-to-ear, Sabrina giving a rare, proud smile. Brock was already clapping like a proud homie.
Behind Ash, Johnny sank to his knees in the center of the field, staring at the spot where Steelix had stood.
The announcer's voice rang out again.
Announcer: "ASH KETCHUM ADVANCES! WHAT AN OVERWHELMING DISPLAY OF POWER! THE INDIGO LEAGUE JUST WITNESSED A MONSTER!"
Commentator 1: "That Alpha Steelix is going to be the talk of the tournament. Johnny never had a prayer."
Commentator 2: "If this is just the prelims… what's he going to do in the main bracket?"
Ash disappeared into the tunnel, the roar of the crowd following him like thunder.
Two match down.
Two more prelims to go.
And the Universal Keystone waiting at the end.
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