Pokémon: Scizor
Type: Bug + Steel
Abilities: Light Metal + Flash Fire + Huge Power + Stamina + Speed Boost
Rank: Gym Leader Peak
Potential: Pseudo-legendary
Moves: Quick Attack, Agility, Double Team, Metal Claw, Iron Defense, X-Scissor, Swift, Swords Dance
Description: With its ultra-light armor, this Scizor fears no flames, moves with great speed, and possesses overwhelming strength.
Scizor normally has a quadruple weakness to Fire—worse than even Scyther. So, Yozora decisively granted it the ability Flash Fire, erasing its most fatal weakness.
From there, he strengthened its power, defense, and speed. The result was near perfection.
Today's Scizor had become an absolute powerhouse.
And it wasn't just Scizor. In Yozora's eyes, his Dragonite, Eevee, Ampharos, Scizor, Crystal Steelix, Tangrowth, and Growlithe—each one of them was formidable beyond measure.
If Beedrill was excluded, this year's team completely eclipsed the strength of last year's lineup. Not only were their levels higher, but the overall growth gap was enormous.
It was undeniable proof of Yozora's rapidly advancing skill as a trainer. This was the true benefit of unlocking the Mind's Eye.
By keeping his Mind's Eye open, Yozora could remain fully present and focused at every moment.
Of course, Miltank's help also could not be overlooked.
"Less than two months remain before the Silver Conference begins…" Yozora ended his meditation and rose to his feet.
There was still time. With further training, he believed Dragonite and the others could grow even stronger.
But first—he needed to secure his final Gym Badge. And after that, climb Mt. Silver—no small journey in itself.
He hadn't forgotten that Suicune was waiting for him there.
"Suicune, wait for me. Once I've earned my last badge, I'll climb Mt. Silver and capture you!" Yozora smiled faintly, packed his things, and set out for Blackthorn City.
Three days later, he arrived and went straight to the Blackthorn Gym.
The Gym Leader was Clair, about twenty-five years old, with long, flowing blue hair. She was famously known as the cousin of the renowned Elite Four member, Lance.
"Yozora-senpai, you finally made it!" Shōshi rushed out of the Gym, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
"Auntie, this is the Yozora-senpai I told you about—the Champion of last year's Indigo Conference, stronger even than Cousin Ryūnan!" Shōshi turned to Clair, full of admiration.
"Oh?"
At those words, Clair gave Yozora a deep, measured look.
She knew well that Ryūnan of the Blackthorn Clan was considered the most gifted of his generation—awakened to the Dragon Force, his talents rivaled Lance's own youth.
In her mind, Ryūnan should have been unrivaled among his peers. Yet now, before her stood someone said to surpass even him…
"Miss Clair, I'd like to challenge your Gym." Yozora waved briefly at Shōshi, then looked straight at Clair and stated his purpose.
Clair nodded. "No problem. Follow me."
She led him into the Blackthorn Gym's unique battlefield. Shōshi came along as well, eager to spectate.
The arena was distinctive: outer land terrain with a square pool of water at its center.
"Yozora, I'd like to truly test your strength. How about a five-on-five match?" Clair suggested.
"No problem at all." Yozora accepted instantly. Even if it were six-on-six or seven-on-seven, he wouldn't have flinched.
With his agreement, the referee stepped forward.
"The official battle of Blackthorn Gym is about to begin! Both sides may use five Pokémon. When one side has no remaining Pokémon able to battle, the match is over. Only the challenger may switch Pokémon during the battle."
"Then—Gym Leader Clair, please send out your first Pokémon!"
Clair immediately revealed the aura of a true master, taking a Poké Ball from her belt and throwing it forward.
"Go! Kingdra!"
A flash of white light revealed a massive Kingdra in the center of the pool.
Kingdra—the evolved form of Seadra.
Seadra was purely Water-type, but Kingdra, upon evolving, became Water/Dragon-type, eliminating its Grass and Electric weaknesses.
This Kingdra was enormous, nearly two meters tall, restricted to water but unmatched within it. Its underwater speed and power were astonishing.
"Gym Leader-level," Yozora noted at a glance. Clair certainly lived up to her Dragon-type title—the very first Pokémon she sent out already carried such strength.
But Yozora knew this was far from her true limit.
She was not only a Dragon-type Gym Leader, but also the cousin of an Elite Four member.
Someone like her surely possessed power on par with the Elite Four themselves. She simply would not use her full might against a challenger like him.
"Go! Crystal Steelix!" Yozora called out.
The battlefield trembled as a massive crystalline serpent of steel erupted onto the land. Its body gleamed like carved diamond, glittering under the Gym lights.
"Wha—!" Clair, Shōshi, and even the referee froze at the sight.
If Crystal Onix had been a rarity, then a Crystal Steelix was something bordering on myth. Not only was it dazzling in beauty, it radiated overwhelming pressure—the kind only a fully evolved titan could give off.
"This is no mere Shiny… it's a true mutation!" Clair muttered, astonished.
But recalling they were mid-battle, she quickly hardened her gaze.
"Kingdra, Hydro Pump!"
With a roar, Kingdra blasted a torrent of water directly at Crystal Steelix's head.
The result? The crystalline armor drank it in like nothing.
Not a scratch.
"What?!" Clair's eyes widened. "Not weak to Water… then its typing has completely changed!"
"Crystal Steelix, Blizzard!" Yozora commanded.
Steelix's massive crystalline jaws opened wide, releasing a howling storm of frozen wind.
Clair's eyes sharpened. "Dragon resists Ice through Water—it won't be that simple. Kingdra, endure it!"
Indeed, Kingdra weathered the blizzard with effort. But Clair suddenly realized the field itself was changing.
The pool froze over in thick, glittering ice, trapping Kingdra beneath the surface.
"What—!"
"Finish it with Iron Tail!"
Steelix's colossal tail slammed down like a falling mountain. BOOM!
The impact shattered the ice and sent Kingdra hurtling from the pool, crashing unconscious onto the battlefield.
"Kingdra is unable to battle! Crystal Steelix wins!" the referee declared.
Clair exhaled slowly, recalling her fallen Pokémon. "Well done. But let's see how it handles this. Go! Dragonair!"
A graceful Dragonair emerged, its body coiling elegantly.
"Dragonair, Flamethrower!" Clair ordered without hesitation.
A jet of fire surged across the field, engulfing Steelix.
Clair's lips curved. "With quadruple weakness to Fire, this ends it."
But then—unbelievably—the flames bent, drawn into Steelix's crystalline body. In moments, the fire was gone.
Steelix gleamed brighter than before, utterly unharmed.
"What—absorbed?!" Clair's composure cracked for the first time.
Shōshi's jaw dropped. "A Steelix that absorbs fire…?! Just how many secrets does Yozora-senpai hide?"
"Now—Blizzard again!" Yozora seized the moment.
The freezing gale engulfed Dragonair. It tried to take flight, but its tail froze solid midair, dragging it down.
"Close in—Ice Fang!"
Steelix lunged forward, jaws crackling with frost, and bit down savagely.
Dragonair cried out, body locking up from the freezing bite, before collapsing to the floor unconscious.
"Dragonair is unable to battle! Crystal Steelix wins again!"
Clair silently recalled her second fallen dragon, staring at Yozora with new respect.
His skill, his Pokémon, his composure… he already had the makings of a trainer destined for the global stage.
"Gyarados, battle!" she declared, sending out her third Pokémon.
The colossal serpent roared, thrashing the water with fury.
"Return, Crystal Steelix." Yozora calmly recalled his partner, then sent forth another ball.
"Go—Ampharos!"
Clair's eyes narrowed. She knew what was coming.
"Ampharos, Thunderbolt!"
Lightning erupted, striking Gyarados like a divine punishment.
With a single thunderous crash, Gyarados collapsed into the pool, unconscious.
"Gyarados is unable to battle! Ampharos wins!"
Clair recalled her Pokémon gently. "You did well, Gyarados…"
Shōshi, meanwhile, could barely contain his awe, heart pounding with admiration for Yozora's strength.
(End of Chapter)