The shadow cast by the massive iron serpent was suffocating. Steelix wasn't just a Pokémon; it was a living fortress of tempered metal and compressed earth. In its previous life as an Onix, it was already a formidable opponent for any rookie, but now, having evolved under the intense heat and pressure of the Sinnoh underground, its skin was harder than diamond.
I looked at Sylveon. She was small, elegant, and—on paper—completely outmatched. But paper doesn't account for a Trainer who knows exactly how to light a fire under a Steel-type's feet.
"Steelix, huh?" I muttered, my mind racing through every bit of data I had on the species. "It's built to take physical hits, but every fortress has a weak point. We just need to find the window."
"Don't blink, Julian!" Byron shouted, his boisterous voice cutting through the howl of the sandstorm. "Steelix, show them what real power looks like! Dig!"
With a roar that shook the stadium floor, the massive serpent dove headfirst into the concrete. It moved with a terrifying, fluid grace, the reinforced floor shattering like glass as it vanished beneath the surface.
"Sylveon, don't let it catch you off guard! Misty Terrain!"
Sylveon spun in a tight circle, her ribbons glowing with a soft, ethereal light. A pink wave pulsed outward, and suddenly, a thick, shimmering mist began to blanket the arena. It clashed with the yellow sandstorm, creating a chaotic, swirling atmosphere of pink and gold. Visibility dropped to near zero.
"Hiding in the mist, eh? It won't save you!" Byron yelled. "Steelix, strike from below!"
I closed my eyes, tapping into my Aura. While I couldn't see through the earth, I could feel the vibrations. The mist acted as an extension of Sylveon's senses, and my Aura acted as mine. There.
"To the right, now!"
Sylveon leaped gracefully just as the ground beneath her original position exploded. Steelix's massive head breached the surface like a surfacing submarine, its iron jaws snapping shut on nothing but thin air.
"Bind it!" Byron commanded, reacting instantly.
"Not today! Sylveon, use Mystical Fire!"
This was my trump card. While the Fairy-type is generally weak to Steel, Sylveon is full of surprises. She opened her mouth, and instead of the usual pink sparkles, a swirling vortex of strange, purple-and-red flames erupted.
The fire slammed directly into Steelix's tail as it tried to wrap around her. A massive explosion of heat rocked the gym.
ROAAARRRR!
Steelix let out a pained, metallic shriek, recoiling violently. The special defense of a Steelix is its Achilles' heel, and with the two Calm Mind boosts Sylveon had banked earlier, that Fire-type move hit like a solar flare.
"A Fire-type move?! From a Sylveon?!" Byron's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "I knew the Fairy-type was mysterious, but that's a dirty trick, Julian! Steelix, get back underground! Dig, now!"
"Don't let it escape! Encore that flame! Follow it down!"
Sylveon didn't hesitate. As Steelix dived back into its tunnel, Sylveon sprinted to the edge of the hole and unleashed a second, even more powerful Mystical Fire directly into the opening.
The ground rumbled. A muffled BOOM echoed from beneath the stadium, and a pillar of heat surged back out of the hole like a volcanic vent. My Aura pinged a massive drop in Steelix's energy. I had a sudden, vivid mental image of "stewed iron snake," and I couldn't help but feel a little bad for the big guy.
The sandstorm finally began to settle, leaving only the fading pink mist and a very exhausted-looking Sylveon. She was panting, her ribbons drooping slightly from the sheer effort of maintaining two high-level moves back-to-back.
"One more time, Steelix! Give it everything! Dig and Gyro Ball!" Byron was relentless. He wasn't going to let a little heat stop his momentum.
The ground collapsed near Sylveon, and the iron serpent burst forth, spinning like a massive, glowing drill. But Sylveon was ready. Sensing the rhythm of the earth through the remaining mist, she pirouetted to the side, the silver blur of the Gyro Ball missing her by a mere inch.
"Finish it! Mystical Fire!"
"Steelix, get out of there! Dig!"
But Steelix was too slow. The heat from the previous attacks had softened its joints, and the exhaustion was visible in the way its massive body slumped. The third blast of flames engulfed its head, and with a final, echoing crash, the mountain of steel hit the concrete and stayed there.
"Steelix is unable to battle! Sylveon wins!" the referee announced.
Byron stood in silence for a moment, then let out a roar of laughter. "Incredible! Absolutely incredible! I've never seen a Fairy-type play with fire like that. You used the environment, you used the rules, and you hit me right where it hurts. But don't think you've won yet, Doctor!"
He recalled Steelix and pulled out his final Poké Ball. The air in the room seemed to get heavier.
"This is my masterpiece. The ultimate wall. Go, Bastiodon!"
With a flash of light, a Pokémon that looked like a living shield appeared. Its face was a flat, massive plate of grey stone and steel, looking more like a castle gate than a living creature. Bastiodon—the prehistoric titan.
Its physical defense was slightly lower than Steelix's, but its Special Defense was legendary. My Mystical Fire strategy was about to hit a literal brick wall.
"Sylveon," I said, my voice low and serious. "I know you're tired, but we have to push through. This is the final gate."
Sylveon narrowed her eyes, her ribbons tightening. She was ready for one last round.
"Bastiodon! Show them the meaning of 'Immovable'!" Byron shouted. "Use Iron Defense!"
The battle for the Mine Badge was reaching its climax.