Pokemon: Gym Leader

"Garchomp! Battle ready!"

Dylan whipped out his first Poké Ball with a fluid motion.

A deep, powerful dragon's roar echoed through the air. A sleek, dark-blue land shark spun through the sky before crashing down in front of Dylan, letting out a ferocious snarl toward Leon.

It was none other than the pseudo-legendary—Garchomp!

"A little appetizer to start," Dylan said coolly, eyes fixed on Leon.

"Garchomp, huh…"

Leon's battle spirit flared. Of course he knew this Pokémon—Sinnoh's pseudo-legendary dragon. Cynthia, the Sinnoh Champion, famously wielded a Garchomp as her ace.

He wondered how Dylan's Garchomp compared to hers.

Bzzt—Garchomp, Dragon/Ground-type. Mach Pokémon.

Ability: Rough Skin

Moves: Dragon Rush, Scale Shot, Earthquake, Dragon Claw, Crunch, Poison Jab, Aqua Tail…

Entry: Its wings generate air blades when it flies at high speed, slicing through trees in its path.

"Ooh, Dylan's Garchomp!" Brandon leaned forward with interest. Dylan hadn't used Garchomp during their battle, so this was new.

"Mhm. That's the offspring of Cynthia's Garchomp," said Lillie with a soft smile. "But Dylan really values this one—it's super strong now, no weaker than his Salamence."

"Impressive…" Brandon's eyes narrowed. "Though if Garchomp's leading… it is 4x weak to Ice."

He glanced sideways. "And Leon does have some powerful Ice-types."

True enough—he'd reviewed Leon's team when he heard about this match.

"Ice Rider Calyrex!"

Sure enough, Leon responded by sending out Mr. Rime.

This was the difference between going first and second. The second trainer had the advantage of counter-picking.

Of course, the first trainer could always switch out, but doing so risked revealing another key member of their team.

A tuxedo-clad, cane-twirling Pokémon slid onto the field with a bow—it was the Ice/Psychic-type performer, Mr. Rime.

Bzzt—Mr. Rime, Ice/Psychic-type. Comedian Pokémon.

Ability: Tangled Feet

Moves: Teeter Dance, Psychic, Freeze-Dry, Sucker Punch, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt…

Entry: Its whimsical movements delight people. It can project psychic power from its belly pattern.

A strong Ice-type, no doubt.

Brandon frowned as the Rotom Dex finished its readout.

"Mr. Rime, huh? But truly powerful dragons don't fear ice."

Dylan gave a faint, confident smile and slowly raised one hand.

"Champion Leon… why don't I show you Garchomp's true form?"

"Oh?"

Leon blinked in surprise, eyes locking on the sparkling gem Dylan held.

He realized immediately—Mega Evolution!

But Mega Evolution right out of the gate? In a full 6v6 match?

Leon hesitated. Normally, power-ups like Mega or Dynamax were saved for clutch moments…

"Garchomp!"

As Dylan called out, the Keystone in his hand lit up with radiant energy. Garchomp threw its head back and roared, the Mega Stone around its neck glowing in response.

Mega Evolution—transcending limits!

The crowd erupted in cheers.

"RRAAAHHH!!"

A fiercer, more savage roar ripped through the arena. A terrifying new form took shape: Mega Garchomp.

Gasp!

The audience collectively drew in breath.

Compared to its original form, Mega Garchomp was far more monstrous.

It had grown bulkier. Its head and shoulders had slimmed, but gleaming white bone-like blades now jutted from its frame.

Most striking of all—its claws had melted and transformed into massive, blood-red scythes.

Bzzt—Mega Garchomp, Dragon/Ground-type. Mach Pokémon.

Ability: Sand Force

Entry: Its wings have become scythes, and its temperament is now wildly aggressive. It swings its blades and pulverizes the earth.

"Mega Garchomp, huh… Dylan's not holding back at all," Brandon muttered.

He was stunned. This opener was far more brutal than the battle he'd had with Dylan.

Everyone knew Dylan liked to escalate his teams from weakest to strongest. If this was the starter… what kinds of monsters were coming next?

Suddenly, Brandon found himself very curious.

Far away in Sinnoh, in the Champion's office on Lily of the Valley Island—

"Well, well," said Flint, the Fire-type Elite Four with wild red hair. "Isn't that the Gible you gave Dylan way back?"

"It's grown quite a bit," said Cynthia, smiling faintly.

"Man, should've gone to see this live. That Mega Garchomp… it's fierce!" Flint groaned in regret.

"It's strong…" said Lucian, the suit-clad Psychic-type specialist, giving Cynthia a glance.

Was it just him, or did that Garchomp seem almost as strong as hers?

Cynthia seemed to catch the implication and shook her head, unconcerned.

"No need to guess. It's stronger than mine," she said plainly. "Dylan told me before—of all his teams, Dragon is his strongest. Today, he's putting on a show."

Her expression turned thoughtful.

If Mega Garchomp was leading… she had a very strong suspicion that the rest of Dylan's team was all legendary dragons.

Back in Wyndon Stadium—

"Amazing—Mega Garchomp!" Leon's eyes gleamed with anticipation. He had never faced a Mega opponent before.

"It's only natural it's strong," Dylan said, his lips curling upward.

"Well then, Champion Leon… shall we begin?"

Dylan tilted his head slightly.

"Of course! Let's go!" Leon grinned. He couldn't wait.

"Garchomp—Earthquake!"

Mega Garchomp roared and raised a leg before slamming it down with devastating force.

BOOM!!

The battlefield trembled violently. The shockwaves of the Ground-type move were intense—far stronger than Leon had anticipated.

"Mr. Rime, Ice Beam!"

Mr. Rime twirled back, staff raised, and fired a coiling beam of icy blue energy toward Garchomp.

Ice Beam!

A classic move—and super effective against Garchomp's 4x Ice weakness.

Most people instantly understood Leon's plan. Mr. Rime wasn't weak to Ground, so a trade-off made sense.

But—

"You're assuming too much," Dylan murmured with a smirk.

"Garchomp."

With a fierce growl, Mega Garchomp raised a massive red scythe—and sliced Ice Beam in half.

The audience gasped as the beam shattered with a hiss of icy mist.

Frost crackled along the blade, but it had clearly lost its force. That sheer, raw power—cutting through Ice Beam—was terrifying.

"What… what kind of strength is this?"

"Not even a move—and it just cut Ice Beam?!"

"GARCHOMP!!"

The crowd roared. Leon was stunned. He'd known Garchomp was strong—but this?

"Dragon Claw!"

Mega Garchomp barreled forward, ground shaking beneath its charge.

"Blizzard!" Leon called.

Mr. Rime danced backward, staff raised once more as snow-white winds swirled around him.

A vicious Blizzard swept the field, swallowing everything in a flurry of ice.

But when the snow cleared—

A gaping, dark hole in the ground was all that remained.

Dig!

Leon's eyes widened. "Mr. Rime!"

"Too late," Dylan said calmly.

A split-second later, the earth exploded beneath Mr. Rime. Mega Garchomp erupted upward, smashing into it from below.

"Dragon Claw!"

With a roar, Mega Garchomp leapt into the air, twin scythes glowing green. With terrifying force, it brought them down.

"ICE BEAM!" Leon snapped.

Still airborne, Mr. Rime barely managed to raise his staff. A beam fired—

WHAM!

Garchomp's scythes crashed down, hammering Mr. Rime into the ground hard enough to shake the whole field.

The Ice Beam struck home, but only partially—and Mega Garchomp pushed through the pain.

"Dragon Rush!!"

Roaring to the heavens, Mega Garchomp gathered pure Dragon energy around itself. It morphed into the shape of a snarling dragon and plummeted downward.

BOOM!!

The massive impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield.

Silence fell.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the dust.

Garchomp returned to Dylan's side, its scythes gleaming, eyes cold.

In the middle of a crater, Mr. Rime lay battered and unconscious.

Gasp!

Another wave of stunned gasps.

Leon stared at his fallen Pokémon, momentarily speechless.

He had expected Garchomp to be strong—but not this strong.

Even with a clear type advantage, Mr. Rime had been completely overpowered.

Is Cynthia's Garchomp this strong…?

"Mr. Rime is unable to battle! Mega Garchomp wins!"

The referee's voice broke the silence.

Leon recalled his Pokémon, and Dylan calmly withdrew Garchomp.

"Is Garchomp still in good condition?" Leon asked curiously. He wasn't rattled—this was a full battle, after all.

If anything, he was more curious why Dylan had recalled it so soon.

"Just switching up the opponent," Dylan replied with a smile, holding a deep crimson Poké Ball between his fingers.

"For this battle, Champion Leon… I've prepared six mighty dragons. Just for you."

(End of Chapter)