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"One move…? Seriously?" Ash's eyes were wide with disbelief as he turned toward Brock.
"That was Steelix," he said, his voice filled with awe.
"It's got super-high defense, right? I remember your Onix—rough skin, crazy durable—and Steelix should be even tougher after evolution!"
He paused, blinking.
"And Steel-type Pokémon are supposed to be the best defensively…"
"How could it go down that fast?"
Brock didn't answer immediately. His arms were crossed, his expression solemn.
"After Onix evolves into Steelix," he began, "its stats increase across the board—but especially in defense. It gets an enormous boost."
He nodded toward the battlefield where the fallen titan had just been recalled.
"There are very few Pokémon in the world that can rival Steelix's defensive power. Maybe Shuckle, Registeel… but even then, Steelix stands tall."
Ash frowned, still not getting it.
"Then why…?"
Brock held up a hand, stopping him gently.
"Let me finish."
Ash fell quiet, watching Brock with intense curiosity.
"Steelix may have high defense, but that doesn't mean it's invincible," Brock explained.
"Every Pokémon has weak points. Even ones made of steel."
"Steelix is like a fortress—massive, heavy, and armored. But even fortresses have vulnerabilities."
He pointed toward the field, where Lucario waited patiently beside Sam.
"Most Pokémon hide their bellies instinctively—it's their softest area. But Steelix is so large, its seventh segment—the core of its body—becomes a clear weak point."
"Bigger size means a bigger target."
Ash's mouth fell open in realization.
"So Sam didn't just overpower Steelix—he hit the exact weak spot!"
Brock nodded.
"Exactly. And with Brick Break, a move that bypasses Protect and hits directly."
"He didn't just battle… he dissected."
From beside them, Dawn snuggled her Piplup with a proud smile.
"I told you," she said, voice light and confident.
"Sam was going to win."
Ash and Brock both turned to her with flat expressions.
Ash: "…"
Brock: "…"
Alright, alright. You called it.
But neither could argue now.
Down on the battlefield, Byron—better known to Ash and friends as the Gym Leader of Canalave City—took a deep breath.
His chest rose and fell as he tried to steady his thoughts.
He'd just watched two of his most trusted partners—Magnezone and Steelix—go down in succession.
And both were defeated not by overwhelming power, but by flawless strategy.
He looked up at Sam, who stood calm and unshaken, his Lucario beside him like a silent sentinel.
Byron's eyes twinkled.
"Magnificent."
"Absolutely magnificent," he said with admiration.
"Fighting you… I don't know why, but I feel like every move I make is being predicted."
"It's been a long time since I felt like this—like I'm the student again."
Sam smiled politely, offering only a modest, "You flatter me."
In truth, he didn't feel emotional at all.
The moment this battle started, the outcome had been obvious.
But the exercise was enjoyable. Educational, even.
Byron exhaled one last time, setting aside his losses.
Then, with focus sharpened, he reached for his final Poké Ball.
"Let's make this count."
A burst of red light illuminated the arena.
From it emerged a tank-like figure with a massive gray shield for a face and spiked knees ready to anchor its body like a bunker.
It stood resolute and unyielding, rumbling low.
Bastiodon.
The last wall.
Sam's eyes flickered with interest.
[Pokémon: Bastiodon]
[Gender: Male]
[Attribute: Steel, Rock]
[Ability: Sturdy (Cannot be knocked out by one-hit KO moves or attacks from full HP)]
[Level: 59 (Elite Peak)]
[Potential: Elite]
[Skills: Block, Iron Head, Ancient Power, Protect, Metal Sound, Heavy Slam, Take Down]
[Genetic Skills: Scary Face, Double-Edge]
[Condition: Excellent]
[Remarks: Though unable to break through to the Champion level, this Bastiodon has been refined with great care. As the Gym Leader's most trusted wall, it has endured countless fierce battles and continues to serve as an immovable shield.]
The final round began with a clash of titans.
Sam's voice rang clear and steady: "Luca, use Rock Smash."
"Luka—!"
With a burst of speed, Lucario dashed forward, its paw glowing with fighting-type energy.
Across the battlefield, Byron wasted no time.
"Bastiodon! Iron Head!"
"Roar!!"
The two Pokémon collided like hammers in a forge.
A flash of light.
A burst of sparks.
The sound of metal smashing against metal rang out across the gym, echoing through the walls.
The clash was powerful, but Bastiodon didn't fall immediately.
It stood firm.
Like a true fortress.
Indeed, Bastiodon was no ordinary Pokémon.
Its defenses were legendary—both physically and specially.
Under normal circumstances, it could outlast even the fiercest attackers.
But this was Lucario.
And Bastiodon was a Rock/Steel type—meaning Lucario's Fighting-type moves struck with quadruple effectiveness.
Every blow from Lucario's fists was a seismic event.
Even with Iron Head meeting him blow for blow, the difference in type advantage began to show.
Unlike the previous two rounds—where Magnezone was flung off the field and Steelix was dropped with a single well-placed strike—Bastiodon held on.
Ten rounds passed.
Then twelve.
Then fifteen.
The crowd watched in silence, tension high.
But eventually—inevitably—Lucario's fists overwhelmed the iron wall.
With one final strike to the center of its shielded face, Bastiodon let out a low growl… and collapsed.
Boom—
It hit the ground with a mighty thud.
The referee stepped forward.
"Bastiodon is unable to battle. The winner is Professor Sam!"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Even Byron smiled as he stepped onto the field and returned his faithful partner.
He approached Sam with his trademark booming voice now laced with warmth.
"Professor Sam," he said respectfully, "this is your Canalave Badge."
He held out the gleaming emblem.
Sam accepted it with a quiet nod.
"Thank you."
Though Byron had lost, there was no bitterness in his eyes.
He was a true warrior. And true warriors don't envy strength—they respect it.
Even in defeat.
In fact, as he looked at Sam—this young man who stood calm and unshaken, as though he had long foreseen the outcome—Byron couldn't help but feel admiration.
This man…
He would one day stand atop the League itself.
Perhaps even above it.
To lose against him? It was no shame at all.
As Sam turned away, the familiar voice of the system echoed in his mind.
[Mission Complete: Canalave Gym Challenge]
[Reward Unlocked: Telepathy Released]
[Use: To be discovered by host independently.]
And with that… the three powers were finally gathered.
Aura. Viridian Force. And now—Telepathy.
Sam's expression didn't change—but deep within, he could feel something shift.
It was subtle, almost imperceptible.
A faint hum at the edge of his perception.
Like the world had just opened a new door—one only he could see.
In the stands, Ash leaned forward, watching Sam step down from the battlefield.
His hand slipped into his jacket's inner pocket, retrieving his own newly earned Canalave Badge.
He looked down at it thoughtfully.
"…It looks just like Sam's," he murmured.
Then hesitated.
"But somehow…"
"…It feels a little different."
He said it aloud, but it wasn't bitterness in his voice.
Just a quiet recognition.
He had won, yes. But barely. And through a long, drawn-out struggle.
Sam?
He had won with elegance. Efficiency. Power.
Ash's fingers tightened around the Badge.
There was no resentment. Only inspiration.
"I still have a long way to go."
Beside him, Brock crossed his arms and exhaled softly.
"Sam… he's the kind of person that makes you feel like despair is a reasonable reaction."
"No wonder Cynthia chose him."
Ash turned to him, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Brock gave him a wry smile.
"It takes a sycamore tree to attract a phoenix."
Ash tilted his head, still confused.
"…I don't get it, but it sounded cool."
Meanwhile, Dawn blinked several times in confusion.
"…Weird."
"Huh?" Ash turned to her.
Dawn frowned slightly, staring at Sam as he walked down from the battlefield.
"…I don't know why, but… doesn't he look even more handsome than before?"
Ash and Brock exchanged glances.
Ash: "Isn't that just the lighting?"
Dawn hugged Piplup closer.
"He's glowing. Just a little…"