Pokemon:I'm redThe strongest champion

"Huh... I'm relieved. I'm really relieved!"

Hearing Rhydon's voice from within the smoke, Flint let out a deep sigh of relief. If Rhydon had been taken down in a single hit, he wouldn't have known what to say. Though this Gym Challenge was meant to be a test, losing a battle to a rookie trainer so easily would have been an embarrassment.

"I underestimated this young man. If that's the case, I'll use all my strength. Rhydon, counterattack with Rock Throw!"

"Takashi!"

Rhydon roared, stomping its feet. The ground beneath it cracked as several sharp rocks levitated into the air before shooting towards Charmeleon at high speed.

"Charmeleon, use Flamethrower to destroy those rocks, then follow up with Smokescreen to obscure Rhydon's vision."

Charmeleon nodded, inhaled deeply, and spewed a blazing stream of orange-red flames. The fire struck the flying rocks, reducing them to molten debris. As the rocks crumbled, a thick black smoke emerged from Charmeleon's mouth, quickly covering the battlefield.

"Not good!"

Flint frowned. He didn't know exactly what Robert was planning, but with the battlefield completely obscured by smoke, he wouldn't be able to see Charmeleon's next move. This made it nearly impossible to command Rhydon effectively.

"Haha, Gym Leader Flint, looks like I'm about to win this battle," Robert laughed, watching Flint's worried expression.

"Impossible. I don't know what you're planning, but I won't go down so easily! Rhydon, use Rollout to crash through the smoke. If you keep moving, you're bound to hit Charmeleon!"

"Takashi!"

Rhydon, momentarily disoriented by the smoke, quickly curled into a ball and began rolling at high speed, charging blindly through the battlefield like a massive boulder.

"Charmeleon, it's time to put our training to the test. Show Flint what you've learned!"

"Ah!"

Charmeleon stood still, focusing intently despite the thick smoke. It recalled the intense training it had gone through with Robert just days earlier.

Back then, Robert had blindfolded Charmeleon and trained it to dodge small flying pebbles purely by sensing their movement. The goal was to enhance its perception so it could respond to threats without relying on sight. Now, in the heat of battle, that training was about to pay off.

Charmeleon inhaled deeply, tuning into the vibrations on the ground. Within moments, it pinpointed Rhydon's exact location as it rolled toward it at high speed.

"Ah!"

With a determined gleam in its eyes, Charmeleon sprinted toward the incoming Rhydon. As it neared, Charmeleon's tail gleamed with a brilliant silver light—the power of Iron Tail.

CLANG!

A deafening metallic impact rang out as Charmeleon's tail slammed into Rhydon's rolling body with immense force.

Flint and Robert, standing on opposite sides of the battlefield, heard the loud collision and saw a massive figure emerge from the smoke.

BOOM!

The airborne figure crashed heavily onto the battlefield's edge, sending dust and debris flying everywhere. As the dust settled, the figure was revealed—it was Rhydon, lying on its back, eyes spinning in defeat. Cracks ran along its rocky body, the result of the powerful Iron Tail attack.

"This...!" Flint's eyes widened in disbelief. He turned to Robert. "That move... was it Iron Tail?"

Robert smirked. "It was."

Flint let out a low whistle, shaking his head in amazement. "I see. You used Smokescreen to disorient me and create an opening for a close-range attack. Then, you capitalized on Charmeleon's enhanced perception to land a perfect Iron Tail."

Robert nodded. "That was the plan from the start. I knew Rhydon's tough hide would take a lot of damage from fire attacks, but I needed something extra to finish it off. Charmeleon's Iron Tail was the key."

Flint sighed in admiration. "That was an impressive strategy. It seems you trained Charmeleon well—not just in attack power, but in adaptability. You truly deserve this win."

"Ah!" Charmeleon roared triumphantly as it emerged from the last traces of smoke, its tail still glowing faintly. Overjoyed, it rushed toward Robert and wrapped its arms around him, nuzzling his cheek.

Robert chuckled, patting Charmeleon's head. "You did great, buddy. This victory belongs to you."

Flint walked over, smiling. "I have to admit, I didn't expect this outcome. Your Charmeleon not only learned Flamethrower but also mastered Iron Tail—impressive for a Pokémon that recently evolved. Add to that the Metal Claw it used earlier... Tsk, tsk... I deserved to lose."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, polished badge. "Congratulations, Robert. You've successfully defeated me. This is the Boulder Badge, a symbol of victory at the Pewter City Gym. Take it."

Robert took the badge, holding it up to the light. "Thank you, Gym Leader Flint. This means a lot."

Flint grinned. "You're one of the most talented trainers I've seen in years. Keep pushing forward—I have no doubt you'll go far."

Robert nodded. "I plan to. This is only the beginning."

With his first Gym Badge in hand and Charmeleon by his side, Robert stepped forward with renewed determination. The road ahead was long, but this victory had proven that he had what it took to go all the way.

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