Aster stood in the Cerulean City Gym, the scent of water filling the air. The sound of trickling water echoed in the background, as if the gym itself was alive, flowing with the energy of countless battles fought within these walls. The large arena stretched before him, a pool of water separating him from Cedric. The gym's design was elegant, but Aster's attention was razor-sharp, locked onto the task at hand.
Cedric was already standing on the other side of the arena, a calm expression on his face. He had been watching Aster intently, his experience and wisdom evident in the way he held himself. Aster, however, was different. There was a coldness about him, a calculating presence that left no room for hesitation. His mind was already working through the battle, planning and adapting.
"You've made it this far," Cedric spoke, his voice carrying across the gym. "But you must understand—this will not be an easy victory. My team is built on experience, strategy, and precision."
Aster nodded, but he didn't speak. His eyes flicked toward Cedric's first Pokémon: Starmie, a Water/Psychic-type. Aster was already aware of its versatility, its ability to set up status effects or deal heavy damage with moves like Psychic and Surf. But Aster had something more in mind.
"Poliwhirl," Aster called, releasing his trusted Water-type. The blue, round Pokémon emerged from its Pokéball, its gaze focused and determined, along with a blue stone in his left hand. Aster knew Poliwhirl was ready to evolve, so he gave Poliwhirl an evolution stone beforehand—the Water Stone was barely visible for a person with 20/20 vision.
Cedric raised an eyebrow but didn't react. "A Poliwhirl, huh? Not what I would've expected, but I've faced many Water-types before."
Aster didn't care about Cedric's expectations. He already knew everything he needed to know. Poliwhirl had the advantage here. The Water Absorb ability would allow it to heal from Starmie's Water-type moves. And more importantly, Aster knew Poliwhirl had the power to turn the tide of the battle in his favor, no matter how experienced Cedric was.
"Starmie, use Psychic!" Cedric commanded, his voice calm and steady.
In an instant, Starmie unleashed a powerful wave of psychic energy toward Poliwhirl, but Aster was already prepared.
"Poliwhirl, dodge and use Hypnosis!" Aster's voice was cold, precise. Poliwhirl spun, its body agile and nimble as it avoided the attack. With a sudden movement, it let out a wave of energy, sending Starmie into a deep slumber.
Cedric's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. His years of experience told him that this was just the beginning.
Aster didn't wait. He knew this was his moment. "Now, Poliwhirl, hit it with Bubble Beam!"
The powerful stream of water hit Starmie, waking it from its sleep. But before it could respond, Poliwhirl delivered another strike, knocking it back. The damage was enough to leave Starmie staggering, barely able to stay afloat in the water.
"Starmie, try using Surf!" Cedric called, but it was too late. Starmie could no longer gather the strength to unleash its most powerful move. It collapsed into the water, defeated.
Aster stood still, his face expressionless. He knew that Starmie's fall was inevitable once Poliwhirl had the advantage.
Poliwhirl began to glow with a deep, bright light. Aster's heart raced as he realized what was happening.
"Poliwhirl—it's evolving!" he muttered, a rare spark of excitement in his voice. Cedric had missed the Water Stone in Poliwhirl's hand due to his poor vision to old age.
The glow enveloped Poliwhirl, and as it faded, Poliwhirl had evolved into Poliwrath, its muscular form and new fighting capabilities giving it an even more intimidating presence.
Aster's eyes glinted with a cold satisfaction. He knew this would give him an edge—Poliwrath was now a dual Water/Fighting-type, a force to be reckoned with.
Cedric, though momentarily surprised, quickly regained his composure. "A powerful evolution, I'll admit. But it won't be enough to take down the rest of my team."
Aster didn't respond. His mind was already two steps ahead.
"Poliwrath, use Hypnosis again!" Aster commanded, his voice steady and calculated. Poliwrath focused its eyes on Seaking, Cedric's next Pokémon. With a flash of psychic energy, Seaking was put to sleep before it even had a chance to attack.
Cedric's face darkened, but he kept his calm. "Use Aqua Tail, Seaking," he said, though his words were uncertain.
But it was too late. Poliwrath moved quickly, and the second Seaking's attack missed, Poliwrath slammed it with a powerful Brick Break, knocking it out cold. Seaking fell into the water with a splash, and Aster barely acknowledged the victory as he gave his next command.
"Poliwrath, let's keep the pressure on."
Cedric's Politoed was summoned to the battlefield, its large eyes gleaming with a mischievous glint. Aster didn't flinch.
"Poliwrath, Hypnosis again," Aster ordered. It was a simple command, but with Poliwrath's added strength, it was a guarantee. But this time, something was different.
Politoed's eyes narrowed, and it began to move quickly, diving into the water, using its surroundings to its advantage. The water splashed around it, and Politoed broke free from the psychic energy of Poliwrath's Hypnosis, shaking off the effect with its watery environment.
Cedric's voice was confident, though tinged with surprise. "Politoed, Aqua Ring! Keep yourself protected!"
Aster's eyes flicked to Politoed, impressed. But he wasn't fazed. He knew the battle wasn't over yet.
"Poliwrath, Brick Break!" Aster commanded.
Poliwrath rushed forward, but Politoed had already prepared. Using the water to its advantage, Politoed dodged the attack with swift, fluid movements, leaping out of the way at the last second. It retaliated with a well-timed Scald, hitting Poliwrath directly. The super-effective move sent a jolt of pain through Poliwrath, but it was far from defeated.
"Poliwrath, Brick Break—now!" Aster shouted.
The attack connected. Politoed, despite its agility in the water, collapsed, leaving it vulnerable to Poliwrath's final strike. Aster could feel Politoed's fear.
Without missing a beat, Aster gave the command. "Finish this, Poliwrath. Brick Break!"
Poliwrath launched itself at Politoed with crushing force, and the final blow sent the last of Cedric's Pokémon into the water, unconscious.
The battle was over in a matter of minutes.
As the last of Cedric's Pokémon fell, the battle's intensity began to fade, leaving a heavy silence in the gym. Aster stood still, his expression cold and composed, the faintest glint of calculation in his eyes. Poliwrath stood by his side, panting lightly, its muscles flexed and ready for more. Cedric walked across the arena, his footsteps deliberate, and stopped in front of Aster, his demeanor unchanged despite the loss.
"You've earned this," Cedric said, handing Aster the Cerulean City Gym Badge. His voice was calm, almost admiring, but there was something else—an unspoken acknowledgment of Aster's skill. "But you should know, it's not just about strength. There are other things that make a true champion."
Aster accepted the badge without a word, his eyes flicking briefly to Cedric. He could tell the man was holding back something, perhaps a piece of advice or a caution. But Aster wasn't one for words unless they served a purpose.
"Your team's strength is impressive," Cedric continued, his eyes narrowing slightly, "but you've got something else about you—something I can't quite place... Focus. That's the word."
Aster's gaze was unwavering with a voice devoid of emotion. "I don't want to waste time thinking about things that don't matter."
Cedric chuckled softly, though there was a hint of a sigh in it. "I can see that. You're different from the other trainers I've faced. They fight with passion, with dreams. You... fight with purpose." He took a deep breath, then added, "It's not a bad thing, mind you. But don't forget, even the most driven warriors can burn themselves out if they lose sight of what they're fighting for."
Aster paused, considering his words. He had a goal. He had always had a goal. The System had its demands, but they were secondary now. The quest had given him a path, but his true purpose lay beyond that, in the power he was slowly but surely accumulating.
"I don't plan on burning out," Aster replied coolly, his eyes steady. "But thank you for the warning."
There was a brief moment of silence as Cedric studied Aster, as though trying to gauge the depths of his words. "You've got a long way to go. I think you might be the type who'll change things around here. Don't lose your way."
Aster met Cedric's gaze with a sharp, unfaltering resolve. "I won't."
With that, Aster turned to leave the Gym, his steps echoing as he walked toward the exit. Cedric's voice called after him, softer now, almost wistful.
"One more thing—don't forget the people around you. Sometimes, they're the ones who keep you from losing yourself."
Aster didn't respond immediately, his mind already focused on what lay ahead. His thoughts flickered briefly to Lorelei—her presence always at the edges of his mind. He had never quite understood why she had such an impact on him, but it was there, lingering.
Still, he couldn't afford distractions. Not now. Not with what was coming.
As Aster stepped outside into the cool air of Cerulean City, he tucked the badge securely into his jacket pocket. His next move was already forming in his mind, clear and deliberate.