---
"Togekiss has lost the ability to battle! The winner is Crystal Onix!"
As the referee announced the result, Falkner's students still couldn't recover from the shock of defeat. They stared at the unconscious Togekiss, unable to accept the outcome.
This wasn't just a common Noctowl or Pidgeotto, the usual guardians of Violet City Gym. This was Falkner's ace! As a Gym Leader, it was his strongest Pokémon, his last line of defence, and yet, it had fallen!
Falkner silently withdrew Togekiss, sighed, and slowly walked toward Kai.
When he stood before him, he lifted his gaze to meet the towering Crystal Onix, shaking his head in resignation.
"Sigh… there's nothing more to say. My two strongest Pokémon couldn't even put up a proper fight against you." He exhaled and reluctantly smiled, pulling out a badge from his pocket. "You truly deserve your title as Champion. I accept my defeat wholeheartedly." He extended the Zephyr Badge toward Kai.
"Thank you."
Kai took the badge and carefully examined it.
The Zephyr Badge had a simple yet elegant design, resembling a pair of slightly curved wings. Its metallic texture gleamed brightly under the sunlight, heavier than any badge he had collected so far.
He placed it into the brand-new badge case gifted by Nurse Joy upon registering for the Silver Conference, then gave Falkner a nod.
"I apologize for injuring your Pokémon, but I do have a question."
Falkner looked at him. "A question? No need to be so formal. Ask away."
"Why are you so determined to become a Flying-type Pokémon Master?"
Hearing this, Falkner thought for a moment but didn't answer immediately. Instead, he pointed to the sky.
Kai followed his gaze and saw a few white clouds drifting slowly, but nothing else.
Falkner chuckled. "Ever since I was a child, I've always been fascinated by the sky. Over time, that admiration turned into a love for Flying-type Pokémon."
"I see."
Though Kai nodded, inwardly, he wasn't convinced.
Wasn't your obsession with flying types influenced by your father?
"Falkner, Falkner"—even your name reflects his wish for you to master Flying Pokémon!
Of course, he didn't voice these thoughts. Instead, he simply said, "Now that I've achieved my goal, I should take my leave."
"Take care." Falkner extended his hand, shaking Kai's firmly. "I hope you achieve great results in the Silver Conference!"
---
Leaving the Gym, Kai and Sabrina found the sky darkening. Instead of seeking a hotel, they headed straight to the Pokémon Center.
Although he had spent a night apart from Sabrina and was eager to sleep beside her again, something even more important needed his attention.
And the Pokémon Center courtyard was the perfect private space for it.
After dinner, the two arrived at the back garden.
Through these battles, Kai realized that Crystal Onix's strength was still lacking. It had followed him for a long time and now was the right moment for its evolution.
The sky glowed orange as the sunset bathed them in warm light.
Most trainers staying at the Pokémon Center had already returned to their rooms, so Kai glanced around, confirmed no one was nearby, and released Crystal Onix.
Boom...
As Crystal Onix emerged, the ground trembled slightly, but the walled garden and dense trees prevented anyone else from noticing.
Kai gazed up at it and smiled proudly. "You did well today. But there are even tougher battles ahead. I think… it's time for you to evolve."
Crystal Onix lowered its head, looking at Kai. It didn't speak, but its gaze said everything.
"I see… you want to become stronger too?"
Seeing its determination, Kai didn't hesitate any longer. He reached into his backpack and took out the Metal Coat he had previously.
He had owned this for a long time. Although he had many chances to use it, he had held off until now.
By now, he and Crystal Onix had built a strong bond, and it had grown considerably, It was finally time to take the next step.
Yet, holding the Metal Coat in his hands, Kai hesitated for a moment.
How… exactly was he supposed to use it?
Fortunately, Crystal Onix knew what to do. It lowered its head and gently pressed its horn against the metal.
The next moment, the Metal Coat reacted instantly, rapidly spreading over Crystal Onix's body.
Then, a brilliant white light engulfed it!
Kai's eyes stung from the intense glow, and he instinctively stepped back.
But he knew this light well the unmistakable glow of evolution!
As the light faded, a larger, more powerful Pokémon emerged before Kai.
Crystal Onix had evolved into Crystal Steelix!
The newly evolved Crystal Steelix retained its crystalline body, but its size, length, and overall bulk had increased significantly.
Its once-rounded features were now fierce and menacing.
Its glowing red eyes radiated an intense presence. Although it lost its signature horn, its tail had grown longer and sharper, giving it a deadly, lethal appearance.
Kai, overjoyed, circled around it several times before pulling out his Pokédex.
Pokédex: "Processing unknown Pokémon… Identifying…"
A moment later, it continued:
"Identification successful… Crystal Steelix, Iron Snake Pokémon. Steel/Ground-type. Steelix lives even deeper underground than Onix. Its body is hardened by immense underground pressure and extreme heat, making it tougher than any known metal. Its entire body is coated in iron particles, giving it a brilliant shine. It sometimes digs towards the Earth's core and has eyes that allow it to see perfectly in total darkness."
Kai grinned from ear to ear.
As he prepared to put his Pokédex away, it suddenly prompted:
"No existing data found. Would you like to upload this information?"
Pokédex data is usually uploaded to the global network, allowing others to study and access the Pokémon's stats.
Kai didn't hesitate.
Just like when he first captured Crystal Onix, he selected "No."
Pokédex: "Upload cancelled."
Nearby, Crystal Steelix slowly coiled its massive body, adjusting to its new form.
Suddenly, Gengar emerged from the shadows, its grinning face full of mischief.
It examined Crystal Steelix from head to tail, then smirked. "Yo, not bad at all. You look way more intimidating now."
Hearing the praise, Crystal Steelix's eyes softened. It lowered its giant head, rubbing against Kai affectionately.
Kai laughed, but upon closer inspection, he realized something Crystal Steelix's head was enormous! It was now taller than he was, with a diameter of at least two meters!
Although its typing had changed from Rock/Ground to Steel/Ground, making it more vulnerable to Fighting and Fire types, the overall power boost made up for the weaknesses.
Regardless, Kai's team had just grown even stronger!
---
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