After leaving Iron Island, it didn't take long for Paul to return to Canalave City.
To be honest, the results of his trip to Iron Island left him somewhat unsatisfied. Aside from the evolution of his Skorupi into a Drapion and the improvement in his Pokémon's physical strength, the trip didn't quite match his expectations.
However, after spending several days on the island and encountering hundreds of Steel-type Pokémon—from the massive Metagross and Steelix to the smaller Magnemite, Magnemite's evolution, and Kecleon—he had yet to come across a truly exceptional Steel-type Pokémon.
Many of the Pokémon had good potential, but none lived up to Paul's high standards. It was just one of those things—different worlds, different encounters, a bit of regret.
Upon returning to Canalave City, Paul didn't rush to challenge the Canalave Gym. Instead, he spent a day letting his Pokémon train amongst themselves.
He especially focused on practicing with his newly evolved Drapion, helping it become accustomed to its body and capable of fully harnessing its battle potential.
Afterward, he made his way to the Canalave Gym, preparing to challenge Gym Leader Byron.
"Kid, it's you again!"
Inside the gym, he encountered the same muscular man with blue hair from last time.
"Yeah, I'm here to challenge the gym leader." Paul replied calmly.
"Follow me, the gym leader is inside." The man said, leading Paul into the arena. There, he addressed an older man holding a shovel, wearing a tattered gray cloak and a scruffy beard.
"Gym Leader, here's the new challenger."
"I love fossils, I love defense! Let's battle, kid!" Byron shouted enthusiastically, swinging his shovel with dramatic flair.
Paul paid little mind as he calmly stepped onto the other side of the rocky arena, gazing at Byron from across the terrain.
"The Canalave Gym battle begins now. Both sides are allowed to use three Pokémon, and the battle ends when one side's Pokémon can no longer fight. Additionally, only the challenger can switch out Pokémon." The referee, the blue-haired man explained the rules from the edge of the field."
"Let the battle begin!"
"Go! Bronzor!"
Bronzor calmly floated in the air, watching Paul intently.
Paul also threw out his Pokéball.
"Go, Drapion, let's battle!"
"Raaah~"
The Drapion emerged, squinting its eyes and glaring at Bronzor with an ominous look.
"Eh? Using a Poison-type Pokémon? Hahaha, rare, rare! Come at me with everything you've got!" Byron laughed heartily, clearly amused by Paul's choice.
While Drapion had a type advantage over Bronzor, its Poison-type attacks were entirely ineffective against its opponent.
"Drapion, focus and sharpen your claws!" Paul commanded.
As was usual in gym battles, the challenger made the first move. Paul wasted no time.
"Raaah~"
Drapion didn't move its body but instead began sharpening its claws, focusing its energy as it entered a pseudo-charged state. Although Drapion hadn't mastered full concentration yet, thanks to its previous battles, it had developed a unique ability to sense its opponent's weaknesses.
While Drapion still needed assistance from Focus Lens and a pseudo-concentration state to access this ability, Paul believed that with more training, Drapion could eventually identify opponents' weaknesses naturally, without external help.
He had named this ability "Penetration."
After sharpening its claws and focusing its attention, Drapion, through the Focus Lens, saw all the weaknesses of Bronzor.
Some weaknesses were glaring, others more subtle, but among them were the critical points.
"You're preparing to take my attack head-on, yet you don't strike? Then I won't hold back either." Byron shouted, irritated. "Bronzor, use Gyro Ball!"
Bronzor began spinning rapidly in mid-air, transforming into a spinning top-like projectile that hurtled toward Drapion with incredible speed!
Gyro Ball's power slower the user's speed, but it was still fast enough that Drapion, with its speed, couldn't dodge it.
However, Drapion didn't even attempt to avoid it!
"Night Strike! Focus Punch!"
Drapion's claws radiated dark energy as it swung both claws forward to intercept the Gyro Ball. Meanwhile, its tail was busy striking the ground, performing a Focus Punch to enhance its power.
BANG!
The sound of the collision was loud and forceful.
But, almost immediately, Bronzor showed signs of fatigue.
Drapion, already strong by nature and further empowered by the sharpened claws, overpowered Bronzor with sheer strength.
Having blocked the attack, Drapion's claws squeezed harder, using brute force to halt the Gyro Ball, pinning Bronzor in place.
At the same time, the Focus Punch successfully boosted Drapion's Special Attack!
"Such power? Not bad!" Byron said with a grin, unfazed by Bronzor's situation. "Bronzor, use Confuse Ray!"
With Drapion's claws holding it tightly, Bronzor unleashed a blue light that shone directly into Drapion's eyes, causing confusion.
Whether because of Drapion's inherent ferocity or its strong will, Drapion didn't let go of Bronzor even as it became confused. Instead, it gripped tighter and applied even more pressure.
"Continue to roar!" Paul ordered.
Drapion opened its sharp-mouthed jaws and began roaring at Bronzor. Dark sound waves radiated out, bombarding Bronzor.
Thanks to the earlier boost in Special Attack, Drapion's roar became even more devastating. Bronzor's face twisted in pain.
The effect was overwhelming!
But the battle didn't end there. Drapion's roar reverberated through the entire gym, not stopping for a second.
It didn't allow Bronzor a single moment to retaliate.
As Bronzor neared its defeat, Drapion's expression suddenly shifted to one of confusion.
It stopped roaring and in a daze, released Bronzor, letting it fall helplessly to the ground.
"Raah! Raah~!"
In its confusion, Drapion began to flail, striking its body and surrounding rocks, causing itself considerable harm.
"Raaah?"
After a few moments, the confusion faded, and Drapion blinked, dazed, searching around as though looking for Bronzor it had just released.
"Raah?"
Then, Drapion stepped forward and glanced down at its feet.
To its surprise, Bronzor was lying serenely beneath it, defeated.
"Bronzor has lost its ability to battle. Drapion wins!"
The referee declared.
"Raaah~"
Though Drapion didn't quite understand how it had won, its fighting spirit remained undiminished.
He looked at Byron coldly and ferociously.....
(To be continued...)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want to access advance chapters, please visit: patreon.com / PMadz_23