The Oreburgh Gym wasn't built for spectacle.
No towering screens, no cheering crowds—just stone, steel, and sweat. A rectangular battlefield carved straight into the rock, with jagged formations like broken teeth lining the perimeter. Pipes and rebar jutted out from the walls. The floor was a blend of compacted earth and uneven gravel. Dust hung in the air like mist.
Orion stood at one end of the arena, trying not to let the ache in his stomach get the better of him.
Tyrunt waited beside him, silent and poised, the faint light of the overhead fixtures gleaming off his ancient scales. He'd slept well. Eaten a full ration that morning. His muscles were tight and ready, but his expression was focused. They both knew what this meant.
Roark entered from the far tunnel—goggles pushed up into his flame-colored hair, sleeves rolled to the elbow, boots coated in pale gray dust. He looked like he'd walked straight from the mines to the battlefield.
"Orion Silas?" he called.
"That's me."
"You ready for this?"
Orion glanced at Tyrunt. "We've been ready."
Roark gave a small grin. "Let's see if that's true."
He pulled a Poké Ball from his belt and tossed it lazily into the air. "You've got one shot to make a first impression. Geodude—front and center."
Red light split the air and hit the battlefield with a thump.
Geodude materialized with a grunt—stone-bodied, floating just above the ground, its arms flexed in slow circles. The old rock-type's shell was worn and scarred. Not flashy. But sturdy.
The referee, a League official standing on a raised platform behind a blast shield, lifted one hand.
"This is an official Gym-sanctioned match between Leader Roark and Challenger Orion Silas. Each side will use a maximum of two Pokémon. The match will conclude when one side is unable to continue. Challenger, are you ready?"
Orion gave a single nod. "Ready."
"Leader Roark?"
Roark slid his goggles down and pointed at the field. "Let's make it quick."
The ref dropped his hand.
"Battle begin!"
Roark didn't hesitate.
"Geodude—Rollout!"
The rock-type tucked its arms and spun forward like a boulder fired from a slingshot.
"Sidestep left!" Orion barked. "And Bite the arm when it passes!"
Tyrunt lunged sideways, claws raking dirt, then twisted his body in a blur of primal instinct. Geodude blasted past him—
And Tyrunt struck.
His fangs clamped down around Geodude's right arm, dark energy flickering along his jawline. Stone cracked. The Geodude shrieked and twisted, trying to wrench itself free. But Tyrunt wouldn't let go.
"Shake him!" Roark ordered.
Geodude spun violently, bashing its free arm against Tyrunt's side—but the dinosaur only bit harder. Then, with a savage jerk of his neck, Tyrunt hurled Geodude into a nearby stone pillar.
The impact cracked the rock and dropped Geodude like a sack of gravel.
The ref didn't even need to count.
"Geodude is unable to battle. First knockout to the challenger."
Orion blinked. That was fast.
Roark didn't show a hint of frustration. He recalled Geodude in a flash and pulled another Poké Ball from his belt.
"You're aggressive," he said. "That's good. But you're not the only one with a fossil on the field."
He threw.
The light exploded—and Cranidos landed with a heavy stomp, head lowered, red eyes gleaming.
Tyrunt froze. Then growled.
Orion's stomach tightened.
Another dinosaur.
"Cranidos, Headbutt!"
The skull Pokémon launched forward like a bullet.
"Dodge—!"
Too late.
Cranidos slammed into Tyrunt's ribs, sending him flying across the battlefield. He hit the dirt hard and rolled through a patch of rubble before coming to a halt, dazed.
"Tyrunt!"
The dinosaur grunted, staggered up—but his stance was off. He favored one leg.
"Don't trade blows," Orion warned. "He's got mass. Stay mobile!"
Tyrunt shook his head, clearing the daze.
"Let's try again—Bite, then pull back!"
Tyrunt rushed in. Cranidos met him, horns down. Tyrunt dipped to the side and lunged—
But the Bite missed.
Cranidos twisted just out of reach, and his tail slammed across Tyrunt's face. The dragon staggered backward into a mound of loose stone.
Roark snapped his fingers. "Now—Zen Headbutt!"
Cranidos glowed pale blue and lunged again.
Tyrunt tried to move—but the rocks shifted beneath him. He was pinned, limbs trapped beneath rubble.
And that's when it happened.
Tyrunt roared in frustration—then, without thinking, grabbed one of the stones and hurled it at Cranidos.
The rock struck his enemy in the face.
Cranidos stumbled mid-charge.
Tyrunt grabbed another. And another.
He began pelt Cranidos with rocks, tail sweeping behind him to launch chunks of the arena like shrapnel.
Orion's eyes widened. "That's—Rock Throw?"
Roark didn't reply, but his eyebrows lifted.
"Break his rhythm!" Orion yelled. "More! Drive him back!"
Cranidos took three more hits before he roared and powered forward again, barreling through the barrage.
Orion shouted the only command that made sense.
"Dragon Tail!"
Tyrunt's tail shimmered—blue-purple light rippling down its spine.
He twisted hard, pivoting on one clawed foot, and swung.
The tail smashed into Cranidos's knee joint, throwing the rock-type sideways into a jagged outcropping.
A crack echoed.
Cranidos didn't rise.
"Cranidos is unable to battle. Victory to the challenger—Orion Silas."
Silence.
Then Tyrunt roared.
It wasn't clean. It wasn't elegant.
But it was victory.
Orion ran onto the field, catching Tyrunt as he wobbled and nearly collapsed. "You absolute beast," he whispered, brushing dust off his partner's snout. "We actually did it."
Roark approached, goggles hanging around his neck, a badge already in hand.
"Not bad," he said. "He's still rough, but he's smart. And instinctive. You can't teach that."
Orion stood. "Thanks."
Roark held out the badge—a rough chunk of polished coal embedded in a steel frame. The Coal Badge.
"And your payout," Roark added, handing over a small, stamped card.
League Gym Compensation – 2,500₽
Verified for equipment, healing, and travel expenses
Orion took both with shaky hands. He hadn't realized how hard his heart was pounding.
Roark stepped back, already turning toward the tunnels.
"You'll need more than muscle next time," he said. "But for your first badge? You earned it."
And then he was gone
Title : First gym battle