Trial Challenge

But did they think Shiny Cubone and Mutant Phanpy were pushovers?

Besides, there was a clear gap in level between the three.

"Shiny Cubone, use Boomerang!"

He left the finishing blow to Shiny Cubone and its terrifying physical attack.

Besides, Boomerang could stun its target, making it perfect for catching Onix.

"Cuba! Cuba!"

Shiny Cubone did not hesitate. Its bone boomerang smashed through a pile of rocks and hurtled straight at Onix.

"Mutant Phanpy, use Ground Spike to protect Shiny Cubone."

One attacked while the other provided cover.

That way, Shiny Cubone would not be in too much danger even without its bone club.

Thud!

The bone club struck true, knocking Onix unconscious and stopping Rock Slide at once.

"Good thing I thickened the surrounding earth beforehand. Otherwise, it might have broken through and escaped."

"Time to catch my third Pokémon."

He hurled a Poké Ball, striking Onix squarely on the head.

Ding! With a crisp chime, the enormous Onix, over ten meters long, vanished into the Poké Ball.

Onix was already unconscious, so his chances of catching it were high.

The ball shook a few times, then fell still.

His third Pokémon, Giant Onix, was caught!

Liu Xin looked at the Poké Ball in his hand. The day he had spent on this had been worth it.

He returned to Viridian City to rest, then set out for Pewter City the next day.

Ito Hei set off with him.

Ito Hei said excitedly, "Me too! My first stop is the Pewter Gym!"

"With the strength I have now, getting my first Badge should be easy!"

Liu Xin shook his head slightly and smiled. "That Gym specializes in Ground-type Pokémon. Winning might be harder than you think."

After all, of Ito Hei's three Pokémon, two were Fire types and one was a Normal type.

Rapidash and Ninetales were strong, but their type disadvantage remained.

"Heh, doubt me all you want. I'll definitely be the first to get a Badge!"

Liu Xin only smiled and said nothing.

They soon crossed the road and found the stretches of stone pavement growing more frequent.

Pewter City had to be close.

After all, it was a quiet city nestled among steep mountains and rock. It would have been stranger not to see any stone.

"So this is Pewter City. It's a lot livelier than it used to be."

Trainers were everywhere, and Ground-type Pokémon were a common sight.

Over the years, this once-quiet little city had gradually grown.

Pewter City's mayor was none other than Brock, whom they both knew.

After parting ways with Ash, he had returned to Pewter City. He had grown older and gained experience in every respect.

His appointment as mayor had been widely welcomed, and he had led Pewter City's revival.

So who was the Pewter Gym Leader now?

"He's from Brock's family too. It's his younger brother, Jiro."

According to the story, Brock's mother, Xiao Mi, had returned from training years ago. After defeating Brock's father, she had turned the Gym into one specializing in both Water and Rock types.

But neither of Brock's parents had the spirit to serve as Gym Leader, so Brock had passed the position to his younger brother Jiro.

Jiro had likewise inherited the Water-and-Rock-type Gym.

"This way."

"If you want to challenge Gym Leader Jiro, you'll have to pass these tests first."

"Hold out for three minutes against these two Pokémon."

Liu Xin looked over, and his scalp prickled. Hold out for three minutes against those?

A level-thirty Graveler and a level-thirty Pupitar.

Both were formidable Pokémon, and with levels that high, neither was to be underestimated.

Either one had attack and defense stats above three hundred. Defeating them was practically a pipe dream.

"Ten people take the test at a time. Let's sign up."

Signing up was simple. They only had to pay a fee and prove they owned at least three Pokémon.

The test existed mainly because so many people came to challenge the Gym each day. It filtered them out before too many trainers reached the Gym Leader.

Liu Xin and Ito Hei were assigned to the same group, along with eight other people.

Before them stood the powerful Graveler and Pupitar.

The two seemed long accustomed to these battles and training sessions. They yawned in boredom.

The other trainers' Pokémon took offense and began taunting the two powerful Pokémon.

Ito Hei sent out his Rapidash, while Liu Xin brought out his Onix.

The moment it appeared, it drew every eye. With a body over ten meters long, how could it not?

"Whoa! It's only been a day, and you've caught a Giant Onix?"

"Even among Onix, one that size has to be incredibly rare, right?"

Ito Hei was not the only one thinking it. Every trainer nearby had the same thought.

Even Graveler and Pupitar studied Giant Onix intently. Its level was not high, yet its presence was overwhelming.

"Onix!"

It made its entrance with a show of force, glaring fiercely at the two Pokémon before it without a hint of fear.

Onix alone occupied a fifth of the field. Its size was frightening.

"The challenge begins! Three-minute countdown!"

Earthquake!

It was a signature move of Ground- and Rock-type Pokémon. The ground split open instantly.

The earth shook under the combined force of the two Pokémon, making the tremors even more terrifying.

Worse still, countless ground spikes erupted alongside it, making the field deadly.

Tough.

Onix's whole body bore a faint silvery-gray sheen. It looked as hard as steel.

The ground spikes struck it but did little damage.

Even Earthquake barely affected its massive body.

When it came to defense, Onix was absurdly strong.

Ito Hei's Rapidash had a harder time, darting around to dodge the attacks.

Every so often, it had to fire off a move to fend them off. Otherwise, it could never have evaded such a fearsome assault.

Trainers nearby were already being eliminated.

The ground spikes might not have dealt much damage individually, but there were so many of them.

A fairly sturdy Bagon was knocked flying by the spikes, then taken out by Earthquake.

Any Pokémon that slipped up even slightly was finished.

Time quickly ran out.

Liu Xin and Ito Hei both qualified for the challenge. Of the other eight, only three made it through.

Ito Hei let out a long breath. "That got dangerous more than once. If there hadn't been a time limit, my Rapidash probably would've gone down in there."

"But your Giant Onix really is scary. It didn't budge against those two."

Liu Xin smiled faintly. "You'd better be careful in a bit, or you won't get the Gray Badge."