2 "Routine of a Gym Leader"

I look at the information Cassandra sent me. Today, I have four trainers coming to challenge me for their seventh badge. They scheduled the appointment yesterday, and I'll have to use my B team.

I never accept same-day battles for the seventh badge and above. I schedule them for the next day so that my Pokémon can be fresh; after all, I don't have a vast number of them.

"Charizard, Seadra, and Dragonite, you will be the fighters for the first and last match. Altaria, Charmeleon, and Seadra, you will be the fighters for the second and third match," I point to the Pokémon I plan to use for my battles, and they nod with excitement. Only my Pokémon who have reached the ability to fight a gym leader have the right to be named. All Pokémon below that level must wait for their turn.

A dragon remains a dragon; the desire for battle is innate in them. Except for Dragonite and Altaria, which are somewhat more peaceful species, it doesn't stop them from wanting to let off steam and fight from time to time.

I pat Momo, who came to cuddle with me before looking at my main team.

"Momo, Kaido, Tesoro, Yama, Zero, and Neptune, head to the volcanic training ground to warm up once Edgar has fed you. He'll probably be here soon. Once my battles are done, I'll organize our group training."

They nod before looking challengingly at each other. When I train my Pokémon, I make sure to train them separately to avoid tension between them. When training them individually, I don't want to deal with their conflicts; you need to be focused.

However, once a week, I organize group training. It can sometimes be a tournament to determine the power hierarchy, a royal battle, or, conversely, a team battle in a 2 vs 2 vs 2 vs 2 format. In any case, their battle desires are satisfied, and their coordination and understanding improve.

"Alright, those I mentioned, return to your Poké Balls," I take out the Poké Balls I picked up on my way through the gym and retrieve the relevant Pokémon.

"See you later, guys." Mavis follows me out of her Poké Ball. She's not interested in group battles and usually follows me wherever I go.

"Mavis, can you go tell Ace and Moon about the group training, please? I won't have time to go get them," I say, caressing her neck.

"Altariaaaa." Mavis nods before taking flight and swiftly leaving the cave.

I smile before following her, walking at a leisurely pace.

"The battle between Gym Leader Azurion and challenger Bob is about to begin. Trainers are allowed 3 Pokémon each. The leader, however, cannot switch Pokémon during the battle. Let the battle begin."

Cinnabar's main arena is suspended above the lava of a volcano. The heat is intense, but I've grown accustomed to it, just like my referees. In the stands, residents come to watch the match, and the crowd cheers to herald the start of the last match of the day.

"Quagsire, go!" A Pokémon emerges from the Poké Ball. Its body is blue, its eyes are black and small like dots. It has a black dorsal membrane running the entire length of its back, dotted with violet.

"Charizard, go!"

"Roooaaaaar!" An impressive roar echoes in the arena, earning cheers from the crowd.

"CHARIZARD, CHARIZARD!"

"CHARIZARD, CHARIZARD!"

"CHARIZARD, CHARIZARD!"

"Quagsire, don't get distracted by the cheers. Stay focused on our opponents." The trainer calls out to his Quagsire, who was startled by the entrance of the Pokémon and the crowd's cheers.

"Quagsire, use Scald!" Quagsire plants its feet in the ground before opening its mouth, ejecting a jet of boiling water.

"Charizard, Swords Dance, then Flame Charge!" Charizard dodges the scalding water, and blue blades appear around him. They spin, turning red, and Charizard envelops itself in red flames before charging.

"Quagsire, use Dig to evade!" Quagsire digs a hole in the ground and buries itself.

"Charizard, Dragon Breath into that hole!" Unfortunately for Quagsire, Charizard is right above the hole now.

"No, Quagsire, come out quickly!" Unfortunately, it's too late. Quagsire just dug a hole but doesn't even have time to go far before Charizard breathes blue flames into the tunnel. Then, it flaps its wings and moves away from the hole to observe from above.

Quagsire emerges from the ground with some damage, but nothing severe.

"Well-taken, Quagsire! Use Stone Edge... huh???" Quagsire is about to execute its trainer's command, but small sparks are emanating from its body, paralyzing it.

"Charizard, let's take advantage of this. Swords Dance, then use Flame Charge!" Charizard summons blue blades that turn red before rushing at Quagsire, but faster than before.

BOOM

The collision is brutal. Quagsire is thrown several tens of meters, getting up with a bit of difficulty. The damage isn't colossal, but it's more than it should have been, and it stares at Charizard with determination.

"Quagsire, snap out of it! Use Stone Edge!" Quagsire straightens up, summoning sharp stones around it, then sends them crashing down onto Charizard.

"Charizard, dodge, then use Focus Punch!" Charizard dodges, focusing slightly to channel its energy into its fist, then descends like a bird of prey onto Quagsire.

"QUAGSIRE, DODGE!" Quagsire is about to dodge, but small sparks of lightning further paralyze it. Moreover, Charizard arrives in front of it within seconds, leaving no room for escape.

BOOOM

A draconic fist crashes down on Quagsire's head with monstrous speed and power.

Quagsire is propelled to the back of the arena and crashes into the wall. When the smoke clears, it's seen unconscious.

"Quagsire is out of the battle. This first round goes to the leader." The referee signals Quagsire's defeat.

"CHARIZARD, CHARIZARD"

"CHARIZARD, CHARIZARD"

"CHARIZARD, CHARIZARD"

The crowd cheers for their champion's Pokémon.

"Well done, Quagsire, you fought well." The challenger recalls Quagsire into its Poké Ball before hesitating and throwing a second one.

"Blastoise, it's your turn." Emerging, a bipedal colossus displays water cannons on its upper left and right sides of the shell, while claws adorn its fingers.

"Blastoise, use Hydro Pump!" Bob commands. A powerful jet of water spurts from Blastoise's mouth toward Charizard.

"Charizard, dodge and use Flame Charge!" Azurion reacts. Charizard, agile, dodges the attack and then charges toward Blastoise enveloped in flames, increasing its speed. Even though the attack isn't super effective against Blastoise, the impact could cause significant damage.

"Surf, quickly!" Bob shouts. Charizard, now too fast with the accumulated Flame Charge boosts, finds itself engulfed in a powerful wave of water generated by Blastoise, covering the entire arena. The water flows into the lava, producing a distinct crackling sound and releasing gray smoke.

Once the wave recedes, a weakened Charizard struggles to stand. The Surf attack proved potent, and Blastoise's quick reaction plunged Charizard headfirst into the wave, dealing significant damage.

"Charizard, retreat! Return to your Poké Ball!" commands Azurion. Charizard returns to its Poké Ball in preparation for the next opponent.

"Charizard has been withdrawn into the Poké Ball by the Gym Leader, so it is now out of the battle," announces the referee at the stadium.

"Why withdraw it? It could have fought a bit more," asks the challenger.

"Charizard was already exhausted after Focus Punch, and the Surf you sent was very powerful, inflicting significant damage. Forcing a battle without advantages wouldn't have been wise. You would have taken it out fairly quickly, now that it's tired and weakened," explains Azurion. The challenger nods, understanding the decision.

"Go, Dragonite."

Dragonite enters the scene with a majestic roar, a sign of its imposing power. However, this time, Blastoise is not intimidated. A fierce staring contest ensues between Dragonite and Blastoise.

The stadium vibrates with anticipation as Blastoise and Dragonite face each other, ready to clash.

"Blastoise, forward! Use Waterfall!" commands Bob. Blastoise, reacting instantly, releases a powerful surge of water surrounding it, then rushes toward Dragonite.

"Dragonite, Thunder Punch!" reacts Azurion. Dragonite, agile despite its imposing size, skillfully dodges the attack by spreading its wings, then strikes with Thunder Punch.

Blastoise suffers significant injuries but takes the hit. It quickly counters with Ice Beam, an intense beam of cold shooting from its mouth, targeting Dragonite, who narrowly evades, although its fist is partially frozen.

"Hydro Cannon, Blastoise!" Bob shouts. Blastoise, catching its breath, releases a massive concentrated water jet toward Dragonite. The latter dodges again with agility, demonstrating perfect synchronization between the two trainers, even without Azurion explicitly requesting it.

"Fire Punch, Dragonite!" commands Azurion. Dragonite, reacting instantly, engulfs its fist in flames, melting the ice surrounding it, then strikes Blastoise with tremendous force.

The battle intensifies, with each Pokémon dodging and counterattacking with formidable precision. Both trainers display extreme focus, seeking any advantage they can find. The crowd holds its breath as the stadium becomes the stage for an intense duel between the mighty Blastoise and the formidable Dragonite.

"It's a real clash of titans," exclaimed a spectator, earning nods of approval from those around.

"Blastoise, show them what a real Focus Punch is!" Blastoise roars before unleashing a powerful blow to Dragonite's abdomen.

"Dragonite, Thunder Punch!" Dragonite grits its teeth and delivers an electric punch, striking Blastoise squarely in the face and knocking it to the ground.

"Get up, Blastoise, and once more, Focus Punch!"

Blastoise rises and lands another Focus Punch, but Dragonite manages to partially dodge, getting hit on its shoulder. However, it immediately retaliates with a Thunder Punch that lifts a thick cloud of dust around Blastoise. Before it can catch its breath, a blue fist emerges from the smoke and connects with its face.

BAM

"Dragonite, are you okay?" Dragonite groans a bit on the ground before collapsing, KO.

Blastoise emerges from the smoke, not unscathed. Its face still bears the mark of Dragonite's punch, demonstrating the power behind the blow.

"Dragonite is out of the battle; the challenger's Blastoise claims the victory!"

"YEAH, WELL DONE, BLASTOISE!" Blastoise turns, smiles at its trainer, and then collapses to the ground.

"Blastoise is out of the battle; please switch to your next Pokémon. Both trainers have one Pokémon left. Begin!" the referee announces.

"All right, Seadra, let's go."

"Ludicolo, the end is near." A Pokémon resembling both a duck and a pineapple, with an appendage on its head resembling both a sombrero and a lily pad, as well as fur resembling a poncho, made its appearance.

"Seadra, attack with Hydro Cannon!" commanded Azurion. Seadra stood firm, concentrating an impressive amount of water in its mouth before releasing a powerful jet toward Ludicolo.

"Ludicolo, dodge!" cried Bob. Ludicolo avoided the attack by lying down on the ground, allowing Hydro Cannon to pass over its head.

"Seadra, follow up with Ice Beam!" continued Azurion. Seadra focused its icy energy, shooting an intense beam of cold toward Ludicolo. The latter quickly got up, skillfully dodging by performing a pirouette.

"Ludicolo, counter with Solar Beam!" ordered Bob. Ludicolo opened its leaves, absorbing the stadium's light.

"Don't let it happen, Hydro Cannon!" reacted Azurion. Seadra unleashed another water jet, hitting Ludicolo head-on and forcing it to step back. However, Ludicolo remained standing, lifted its head, and smiled at Seadra. Solar Beam was charged.

A yellow beam was launched, crashing into Seadra.

BOOM

The frail body of Seadra was thrown backward.

"Seadra, get up."

Seadra stood up, but the damage was considerable, seriously injuring it.

"Razor Leaf!" Ludicolo, taking advantage of Seadra's moment of confusion, quickly approached and delivered a series of rapid blows with its Leaf Blade attack.

"Water Pulse, don't let them touch you."

Regaining its senses, Seadra endured the pain and used Water Pulse quickly to counter Leaf Blade, creating an explosion that protected it from the rest of the attack.

"Continue with Take Down, Ludicolo!" shouted Bob. Ludicolo charged violently at Seadra, which tried to block with its small flippers.

"Brine!" Seadra looked up at Ludicolo and spat out a jet of water at very high pressure and colossal power, preventing it from making contact.

Ludicolo was thrown to the other end of the field after the powerful impact of Brine, allowing Seadra to catch its breath.

After the powerful impact of Brine, Ludicolo was propelled across the arena, crashing violently to the ground at the other end of the field. The Duck-Pineapple Pokémon struggled to get up, clearly showing the aftermath of the powerful water jet.

"Seadra, now! Use Draco Shock!" exclaimed Azurion. Seadra, having caught its breath, concentrated a huge amount of blue flames in its mouth and unleashed a devastating beam towards Ludicolo.

"LUDICOLO, COUNTER WITH ICE BEAM!"

Ludicolo tried to counter with a final Ice Beam, but the attack was too weak. Seadra's Draco Shock engulfed it, completely overwhelming it. Ludicolo struggled, but the energy from the previous Brine had seriously weakened its strength.

Finally, the attack dissipated, leaving Ludicolo unconscious on the ground.

"Ludicolo is unable to battle. Gym Leader Azurion wins the victory with his Seadra!" announced the referee.

The crowd erupted in cheers, acknowledging Azurion's mastery in this intense battle. Azurion waved to the audience and approached his Seadra, congratulating it for its courage and dedication.

"You fought well, Ludicolo. Return to your Poké Ball, thanks for this excellent match," Bob said, recalling his Pokémon.

Azurion bowed respectfully to Bob, recognizing the strength of his team.

"You're a talented trainer. Thanks for this fantastic challenge. If you want to train further, feel free to come back," declared Azurion.

"Thank you, but I still lost."

"It's okay, Jordan, please." I asked Jordan, who had acted as the referee, to bring me the badge.

"Yes, sir, here you go." A badge, placed on a small cushion, was presented to me.

"Bob, I award you the Volcano Badge. Through this battle, I noticed that you're a very good trainer, and you deserve it."

"Thank you, sir," he said happily.

"Most of your Pokémon are Water-type. Are you a specialist?" I asked him.

"Yes, I'm a Water-type specialist. I aim to become one of the best in the region."

"I see. In that case, I recommend using Rain Dance. This move increases the power of Water-type moves and can even boost the speed of Water-type Pokémon under the rain. For a Water-type specialist, it's a significant advantage."

"I see, thank you, Gym Leader."

"You can call me Azurion."

Bob, with a wide smile, looked at me with a mix of enthusiasm and gratitude. "Thanks again for the battle, Azurion. It was an incredible experience, and I'll definitely work on the advice you gave me."

I gave him a smile. "The pleasure was mutual, Bob. You showed great mastery in the battle. It's clear that you take your role as a Pokémon Trainer seriously. I look forward to seeing how you'll progress."

Bob, visibly pleased with the encouragement, continued, "I'll train even harder, especially with Rain Dance. It could really make a difference in my upcoming battles."

"An excellent decision. Strategy is the key in the world of Pokémon. And remember, even defeats are learning opportunities. Analyze them, adjust your strategies, and you'll keep improving. I wish you a safe journey."

"Thank you very much. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

I watched him leave, heading towards his last badge.

"You took it easy on him," a voice said, and I turned to see Jordan crossing his arms, watching the trainer walk away.

"Yes, I observed him from the beginning of the battle and noticed he struggled when his Pokémon were under pressure. So, I abandoned the strategy to put more and more pressure on him and his Pokémon in a brutal way."

"Could Charizard have continued?" he asked.

"Yes, she was boosted by Flame Charge and two Sword Dances. I could have defeated his entire team with just her if I wanted to, but that's not the role of a Gym Leader. Our role is to guide trainers so they become stronger." I smiled at Jordan, who now fixed his gaze on me.

"Sir, if you have the time, I'd like to challenge you with your A-team," he announced, putting a maniacal smile on my face.

"Oh, you want to challenge me with my A-team?" I turned completely towards him this time.

"Yes, sir. I've trained my team a lot lately, and we've made significant progress. I want to know where I stand." His gaze trembled as he looked at me, recalling the last time I crushed him with just Salamence.

"Alright, we'll see each other after tonight's meeting. Our battle will take place on the Dragonic terrain." I left him in front of the arena and went into my cave to train my Pokémon as planned. I only plan to use Altaria for this match, so all the others will train to their fullest.

My gym has three main terrains. The original terrain is fiery, just above a lava lake, where I fought the previous trainer. The second is the Dragonic terrain that I built upon my arrival, situated on the mountain and surrounded by stone pillars where flying dragon Pokémon perch to observe the battle. It creates a special experience to be watched by dragons. The last one is a new stadium under construction, located in the arena, just above the underground terrain. This time, it's a water terrain, ideal for Dragon Pokémon. It will allow Kingdra and its family to operate at full capacity.