The noise outside the Gym entrance grew louder and louder, until it finally alerted the staff inside.
A young man wearing blue work overalls pushed the door open. When he saw the dense crowd gathered outside, he froze on the spot. "Th—This… There weren't supposed to be this many people scheduled for Gym challenges today. Why did so many suddenly show up?"
"We're here to watch the battle!" someone shouted from the crowd, and many people pointed toward Theo. "The challenger is right here!"
Only then did the staff member notice Theo standing in the center of the crowd, as well as the particularly eye-catching shiny Beldum floating on his shoulder.
He quickly spoke into his headset to communicate with the Gym Leader. After a few brief exchanges, he turned back to the crowd and said, "I see now. Please follow me inside. The Gym Leader said that since there are so many people today, the Trainer teleportation maze trial will be canceled. We'll head straight to the battle arena."
As he spoke, he pressed a button beside the door. The heavy metal doors slowly slid open inward, revealing a passageway filled with pipes and cables.
Everyone followed behind him, winding their way through the twisting corridor. From time to time, the crackling sound of electricity buzzed in their ears.
The display screens along the walls continuously scrolled with educational information about Electric-type Pokémon, giving the entire passage a strong industrial atmosphere unique to Mauville Gym.
After passing through the corridor, the view suddenly opened up.
A massive battle arena appeared before them. The floor was paved with metal plates that had excellent conductivity, and tall spectator stands rose up on all sides.
Under the guidance of the staff, the audience who followed Theo into the arena quickly took their seats.
At the center of the field stood a chubby oldman, hands clasped behind his back as he paced back and forth.
He sported a signature mohawk, his beard and hair already white, and there was always a broad, cheerful smile hanging on his face.
"A kid who smiles all the time is just like a hundred-thousand-volt thunderbolt!"
The man laughed heartily as he turned around—it was Wattson, the Gym Leader of Mauville City.
Standing beside him was a bespectacled young man holding a notebook, his assistant, Watt.
"Gym Leader, please mind your image," Watt whispered as he pushed up his glasses.
Wattson scratched his head and looked at the crowd flooding in, clearly surprised. "It's been a long time since we've had this many people here, hasn't it, Watt? Why are so many people suddenly coming to watch a Gym battle?"
As he spoke, Wattson scanned the crowd in search of the challenger. His gaze swept across the people entering through the passage before finally locking onto Theo, who had just stepped inside.
More precisely, his eyes fixed on the shiny Beldum floating beside Theo.
The silver-white metallic body reflected a cold sheen under the arena lights, and its red crystal eye gleamed like a flawless gemstone.
Wattson abruptly stopped talking. The smile on his face faded slightly as his gaze tightened, filled with curiosity and astonishment as he stared at the shiny Beldum.
Seeing this, Watt hurriedly leaned over and whispered something into his ear. Wattson listened while nodding repeatedly.
"So that's how it is! I've been holed up developing robots for so long—I had no idea so many interesting things were happening out there!"
Wattson laughed again, then strode over to Theo and extended his hand. "You're Theo, right? From Dewford Town? Sorry to keep you waiting!"
"Hello, Gym Leader," Theo replied politely as he shook Wattson's hand.
Wattson patted him on the shoulder, his voice booming. "It's rare to have such a big audience today—we can't let everyone down! Come on, let's start with a little opening performance to warm things up!"
He snapped his fingers and shouted toward the center of the field, "Raikou Number Four—come out and show them what you've got!"
As soon as his voice fell, a seam split open in the arena floor, and a massive mechanical construct slowly rose up.
It was a mechanical beast modeled after one of the three legendary beasts of Johto—Raikou.
Its entire body was yellow, with mane-like components crackling with sparks of electricity. Its limbs were powerful, its gaze sharp, and it looked almost indistinguishable from the real Raikou.
"RAAAAAAI—!"
The machine let out a simulated Raikou roar and bounded around the arena with powerful leaps, its movements astonishingly agile.
Suddenly, it reared its head and unleashed a thick bolt of electricity that exploded midair like fireworks, drawing gasps from the entire audience.
Immediately afterward, it slammed the ground with its forepaws, sending arcs of electricity streaking across the metal floor. It even opened its mouth to mimic an attack similar to Thunder Fang.
"My god! That looks way too real!"
"A Raikou-shaped robot?! Gym Leader Wattson really knows how to have fun!"
"That electricity looks so realistic—does it actually conduct power?!"
The spectators buzzed with discussion, flashes from phone cameras popping nonstop.
Meanwhile, the livestream chat completely exploded:
"Holy crap! This robot is insanely cool!"
"Wattson is 100% a hardcore tech nerd confirmed!"
"It really looks just like Raikou in the pictures—this opening show alone was worth it!"
"Now I'm even more excited for the battle. Wattson must have a lot of tricks up his sleeve!"
Seeing the amazed expressions of the crowd, Wattson laughed proudly. "Well? Not bad, huh? I personally modified this one—the power system and motion modules are all top-tier!
Alright, show's over. It's time for the main event to take the stage!"
He wiped the grin from his face and looked straight at Theo, his eyes sharpening. "Theo, your shiny Beldum is very special. I'm extremely interested. Since this is a Gym challenge, you'd better show me the real deal.
You know the rules, right? Three-on-three, until one side's Pokémon are all unable to battle."
"Understood," Theo nodded.
Beside his shoulder, Beldum let out a clear ding sound. Its red eye fixed firmly on Wattson, its small body tensing slightly—clearly ready for battle.
Wattson pointed toward one side of the arena. "Good. Then take your positions. Let me see just how much weight this shiny Beldum really carries!
Watt, you'll be the referee."
"Understood, Gym Leader!"
Watt quickly walked to the center of the field and skillfully took his seat on the floating referee platform.
Raising the red and green flags in his hands, he first guided Theo to the challenger's battle position, then signaled Wattson to stand at the Gym Leader's designated spot.
After clearing his throat, he announced the rules in a clear voice: "This Gym challenge will be a three-on-three battle. Once a Pokémon loses the ability to battle, it may not be used again. When all of one side's Pokémon are unable to battle, the other side wins!
The challenger may freely switch Pokémon. The Gym Trainer may not switch Pokémon.
Now—the match is about to begin!"
The stands instantly fell silent. All eyes focused on the center of the arena. Even the livestream chat gradually slowed, everyone waiting in anticipation for Beldum's first battle.
Standing at his battle position, Wattson patted the Poké Ball at his waist and spoke casually, "I know you haven't had your Beldum for very long. I won't take advantage of you—I'll also use a Pokémon I caught not too long ago.
Magnemite, you're up! You'll take the lead—go have some fun with Beldum!"
A flash of red light burst from the Poké Ball, and a small Pokémon appeared on the field.
"Magnemite!"
Its body was a silver-gray metallic sphere, its surface gleaming with a cold metallic luster. On both sides of its body extended two curved magnets, symmetrical like short limbs embedded into its form.
At the top sat a shiny metal screw, while a single large eye occupied the center of its body. It had no obvious mouth or nose, yet faint arcs of electricity crackled and danced where the magnets connected to the spherical body.
Like Beldum, it hovered slightly above the ground, supported by magnetic force.
Despite its somewhat cute and simple appearance, there was a clear hint of alertness in its eye.
It was none other than Magnemite—the dual Electric- and Steel-type Pokémon.
(End of Chapter)