Facing the Machop that had just taken the field, Aiden Flint calmly took out Pidgeotto's Luxury Ball.
A flash of red light burst forth.
A sturdy, sharp-eyed Pidgeotto appeared, wings spread wide as it faced Machop head-on.
When Brawly saw Aiden send out a Flying-type Pokémon, a knowing smile crossed his face.
"Pidgeotto, huh? Figures," he said cheerfully. "Most challengers like to use Flying-types against Fighting Pokémon. Machop—use Focus Energy!"
After a full week of nonstop simulated battles inside the system space, Pidgeotto had already reached Level 35. Against a Machop like this, the outcome was never in doubt.A
"Pidgeotto," Aiden said evenly, "use Aerial Ace."
Aerial Ace—unavoidable, unmissable.
Before Machop could even finish gathering its fighting spirit, Pidgeotto became a streak of white light and slammed straight into it.
Boom!
The impact sent Machop flying clean off the battlefield.
It hit the ground once—then didn't move again.
A clean, instant knockout.
"Ding! Pidgeotto defeated Machop. Gained 215 EXP. Level increased—current level: 36!"
Pidgeotto let out a sharp cry of triumph, its voice echoing through the Gym.
And then—
Light erupted.
Brilliant white evolution light engulfed Pidgeotto's entire body.
Aiden's eyes lit up instantly.
"It's evolving!"
He clenched his fist in excitement.
Thankfully, he'd had the foresight to let Pidgeotto carry a Potential Evolution Stone beforehand. Otherwise, pushing a Pokémon that started as a Blue-potential Pidgey into a Gold-potential Pidgeot would've been incredibly difficult, with slim odds at best.
But now—
The outcome could be different.
Brawly, the referee, and the Gym staff all froze for a brief moment before breaking into smiles of congratulations.
Evolving during a Gym Battle was no small feat. It was proof of deep bonds and extraordinary potential—something far beyond ordinary Trainers.
Brawly laughed heartily.
"Looks like I underestimated you a bit. Guess that's on me. No worries—there's still the next round!"
He recalled Machop as the evolution continued.
On the battlefield, Pidgeotto's body rapidly grew larger.
Feathers lengthened. Wings widened.
When the silver-white light finally faded, a massive, powerful bird Pokémon stood proudly in its place.
Pidgeot.
Towering at over two meters tall, radiating pressure with every breath.
Pokémon: Pidgeot
Level: 36
Ability: Keen Eye
Type: Normal / Flying
Potential: Gold
Bond Evolution: Locked
Mega Evolution: Unlockable
Moves: Air Slash, Quick Attack, Steel Wing, Whirlwind, Twister, Hurricane, Brave Bird
Friendship: 240
Background: Met in Petalburg Woods. Evolved solely to protect its Trainer.
Likes: Soaring through the sky, guarding its Trainer
Gold potential.
Level 36.
Newly learned moves like Hurricane and Brave Bird.
Everything about Pidgeot screamed power.
"Well done," Aiden said warmly. "You finally reached your final form, Pidgeot."
Pidgeot beat its wings once.
With its wings fully spread, its wingspan exceeded four meters, its shadow nearly covering the entire battlefield.
Aiden knew—he could ride on Pidgeot's back and soar freely through the skies without any trouble at all.
Brawly's grin only widened.
"Pidgeot, huh? That's one impressive bird. Then I'll go all out too. Let's do this—Hariyama!"
He threw his Poké Ball.
A massive Hariyama landed heavily on the field, muscles bulging as it stomped the ground.
Pokémon: Hariyama
Level: 36
Ability: Thick Fat
Type: Fighting
Potential: Purple
Moves: Arm Thrust, Fake Out, Knock Off, Bulk Up, Belly Drum, Detect, Focus Punch
At this point, Aiden didn't even need to bring out Rayquaza to face Norman anymore. Pidgeot alone was already on par with Norman's Slaking from back then.
Gym Leaders adjusted their teams based on challengers—and against Pidgeot, Brawly naturally couldn't afford to hold back.
"Nice opponent," Aiden said calmly. "Pidgeot—Quick Attack, then Wing Attack!"
With its fully evolved body, even basic combo moves became terrifying.
Pidgeot's flight speed exceeded Mach 2. Boosted further by Quick Attack, it vanished like a flash of white light.
Hariyama barely had time to blink.
Smash!
Wing Attack crashed directly into its head.
Flying-type damage.
Double effectiveness.
Hariyama collapsed instantly, smashing into the ground with a heavy thud.
"Hang in there!" Brawly shouted. "Hariyama—Iron Head!"
"Hard clash, huh?" Aiden replied. "Then let's meet it head-on. Pidgeot—Brave Bird!"
Hariyama forced itself back to its feet, metallic light gathering around its head as it charged.
At the same time, blue-and-red flames erupted around Pidgeot's body. Its piercing cry rang throughout the Gym.
BOOM!
The collision shook the battlefield.
Pidgeot slid backward, wings beating rapidly to stabilize itself. The recoil damage from Brave Bird wasn't light—but it was well within tolerance.
Hariyama, however, collapsed once more.
Flying-types were simply a nightmare for Fighting-types—especially against something as fast and overwhelming as Pidgeot.
"No matter how strong the punch," Aiden said calmly, "it's meaningless if it can't land."
"Finish it. Hurricane."
A violent storm erupted instantly, wind roaring across the entire battlefield.
Even Hariyama's heavy frame was lifted straight into the air, helpless against the raging winds.
When the storm finally faded, Hariyama lay unconscious, completely defeated.
"Ding! Pidgeot defeated Hariyama. Gained 387 EXP. Level increased—current level: 37!"
The referee raised his flag.
"Hariyama is unable to battle! Pidgeot wins! Since both of Gym Leader Brawly's Pokémon have lost the ability to battle, the winner of this Gym Battle is—Aiden Flint!"
Brawly scratched his head and laughed helplessly.
"Man… beaten clean with just one Pokémon. You're seriously something else."
He took a Badge from his pocket and handed it over.
"This is proof of your victory—the Knuckle Badge. You're strong. Keep pushing forward in the next Gyms."
Aiden accepted the Badge with a smile.
"Of course," he said confidently. "My goal is the Ever Grande Conference Champion."
The road ahead was long—
But his wings were already strong.
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