Chapter 556: Battle Hall
~Third POV~
[Sinnoh Region, Next Day, Battle Zone – Fight Area]
The salt-tinged breeze of the Sinnoh Battle Zone swept across the bustling thoroughfares of the Fight Area, carrying with it the scent of competitive spirit and the distant roar of cheering crowds. It was a new day, the sun hanging like a polished gold coin in a sky of brilliant cerulean.
For Azure, this was just another step toward mastery. Azure walked with a rhythmic, confident stride. He was a living centerpiece of Pokémon harmony.
Perched firmly on his right shoulder was his faithful Pikachu, ears twitching at the sounds of the city. Atop his head, nestled in his messy hair, sat an Eevee, balancing with practiced ease. Tucked snugly into the front of his jacket—a warm, breathing lump—was a Pichu (Mew), its tiny pink tail occasionally poking out before being tucked back in.
As Azure stepped onto the paved path leading toward the northern outskirts where the Battle Frontier facilities loomed, a ripple moved through the darkness at his feet. A pair of mischievous, glowing red eyes manifested in his shadow, followed by the jagged grin of a Gengar.
Gengar's voice rang out, not as a telepathic echo, but as a raspy, feminine vocalization that sounded like wind through dry leaves, "Boss."
Being a seasoned veteran of Azure's main team, asking curiously, "I still don't get it. You've got the heavy hitters—Garchomp, Rhyperior, even the big guy Regigigas. Why are we heading to the big circle house with just the bug-man?"
Azure chuckled, reaching up to adjust the Eevee on his head. He replied casually in a confident tone, scratching her head, "The 'big circle house' is the Battle Hall, Gengar. And the rules there are... specific. It's not about overwhelming force with a full team. It's about the bond and endurance of a single soul."
*Buzzz*
Suddenly, the phone in Azure's pocket vibrated and flew out of its own accord. The Arc Phone, possessed by a witty Rotom, hovered in front of Azure's face. Rotom's voice was high-pitched and frantic, explaining to her, "Bzzzzt! Analyzing Battle Hall protocols! Listen up, Gengar-zzt! The Battle Hall is a test of individual perfection! 10 battles per round! One-on-one only! If Azure wants that fourth Print, he must choose one Pokémon and stick with it. If he switches mid-streak, the record is wiped clean! It's the ultimate endurance trial-zzt!"
Azure nodded, his gaze turning toward the massive, coliseum-like structure rising in the distance, and added, "Exactly. I've left the rest of the Sinnoh team—Infernape, Lucario, Togekiss, and the others—with Riley and the Stats Trainers. They're in good hands at the training grounds. It would take a while to complete this facility, and wasting time doing nothing wouldn't do well for the team. For the Hall, I need someone versatile, someone fast, and someone who can hit like a falling mountain."
Gengar teased, sinking back into the shadow but keeping her eyes visible, "And you picked the guy with the rock-hands? Kleavor's a bit… stiff, isn't he? Wouldn't Gallade, Infernape, or Lucario be better? They had prior training."
Azure nodded but replied softly, gripping Kleavor's Poke Ball tightly, "True. But I trust my gut feeling that he won't fail. Not only that, but he's a warrior from an age of legends, Gengar. He doesn't need to be flashy. He just needs to be sharp."
Gengar nodded at his words. Then the group entered the Battle Hall…
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Battle Zone – Battle Hall]
The entrance to the Battle Hall was a grand display of glass and steel, reflecting the sunlight in blinding flashes. As Azure entered, the atmosphere shifted from the chaotic energy of the streets to a focused, almost reverent hush.
The lobby was vast, decorated with massive screens displaying current "Hall Streaks" and the formidable silhouette of Argenta, the Hall Matron. Azure approached the registration desk. The receptionist, a woman in a crisp blue uniform with a professional smile, looked up. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the Pikachu, the Eevee, and the strange Pichu-shaped lump in his jacket.
She said professionally, her voice melodic, "Welcome to the Battle Hall. Are you here to challenge the Hall Matron's record?"
Azure said casually, reaching for his Poké Ball on his belt, "That's the plan. I'd like to register for the Single Battle challenge."
The receptionist smiled as she instructed, "Of course. Please place your Pokémon's Poké Ball on the scanner. Remember, once registered, this Pokémon will be your only partner for the duration of the streak. To face Argenta, you must achieve 169 consecutive victories. In the 170th match, she will descend to challenge you."
Azure placed the Poké Ball on the pedestal. A red laser swept over it. A computer voice announced, "Scanning... Kleavor detected. Level: Verified. Species: Axe Pokémon. Type: Bug/Rock. Held Item: [Scope Lens]. Registration complete."
The receptionist said calmly, handing him a handheld tablet, "You're all set, Azure Sky. This is your Type Selection Grid. You will choose your opponents based on their elemental typing. Be warned: as you defeat a type, its Rank increases, and the level of the opponents will rise. Good luck."
Azure took the tablet, his eyes scanning the eighteen icons representing the Pokémon types. This was the strategic heart of the Hall.
Do you take out the dangerous types early while they're low-level?
Or do you save your strengths for the end?
Rotom suggested, hovering over his shoulder, "Boss, pick the Fire-types first! Get the scary ones out of the way-zzt!"
Azure murmured, his finger hovering over the grid, "No. We start with something neutral. We need to let Kleavor find his rhythm. Let's start with... Normal."
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Later, Battle Zone – Battle Hall]
The 'Runway' was a long, illuminated corridor of white light that led into the heart of the arena. As Azure walked down it, the sounds of the crowd began to swell—a rhythmic chanting that pulsed through the floorboards.
*Thump-thump-Thump-thump*
He stepped out into the center of the Battle Hall. It was a circular stage surrounded by rising tiers of spectators. The floor was a high-tech composite material that could change its terrain, though for now, it remained a standard hard-court.
Azure's "entourage"—Pikachu, Eevee, Pichu (Mew), Gengar, and Rotom—moved toward the designated trainer's box in the stands. They had a front-row seat to the carnage.
The announcer's voice boomed over the intercom in an excited tone, "Ladies and gentlemen! We have a seasoned traveler in the ring today! Azure Sky, conqueror of the Battle Factory, Castle, and Arcade, begins his ascent! His chosen partner... the ancient titan of Hisui, KLEAVOR!"
Azure clicked the button on the Poké Ball and tossed it upward. He declared, "Kleavor, let's carve a path!"
*SHLIIIIING*
The sound of the Poké Ball opening was punctuated by a metallic, grinding noise. In a burst of white light, the massive form of Kleavor materialized...
*THUD*
He stood nearly six feet tall, his body a rugged fusion of chitinous armor and jagged, dark obsidian. His arms ended in two massive, terrifyingly sharp stone axes that gleamed with a dull, lethal luster.
He let out a low, vibrating growl that sounded like grinding boulders, "KLEEE-AVOR! (FEAR ME FOR I AM HERE!!)"
Across the field, a mechanical lift rose from the floor. A young Ace Trainer stood there, looking nervous as he looked up at the prehistoric Bug-type.
He gulped, hurling his Poke Ball, yelling, "Uh... okay. Exploud, let's go!"
*BOOM*
A large, purple Pokémon with pipe-like protrusions all over its body emerged. Exploud stomped the ground, opening its mouth wide to reveal a cavernous maw.
The announcer declared, "Battle one! Begin!"
The trainer shouted, "Exploud, use Stomp!"
*Thump-Thump-Thump*
The Exploud lunged forward, raising a heavy foot to crush the stone-clad bug!
Azure didn't flinch. He'd seen worse as he ordered casually, "Kleavor, Agility. Then, set the stage with Stone Axe."
*Woooosh*
Kleavor's movements were a blur—a startling contrast to his heavy appearance. He skated across the arena floor, the obsidian blades on his arms whistling through the air. As Exploud's foot slammed into the empty ground, Kleavor circled behind it.
With a roar, Kleavor swung his right axe in a horizontal arc, "KLEAVOR!!"
*CRACK-SHING*
The blade slammed into Exploud's side. But it wasn't just a physical hit. Fragments of jagged stone erupted from the point of impact, embedding themselves in the ground around the Exploud, forming a jagged 'Stealth Rock' hazard.
Rotom narrated from the stands, "Bzzzt! Critical hit chance increased by Scope Lens! Stone Axe secondary effect: Splintered Rocks active-zzt!"
The Exploud cried out, stumbling back. The Ace Trainer yelled in desperation, "Don't let it get away! Hyper Beam!"
*Shiiiii*
The Exploud gathered a swirling mass of orange energy in its mouth. The air began to vibrate with the sheer power of the gathering sound and light. Gengar shouted from the stands, her eyes wide, "He's charging, Boss! That's gonna leave a mark!"
Azure narrowed his eyes. He commanded resolutely, "Kleavor, don't give him the chance. Close the distance with X-Scissor!"
Kleavor leaned forward, his powerful legs propelling him across the floor like a catapult. He crossed his massive axes in front of his face, the obsidian edges glowing with a pale, lime-green energy.
The Exploud unleashed the beam—a colossal pillar of raw destruction.
*VROOOOOM*
The beam tore through the air, but Kleavor was already mid-leap. He spun in mid-air, a whirlwind of stone and chitin, narrowly evading the core of the beam. He descended like a falling guillotine.
Azure yelled, "Now! Strike!"
*K-CHING*
The X-Scissor connected with devastating force, the dual blades carving a glowing 'X' into the air. The impact sent a shockwave through the stadium, kicking up a cloud of dust. When the dust settled…
*THUD*
… Exploud was lying on its back, swirls in its eyes. The announcer declared, "Exploud is unable to battle! Winner: Kleavor!"
The crowd erupted in a roar of approval. Azure raised a hand in a calm gesture of victory, while Kleavor stood over his opponent, his obsidian axes clicking together in a rhythmic, warrior-like salute. Azure whispered, looking at the tablet as the 'Normal' icon turned gold, "1 down. 169 battles to go."
/////
[Sinnoh Region, Hours Later, Battle Zone – Battle Hall]
The hours began to bleed together as the sun climbed higher over the Battle Zone. The Battle Hall was a relentless machine.
Azure didn't leave the arena floor; instead, he stayed in the 'Challenger's Circle' as the staff quickly repaired the terrain between matches. And managed to keep on winning each battle with Kleavor.
Round 2: A Fighting-type trainer. Kleavor's Bug typing gave him a slight edge in resistance, and his Aerial Ace—a move Azure had taught him specifically for coverage—was a swift, undodgeable, hawk-like strike that ended the match in seconds.
Round 5: A Grass-type specialist. Kleavor's X-Scissor tore through a Tangrowth with such surgical precision that the crowd went silent in awe.
By the time Azure reached the 10th battle of the first round, the energy in the Hall was electric. He had chosen the 'Dark' type for his final match of the round. The announcer yelled, "Challenger Azure Sky! He has swept through 9 opponents without taking a single significant hit! Can he finish the first round? His opponent: The Dark-type master, Jace!"
A man with a long black coat and a brooding expression stepped onto the opposite platform. He didn't say a word; he simply tossed a Dusk Ball.
*POP*
In a swirl of purple smoke, a Spiritomb materialized. It was a projection of 108 spirits bound to an Odd Keystone, swirling in a nebulous, ethereal fog of violet and green.
It cackled, a haunting, multi-tonal sound that made the Eevee on Azure's head hide under its ears. Rotom cautioned, "Spiritomb-zzt! Ghost and Dark type! Kleavor's Bug and Rock moves are neutral, but he better watch out for those status moves-zzt!"
Azure called out to the stands, "Gengar, what do you think?"
Gengar leaned over the railing, her tongue lolling out.
She replied honestly, "That thing stinks of old grudges, Boss! It's gonna try to play dirty! Tell the Bug-man to hit it before it vanishes!"
Azure nodded as he replied in a firm voice, "Right. Kleavor, stay frosty. This one isn't solid like the others."
Jace commanded, his voice cold, "Spiritomb, Will-O-Wisp!"
*Hissss*
The Spiritomb spun rapidly, and several ghostly, flickering blue flames manifested around it. They shot toward Kleavor with an unpredictable, floating trajectory.
If Kleavor were burned, his physical attack power would be cut in half—a death sentence in a solo streak. But Azure quickly countered, commanding, "Kleavor, use Agile Style Rock Tomb to shield yourself!"
Kleavor slammed his axes into the floor…
*THOOM-THOOM-THOOM*
Massive pillars of jagged rock erupted from the earth in front of him, forming a crude but effective barricade. The blue flames splashed harmlessly against the stones, hissing as they extinguished.
Azure quickly followed up, "Now, jump the wall! Strong Style Stone Axe!"
*Whooosh*
Kleavor used the rock pillars as stepping stones, his powerful legs launching him high into the air. He came down from the ceiling like a meteor, his right axe glowing with a brown, earthy aura. Jace countered, "Sucker Punch!"
The Spiritomb vanished into its keystone for a split second, then reappeared directly in Kleavor's face, a shadowy fist of malice swinging upward!
*CLANG*
The Sucker Punch connected with Kleavor's sturdy chest plate, but the Bug-type didn't recoil. He took the hit, his [Scope Lens] flashing as it caught the light. The lens adjusted his vision, highlighting the flickering 'core' of the Spiritomb within the swirling fog.
Azure screamed, "Now! Full power!"
Kleavor's axe came down…!
*CRAAAAASH*
The obsidian blade sliced through the ghostly fog and slammed directly into the Odd Keystone itself. The impact was so great that it cracked the arena floor beneath the Spiritomb…
*FLASH*
A "Critical Hit" notification flashed on the stadium's big screen. The Spiritomb let out a high-pitched, distorted shriek as its spectral form began to unravel, being sucked back into the stone. The keystone rattled once, twice, and then went still. The announcer declared, "Spiritomb is unable to battle! The winner of the first round is Azure Sky!"
The applause was deafening. Kleavor let out a triumphant roar, clashing his axes together—SHLING-SHLING—as sparks flew from the obsidian edges.
Azure walked over to his partner, placing a hand on the cool, hard surface of Kleavor's shoulder. He praised him proudly, "Great job. You're holding up well."
Kleavor let out a low, appreciative rumble, his multifaceted eyes reflecting Azure's face, "Kleavor! (Hmph! No worries, just leave this endless gauntlet to a fearless warrior such as I! I'll cut down with my stone blades.)"
Azure looked up at his friends in the stands. Pikachu was cheering, while Mew (as Pichu) was bouncing up and down in excitement. Gengar drifted down from the stands, hovering beside them. She praised Kleavor in a casual tone, "Not bad, Bug-man. You almost look like you know what you're doing. Better keep up."
Kleavor scoffed at the ghost. But did replied eyes focused on the battles ahead, "Klea-Vor. Kleavor! (Hmph! Keep your advice ghost, but I wouldn't lose here to nobodies. Not till I get my strength to best my rival of the main team Scizor…)"
Gengar cackled, letting the Kleavor dream. Rotom chirped, circling Azure's head, "Bzzzzt! 10 wins down! 159 to go until Argenta-zzt!" "But don't get cocky! The Ranks are about to reset, and the levels are going up-zzt!"
Azure looked at the scoreboard, then out at the long road ahead. The Battle Hall was a marathon of will, a test of how long a single Pokémon could stand against the world. Azure said, his eyes burning with a competitive fire, "We're just getting started. Next round. Let's see who's next on the grid."
As he walked toward the healing station to prepare for the next set of ten, the shadow of the Battle Hall seemed a little less daunting. He had the strength of Hisui at his side and the heart of a champion. The climb to 170 had begun.
*BUZZZZ*
But his mind halted as his Arc Phone buzzed as Rotom chimed, "Bzzt! Oh, it seems like you got a text, Azure!"
Hearing the news, he turned as he saw the screen showing the name 'VOLKNER'. He read as follows: "I lived. Now's where that battle, Azure?"
Azure paused before a fire ignited in his eyes. He grinned as he muttered, "Seems like Volkner is okay now. Time to speed run the Battle Frontier."
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A/N: Hope you like the chapter!