Chapter 647: Black's Bug Gym Battle
~Third POV~
[Unova Region, Castelia City – Gym]
The air inside the Castelia City Gym smelled faintly of damp earth, crushed mulberry leaves, and the sharp tang of high-voltage static. It was an interior designed less for sport and more for modern sculpture—towering pillars of polished steel that mimicked the trunks of ironwood trees, and translucent green floor panels that hummed softly beneath the boots of the spectators.
High in the tiered seating, Azure leaned back against the ergonomic curve of the stadium bench, his boots propped casually on the safety rail. A On his shoulder, Pikachu yawned, letting out a tiny squeak of static that made the hairs on Azure's forearm stand up. On the crown of his head, Eevee curled into a warm, rust-colored doughnut, fast asleep despite the echoing thud-thud of the battle below.
Azure muttered, his voice dropping into the quiet space between himself and the row of regional dignitaries, "He's pushing too hard with Brav."
Beside him, Nemona—her Paldean school jacket unzipped against the Castelia humidity—clapped her hands together in a burst of breathless excitement. She exclaimed excitedly, "No way! That's style, Azure! Look at the [Life Orb] glow on those wings!"
Nemona's brown eyes sparkled as Brav, Black's Braviary, banked hard in mid-air, leaving a streak of crimson residual energy in its wake. She said in a knowing tone with an eager grin, "He's taking the recoil damage just to maximize the Sheer Force! That's textbook high-risk offense!"
Crispin, the fiery-tempered chef from Blueberry Academy, grunted, crossing his thick arms. He said neutrally, eyeing the battle, "Hmph. Risk is fine until your Pokémon drops dead from a stubbed toe. Black should've led with his Pignite. Burn the bugs out before they spin their webs."
Amary chimed in, adjusting her spectacles with a single finger as she tapped notes onto her handheld monitor, "Ah, but culinary logic doesn't always translate to the battlefield, dearest Crispin! Burgh's strategy relies entirely on kinetic displacement. Look at the Whirlipede."
Down on the green glass turf, Burgh—the artist-gym leader clad in his grease-stained overalls—raised a paint-stained finger. His Whirlipede was a rolling terror, its segmented purple shell tucked into a tight, buzzing hoop that tore across the floor with the sound of a heavy circular saw cutting through dry oak.
*Zzzt-clack*
The Mortal Spin met Brav's Aerial Ace in a concussive shockwave that rattled the Gym's upper windows. Glass dust drifted down like diamond flakes. Roxie shouted from two rows down, her bass guitar case thumping against the back of her seat as she pumped her fist, "Whirlipede's rotation creates an optical blurring effect! You can't read the vector if the target's a buzzsaw! Go get 'em, Black!"
Azure corrected quietly, "He read it."
His right hand reached inside his jacket, where an extra warmth radiated against his ribs—the subtle, shifting signature of Mew disguised as a tiny, pink-eared Pichu. He thought mentally, 'Black's got that tunnel vision going again. Watch.'
Down on the floor, Black's face was slick with sweat, his dark hair plastered to his forehead. His eyes were wide, fixed entirely on the spiraling bug. He ordered, "Brav! Don't let it set the rhythm! Clear the fog with Air Slash!"
*Schwing*
A crescent blade of compressed wind tore from the raptor's talons, slicing directly through the center of the spinning shell. Whirlipede let out a high-pitched, metallic shriek as the momentum died instantly, the heavy bug crashing flat onto its back with white spirals spinning in its compound eyes.
*THUD*
Roxie grinned. She said casually with a sly grin, "And that is why you don't bring a wheel to a blade fight."
Burgh chuckled, retrieving his fainted Pokémon with a flick of a custom-painted premier ball. He didn't look discouraged; rather, his eyes gleamed with the manic light of an impressionist seeing a new shade of blue for the first time.
Burgh murmured, his voice echoing off the steel pillars, "Marvellous! Truly, the broad sweep of the sky always humbles the earth. But tell me, Black—both sides are allowed three combatants. Can you divine the canvas I'm laying out next?"
From the stands, Azure felt a sudden vibration against his ribs. The Arc Phone in his pocket lit up with a pale blue holographic projection of Rotom's face. Rotom chirped vocally, its tiny digital hands waving in the air, "Bzzzt! Energy signature rising from the sub-floor! Rock-type mass detected! It's small, dense, and angry, Master Azure!"
Azure said aloud, leaning forward just as Burgh tossed his second sphere, "Dwebble. Good choice."
*POP*
The small, hermit-crab-like Pokémon landed with a heavy clonk, its blocky sandstone shell scraping against the glass floor. Black recognized it instantly, his jaw tightening as he recalled the library texts he'd memorized back in Unova—pages upon pages of ecological data regarding Castelia's underground alleys.
Nemona whispered, her heels clicking against the metal bleachers as she bounced in place, "Predict the counter! He's got the terrain advantage now."
Azure replied, his gaze shifting to the fallen Braviary, "He doesn't just have the terrain. Look at the dust on Brav's primary feathers. That purple sheen isn't just mud."
*Crackle*
Down below, Dwebble's antenna twitched. With a sharp, cracking sound, a massive boulder materialized from the ceiling's holographic projector—or rather, was summoned directly by the crustacean's sheer will—and slammed downward into the air.
Smack Down!
*SMACK*
The rock didn't just hit; it trapped the heavy bird's wing against the glass with a sickening crunch of bone and mineral. Brav let out a choked cry, the [Life Orb] tumbling from its claws to roll across the floor before sputtering out its red light.
*THUD*
Black shouted, taking a hard step forward, "Brav!"
Burgh smiled, spreading his arms as he said, "Fascinating, isn't it? You rely on the sky, Black. But I've spent years studying how the stones of Castelia's foundations wear down the high winds. And more importantly..."
Burgh pointed a paint-stained finger at the fallen bird. He explained the cause of Brav's Poison, "...Whirlipede's Mortal Spin wasn't just about defense. The friction left a very specific residue."
Black stared at his partner. Brav's beak was already turning a dull, sickly shade of violet. Poison. The rotation had dusted the arena with microscopic venom-spores during the initial clash.
Black recalled Brav with a sharp pull of his wrist, his knuckles white against the red-and-white casing. He didn't say a word for three long seconds—the kind of intense, internal calculation that usually ended with him either winning brilliantly or missing a truck heading straight for his shins.
Black finally declared, his voice dropping an octave as he hurled his next Poké Ball, "Tula! Let's weave a different kind of thread."
*POP*
Blue electricity crackled across the ground as Tula, the Galvantula, materialized with a menacing, eight-legged scuttle, a heavy [Magnet] held tightly in its mandibles to amplify its electric strikes.
Burgh raised an eyebrow, a slow, appreciative smile spreading across his face. He said happily as he raised a Poké Ball in hand, "Ah. An Electric-type. A clever counter to my rock-dwelling Dwebble. But as I said, a true artist never shows all his colors at once. Return, Dwebble!"
With a flash of red light, the small crustacean vanished back into its ball, replaced instantly by Burgh's primary powerhouse—Leavanny. The slender, insectoid Pokémon stepped forward with effortless grace, its leaf-blade arms gleaming sharply under the midday sun. Burgh commanded, "Let us weave a masterpiece!"
/////
[Unova Region, Elsewhere, Castelia City - Plaza]
Miles away from the echoing sounds of the Gym, the bustling, sun-drenched avenues of Castelia City hummed with the endless chatter of pedestrians, the honking of commuter vehicles, and the distant hum of shipping container cranes down at the piers.
White strolled down the wide stone plaza, letting out a long, contented sigh. Her clipboard rested securely under her arm, all her duties for the BW Agency successfully checked off for the day. Her mind, however, drifted naturally toward the imposing structure of the Bug-type Gym a few blocks away.
She thought, a small, amused smile playing on her lips, 'I wonder how Black and Azure are doing. As their sponsor, I suppose I should probably check in. I've never actually watched one of Black's official Gym matches from the stands before. Knowing him, he's probably yelling his lungs out right now.'
She paused at a wide street corner, tapping her chin with a pen. She thought curiously, 'Now, where did Azure say the entrance was again? East past the fountain, or down the alley near the café?'
At that exact moment, wrapped up in her own thoughts, White completely missed a frantic figure rushing past her in the opposite direction. Bianca cried out, her voice fluttering with panic as she clutched her oversized hat to her head, "Oh, goodness gracious! Where is everyone?! This city is entirely too big! It's like a giant metal maze!"
She spun in a tight circle on the sidewalk, nearly tripping over her own boots. She exclaimed, trying to find her childhood friends in a frantic tone, "Black! Cheren! Where did you guys go?!"
Bianca huffed, her cheeks flushed with frustration as she darted down a narrower, much quieter side street flanked by towering, sun-blocking skyscrapers. She muttered to herself, "Honestly! Splitting up to 'cover more ground' was Cheren's stupid idea. It's so dark and shadowy down here! I can't see a thing!"
Stumbling to a halt in the dim, cool alleyway, Bianca realized she needed some illumination. She unclipped a small, spherical Poké Ball from her belt and tossed it forward…
*Flash*
With a soft, flickering glow, a small, candle-like Pokémon materialized on the cobblestones. Its cheerful, glowing purple flame danced atop its wax-like head, casting long, eerie shadows against the brick walls.
Bianca squealed, squatting down to beam at her newly caught partner as she said happily, "Aww! Look at you! You're an absolute darling! Look at that little flame! You're going to be the best flashlight ever, Litwick!"
The little candle Pokémon bobbed its head happily, letting out a soft, crackling wick sound. Litwick cried out, "Lit! Wick!"
But then a low, smooth voice echoed from the shadows behind them, "What a magnificent specimen…"
Bianca jumped, letting out a startled squeak as she whipped around. Standing near the corner of the brick wall was a tall figure cloaked in the unmistakable, slate-gray robes emblazoned with a jagged, dark insignia. Team Plasma.
The grunt continued, stepping forward with an eerie, rehearsed calm, "That Pokémon. It possesses a pure, untainted spark. To keep it bound to human whims... to restrict its natural freedom within a Poké Ball... it is a tragedy. For its own true happiness, it must be liberated."
Bianca stammered, scrambling backward against the rough brick wall, "L-liberated?! Wait! What are you talking about?! This is my Pokémon! I just caught—!"
*POOF*
Before she could finish her sentence, a blinding cloud of spores erupted from the grunt's outstretched hand. A Dull Slam attack struck Bianca squarely in the chest with a dull thud, revealing to be his Amoonguss.
"Ah—!"
She was knocked unconscious by its spores, allowing the Grunt to steal her Litwick. Bianca's eyes rolled back. Her breath hitched in her throat, and she crumpled instantly to the cold stone pavement, completely unconscious.
The Team Plasma grunt calmly stepped over her fallen form, scooped up the startled Litwick into a specialized containment capsule, and melted back into the shadows without leaving a single trace behind.
/////
[Unova Region, Meanwhile, Castelia City - Gym]
Back inside the sweltering heat of the Castelia Gym, the battle had reached a fever pitch. Black roared, pointing his finger forward with fierce determination, "Tula! Use Thunder Shock now!"
*ZAP*
The yellow arachnid reared back on its hind legs, electricity snapping violently between its mandibles as a jagged bolt of yellow energy surged across the floor. But…
*Wooosh*
Leavanny leaped upward with astonishing agility, its slender frame barely grazing past the crackling current. In mid-air, the Bug-type whipped its arms forward, unleashing a thick, gooey torrent of sticky silk that wrapped completely around Tula's body, slamming the electric spider against the wall.
*THUD*
Burgh laughed, his eyes wide with artistic fervor as he said excitedly, "Fascinating! Your Galvantula attempted to weave an electric web, but Leavanny countered with its natural silk! The sticky substance binds its joints entirely! Leavanny, use Leaf Blade! But keep it gentle—our opponent cannot move an inch!"
Leavanny descended like a falling leaf, its glowing green blade flashing in the dim gym light as it brought the edge down toward Tula…
*Clang*
A heavy, sickening impact echoed across the arena floor…
*Thud*
Both Pokémon staggered backward. For a second, the entire gym fell completely silent. Then, with matching thuds, both Tula and Leavanny collapsed onto the turf, their eyes swirling in defeat.
Burgh gasped, taking an involuntary step back, his artistic composure cracking for the first time. He said in disbelief, "Both combatants are unable to battle?!"
He stared in absolute disbelief at his fainted partner. He couldn't help but ask in a confused tone how his Leavanny lost, "How... how did this happen? Leavanny was completely untouched by the electricity!"
As Burgh hurried forward, he noticed a strange, iridescent sheen coating Leavanny's green shell. A sickly purple mist began to rise from the fallen Bug-type.
Burgh muttered, his eyes widening in horror as Leavanny began to shiver, "Wait... poison? The silk... Is it Toxic? But Leavanny doesn't secrete venom!"
From across the field, Black wiped the sweat from his forehead, breathing heavily as he recalled Tula back into its ball. Black explained, his voice hard and resolute, "Tula couldn't get unstuck from your silk. So I had it mix venom directly into its own web-spinning glands before it got trapped. It was a calculated risk. Tula went down, but it took Leavanny down with it."
Burgh stared at the boy, a mixture of shock and profound respect washing over his expressive face. Burgh recalled his fainted ace, taking a slow, deep breath, then said in a determined tone with an eager expression, "A sacrifice of position for the sake of victory... Truly, a bold stroke on the canvas of war. Which leaves us to the final act. Dwebble, take the stage once more!"
*POP*
The small rock-dwelling insect skittered back onto the field, clicking its claws nervously. Black grinned, a wide, razor-sharp smile stretching across his face as he unclipped his final, most trusted Poké Ball.
He tossed it forward with a fierce motion…
*Thwump*
Flames erupted from the ground as Nite, the Pignite, burst onto the field, letting out a deep, booming roar that rattled the overhead rafters with his held item [Charcoal]. The fire-type flexed its powerful arms, sparks flying from its snout as it slammed its fists together in a heavy, rhythmic thump-thump.
Black said, his voice softening just a fraction as he looked at his partner, "I'm sorry I kept you waiting, Nite. I didn't want to risk losing you early. It's all on you now. Let's avenge Brav and Tula!"
Nite let out a fierce, determined grunt, nodding sharply. The fire burning in its belly flared brighter, radiating visible waves of heat across the battlefield. Up in the stands, the heavy double doors at the top of the stadium pushed open.
*THUD*
White stepped inside, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. She blinked in surprise as she looked down at the arena floor, taking in the roaring Pignite and the tense atmosphere. White gasped softly, gripping the wooden railing, "Oh...! Black is... he's actually fighting his final Pokémon! And he's winning? Wait, when did he even start this match? I barely missed anything!"
Azure glanced back over his shoulder, a small smirk playing on his lips. He said, greeting her to join them in the stands, "Right on time, Boss. Sit down and watch. The kid's about to paint his masterpiece."
Down below, Burgh pointed forward with his paintbrush. He commanded in a determined tone, "Do not think this will be easy, Black! Dwebble, show them the unyielding weight of the earth! Use Smack Down!"
*Crackle*
Dwebble shrieked, kicking up a massive, jagged boulder from the rocky turf and hurling it straight through the air toward Nite.
Black commanded without a moment's hesitation, "Nite! Smash it!"
*CRASH*
Nite charged forward, its massive fist glowing with a brilliant, stone-shattering white light. With a deafening CRASH, Nite's Rock Smash pulverized the incoming boulder into a million tiny pebbles that rained harmlessly across the ground.
Black roared, "Now! Flame Charge!"
*Hissss*
Nite's entire body ignited in a swirling vortex of orange fire, sending the Pignite rocketing forward like a living meteor!
Burgh shouted, "Anticipated! Dwebble, counter with another Smack Down!"
*Woosh—THUD*
Before Nite could close the distance, Dwebble kicked up a second, even larger rock, driving it squarely into Nite's chest with a brutal THUD. Nite let out an agonized grunt, sliding backward across the dirt, leaving two smoking trenches in the earth.
White gasped in the stands, her hands flying to her mouth, while Black gritted his teeth so hard his jaw clicked. Black yelled, "Nite! Get back up!"
*TWUMP*
Despite the heavy damage, the Pignite's eyes burned with unyielding fury. It dug its heels into the scorching earth and lunged forward again. Burgh ordered, his voice echoing with urgency, "Dwebble, finish it with Smack Down!"
As Dwebble reared back to hurl another stone, Nite didn't use fire. Instead, moving with shocking speed, Nite caught the heavy boulder mid-air with both hands.
Black smirked, ordering, "Perfect, catch! Now Fling!"
*Wooosh*
With a ferocious roar, Nite spun its entire body in a dizzying circle, utilizing the centrifugal force to hurl the massive rock back at Dwebble with twice the velocity!
*WHAM*
The boulder slammed directly into Dwebble, the impact sending the Bug-type spinning wildly out of control, jittering from the sudden, concussive shock. Black screamed at the top of his lungs, "Now! Heat Crash!"
*Whoosh—HISSSS*
Nite vanished in a streak of blinding, white-hot flames. In a fraction of a second, the Pignite slammed its entire, blazing body down onto the reeling Dwebble, driving the smaller Pokémon across the dirt and straight into the heavy concrete back wall of the Gym.
*BOOM*
A cloud of thick dust and smoke billowed into the air. When the smoke finally cleared, Dwebble was lying flat on its back, its eyes swirling in utter defeat. The automated gym buzzer sounded with a sharp, piercing BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!
Dwebble has fainted.
Silence hung in the air for a single heartbeat, and then—
Black screamed, throwing both fists into the air as he rushed forward to wrap his arms around Nite, who let out a triumphant, chest-pounding roar of victory, "YES!! We did it! We did it!"
Up in the stands, White blinked, her mouth slightly open in pure shock. She smiled, a warm wave of pride washing over her chest as she said proudly, "He... he won? He won! Against a Gym Leader? Without blacking out once?! Well... I suppose he's not entirely hopeless after all."
Azure chuckled, standing up and stretching his arms over his head as Pikachu and Eevee hopped down to rest on his shoulders as he muttered in a proud tone, "Not bad. The kid's got grit."
He turned to look at Crispin, Amary, and Nemona. And said casually, "Well, that wraps up Black's match. Which means it's finally time for my turn."
Down on the field, Burgh walked over, a weary but deeply respectful smile on his face. He reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a gleaming, insect-shaped green badge along with a small, neatly wrapped TM disk.
Burgh sighed, shaking his head good-naturedly as he handed over the Insect Badge and the prize money, saying in a proud tone, "I must admit, Black. Your tactical sacrifices and your sheer, unyielding passion painted a picture I certainly did not expect to see today. Here. Take the Insect Badge, and TM76—Struggle Bug. You've earned every brushstroke of this victory."
As the rest of the group from the stands made their way down the metal staircase to congratulate Black, the tension in the room suddenly shifted. Azure stepped forward, cracking his knuckles as he prepared to take his place on the challenger's platform for his own official Gym battle against the Bug-type master.
Azure muttered, a sharp, competitive glint appearing in his eyes, "Alright! Let's get this over with quickly so we can—"
*SLAM*
The heavy double doors at the entrance of the Gym burst wide open, crashing violently against the stone walls.
Everyone froze.
Running breathlessly into the arena was Iris, her wild purple hair flying in disarray as she pointed frantically toward the exit, her face pale with panic. Iris shouted, her voice cracking with urgency, "Burgh! You gotta come outside right now! There's—there's a girl knocked out cold on the pavement in the middle of the street!"
The entire group went dead silent. The celebration died instantly, replaced by a chilling, heavy dread.
Up on the edge of the platform, Azure's expression darkened into a cold, dangerous scowl. A low, irritated growl escaped his throat as his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned entirely white. Mentally, a tidal wave of annoyance crashed through his mind, his battle completely derailed by an unexpected crisis.
Azure groaned internally, his eyes narrowing into cold, icy slits. He thought bitterly, 'Are you kidding me? Right when it's my turn? Whoever pulled this stunt... whoever dared to hurt someone in broad daylight right outside my match...'
Azure's shadow flickered dangerously at his feet, the hidden Darkrai and Marshadow stirring beneath his consciousness with a menacing, dark aura. Azure whispered, his voice dangerously low to himself, "Oh, they are going to pay for screwing me. Nobody ruins my schedule."
/////
A/N: Hope you like the chapter!