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"You want to challenge my Gyarados?" Kai looked surprised by Clair's request. "Why are you so set on battling it?"
"No special reason," Clair shook her head. "It's just… yesterday, in the Dragon Sanctuary, I saw your Gyarados in action. To be honest, even though its opponent wasn't strong enough to push it to its limits, the sight of it covered in wounds, yet still so ferocious, left a deep impression on me. I want to pit my own Gyarados against yours to see which one is truly the strongest!"
A duel between the same species...
With no type advantages or tricks, this was a pure test of strength and strategy a battle of the Trainers' command skills. It was also Clair's last chance to reclaim her pride and possibly shift the momentum.
Still… was this really a good idea?
Kai hesitated for a moment.
To be frank, of all the Pokémon he currently owned, setting aside Gengar and the three Legendary Birds, his Gyarados were without a doubt one of the strongest. Hardened by countless intense battles, it had grown into an overwhelming powerhouse. At this point, only Jolteon could truly counter it. Not even Gardevoir or Charizard could match it in raw power.
Clair, you might've picked the wrong opponent...
Still, wanting to leave her a bit of dignity, Kai gave her one last chance to reconsider. "Sure, I don't mind. But… are you certain?"
Clair didn't speak. She simply nodded with firm resolve.
"Alright then." Kai shrugged. "If that's what you want, I'll respect your request."
With that, he returned Steelix to its Poké Ball and reached for the one containing Gyarados.
The two Trainers released their Pokémon simultaneously. Twin flashes of blue light lit up the battlefield and two massive Gyarados emerged with thunderous roars.
But the difference between them was immediately apparent.
While Clair's Gyarados looked pristine and well-groomed, Kai's was scarred and fearsome, its battle-worn body radiating raw, intimidating power, and the red skin gave him a more dangerous vibe.
ROAR!!!
As soon as it appeared, Kai's Gyarados let out an earth-shaking roar that echoed throughout the Gym. Both Clair and Lance flinched slightly its presence was overwhelming.
As Dragon Tamers who had spent their lives working alongside Dragon-types, they understood one thing: the more intense a Gyarados's presence, the stronger it was likely to be.
This one was on another level.
Compared to them, Officer Cab, older and much closer to the battlefield, wasn't prepared for the sheer volume. Wincing, he instinctively covered his ears.
Meanwhile, Clair's Gyarados, visibly startled by its counterpart's roar, hesitated. It tried to respond with its own cry but it was already too late. The momentum had been stolen. From the very start, it had lost the battle of will.
Once both sides were ready, Cab's ears, still ringing, raised the flags to begin the match.
But unlike Clair, who jumped straight into commanding her Pokémon, Kai stood silently with his hands in his pockets, making no effort to issue instructions. He simply watched the field, calm and composed, as though this battle had nothing to do with him.
That's strange… why isn't he giving orders?
Just as that thought crossed Clair's mind, Kai's Gyarados suddenly charged forward on its own!
Startled, she quickly shifted focus and shouted, "Gyarados use Dragon Rage!"
A surge of purplish-blue energy blasted from her Gyarados's mouth.
But Kai's Gyarados ducked low, evading the attack with ease. In an instant, it lunged forward and sank its teeth into its opponent!
The two Gyarados clashed violently biting, slamming, and twisting. They thrashed across the battlefield, crashing from land into the central pool and back out again.
Water exploded everywhere. The gym trembled under their massive power as they grappled in raw, brutal combat.
And soon… Clair's Gyarados began to falter.
It couldn't keep up.
No matter how hard it tried to fight back, Kai's Gyarados tore through it relentlessly as if it didn't even feel pain. Every counterattack was met with savage retaliation, each strike hitting precisely where it hurt most.
In mere moments, blood seeped from its scales. Its body was covered in wounds.
"Wh-What the…?"
The sheer brutality of the match stunned not only Clair and Cab but even Lance in the spectator area. His face grew tense.
Kai's Gyarados were monstrous.
This wasn't the same Pokémon from yesterday. Its savage nature, its raw ferocity this was something else entirely.
Lance glanced over at Kai, who remained as calm as ever, not surprised in the least.
Clearly, this wasn't the first time this had happened.
But why…? Why wasn't it using any moves?
Was this its natural way of fighting!?
Back on the field, Clair's Gyarados had reached its limit. It was completely overwhelmed barely able to resist as Kai's Gyarados kept battering it mercilessly.
Unable to stand watching her partner suffer, Clair clenched her fists and shouted, "Stop… that's enough. I forfeit."
The battle was completely one-sided. It may not have been a one-hit KO, but it was undeniably decisive. Kai's Gyarados had completely outclassed its opponent.
No wonder Kai had hesitated earlier now it all made sense.
Clair clenched her jaw. She wasn't one to surrender easily. But after seeing her Altaria and now her Gyarados both defeated, both mauled by fangs and jaws, there was no room left for pride.
Cab slowly raised the green flag.
"The Gym Challenge is over. Clair has forfeited. The victor is Kai!"
Kai silently returned his Gyarados to its Poké Ball. He could tell the sight of blood had started to trigger its frenzy. One more moment on the field, and it might've attacked again.
Just then, Lance descended from the stands and joined them.
"Well, Clair?" he teased lightly. "Satisfied with that result?"
Clair stayed silent.
There was nothing she could say. She had been thoroughly defeated completely.
Especially in those last two battles. Both Altaria and Gyarados had been crushed by the fangs of their foe. The psychological impact alone was enough to leave a mark.
Lance turned to Kai with curiosity.
"By the way… how did you raise that Gyarados? It's not just powerful its aura and aggression are beyond anything I've ever seen. I've never encountered one like it."
Kai couldn't help but wonder the same thing. He sometimes suspected that when his Gyarados evolved, he might've accidentally hit its head too hard or something left it a little… unhinged.
"Maybe it's just the wildness in its blood," Kai mused with a half-smile. "Most Pokémon raised by Trainers become focused on mastering techniques, minimizing risk… but this one? It fights on instinct. It doesn't care about exchanging blows. It wants to win by tearing the enemy apart."
He didn't add the last part:
For other Pokémon, battle is combat.
For Gyarados, it's carnage.
"I see," Lance said thoughtfully. "That explains it."
Then, his eyes lit up, and a sly grin crossed his face. "You know, you've got a member of the Elite Four standing right in front of you. This might be a rare chance. How about a quick match with me? I've been itching to test your strength!"
Kai didn't even hesitate.
"No thanks," he said flatly. "I'm not planning on that just yet. Let's wait until the Silver Conference is over."
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