Opelucid City
Located in the far north of the Unova region, Opelucid City shines with a futuristic, almost sci-fi aesthetic. Asphalt roads gleam with grid-shaped blue lights, while the eaves of houses are trimmed with neon strips that glow the same icy hue.
Walking through the streets, Paul could feel a lingering chill in the air, even though the sky was clear and the sun blazed overhead.
At certain corners, patches of stubborn frost still clung to the walls, refusing to melt.
If one were to ask the locals why, they would inevitably recall the terrifying incident from a year ago—
The day when an evil organization piloted an airship and unleashed the power of the Legendary Dragon, Kyurem, freezing half the city in an instant.
Though a year had passed, Kyurem's icy power still hadn't fully dissipated. And that was only thanks to the tireless efforts of Champion Iris and Gym Leader Drayden, who had worked relentlessly to suppress its lingering influence.
"Excuse me, where is the Opelucid Gym?" Paul asked another passerby.
"The Gym? Keep going down this street, then turn right at the first intersection—you can't miss it." The man explained. Then, lowering his voice, he added:
"But… if you're planning to challenge the Gym or watch a match there, I'd advise against it. A special battle's being held today, and the place is already packed to the brim. You'd be better off watching the live broadcast at the Pokémon Center."
"Thank you." Paul replied curtly before continuing toward the Gym.
As for the warning? He knew exactly what the man meant.
After all, he was the one scheduled to fight there today.
Whether it was luck or destiny, it hadn't been long since Iris had lost both her Champion title and her place among the Masters Eight—and now, she was the very opponent Paul had been paired against.
He had flown all the way from Sinnoh just for this match.
Victory here meant he could formally initiate a Masters Eight rotation challenge, opening the door for him to claim a spot among the world's strongest trainers. Then, all that would remain was to wait for the grand tournament to begin.
Inside Opelucid Gym, Iris—for once lacking her usual boundless energy, sat in the waiting room, clutching a Poké Ball, and deep in thought.
Why had Hop been able to defeat her? Why could she communicate with Dragon Pokémon, yet Hop had won their recognition instead? Why had she been knocked out of the Masters Eight so quickly, with no way back up?
It wasn't as though she hadn't tried. With time on her hands after losing her slot, she had challenged other Masters Eight members like Alain and Calem… only to suffer defeat again and again.
In the previous tournament, she had ranked fourth. Now, she couldn't even break into the top eight.
Once, the only trainers she truly acknowledged as her betters had been Red and Leon.
But now… so many rising stars had leapt over her head.
And today, she was set to face Sinnoh's Champion—Paul. A trainer who had already defeated titans like Cynthia, Lucas, Tobias. Widely recognized as the strongest trainer in Sinnoh.
Perhaps even stronger than Hop.
Could she really stand against him?
Just as Iris lowered her head, a large, calloused hand gently rested on her head.
"Don't be discouraged." Said Drayden, the towering Gym Leader with his white hair and matching beard. "You're the Dragon Master, a prodigy acknowledged worldwide. One loss doesn't define you. The road ahead is long."
"…You're right. I'll keep going." Iris replied, light slowly returning to her eyes.
"Good. Paul has already arrived. It's time." Drayden gave her an encouraging nod.
"Yeah… All I can do is give it my all. If I fall short this time, I'll just keep trying. Never give up!"
Stretching her arms, Iris steadied herself and walked down the corridor. As the great doors opened, the roar of the crowd thundered into her ears. On the far end of the field stood a cold-eyed boy with a calm, and intimidating presence.
"Come on, Paul. Show me just how strong Sinnoh's greatest really is!" Iris declared, twirling her skirt as she entered battle stance.
"As you wish." Paul answered flatly, drawing a Poké Ball already prepared.
"Today's match will pit Sinnoh's reigning Champion—currently ranked as the strongest, Paul—against our former Unova Champion and Dragon Master, Iris!"
"Both trainers may use three Pokémon. The first to lose all their Pokémon will be declared the loser. Should Paul win, his ranking points will qualify him to initiate a Masters Eight rotation challenge! Let's see how this battle unfolds!"
As the announcer's voice boomed, the referee raised his flag.
"Battle… begin! Trainers, send out your Pokémon!"
"Garchomp, to the field!"
"Go, Hydreigon!"
Twin flashes of light burst across the battlefield. Two late-blooming Dragon-types appeared, their mere presence weighing down the air. Their auras clashed instantly, Dragon Pressure saturating the stadium.
"Dragon Pulse!" Iris commanded.
All three of Hydreigon's heads roared, each charging energy. Three blue draconic blasts streaked forward, fanged maws wide open as they bore down on Garchomp.
"Dragon Claw."
Unfazed, Garchomp lowered its stance, right claw drawing back to its waist like a swordsman preparing to strike.
The instant the three pulses reached striking distance, a flash of green light slashed through. With a single motion, Garchomp's Dragon Claw cut them apart, shattering them harmlessly before they could detonate.
As the smoke cleared, jagged rocks materialized high in the air, vanishing a heartbeat later.
"Meteor Shower—Draco Meteor!" Iris called.
Hydreigon tilted back its heads, gathering searing energy, and unleashed a barrage of blazing meteors that rained down across the field.
Accuracy wasn't the point, what mattered was buying time to fan its wings and set up Tailwind and Nasty Plot.
But Paul's Garchomp rose calmly into the air, slicing apart any meteor that threatened to strike it. Then it leveled its gaze on Hydreigon, quiet but oppressive. Power was building within, the pressure so intense Hydreigon felt its chest tighten.
"Bloodline Mode—Dragon Pulse!" Iris ordered, not willing to let Garchomp act unchallenged.
"Raaahh!"
Hydreigon's eyes glowed blood-red. All three heads fired simultaneously, merging their power into one devastating Dragon Pulse, a massive draconic blast roaring straight toward Garchomp.
Paul's response was cold and steady: "Show your strength. Dragon Rush."
As the procreator of "Bloodline Mode" itself, Garchomp scoffed at Hydreigon's imitation. Its aura flared, fusing its innate Rage into full release. Murderous intent locked Hydreigon in place—it couldn't flee. Then, with terrifying speed, Garchomp launched itself forward.
The two dragons clashed midair.
With a sharp rip, Garchomp's Dragon Claw pierced straight into the heart of Hydreigon's pulse, shredding it apart before smashing full-force into Hydreigon's body.
"Ice Fang!" Iris cried.
Even pinned, Hydreigon resisted. All three heads lunged, icy fangs bared.
But the moment its jaws closed, pain shot through them without even making contact with Garchomp's flesh.
It had no time to process why before Garchomp drove its entire body down, slamming Hydreigon into the ground.
Super effective!
"BOOM!!"
An explosion erupted, and through the rising smoke, Garchomp backflipped gracefully landing in front of Paul. Across the battlefield, Hydreigon collapsed motionless onto the ground.
Whether it was Bloodline Mode or the power of Rage, such abilities mainly heightened offensive force. Unless they were developed to special extremes, they did little to bolster defense.
Thus, even without relying on the super-effective Dragon Rush, Garchomp could have felled Hydreigon in a single strike with any well-placed attack.
"Hydreigon is unable to battle—Garchomp wins!" The referee declared.
"Return, Hydreigon."
Iris recalled her fallen partner into its Poké Ball, feeling the suffocating weight of Paul's pressure.
Her dragons had all mastered Bloodline Mode, but Garchomp had been wielding that power long before, and in ways they couldn't match. Winning felt nearly impossible.
"Altaria, let's go!"
Though every fiber of her wanted to send out her own Garchomp to clash fang-to-fang, Iris knew reason had to prevail. She chose Altaria instead.
"Altaria—Mega Evolve!"
As Altaria spread its cotton-like wings, Iris pressed her Key Stone, triggering Mega Evolution.
Mega Altaria emerged, its body paler in hue, its form wrapped in luminous pearl-like down that glowed with a holy radiance.
And with that, its typing shifted—from Dragon/Flying to Dragon/Fairy. Not only could it strike dragons super-effectively, it was now immune to their draconic energy. A dragon turned traitor to its kind.
Paul's response was cold and direct.
"Killing Intent Lock… Dragon Form… Metal Claw."
Scarlet fury blazed in Garchomp's eyes as it locked onto Altaria. A flash of light enveloped its body—its form morphing instantly into Mega Garchomp.
Dragonic power surged outward, forming a colossal spectral dragon that lunged forward. Its twin scythe-like claws gleamed with metallic brilliance.
"Cotton Guard, then Moonblast!"
Though stiffened by the oppressive killing intent, Altaria forced its body to move. A sacred green glow cloaked its form, Cotton Guard raising its defenses sky-high. Its wings folded together, conjuring a radiant full moon that it hurled down upon Garchomp.
The moon descended with divine beauty, only to be cleaved clean in two by Garchomp's Dragon Claw. Without slowing, the land shark tackled Altaria out of the air, pinning it brutally to the ground.
Mega Garchomp's massive frame bore down as its alloy scythes slashed mercilessly.
Cotton Guard was strong, its defense was bolstered to incredible heights. But against this relentless onslaught, it only meant Altaria could withstand a few more blows.
One strike.
Two.
Three.
Each Metal Claw landed with super-effective force, scattering Altaria's feathers like snow across the battlefield.
Altaria struggled desperately. It unleashed Dazzling Gleam, tried to beguile with Charm, sang out with Disarming Voice.
Moves that devastated dragons in any other match had no effect here.
Blinded by rage, the vicious dragon before it fought like a killing machine.
At last, after a desperate struggle, Altaria's feathers were nearly stripped bare. Exhausted, it went limp beneath the dragon's weight. The light of Mega Evolution faded, reverting it to its base form—its condition pitiful to behold.
"Altaria is unable to battle! Garchomp wins!"
Iris wasted no time—before the referee's words had even finished, she recalled Altaria to spare it further humiliation.
This time, Garchomp did not revert. Maintaining its Mega Evolution and Dragon Form, it stood silently, waiting for its next prey.
Taking a deep breath, Iris threw her final Poké Ball.
"This last battle depends on you—Haxorus!"
"Roooaaar!"
From the light emerged a mighty dragon clad in armor-like scales, twin axe-shaped tusks gleaming menacingly.
Locking eyes with Garchomp, Haxorus showed no fear. It boldly struck a battle stance.
"You've got spirit." Paul noted, sizing up its flawless condition.
"Go all out, Haxorus—Outrage!" Iris commanded.
This time, she skipped futile tests. From the start, she pushed Haxorus to gamble everything.
"Rrrrraaaahhh!"
Without hesitation, Haxorus ignited its Bloodline Mode, danced with draconic fury, and plunged into Outrage. The berserk dragon charged headlong, heedless of pain or retreat.
Upon reaching Garchomp, it lunged, jaws wide, tusks snapping shut in a savage Guillotine aimed at its neck.
But the vicious dragon did not dodge or defend. Instead, it raised its claws, slashing downward with crossed Dragon Claws.
Bloodline awakened, kill instinct surging, Haxorus was too far gone to retreat. It clamped down, its tusks locking onto Garchomp's neck, while its claws strained to deflect the scything blades.
BOOM!!
Haxorus' instincts were sound, yet its fatal error lay in underestimating the gulf in their power.
Mega Garchomp, fully unleashed, possessed strength beyond comparison.
In a blink, its alloy scythes carved through Haxorus' guard, slashing deeply into both sides of its body.
Super effective!
The clash left a grim tableau: from the outside, it looked as though the vicious dragon held Haxorus in its claws. From within, Haxorus' tusks still locked around its foe's neck in a grim bid for mutual destruction.
But reality was cruel.
Garchomp's Dragon Form was perfect—its body a manifestation of energy itself, devoid of weaknesses. Unless that energy was shattered, no attack could pierce it.
Haxorus, unaware, held on with everything it had. Even if Paul and Garchomp released it, the berserk dragon would never let go.
"Dragon Pulse."
From within, Mega Garchomp gathered its power to the limit. The spectral dragon form dispersed, energy flowing into its core before it unleashed a devastating Dragon Pulse point-blank into Haxorus' chest.
The beam ended the struggle. Haxorus fell limp, collapsing peacefully into unconsciousness.
"Haxorus is unable to battle! Garchomp wins! Victory goes to Paul!"
The referee's voice rang clear.
"Rest now, Haxorus. You fought well."
Iris recalled her final Pokémon, and offering comfort before turning to Paul.
"Your Pokémon are incredibly strong. Even your so-called ordinary ones are on par with Red and Leon. Someday, I'll challenge you again!"
With that, she left the Gym without hesitation. Today had taught her one thing: her path forward was still long.
Outside, Iris released her Dragonite and flew toward the Village of Dragons.
Only once she was alone in the sky did her façade break. Memories of the merciless battle overwhelmed her, and tears welled up, streaming down her face.
"I've worked so hard… so why am I still no match for them?"
"I lost again… Hic… sniff…"
Her sobs carried into the wind, a dragon princess' sorrow echoing beneath the endless sky.
(End of Chapter)
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