"Sand Tomb!"
At Kashiwagi's command, a tidal wave of sand erupted from the ultra-giant Steelix's maw. Driven by the rapid rotation of its horizontal steel ridges, the sand transformed into a howling vortex—a localized sandstorm spiraling toward Brock's Steelix.
Rumble—!!
The friction of the sand against the air created a series of heavy, muffled booms. Although Steelix is a Ground-type, its dual Steel typing means that Ground-type moves are "super effective" against it.
Facing the incoming abrasive storm, Brock remained unruffled. With the calm of a veteran, he gave his command: "Gyro Ball!"
"Steee!"
Brock's Steelix let out a low roar. Its two horizontal steel protrusions spun with manic intensity, emitting a high-pitched whistle like blender blades. The centrifugal force whipped up a localized wind screen that manifested as two shimmering silver rings of light.
Then, the sandstorm hit.
BOOM!
The silver rings of the Gyoro Ball collided with the Sand Tomb. The fierce, swirling grit was unable to penetrate the wind barrier created by the rotation; the opposing forces ground against each other until the sand dissipated harmlessly.
"Dig!"
Brock waved his hand. His Steelix performed a powerful breach, leaping forward and plunging into the earth with a heavy thud, vanishing instantly. The ground vibrated incessantly—a clear sign of the metallic serpent moving beneath the surface.
However, Kashiwagi had anticipated this classic combo. The moment the sand cleared, he had the ultra-giant Steelix use Magnet Rise.
The massive creature levitated, transforming into a literal aerial battleship. It looked down with cold, predatory eyes, scanning the terrain. "Watch the ground!"
"Heh... Magnet Rise, I see." Brock looked slightly surprised, but there wasn't a hint of disappointment on his face. Instead, a small smile played on his lips.
In the next instant:
CRASH!
The silver-glinting Steelix erupted from the soil. Sand and stone sprayed everywhere as the momentum of its spinning steel ridges gave it an exaggerated, leaping arc through the air!
"Hit its head with Iron Tail!"
"Bind it!"
Both commands rang out simultaneously. High in the air, the ultra-giant Steelix swung its hammer-like tail downward with bone-crushing force!
CLANG!
The Iron Tail hit with precision, but it didn't strike the head as intended. Instead, Brock's Steelix had purposefully opened its massive maw to catch the blow. The terrifying screech of metal on metal forced both Trainers to cover their ears. With a thunderous BOOM, both serpents slammed into the ground, kicking up a massive shroud of dust.
As the dust settled, Kashiwagi saw the grim reality: Brock's Steelix had clamped onto the giant's tail. With incredible flexibility, it began to coil its body around its larger counterpart, entangling it completely.
Despite being the "smaller" of the two, Brock's Steelix possessed a masterful understanding of joint structures. It locked the ultra-giant Steelix in a position that made movement nearly impossible. The giant's sheer strength was negated by the leverage; every time it tried to thrash, its joints emitted a worrying creak. Brock's Steelix tightened its grip systematically, finding the weak points in its "prey's" armor.
"Steeeee—" The giant groaned in pain.
"Hahaha! Binding an enemy with your body is second nature to Onix and Steelix. It's a move they've used since birth. Never underestimate it just because it doesn't look flashy!" Brock laughed heartily.
"Blast it with Dragon Breath!"
Kashiwagi searched for an opening. While his Steelix had the physical advantage, its battle experience paled in comparison to Brock's. Even the hardness of the scales differed; under the pressure of the Bind, the giant's hide began to slightly indent, while the smaller Steelix's armor remained unyielding.
"Stee!"
The ultra-giant Steelix craned its neck back—fortunately, it was long enough that its head hadn't been pinned. It unleashed a torrent of azure energy directly at its captor.
"We'll use Dragon Breath too!" Brock remained calm.
His Steelix didn't let go of the tail but turned its head to meet the attack with its own azure current.
VROOOM—!!
The two streams of energy collided. It was a tug-of-war of raw power. Even though Brock's Steelix had fired second, its concentrated energy began to push back. The giant's Dragon Breath was forced backward until the azure flames engulfed its own face!
BOOM!
"STEEEEL!" The giant let out a pained, muffled cry.
"That's enough!" Brock called out, ending the match before things went further.
His Steelix slowly uncoiled itself and backed away, maintaining a respectful distance. It stood composed and steady—neither arrogant in victory nor disappointed that it hadn't fully "defeated" a much larger foe. It exuded the undeniable presence of a Gym Leader's Pokémon.
The freed ultra-giant Steelix shot it a wary glance before retreating behind Kashiwagi.
"I lost." Kashiwagi shook hands with Brock, feeling a genuine sense of admiration.
As Brock's very first Pokémon, that Steelix had survived countless battles. His giant was simply outclassed in experience. Furthermore, the Trainer gap was evident; Kashiwagi's understanding of the species was nowhere near Brock's level.
"Winning or losing is a small thing," Brock said with a gentle smile. "Your coordination with Steelix is still a bit green. You haven't had it for long, have you?"
"A little over a month," Kashiwagi calculated.
"Just a month..." Brock walked up to the ultra-giant Steelix, inspecting its condition. "Hmm. There's a vast amount of potential waiting to be developed—both in your partnership and in the Steelix itself."
-----
The Secret of Maintenance
The gap between the two was evident in every detail. Regarding what a Breeder could fix, the maintenance of the metal hide and the articulation of the joints was paramount.
"A Steelix's power comes from these joints," Brock explained, using a brush to apply a maintenance solution to the giant's segments. "If you don't care for them, it might have ten tons of raw strength but only be able to use one ton effectively."
The cool liquid soothed the giant's body, causing it to let out a low, purring rumble.
"Look here," Brock pointed to an uneven patch on a joint. "This is caused by digging with incorrect posture, leading to friction from accumulated grit. It's like a human having bad posture or walking with their feet turned in. You have to watch for it."
"Right, got it!" Kashiwagi nodded frantically. The "Health Management" guide he'd read was good, but it wasn't specialized for every species. To learn these "secrets," he needed a true professional.
"As for the metal strength... let me see its diet." Brock reviewed the list. "Ah, I thought so. You're low on alloy supplements. Your iron ore ratio is too high. You should adjust it; increase the proportions of Chromium, Molybdenum, and Nickel."
"Understood!"
"Wait! Why aren't you feeding it Tungsten?"
"Uh, I read online that it wasn't necessary... that too much can make them sick."
"Just reduce the dosage. For a Steelix, a balanced intake of metallic elements is vital. Any imbalance leads to a drop in overall body density."
"I've learned so much!"