Chapter 37: Beneath the Surface(Rio)

The Cerulean Gym doors slid open with a soft hiss as I stepped into the lobby. My boots scraped against the tiled floor, echoing in the vast space. The air was thick with the scent of chlorine, a reminder of what awaited me. The battles here weren't just tough; they were unforgiving. My pulse quickened as I scanned the room, my eyes falling on a girl seated behind a desk, casually flipping through a clipboard.

"Can I help you?" Her voice was clipped, no nonsense.

"I'm here for a Gym Battle." My voice came out steady, but my fingers fumbled as I reached into my jacket and pulled out my Pokédex. The screen flashed my Trainer ID. She raised an eyebrow, her eyes flickering with approval for a split second before she stood up.

"Follow me," she said, turning on her heel and striding down a corridor. I followed without a word, my heart hammering in my chest. Each step echoed down the twisting blue-tinted hall, the walls shimmering with reflected light. It felt like I was descending into a pit, and the further I walked, the tighter my gut twisted.

We came to a stop at the end of the hallway. A set of doors slid open, and the room that greeted me nearly took my breath away. A massive swimming pool dominated the space, the water reflecting the overhead lights, turning the room into a dazzling kaleidoscope of blue. Five stone platforms hovered over the water, each just wide enough for a Pokémon to stand on.

I took a breath. Focus.

A ripple caught my attention. Something moved beneath the surface, dark and serpentine. Before I could react, the water broke as a figure surfaced. She moved with the grace of a predator, water cascading off her as she pulled herself out of the pool in one swift motion. Her long, dark purple hair clung to her neck, her violet eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made me feel like I was being sized up.

"You're here for a battle?" she asked, her tone as cold as the water she'd emerged from.

"Yeah," I forced myself to respond, my voice firming up. "I'm Rio. I've come to earn the Cerulean Gym Badge."

She gave a curt nod. "Violet." She grabbed a robe and pulled it over her soaked battle gear, not bothering to break eye contact. "If you can beat me, it's yours."

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the room press down on me. This wasn't some casual match in the wild; this was a test. And Violet wasn't here to lose.

"You ready?" I asked, more to give myself time than her.

A smirk tugged at her lips. "I'm always ready." Her hand shot to her belt, and before I could blink, she'd thrown a Poké Ball into the pool. The water exploded upward, spraying the platforms as Gyarados burst from the depths. The serpent reared up, its massive form towering above the battlefield, water dripping off its scaled body like a storm brewing in the middle of the arena.

My throat went dry. Gyarados. Of course.

My mind raced. Onix, Geodude, Machop—none of them were right for this. Gyarados would tear through them like paper. I needed speed. I needed disruption. "Zubat," I muttered, my hand already reaching for the Poké Ball. "Go, Zubat!" I shouted, throwing the ball.

Zubat erupted from the Poké Ball with a high-pitched screech, wings beating furiously as it circled above the pool. Gyarados's eyes tracked it, like a predator eyeing a bird just out of reach. I knew that look. It wouldn't stay out of reach for long.

Violet didn't waste a second. "Hydro Pump."

Gyarados opened its maw, water gathering in a swirling torrent. The blast came fast, roaring toward Zubat like a cannon shot. "Dodge it!" I yelled. Zubat darted left, barely avoiding the stream, the air shimmering from the force of the attack.

But Gyarados was already moving, its tail whipping through the water as it aimed another strike at Zubat. "Bite!" I called, but Zubat couldn't close the distance. Every move was met with a massive tail swipe, forcing it back.

Violet's voice was calm, almost bored. "Dragon Rage."

My stomach dropped as Gyarados unleashed a blast of searing energy, the air warping from the sheer heat. Zubat shrieked, its small form tossed back by the force. It hovered in the air, barely keeping itself upright.

I gritted my teeth. This wasn't working. I was losing—fast.

But just as I was about to recall Zubat, something changed. Zubat's body began to glow, its form pulsing with energy. The light blinded me for a second, and when it faded, Zubat was gone—replaced by a larger, more formidable creature.

"Golbat," I whispered, a smile tugging at my lips. My Pokémon had evolved.

Violet's eyes narrowed, her stance shifting slightly. "Let's see if that makes a difference."

"Golbat, use 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤!" I shouted. Golbat let out a high-pitched screech, sending disorienting waves toward Gyarados. The massive serpent flinched, its movements becoming sluggish as it struggled to shake off the confusion.

"Now, 𝘗𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘢𝘯𝘨!" Golbat darted down, its fangs glowing with toxic energy as it sank them into Gyarados's side. The serpent roared, thrashing in the water as violet-tinted poison spread through its veins.

For the first time, Violet's face tightened. She wasn't expecting this. "Hydro Pump. End it."

Gyarados reared back, summoning another massive torrent of water. The pool surged, the water rushing toward Golbat with terrifying speed.

"Golbat, 𝘈𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘣!" I yelled.

Golbat braced itself as the water hit, its body glowing as it absorbed the energy, dulling the impact. It screeched triumphantly, releasing the absorbed energy back at Gyarados, the force of the counterattack enough to stagger the giant serpent.

Both Pokémon stood—barely. The room was silent except for the gentle lapping of water against the platforms. I clenched my fists, my knuckles white. Come on, Golbat. Just a little more.

Violet's voice broke the silence. "Return," she commanded, recalling Gyarados into its Poké Ball. I exhaled, my shoulders slumping in relief as I did the same with Golbat.

We stood there for a moment, the weight of the battle hanging in the air. Then, without a word, Violet crossed the stone platforms and tossed something small in my direction. I caught it without thinking, my hand closing around the cool metal of the Cerulean Gym Badge.

"Good match," she said, her voice softer now, a hint of respect in her tone. "You win. I'm tired."

I stared at the badge in my hand, the realization sinking in slowly. I had done it. The Boulder Badge wasn't a fluke. This... this was real.

I glanced up to thank her, but she was already walking away, her form disappearing back into the pool's depths. Without another word, I turned to leave, my mind still buzzing with the weight of what had just happened. Two badges down. But there was no time to rest. This was just the beginning.