Chapter 58:

Route Victoire

Location: Victory Road

"I'm here," I told Robby. "It is time to fulfil my destiny."

Robby smiled. "Go for it. But Victory Road is not to be taken lightly. This is your final challenge before the League for a reason."

I straightened my hat. "Then let's have fun whilst doing it!"

After coming out of the Badge Gate, I found myself outside on a small-sloping path. There was a small castle ruin next to it. I walked up the slope and into the cave.

The cave was lit with a few torches. Aside from the entrance, it was the only source of light that I had. Of course, the Pokémon could see pretty well, and I ran into one. And the one I ran into? Pretty weird. It was pink and had a very long tongue that it bobbed up and down.

Lickitung (Excelangue)

#134 (Mountain)

Normal Type

Licking Pokémon

1.2 m (3'11")

65.5 kg (144.4 lbs)

Its tongue is twice the length of its body. It can be moved like an arm for grabbing food and attacking.

"Okay Tyrantrum, go!" I shouted. Tyrantrum started charging up power in its head. "I think it's a new move! Okay Tyrantrum, Head Smash!" Tyrantrum charged at Lickitung, doing lots of damage, but it didn't quite knock it out. However, Head Smash took a toll on Tyrantrum; it took recoil damage. Lickitung came back with Power Whip. Its tongue turned green and hit Tyrantrum. "Now use Dragon Claw!" Tyrantrum swiped at Lickitung, taking it out.

After that, I continued walking and bumped into an Ace Trainer. Clearly there was no time to breath in Victory Road.

"Let's bring a bit of cold into this warm cave!"

Calem Vs. Ace Trainer Alanza

"Okay Blastoise, go!" I shouted.

"I choose Weavile!" Alanza shouted. "Use Hone Claws!" Weavile sharpened its claws, raising Attack and Accuracy.

"Use Flash Cannon Blastoise!" Blastoise fired a beam of white at Weavile, doing lots of damage to it.

"Now Night Slash!" Weavile then slashed at Blastoise, doing about half.

"Finish with Surf!" Blastoise made a large wave that crashed down onto Weavile. It was defeated.

"Hope I cooled you down!"

The next part was a body of water. So, I hopped on Blastoise and had it use Surf across. I didn't do this often, so it felt great to do it here. Of course, that didn't prevent me from coming across some aquatic Pokémon. Specifically, I came across an orange Pokémon with an inflatable collar that went all around its body.

Floatzel (Mustéflott)

#059 (Mountain)

Water Type

Sea Weasel Pokémon

1.1 m (3'07")

33.5 kg (73.9 lbs)

Its floatation sac developed as a result of pursuing aquatic prey. It can double as a rubber raft.

Buizel -Lv 26- Floatzel

"Come on out Malamar!" I shouted. Floatzel started with Aqua Tail. Its tail went wet and whacked Malamar. "Come back with Night Slash!" Malamar slashed at Floatzel, doing about half. Floatzel then attacked with Double Hit, whacking Malamar once with each tail. "And now Psycho Cut!" Malamar slashed at Floatzel again. It was finished.

After I got onto dry land, I walked up some stone steps. Waiting at the top was an Ace Trainer.

"This is only just the beginning my friend!"

Calem Vs. Ace Trainer Bence

"I choose Lucario!" I shouted.

"Go Steelix!" Bence replied, sending out a large-serpentine Pokémon made of iron.

Steelix (Same as English name)

#054 (Coastal)

Steel/Ground Type

Iron Snake Pokémon

9.2 m (30'02")

400 kg (881.8 lbs)

It chews its way through boulders with its sturdy jaws. Its eyes can see in the darkness underground.

Onix -Trade with Metal Coat- Steelix

"Okay Lucario, Aura Sphere!" Lucario fired an Aura Sphere at Steelix, doing a lot of damage to the metal behemoth.

"Steelix, Earthquake!" Steelix slammed the ground with its tail, making the ground shake. Lucario was damaged greatly.

"Use another Aura Sphere!" Lucario did just that and knocked out Steelix.

"Nice try! Electrode, you're next!" Out came the Electric Type. "Use Thunderbolt!" Electrode fired a bolt of lightning at Lucario, knocking it out.

"Tyrantrum, you're next!" I shouted.

"Electrode, use Gyro Ball!" Electrode span round quickly and rammed into Tyrantrum for Super Effective, but not brutal, damage.

"Earthquake!" Tyrantrum made the ground shake, taking down Electrode.

"Okay. Kangaskahn, you're up last!" Out came the mother-daughter duo. "Outrage!" Kangaskhan got angry and thrashed at Tyrantrum. It almost went down.

"Now use Head Smash!" Tyrantrum rammed Kangaskhan with its head. However, the recoil also fainted Tyrantrum. "Don't worry, we've still got this. Go Sableye!" I shouted. Sableye took another Outrage, but now Kangaskhan was confused! "Finish with Foul Play!" Sableye threw down Tyrantrum, ending the match.

"Like I said, this is only the beginning!"

There was another flight of stone stairs that I walked up. I could see the light to an exit. However, it was blocked by a Black Belt.

"Do not continue until you are worthy!"

Calem Vs. Black Belt Markus

"Go Sableye!" I shouted.

"You're up Machamp!" Markus replied, sending out his Fighting Type. I had the advantage. Or did I? "Machamp, Foresight!" Machamp studied Sableye.

"Use Zen Headbutt!" Sableye headbutted Machamp with its glowing head.

"And now Cross Chop!" Machamp crossed its arms and attacked Sableye for massive damage! Foresight makes Fighting Type moves work on Ghost Types! And with Sableye being a Dark Type, it meant it was Super Effective!

"Zen Headbutt again!" Sableye attacked Machamp once again, knocking it out.

"Actually, go on through. I don't work here."

I went outside. Being in a cave for a little while then going outside again can really take a toll on one's eyes with the sudden light.

This part was on the edge of a cliff with ruined walls, a stone bridge, and a few trees. It's also where I found a Hiker.

"I didn't get all my Badges for the League; I got them all to climb this hear mountain!"

Calem Vs. Backpacker Farid

"My Pokémon will be Chesnaught!" I shouted

"Go Haxorus!" Farid replied, sending out a large-green Pokémon with sturdy tusks and a long tail.

Haxorus (Tranchodon)

#150 (Central)

Dragon Type

Axe Jaw Pokémon

1.8 m (5'11")

105.5 kg (232.6 lbs)

They are kind but can be relentless when defending territory. They challenge foes with tusks that can cut steel.

Axew -Lv 38- Fraxure -Lv 48- Haxorus

"Haxorus, Swords Dance!" Haxorus danced about, creating magic swords that raised its Attack.

"Chesnaught, Hammer Arm!" Chesnaught brought its arm down onto Haxorus hard.

"Haxorus, Dragon Claw!" Haxorus darted forward with its claw and swiped at Chesnaught.

"Use Hammer Arm again!" Chesnaught did just that, but Haxorus didn't quite go down.

"Another Dragon Claw!" Haxorus jumped forward a second time, INTO ITS DEMISE!

"Spiky Shield!" Chesnaught blocked it with its spiny shell, and Haxorus landed on it. It was finished.

"Oh, come on! Now I have to go all the way back down this mountain to heal!"

Following that, I continued walking over to the next cave. As I did, I saw some rustling in a tree. I went to go check on it, and I was jumped on! It was a black and blue Pokémon with three heads. It was flying.

Hydreigon (Trioxhydre)

#144 (Mountain)

Dark/Dragon Type

Brutal Pokémon

1.8 m (5'11")

160 kg (352.7 lbs)

It responds to movement by attacking. This scary, three-headed Pokémon devours everything in its path!

Deino -Lv 50- Zweilous -Lv 64- Hydreigon

"Go Lucario!" I shouted. Hydreigon attacked with Dragon Pulse, which did not do much on Steel Type Lucario. "Use Close Combat!" Lucario punched and kicked Hydreigon multiple times, taking it out in one shot. (Not so scary now huh!)

After that, I walked into the next cave. Once again, it was lit up by some torches and had some stepping stones to jump across. But before I could do that, I needed to battle a Psychic.

"I predict… that you're almost halfway there."

Calem Vs. Psychic William

"I choose Malamar!" I shouted.

"Go Espeon!" William replied, sending out a pink Pokémon with two tails and a red orb on its forehead.

Espeon (Mentali)

#081 (Coastal)

Psychic Type

Sun Pokémon

0.9 m (2'11")

26.5 kg (58.4 lbs)

The tip of its forked tail quivers when it is predicting its opponent's next move.

Eevee -Happiness in Daytime- Espeon

"Espeon, Shadow Ball!" Espeon fired a dark ball at Malamar.

"Come back with Night Slash!" Malamar sliced at Espeon for Super Effective damage.

"Shadow Ball again!" Espeon fired another attack at Malamar, but it missed.

"Okay! Another Night Slash!" Malamar finished of Espeon with one last move.

"Yeah, you are! You will be at the halfway mark after this cave!"

I hopped across the platforms and onto the other side. As I walked towards the next set of stone stairs, something came down from the ceiling. It was red with four legs that were purple and yellow.

Ariados (Migalos)

#108 (Mountain)

Bug/Poison Type

Long Leg Pokémon

m (3'07")

33.5 kg (73.9 lbs)

It attaches silk to its prey and sets it free. Later, it tracks the silk to the prey and its friends.

Spinarak -Lv 22- Ariados

"Go Sableye!" I shouted. "Zen Headbutt!" Sableye hit Ariados with its glowing head. Ariados then used Poison Jab, stabbing Sableye with its venomous leg. "One more Zen Headbutt!" Sableye attacked once more, finishing off Ariados.

Up the stairs I went. Every step I went up, the closer I felt to the Pokémon League. Well, that was the point of Victory Road after all.

At the top of the stairs were a Brains and Brawn.

"Physical might! Combine!"

"Mental might! Combine!"

Calem Vs. Brains and Brawn Arman and Hugo

"You're up Medicham!"

"Go Gallade!" Both Pokémon were Psychic and Fighting Types.

"Malamar, Sableye, go!" I replied.

"Gallade, Leaf Blade!" Gallade's right arm blade went green, and it slashed at Sableye.

"Medicham, High Jump Kick!" Medicham jumped over to Malamar and kicked it.

"Sableye, Shadow Claw on Medicham!" Sableye did just that, doing a lot of damage to it. "And Malamar, Night Slash!" Malamar's tentacles went dark, and it slashed at Medicham. It was finished.

"Gallade, use Leaf Blade again!" Gallade attacked at Sableye again, leaving it hanging on.

"Let's give it a Shadow Claw and Psycho Cut combo!" Sableye and Malamar ran forward, and both slashed at Gallade. The Psycho Cut was a Critical Hit and was enough to take it down.

"Physical might! Unmerge!"

"Mental might! Unmerge!"

With them out the way, I crossed the bridge over to the next platform. I decided that I may need to crash soon; I was approaching the halfway mark.

I started walking over to the next exit when I came across another Pokémon. This one was a Graveler, so it wasn't new.

"Go Blastoise!" I shouted. As soon as it was sent out, Blastoise started charging up energy from its cannons. "Wait… could that be?" I looked it up on my Pokédex. "Hah! I believe it is! Okay Blastoise, HYDRO PUMP!" Blastoise shot a blast of water at Graveler. It didn't have Sturdy, so it was down in one. "Alright Blastoise!"

Following that, I reached outside where some ruins were situated. The sun was starting to set, so it was a good place to crash for the night.

I got a call from Serena. My heart started racing when I opened up the Holo Caster. "Hey Calem. Are you at the midpoint ruins? Meet me there for a battle tomorrow morning. Bit of practice before the League." She logged off.

After that, I went to go see the view. This part overlooked the snowy part of Kalos. But I couldn't see it just yet because a Hex Maniac wanted to battle first.

"Sorry, but you won't see the view without going through me first AHAHAHAHA!"

Calem Vs. Hex Maniac Raziah

"I choose Malamar!" I shouted.

"Go Gourgeist!" Raziah replied. Out came a Pokémon which looked like a stem growing out of a jack-o-lantern.

Gourgeist (Banshitrouye)

#064 (Mountain)

Ghost/Grass Type

Pumpkin Pokémon

0.7 m/0.9 m/1.1 m/1.7 m (2'04"/2'11"/3'07"/5'07")

9.5 kg/12.5 kg/14 kg/39 kg (20.9 lbs/27.6 lbs/30.9 lbs/86 lbs)

(These indicate the sizes of Small, Average, Large and Super).

It enwraps its prey in its hairlike arms. It sings joyfully as it observes the suffering of its prey.

Pumpkaboo -Trade- Gourgeist

"Malamar, Night Slash!" Malamar slashed at Gourgeist, doing just under half.

"Phantom Force!" Gourgeist suddenly vanished.

"Where did it go?" I shouted. "Well, we can't attack it directly so Malamar, Light Screen!" Malamar made a forcefield around itself.

"Go!" Gourgeist attacked and knocked Malamar down.

"Use another Night Slash!" Malamar slashed at Gourgeist again, finishing it off.

"Okay, you can go see it now."

And what a view it was. I saw Dendemille Town and Frost Cavern in the distance. It was unlike any other. And I watched the view as the sun set.