Chapter 14: The Rise of Behemoths

Chapter 14: The Rise of Behemoths

Week 1: Building the Foundation

Holly's days started before the first light of dawn and ended long after the stars took their place in the sky. Training wasn't just about making her Pokémon stronger—it was about pushing past their limits, refining techniques, and perfecting combinations that could turn three powerful Pokémon into an unstoppable force.

She wasn't about to let Sakumo, Pidgeotto, or Magikarp be anything less than the best.

And neither were they.

Sakumo continued his agility and endurance training, his Flare Blitz lasting longer, burning hotter. He could now launch multiple quick strikes without tiring, his control over the flames sharp and precise.

Pidgeotto worked on high-speed aerial maneuvers, strengthening his wings against powerful updrafts and learning how to ride Sakumo's Firestorm Gales to increase his attack strength.

Magikarp, however, had the most to prove. He trained relentlessly, forcing himself against the river's current, leaping higher each day, slamming his body into boulders to build strength. He wasn't just training—he was preparing for his ultimate test.

The waterfall.

Week 2: Strength, Stamina, and Combination Attacks

Each session grew tougher.

Sakumo's fire was tested against water—Holly had Magikarp fire high-pressure Water Guns at Sakumo while he tried to keep his Flamethrower burning through it. The result? A boiling steam blast that could scald opponents.

Pidgeotto carried Sakumo mid-air, performing aerial combat training where Sakumo launched fire from above, forcing the flames to spread out wider and hotter.

Magikarp trained in stone-breaking, slamming his massive body against rocks to toughen his scales and build endurance.

Holly didn't sit back and watch.

She ran sprints alongside Sakumo, strengthened her grip by climbing rocky cliff sides, and trained her reflexes by dodging Pidgeotto's quick aerial dives. She needed to be just as prepared—after all, the wild wasn't kind to weak trainers.

Week 3: Magikarp's Final Challenge

By the third week, Holly could see it.

Magikarp's body had hardened, his once-flabby muscles solid with power. His leaps soared higher, his water attacks hit harder, and his determination burned brighter than ever.

He was ready.

The waterfall challenge had become a daily ritual, but this time was different.

Holly stood at the base of the waterfall, camera in hand, while Sakumo and Pidgeotto perched nearby, watching in silent anticipation.

Magikarp stared up at the raging cascade, his fins twitching with raw energy.

He didn't hesitate.

With a powerful thrust of his tail, he shot upward, breaking through the raging current, his body twisting to gain every inch.

Higher.

Higher.

He surpassed his previous records, clearing the midpoint of the waterfall, then pushing—struggling, but refusing to stop.

Holly's heart pounded as she captured the moment through her camera lens.

Then, just before he reached the top—

A golden light engulfed him.

Holly's breath caught.

He's evolving.

The light expanded, and in an instant, the tiny, struggling fish became a towering behemoth.

A mighty roar shook the canyon as Gyarados' serpentine form burst through the top of the waterfall, his crimson eyes glowing with newfound power.

For a moment, he hovered, not just swimming—floating.

Holly fumbled with her Pokédex, recording every second.

Sakumo barked in excitement, Pidgeotto let out a victory screech, and Holly could only watch in awe.

Magikarp wasn't just gone.

In his place stood a monster of legends.

Holly grinned. "Hell yeah."

Week 4: The Fight That Changed Everything

If Magikarp's evolution was impressive, Pidgeotto's was explosive.

It started as a territorial dispute.

While they were training near a mountainside clearing, a massive Onix came barreling through a rock wall, crashing into the clearing.

The impact snapped a tree in half—Pidgeotto's tree.

Holly didn't even have time to process before Pidgeotto was in the air, screeching in rage.

"Oh, shit," she muttered.

The battle erupted instantly.

Onix, enraged by Pidgeotto's attacks, swung its massive tail, sending boulders flying.

Pidgeotto dodged, weaving faster than Holly had ever seen, his wings slicing through the air with lethal precision.

But he needed more power.

Holly clenched her fists. "Pidgeotto—push yourself! Show him what you're made of!"

As if fueled by her words, Pidgeotto let out a deafening cry, his entire body glowing in a brilliant white light.

His wings expanded, his form elongated, his speed multiplied.

When the light faded, Pidgeot emerged.

A massive wingspan. A sharper, deadlier gaze.

And when he moved, it was like the wind itself bent to his will.

With one powerful flap, Pidgeot summoned a whirlwind so strong it sent Onix crashing backward, slamming into the cliffside with a thunderous impact.

Holly let out a breathless laugh.

"Two evolutions in two weeks," she murmured. "What are the odds?"

A Call to Professor Oak

Back in Pewter City, Holly sat at the Pokémon Center's video phone, Pidgeot preening beside her, Gyarados resting in a massive water enclosure outside.

The call connected, and Professor Oak's face appeared on screen.

"Holly! You look well," he greeted warmly.

Holly smirked. "Yeah, about that…"

She turned her camera to Gyarados, recording his sheer size, his unnatural floating ability.

Oak's eyes widened. "Oh my. That is… quite the specimen."

"Yeah," Holly said, crossing her arms. "And he's not the only one. My Pidgeotto evolved, too. Both of them are… bigger than normal. Stronger than normal."

Oak rubbed his chin. "This… may be the Alpha Gene."

Holly blinked. "The what now?"

"The Alpha Gene," Oak explained. "A rare genetic mutation that occurs in certain wild Pokémon, giving them enhanced size, power, and resilience. It's incredibly rare to find one, let alone two."

Holly grinned. "So, what you're saying is… I hit the jackpot?"

Oak chuckled. "It certainly seems that way."

She then uploaded the video of Gyarados' evolution, focusing on his ability to hover.

Oak's expression turned serious. "This… this is fascinating. Gyarados are capable of short airborne movement, but this level of floating is unheard of."

Holly smirked. "Told you my boys were special."

Oak nodded. "Keep documenting this, Holly. You may be onto something groundbreaking."

Holly closed the call, leaning back in her chair, feeling something she hadn't felt in weeks.

Confidence.

She had a team of powerhouses now.

And nothing was going to stop them.