Chapter 7: The Formidable Onix!

"Cubone, use Smack Down!"

Cubone let out a loud cry and swung its Bone Club at the airborne Magnemite.

The club didn't leave its hand, but a sharp rock formed from condensed Rock-type energy instantly detached from the club and shot toward the opponent at lightning speed.

Clang!

Rock versus Steel… not very effective. But Smack Down's special effect kicked in immediately, forcibly knocking Magnemite to the ground.

Cubone was already at the landing spot. Without hesitation, it stomped down hard.

Ground-type energy surged violently, delivering a devastating blow to Magnemite, who had a x4 Ground weakness.

The club followed through, striking Magnemite's head with precision and finishing it off.

Cubone: 80 consecutive wins!

Today marked half a month since Haruki captured Graveler.

During this time, aside from routinely uploading basic intel from Steelrock Town, Haruki focused entirely on training Cubone.

Cubone fought five to six battles a day, mostly against wild Pokémon living around Rock Mountain.

Though it sounded like a single mountain, Rock Mountain was actually a stretch of continuous rocky terrain.

As Haruki ventured deeper, he began to encounter Pokémon beyond Geodude, Sandshrew, and Onix.

Magnemite, Bronzor, and Nosepass started appearing… only to all fall beneath Cubone's Bone Club.

With the addition of Smack Down and Bulldoze, learned from Graveler, Cubone's battle move set was beginning to take shape.

Thinking back to just over a month ago, when Cubone could barely finish a 400-meter run, the improvement was nothing short of remarkable.

Of course, the price of Cubone's rapid growth was that Haruki had burned through all his resources.

On top of the training fee he promised Graveler, he'd now spent not just all his points, but every last Pokédollar he had…

Totally broke!

He needed to make money. Fast.

And for a Trainer, there was no quicker way than selling Pokémon.

Haruki was already a Team Rocket member, so selling Pokémon came with zero pressure. He simply used the internal channels; safe and efficient.

So, Magnemite… caught!

Of course, Graveler had been half a mentor to Cubone, so Haruki "honored" their deal and released it as promised.

After letting Cubone rest a bit, Haruki continued exploring deeper into Rock Mountain.

Not long after, another Bronzor floated out slowly. Even when it spotted Haruki and Cubone, it still looked dopey and unbothered.

Bronzor: a Psychic- and Steel-type Pokémon and one of the Sinnoh region's rarer species.

Any Pokémon with even a touch of Psychic-type was sure to be valuable.

Haruki didn't hesitate. He gave the order for a Curse-enhanced Cubone to use Bonemerang.

The first strike alone heavily damaged Bronzor; Ground-type attacks did significant damage.

But this wasn't the outskirts of Rock Mountain anymore, and the seemingly dopey Bronzor wasn't as weak as it looked.

A blue light spread from Bronzor to Cubone, lifting Cubone off the ground and suspending it midair.

Move: Confusion.

"Screech, then Smack Down!"

Haruki's voice rang out, steadying the startled Cubone.

Cubone reached up and began furiously scratching at its skull with its claws.

Scrreee~ scraaa~

The screeching noise was so sharp even Haruki got goosebumps. Bronzor, too, was visibly affected, its Confusion faltered.

With its control weakened, Cubone saw an opening.

It swung its club, conjuring another sharp rock that slammed into Bronzor, knocking it to the ground.

Then came Bulldoze + Bone Club.

Bronzor's head was crushed inward, completely incapacitated.

The Poké Ball flew… Bronzor, caught!

Haruki picked up the Poké Ball and was just about to praise Cubone when the ground suddenly trembled beneath him.

"Cubone!"

Cubone responded immediately, running back and lowering its stance to keep its balance.

The very next second, a massive head burst out of the ground right where Cubone had been, glowing with a blinding metallic light.

"RROOAAARR!"

A thunderous roar erupted. A towering giant, nearly three stories tall, appeared before Haruki and Cubone.

Onix!

An Onix that could use Iron Head!

Haruki gulped and, without drawing attention, slipped two Pokéblocks to Cubone.

The enraged Onix in front of them had almost certainly been woken by Cubone's Screech.

As for those so-called "base stats"… when facing a massive creature like this, they felt utterly ridiculous.

Even without any move, just a normal Tackle from Onix was something few could take head-on.

In low-level battles, a Pokémon's natural physical advantage had a huge impact.

But Cubone wasn't helpless; its training over the past weeks was its greatest weapon.

At that moment, Onix roared and charged.

Its silver-glinting horn gleamed atop its head. That was Iron Head, its signature ground-breaking move.

'Why had Onix learned Iron Head?'

The question flashed across Haruki's mind, but there was no time to ponder. Backing away, he shouted loudly, "Bulldoze!"

"Cubone!"

Though small, Cubone now moved with unusual stability.

A faint brown glow coiled around its stubby legs, Ground-type energy building to a peak.

Boom!

Bulldoze struck, sending Ground-type ripples outward, washing over the charging Onix, slowing its momentum and disturbing its balance.

Onix's rush was checked… but that only made it angrier.

Cubone wasn't done. It launched Bonemerang, aiming straight at Onix's horn.

As for that old saying about striking the "soft spot", it meant nothing to an Onix made entirely of rock.

Onix's "soft spot"… was in its horn!

Thunk!

Bonemerang hit, but just as it was about to land dead-center, Onix tilted slightly, and the strike landed on its head instead.

The Bone Club spun back around, but the angle was off. It flew past Onix's side.

Cubone leapt and caught the returning club relieved.

Almost all of its strength relied on that weapon. If it didn't come back… the fight would be over.

Meanwhile, Onix, wincing from the blow, charged again. Another Iron Head.

Haruki grimaced. This Onix was absurdly confident.

But that overconfidence gave Cubone more openings.

"Bulldoze!"

"Cubone~!"

Another wave of Ground energy surged forward, further slowing Onix's charge.

Despite its size, Onix was now moving at a crawl.

Haruki didn't want to risk Cubone getting hurt, he ordered more Bulldoze attacks instead.

Crack~ crack crack~

Only then did Haruki realize that the cracks in the ground were spreading. And not just passively, but actively widening outward.

A chill ran down his spine…something felt wrong.

The next second-

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!