Wood Release: Wood Human Technique
"ROOOOOAR!!"
Another furious roar erupted from within the fissure.
BOOOOOM!
A colossal wooden Arhat burst out of the cracked earth, a massive wooden dragon coiled around its body.
The dragon wrapped around the Arhat's waist, its savage head resting on one shoulder as it unleashed a terrifying roar.
"RAAAAAWR!!"
The giant wooden Arhat slowly rose to its feet.
It stood a full fifteen meters tall. Its hellish presence was so overwhelming that shockwaves blasted through the surrounding air.
Sceptile instantly appeared inside the giant Arhat's forehead.
Thick roots wrapped around Sceptile's body.
"ROOOOOAR!!"
The giant Arhat threw back its head and bellowed. The violent soundwave exploded outward, sending the surrounding air into chaos.
KRAK! KRAK! KRAK!
Sharp cracking sounds rang out one after another.
Wild winds howled like a raging typhoon. The people nearby could barely keep their eyes open.
"W-What... what the hell is that!?"
Selena stared at the suddenly appearing giant wooden Arhat in horror, her voice trembling.
That stammer alone made it clear how badly shaken she was.
This isn't fair, is it!?
We're supposed to be having a normal Pokémon battle, right!?
Then what is this!?
Are you trying to destroy the world!?
Blow up the whole planet!?
There's no need to go that far!
There really isn't!
Selena's face twisted like she had just swallowed something rotten.
The people around her were equally stunned when they saw the giant wooden Arhat and felt the terrifying aura pouring from it.
Some of the more timid spectators nearly wet themselves.
"I-I'm done. I'm on my knees. I don't even know what to say anymore."
"How are we supposed to battle after seeing that!?"
"Does a move this terrifying really exist...? No way. I have to be dreaming!"
"This Sceptile has ascended! From today onward will shake all of Hualis!"
"I recorded everything already. This is definitely going viral!"
"Our Sceptile are badass... Aaron's Sceptile is GOAT!"
"Just because of this Sceptile alone, I'm willing to call Aaron the strongest teenager in Hualis!"
"I agree!"
"Same here!"
"He deserves it!"
...
The boys and girls were completely overwhelmed by Aaron's strength.
All of them acknowledged his place at the very top.
Even Braveon and Blaze were full of admiration.
Both found themselves wondering:
If they were the ones facing Aaron right now...
standing against this terrifying giant Arhat...
would they have any chance of winning?
There was a chance.
But not a high one.
Then both their eyes ignited with fighting spirit.
"Aaron... you really didn't disappoint me."
"You're worthy of my full strength."
Braveon thought to himself, secretly thrilled.
"Hahaha! This is incredible!"
"This is what youth should be!"
"Aaron... I'll be waiting for our battle!"
Blaze looked toward Aaron in the distance, face burning with excitement.
Flames surged from his body and danced around him without harming him in the slightest.
He laughed loudly and shouted at the top of his lungs.
...
Off to the side, Sylka's jaw had dropped wide enough to fit a whole watermelon.
She stared in disbelief at the enormous wooden Arhat.
That pressure felt like facing a legendary Pokémon.
Even for a Champion Class expert like her, it was unbelievable.
The aura radiating from the giant wooden Arhat was already comparable to some Gym-level Pokémon.
But Aaron was only a student-level Trainer!
Could this really be the strength of a boy who had only just turned eighteen!?
The shock was like watching a baby punch a full-grown tiger to death.
Sylka suddenly remembered Lilith's earlier words.
"Some people simply cannot be judged by ordinary standards!"
Sylka looked at that tall, slender figure, still carrying a trace of youthful immaturity, and fell into deep thought.
She remained silent for a long time.
...
"Brother... what kind of move is that!?"
"Aaron is way too strong, isn't he!?"
Liora asked in shock as she turned to Drake.
Drake's face stiffened, and he screamed inwardly.
How the hell would I know what kind of move that is!?
But he still forced out a smile and adopted a mysterious expression.
"If I'm not mistaken... this is a Grass-type move!!"
Liora: "..."
...
At that moment, Selena had no time to think about anything else.
With a crazed expression, she shouted at Gardevoir.
"Gardevoir! Attack now!"
"What giant!? What Sceptile!?"
"They can both die!"
Selena roared, veins bulging across her forehead like someone on the verge of snapping.
"Gar...devoir!"
Although Gardevoir's legs trembled slightly, after hearing its trainer's command, it could only steel itself and launch the massive energy sphere above its head toward the giant wooden Arhat.
BOOOOOM! BOOOOOM! BOOOOOM!
The huge energy sphere tore through the sky at extreme speed, obliterating the surrounding trees.
Even rocks on the ground were dragged upward into the air.
The terrifying pressure made the air itself feel frozen.
Aaron looked at the massive energy sphere flying toward him.
His clothes snapped wildly in the wind.
Yet his expression remained calm as ever.
Then he called out to Sceptile.
"Sceptile... split it apart for me!"
"Sage Art — Arhat Leaf Blade Technique!"
Inside the wooden Arhat, Sceptile heard Aaron's command.
A sharp gleam flashed through its cross-shaped pupils.
"SKRAAAH!"
Sceptile let out a deep growl, pressed its palms together, and brilliant light burst from its body.
"ROOOOOAR!!"
The giant wooden Arhat bellowed thunderously.
Countless streams of natural energy gathered into its hand.
In an instant, a gigantic energy blade formed in the Arhat's grasp.
It radiated an utterly terrifying aura.
The surrounding air was shredded by the blade's edge alone.
"ROOOOOAR!!"
The wooden Arhat roared again, raised the colossal blade high, and brought it crashing down toward the oncoming energy sphere.
BZZZZMMMM!
A sharp humming shockwave exploded through the battlefield.
...