The gigantic crescent-shaped slash swept forward like a white arc across the sky, mercilessly swallowing the Pokémon assassin and his six Pokémon whole.
Then it continued diagonally toward the eastern forest.
BOOOOM! BOOOOM! BOOOOM!
The earth split apart.
Trees exploded into splinters.
Dust filled the sky.
The dark clouds overhead were torn open by that single slash, as if a heavenly blade had carved the sky apart.
Bzzzzzz!
Terrifying Sage-type sword energy swept across the entire Eastside Ruins, scattering the storm clouds for several kilometers.
Not a single tree in the forest remained standing.
Whoooosh!
Violent winds roared through the Eastside Ruins.
At that moment, a deafening bell suddenly echoed across the sky.
Everything trembled.
A deep instinctive fear surged through every living being.
…
The moment Aaron heard the bell, his heart skipped a beat.
An indescribable feeling welled up inside him.
He slowly raised his head toward the sky, brows tightly furrowed as he fell into thought.
Meanwhile, the raging wind and dust around the Eastside Ruins gradually settled.
What appeared before everyone was a gigantic scar carved into the earth.
Bottomless.
Stretching endlessly into the distance.
Its end could not even be seen.
Inside the trench, strands of terrifying Sage-type sword energy still flickered, refusing to fade.
Gulp…
The sound of someone swallowing echoed clearly through the silent ruins.
The bodyguard's legs had completely given out. His clothes were soaked with sweat, and his eyes were filled with terror.
"Is… is that monster even human…?"
he muttered with a trembling voice.
As for Harker, he had already collapsed onto the ground in fear.
A stream of yellow liquid spread beneath him.
He had wet himself.
"T-This… this is impossible!"
"You're clearly just a Gym-level Trainer! How can you possibly have this kind of power!?"
Harker shouted in horror, his face deathly pale.
Swish! Swish!
At that moment, the nightmare-like figure suddenly appeared before Harker.
Sword light flashed.
The two canine Pokémon guarding him were instantly cut down.
Fear still lingered in their eyes as they died beneath Greninja's blade before they could even cry out.
"Aaaah!"
Blood splashed across Harker's face, and he screamed in terror.
His twisted expression looked almost demonic.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Aaron slowly walked toward Harker with an expressionless face.
Harker desperately crawled backward, leaving a trail of filth behind him.
"D-Don't come any closer!"
"You… you can't kill me!"
"My father is one of the Ten Great Champions of Hualis!"
"My dad is Champion Quentin!"
"I already contacted him! He'll be here soon!"
"Aaron… if you kill me, my father will never let you go!"
"I'm his only son!"
Tears streamed down Harker's face while drool and mucus ran from his mouth.
Extreme fear had completely broken him.
"A-Aaron…"
The bodyguard, pale with fear, still wanted to beg for his life.
BOOM!
Before he could finish speaking, Aaron threw a punch.
The terrifying force instantly blew the bodyguard apart.
Even Aaron himself was slightly stunned.
He had not expected his own strength to become this terrifying.
In this Bond Phenomenon state with Greninja, he seemed capable of borrowing part of Greninja's power.
One punch had reduced the bodyguard to nothing more than gore.
"Aaaah!"
Seeing this, Harker's eyes nearly burst from their sockets as he screamed in utter terror.
A foul smell spread through the air.
He had completely lost control of his bowels.
Aaron frowned slightly.
In an instant, he appeared beside Harker and slapped him across the face.
SMACK!
Several teeth flew through the air as Harker crashed onto the ground, shrieking in agony.
"Scream again and I'll kill you right now."
Aaron's voice was ice-cold.
Harker immediately shut his mouth.
Blood poured from his lips as he stared at Aaron in terror.
Swish!
At that moment, Sceptile arrived alongside Zoroark.
After being treated with natural energy by Sceptile, Zoroark's injuries had stabilized, and his life was no longer in danger.
Aaron glanced at Zoroark before calmly walking over to Harker.
"Kneel… or die."
An overwhelming killing intent instantly enveloped Harker.
Harker was already terrified beyond reason.
How could he possibly dare resist?
He hurriedly knelt before Zoroark, snot and tears pouring down his face as he cried:
"Zoroark… I'm sorry!"
"I'm not human! Please forgive me!"
"I swear I'll never do it again!"
"Please…"
"I'm trash! I'm worse than an animal!"
"As long as you spare me, I'll do anything!"
Zoroark remained expressionless.
His eyes were filled only with icy hatred as he stared at the person who had once been his master.
Any remaining attachment had long since disappeared.
Only hatred remained.
"Enough."
"It's time for you to disappear."
"Trash like you only pollutes the world."
Aaron spoke indifferently.
"No! No! No!"
"Please don't kill me!"
"Waaah!"
"I'll never do it again!"
Harker desperately kowtowed, begging for mercy.
Aaron merely smiled coldly and slowly raised his fist.
"Stop!"
At that moment, a furious roar suddenly exploded from the sky.
Hope instantly returned to Harker's despairing eyes.
His father had arrived.
He was saved.
BOOM!
But before joy could even appear on his face, Aaron's fist smashed into him with terrifying force.
Harker exploded into pieces.
An icy chill flashed through Aaron's eyes.
No one can save you now.
…