The old man watched everything unfold in utter shock.
This had gone far beyond anything he understood.
His lips trembled slightly as he stared at Aaron's transformed Pokémon.
"Has the outside world really changed this much?"
He had traveled outside when he was young, but even back then, he had never seen anything this ridiculous.
Pokémons could transform like this now?
Then he thought of Scizor's Mega Evolution.
Wasn't that more or less the same idea?
Thinking about it that way, the old man suddenly found it a little easier to accept.
His heart gradually calmed.
…
The old man managed to steady himself.
Titan, on the other hand, was completely speechless.
Only one phrase could describe how he felt right now.
Holy shit.
As a veteran Pokémon Hunter, what kind of Pokémon had he not seen?
What kind had he not captured?
But he had never seen monsters as outrageous as Aaron's team.
They completely shattered everything he thought he knew about Pokémon.
Were these things even Pokémon anymore?
His already limited brain had practically frozen like a crashed computer.
Wait…
Titan suddenly snapped back to his senses.
Excitement spread across his face.
Damn it…
The stronger and rarer these Pokémon are, the greater the reward if I capture them all, right?
I might even get promoted straight to SS-rank Pokémon Hunter.
His excitement nearly overflowed, and terrifying greed flashed in his eyes.
"Hahahaha!"
"Kid… you just handed me the score of a lifetime."
"To thank you for delivering so many precious Pokémon to me, I'll give you a quick death."
"Hehehe… today is the day I, Titan, rise to the top!"
Titan laughed loudly at Aaron, as if those Pokémon were already his.
Aaron remained calm.
He looked at Titan and said flatly,
"Then I'll give you a quick death too."
A cold edge slipped into his voice.
"Hehe… brat, you really don't know your place."
Titan grinned, his face full of mockery.
Just a handful of elite-level and gym-level Pokémon, and this kid thought he could threaten him?
What a joke.
…
Aaron stopped wasting words on Titan and turned directly to the old man.
"Sir, I'll leave Aggron to you for now."
"I'll take care of the others first."
The old man still looked somewhat stunned, but he quickly snapped back to himself and nodded.
"Then I'm counting on you, Aaron!"
Right now, all he could do was place his hopes on this young man.
Although they had only known each other for a single day, Aaron's calm confidence and mysterious strength made him want to trust him.
"Leave it to me."
Aaron's expression turned sharp.
Then he shouted to his Pokémon,
"Sceptile! Support us!"
"Control the roots and restrict their movement!"
"Gyarados! Drizzle, then hit them with precise Thunder attacks!"
"Snorlax! Gomu Gomu no Bajrang Gun!"
"Charizard! Dragon Roar!"
"Infernape! Full-power Kaio-ken!"
"Beedrill! Find your opening!"
"Flash Step and Twinneedle!"
Aaron issued his attack commands in one breath.
"Sceptiiiile!"
Sceptile let out a low cry.
Massive green energy surged from its body as it pressed both hands against the ground.
Countless roots burst through the earth and twisted together into thick wooden tendrils, lunging toward Titan's Pokémon like wooden dragons.
…
"GRAAAAH!"
Gyarados roared furiously in the sky.
Dark clouds pressed down from above as lightning flashed and thunder rolled.
BOOOOM!!
SHHHHHH—
In the blink of an eye, torrential rain poured over the forest.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Amid the raging storm, several thick bolts of lightning crashed down toward the Pokémon below.
…
"SNOR-LAX!!"
Snorlax roared as white flames wrapped around its fist.
Black energy coated the fist like hardened metal, merging with the white flames to form a dazzling Gomu Gomu no Bajrang Gun.
Then Snorlax's arm stretched violently forward and snapped toward the enemy like a cannon shot.
"ROOOOAR!!"
Charizard threw its head back and roared.
Its huge jaws opened wide.
Scorching flames fused with crackling lightning inside its mouth.
Even in the heavy rain, the attack did not weaken.
Instead, it grew even more violent before blasting down toward the enemies below.
…
Golden flames erupted around Infernape as lightning flickered across its body.
"RAAAAAH!!"
It let out an excited roar.
Terrifying pale-red energy gathered over its fist, releasing dreadful pressure.
Cracks spread across the ground beneath it.
The air itself seemed to tremble.
This Kaio-ken was terrifying.
Infernape raised its Kaio-ken-charged fist and shot toward the enemy at extreme speed.
Meanwhile, Beedrill had already vanished from where it stood.
It moved through the forest like a shadow.
Silent…
Patient…
Deadly…
Waiting for the perfect chance to deliver a fatal strike.