"GRAAAH!"
The Pokémon across from Aaron roared, their combined pressure surging forward like a violent tide.
A fierce wind swept across the seventh floor, making his black windbreaker snap sharply behind him. Purple light flickered in his eyes as excitement rose in his chest.
"Everyone, we're going together."
His voice was steady at first, then burned hotter with every word.
"We're climbing this tower as a team. Let it remember who we are."
He looked at his Pokémon and smiled.
"This is our era, and it starts here."
Those words lit a fire in their hearts.
"Grenin!"
"SNOOOR!"
"GRAAAH!"
His Pokémon answered one after another, their eyes filled with fierce determination.
They would help him reach the top.
No matter what stood in the way.
Purple light erupted from Aaron's body as he charged forward first.
"Corviknight, Battle Core Form!"
"KRAA!"
Roger that, Aaron!
A sharp crow cry rang out, and dazzling purple light burst from Aaron's body.
VMMMM!
In the next instant, a figure clad in black-and-purple steel armor shot into the sky, huge dark wings spreading behind him.
Aaron had entered Corviknight Battle Core Form.
A cold glint flashed through his raven-like eyes as he looked down at the battlefield.
"Team, with me."
His voice cut through the air.
"Take them down."
"GRAAAH!"
His Pokémon roared in response, their fighting spirit surging even higher.
Then the seventh floor erupted into battle.
Moves tore through the air in every direction. The sky and ground became separate battlefields at once, with explosions, shockwaves, and roars shaking the entire space.
Aaron watched the chaos below for only a second before beating his wings.
His body vanished from the air.
When he reappeared, he was already beside the opposing Beedrill. Silver energy gathered around his right fist, and he drove a punch straight into it.
The late Gym-level Beedrill was knocked several meters through the air.
"Bzzzz!"
It recovered almost instantly, buzzing with fury as its twin stingers shot toward Aaron.
He did not hesitate. His steel wings folded in front of him like a shield, silver-white light flashing across their surface.
"Iron Defense."
CLANG! CLANG!
The stingers slammed into his wings with a sharp metallic crash. The tips sank several centimeters deep, nearly piercing through.
Aaron gritted his teeth and forced his wings closed, trapping them in place.
Then he shouted without looking back.
"Now!"
"Beedrill, Twinneedle!"
"Bzzzz!"
His Beedrill had already been waiting for the opening.
Its black figure appeared silently behind the target, and its patterned stingers drove viciously into its back.
"Bzz—!"
Pain flashed through the opposing Beedrill's eyes as it struggled to pull free.
These two bastards.
Did they even know how to fight fair?
It tried to counterattack, but the strength suddenly drained from its body. Fear flashed through its eyes, and a moment later, it fell helplessly onto the cold floor.
Beedrill was unable to battle.
Aaron and his Beedrill immediately moved toward their next target.
Snorlax.
The opposing Snorlax was already at peak Gym-level, just short of Champion-class. Even after Aaron's Snorlax used Conqueror's Aura to lower its Attack by two stages, it still had to rely on Conqueror's Coating just to hold its ground in a direct clash.
But once Aaron and Beedrill joined the fight, the balance changed instantly.
Aaron flew above the enemy Snorlax's head to draw its attention.
"Snorlax, use Gum-Gum Bind!"
"SNOOOR!"
Aaron's Snorlax narrowed its eyes. Its rubbery arms stretched out, wrapped around the opposing Snorlax, and locked it in place.
Then dark-red Conqueror's Haki spread across its arms, hardening the bind even further.
The enemy Snorlax roared and struggled desperately.
"SNOOOR!"
Its strength was terrifying, but the more it fought, the tighter the bind became.
Aaron looked toward Beedrill with a serious expression.
"Beedrill, it's still moving."
He pointed at the trapped Snorlax.
"Give it a sting."
"Bzz?"
For a second, Beedrill looked genuinely confused.
Then it flew behind the bound Snorlax and drove Twinneedle straight into its backside.
"AWOOO!"
The enemy Snorlax howled, its face somehow looking even redder than before.
If it could speak, it probably would have cursed the entire tower.
Tied up, held down, and stabbed from behind.
What kind of nightmare battle was this?
A moment later, Suzumebachi took effect.
The huge Snorlax froze, eyes wide with horror, then collapsed with a completely bewildered expression.
Only one thought seemed to remain on its face.
Never again.
That was terrifying.
...