The opposing Snorlax lost the ability to battle.
With that, Aaron's side gained another free heavy hitter, and the balance of the battlefield tilted sharply in their favor.
"Snorlax, go help Infernape."
Aaron beat his wings and rose into the air.
"Beedrill, with me. Next target—Gyarados."
The opposing Gyarados, locked in battle with Aaron's massive one above the battlefield, suddenly shuddered as if it had sensed danger closing in.
"SNOOOR!"
Snorlax nodded and ran toward Infernape's side, where flames raged and two red figures were locked in a brutal clash.
Aaron and Beedrill flew upward, heading straight into the aerial battle.
Aaron's Gyarados was glowing with red energy. After two uses of Dragon Dance, its speed and attack power had both reached a terrifying level. With its massive body and Armament Haki, it had already forced the other Gyarados onto the defensive.
"GRAAAH!"
The two Gyarados roared at the same time.
The opposing Gyarados struck with Dragon Claw.
Aaron's Gyarados did not retreat. Lightning wrapped around its claws as Thunder Dragon Claw tore forward to meet the attack head-on.
BOOOOM!
A piercing impact rang through the air, and the shockwave blasted outward.
At that exact moment, Aaron appeared beside the opposing Gyarados and drove both armored fists straight toward its eyes.
"GRAAAH!"
The Gyarados roared in pain, its eyes burning so badly it could not open them. It thrashed furiously in midair, trying to shake him off.
"Gyarados, Bind!"
"GRAAAH!"
Aaron's Gyarados roared and immediately wrapped its long, powerful body around the other Gyarados, locking it in place.
"Heat Breath, point-blank. Aim for the head."
Its huge jaws opened, and a stream of scorching flames erupted at close range, blasting directly across the trapped Gyarados's head.
It was like roasting a dragon alive.
The opposing Gyarados howled in agony. Its eyes had already been badly injured, and the flames only made it worse. It was one step away from going completely blind.
Aaron's gaze shifted.
"Beedrill, finish it."
No extra words were needed.
Beedrill had already been waiting.
Its black figure appeared above the trapped Gyarados's head, and its patterned stingers drove straight into its forehead, leaving behind a strange butterfly-shaped mark.
The mark bloomed with eerie light.
"GRAAAH!"
The opposing Gyarados let out one last terrified roar before its strength gave out completely.
It lost the ability to battle.
Now only four opponents remained: Greninja, Charizard, Sceptile, and Infernape.
Aaron turned his gaze toward the Charizard battle in the sky.
The remaining ground targets were all fast and agile, which made them harder for Beedrill to ambush cleanly.
Charizard, however, was different.
"Gyarados, go help Sceptile."
Aaron spread his wings and flew higher.
"Beedrill, we're taking Charizard."
"GRAAAH!"
Gyarados nodded. Flame Clouds gathered beneath it, and it rushed toward Sceptile's battlefield.
Aaron and Beedrill shot upward, arriving near the two Charizard.
Flames filled the sky.
Lightning flashed, thunder rolled, and the entire airspace had been dyed red by fire. The two Charizard were locked in a fierce, scorching fight, blasting Flamethrower after Flamethrower at each other.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Their attacks collided in midair, scattering sparks and tongues of flame in every direction.
"GRAAAH!"
Both Charizard glared at each other, eyes burning with vicious intensity as their roars shook the sky.
Then a sharp cry cut through the flames.
"KRAA!"
A massive blue energy bird streaked toward the opposing Charizard's back with terrifying speed.
Aaron had used Brave Bird.
The other Charizard never expected a sneak attack in the middle of its duel. Before it could react, the blue bird of light slammed into its back.
BOOOOM!
The impact sent a pained roar tearing from its throat.
"GRAAAH!"
Aaron's voice rang out beside his own Charizard.
"Now! Thunder-Fire Dragon's Roar!"
A blaze flashed through Charizard's eyes. It opened its huge maw, and a fireball crackling with lightning shot forward.
The blast swallowed the opposing Charizard in a storm of flames and thunder.
By the time the explosion faded, it had already lost the ability to battle.
Its body crashed heavily onto the cold floor below.
Another opponent was down.
At the same time, the fights on Infernape's and Sceptile's sides had reached their conclusions. With Snorlax and Gyarados joining in, both battles had become two-on-one.
The opposing Infernape and Sceptile were quickly overwhelmed and followed Charizard's fate.
They both lost the ability to battle.
Now, only one Pokémon remained.
Greninja.
The opposing Greninja, which had been fighting Aaron's Greninja, suddenly felt several gazes fall on it at once.
It turned its head.
Its frog-like eyes nearly popped out.
"GRAAAH!"
"SNOOOR!"
"Scep-tile!"
One powerful Pokémon after another had already surrounded it, all staring with the kind of look that made running feel very reasonable.
The opposing Greninja slowly raised both hands.
If it could talk, it probably would have said, Nope. I'm done.
There was no way to fight anymore.
Dealing with Aaron's Greninja alone was already bad enough. Now there were six more monsters surrounding it?
What was it supposed to do, win through friendship?
A moment later, the Tower Spirit's voice rang out from the void, carrying a hint of excitement.
"Seventh floor cleared."
"Clear time: 5 minutes."
"Proceeding to the eighth floor."
...