The colossal blue energy bird.
The black dragon wreathed in fire and hurricane winds.
In that instant, the two collided.
VMMMM—!
A terrifying shockwave rippled across the sky, spreading outward like a wave.
Then came the explosion.
KRAKOOOOM!
A pillar of energy shot upward, tearing through the storm clouds and punching straight into the open sky. The blast swept across the heavens like a raging river, drowning everything in wind, fire, and blue light.
Under the faceless man's stunned gaze, the blazing black dragon pierced straight through the enormous Sky Attack.
"SKRREEE-AAH!"
The blue energy bird let out a miserable cry before being ripped apart.
A heartbeat later, Gyarados crashed directly into Aerodactyl hidden inside it.
Aerodactyl's eyes widened in shock.
The burning black dragon filled its vision.
Then impact came.
BOOOOM!
Aerodactyl was blasted downward like a cannonball and smashed into the ground, carving out a deep crater as dust and broken stone exploded into the air.
The faceless man stared at the scene, disbelief still written across his face.
"How...?"
His voice came out low.
"How is that possible?"
Aerodactyl's Sky Attack had reached Apotheosis-tier. It was a same-type move, its power pushed to an absurd level, and Aerodactyl itself was no ordinary Pokémon.
Yet it had lost head-on.
To a Gym-level Pokémon.
Even after ten thousand years of guarding this floor, the faceless man found that hard to accept.
...
The smoke inside the crater slowly dispersed.
At the bottom, Aerodactyl lay motionless.
Aerodactyl was unable to battle.
The fourth Pokémon had fallen.
The Sky King had been defeated.
The faceless man let out a long breath, then recalled Aerodactyl into its Poké Ball.
For a moment, he did not send out the next one.
Instead, he looked at Aaron.
"At this point," he said calmly, "I know how this battle ends."
His voice carried no bitterness.
Only acceptance.
"But the tower has its rules. Until all six of my Pokémon are unable to battle, you cannot reach the next floor."
His gaze lifted slightly.
"And the ninth floor is not a place I can allow anyone to approach half-heartedly."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So even knowing that, I will give you everything I have left."
Aaron met his gaze and smiled.
"That works for me."
His confidence was bright and unwavering.
"Because I'm still going to win."
The faceless man stared at him for half a second, then laughed.
"Hahahaha!"
It was not mockery.
It was approval.
"Good," he said. "I believe you."
Then he took out his fifth stone-like Poké Ball and threw it forward.
"Come out, Bastiodon."
Light flashed.
A massive Bastiodon appeared on the battlefield, standing nearly two and a half meters tall. Its huge shield-like head plate covered the front of its body like a fortress wall, and every step it took made the stone beneath it tremble.
Among defensive Pokémon, Bastiodon was already famous for absurd durability.
This ancient one looked even harder to move.
The information panel appeared before Aaron's eyes.
[Name: Bastiodon]
[Gender: Male]
[Nature: Adamant]
[Type: Rock/Steel]
[Ability: Sturdy]
[Base Stats Total: 495]
[Level: Champion-class (Peak Stage)]
[Potential: Champion-level]
[Known Moves: Iron Defense (Apotheosis), Iron Head (Perfect), Heavy Slam (Perfect), Metal Sound (Mastery), Earthquake (Mastery), Rock Barrier (Mastery), Stone Edge (Proficient), Rock Slide (Mastery), Iron Tail (Proficient), Take Down (Proficient), Ancient Power (Proficient), Endure (Proficient)...]
[Description: An ancient shield Pokémon with extraordinary defenses. It has a gentle temperament and enjoys eating grass and tree berries.]
Aaron's eye twitched slightly.
Apotheosis-tier Iron Defense.
So the tower had finally sent out a wall.
And not just any wall.
A wall that might be harder to crack than Carracosta's shell.
He did not wait for it to set up freely.
"Gyarados, end this fast."
His voice cut through the rain.
"Armament Haki. Thunder Dragon Claw."
"GRRRAAAOOH!"
High above the battlefield, Gyarados roared. Pitch-black Armament Haki coated its claws, and violent yellow lightning wrapped around them, hissing through the rain.
Then it dove.
The armored dragon claw tore down toward Bastiodon with terrifying force.
The faceless man did not move an inch.
"Bastiodon, Iron Defense."
"BASTI—!"
Bastiodon let out a low, heavy cry.
Silver light erupted from its body.
In an instant, its already massive shield plate shone like polished steel. Apotheosis-tier Iron Defense pushed its Defense up by four stages and reduced the damage it would take even further.
The lightning-wrapped dragon claw slammed into the steel-hard shield.
KRAAAANG!
The impact rang across the mountaintop like a giant bell being struck.
For a moment, sparks, lightning, and rain exploded outward from the point of collision.
But Bastiodon did not fall.
Its legs sank into the ground.
The stone beneath it cracked.
Yet the ancient shield Pokémon held its position.
Gyarados's claw was still pressed against its armored face, lightning crawling wildly across the shield, but the attack had not broken through.
Aaron's gaze sharpened.
So this was the ultimate defense.
...