This time, the faceless man did not look surprised.
Maybe he had expected Bastiodon to fall. Or maybe Aaron had already pushed the battle so far beyond expectation that one more impossible result simply no longer showed on his face.
He silently recalled Bastiodon, then took out his final stone-like Poké Ball.
"Aaron," he said, a faint smile in his voice, "this is my last Pokémon. Defeat it, and the final floor will open to you."
Anticipation sparked in Aaron's eyes.
The ninth floor was right there.
The floor even Braveon had failed to reach. The place where that small Arceus-like figure was waiting. The place that supposedly held part of this world's hidden truth.
After everything, he was only one step away.
Aaron smiled.
"Then I'll win."
His voice was calm, but the confidence behind it did not waver.
"I want to see that floor with my own eyes."
The faceless man's smile deepened.
"Good."
There was real admiration in his gaze now.
He threw his final Poké Ball.
"My strongest Pokémon."
The stone-like ball opened.
"Come out, Tyrantrum!"
Light flashed.
A colossal Pokémon appeared on the battlefield.
It stood nearly four meters tall, its massive body covered in orange-yellow scales and armor-like plating. Its build resembled a Tyrannosaurus rex, and its enormous jaws looked powerful enough to crush steel in a single bite.
Tyrantrum.
The Despot Pokémon.
A king from the ancient world.
"TYRANTRUUUM!"
The moment it appeared, Tyrantrum opened its maw and roared toward the sky. Its presence surged outward like a violent tide, kicking up dust across the battlefield.
Then its predatory eyes locked onto Gyarados above.
"GRRRAAAOOH!"
Gyarados roared back from the sky, dragon aura surging from its body.
The two massive Pokémon stared each other down, fighting spirit blazing between them.
One ruled the storm clouds.
The other stood like a tyrant of the ancient land.
On that mountaintop, past and present collided.
Aaron's eyes sharpened as Tyrantrum's information appeared before him.
[Name: Tyrantrum]
[Gender: Male]
[Nature: Adamant]
[Type: Rock/Dragon]
[Ability: Strong Jaw]
[Base Stats Total: 521]
[Level: Champion-class (Peak Stage)]
[Potential: Champion-level]
[Known Moves: Head Smash (Apotheosis), Fire Fang (Perfect), Thunder Fang (Perfect), Ice Fang (Mastery), Dragon Dance (Mastery), Crunch (Mastery), Dragon Tail (Mastery), Rock Slide (Mastery), Dragon Claw (Mastery), Earthquake (Mastery), Stone Edge (Proficient), Dragon Pulse (Proficient)...]
[Description: An ancient Tyrantrum, the Despot Pokémon. Its biting force is immense, capable of crushing thick steel plates with ease.]
Aaron's expression grew serious.
This one was strong.
Very strong.
The faceless man moved first.
"Tyrantrum, Dragon Dance!"
"GHRRANTR!"
A red glow lit around Tyrantrum's body as it began to move.
There was something almost ridiculous about watching a four-meter prehistoric tyrant perform a buff dance in the middle of a battlefield, but the power rising from its body was no joke.
Its Attack and Speed climbed at once.
Aaron did not wait for it to build momentum.
"Gyarados, Crunch."
His eyes sharpened.
"Armament Haki."
"GRRROOOAAH!"
Gyarados opened its huge maw and dove. Black Haki coated its sharp teeth like steel, turning the bite into a brutal armored strike aimed straight at Tyrantrum below.
The faceless man narrowed his eyes.
Aaron was challenging Tyrantrum in a contest of jaws.
Bold.
Almost insulting.
"Tyrantrum, Thunder Fang!"
"TYRANTRAAAH!"
Tyrantrum roared and opened its massive jaws. Lightning surged between its teeth, crackling violently as it lunged upward to meet Gyarados head-on.
The two attacks collided.
BOOOOM!
Fang crashed against fang.
Black Armament Haki clashed with flashing electricity, and the impact sent a violent shockwave rolling across the battlefield.
From a distance, it looked less like a clean attack and more like the world's most violent attempt at a kiss.
Aaron's expression went flat for half a second.
"Gyarados, get that thing out of your mouth."
Then his voice sharpened.
"Hydro Pump!"
Blue light flashed in Gyarados's eyes.
At point-blank range, a massive jet of water blasted from its throat and slammed straight into Tyrantrum's mouth.
BOOOOM!
Tyrantrum staggered backward, shaking its head violently.
"TYRAAARGH!"
It let out a disgusted, furious growl, as if it had just tasted something deeply offensive.
Gyarados's rainwater and saliva had gone straight down its throat.
That was more than enough to make even an ancient king angry.
The faceless man did not give it time to complain.
"Tyrantrum, Dragon Claw!"
"GRRRAAANTR!"
Red light gathered over Tyrantrum's claws, forming the image of a dragon around them. It broke into a charge, each heavy step shaking the ground as it swung viciously at Gyarados.
Aaron's gaze stayed steady.
"Then we'll answer with claws too."
His voice cut through the rain.
"Thunder Dragon Claw. Armament Haki."
...