KRAK-KRAK!
Amid flashing lightning, Gyarados's ink-black Thunder Dragon Claw collided with Tyrantrum's Dragon Claw.
KRAAANG!
The two claws struck with a piercing metallic crash.
Lightning scattered, sparks flew, and a violent wave of energy swept outward. The ground below split open into a deep pit as mud splashed and dust billowed through the rain.
Tyrantrum's Dragon Claw shattered.
The attack was crushed beneath Gyarados's Armament-coated Thunder Dragon Claw.
A heartbeat later, the claw tore into Tyrantrum's abdomen.
"TYRAAARGH!"
Tyrantrum let out an agonized roar.
Dragon-type moves dealt double damage to it. Although its own Dragon Claw had blocked most of the impact, the remaining force was still far from weak.
A bloody claw mark opened across Tyrantrum's abdomen.
Blood dripped from the wound, and stray arcs of lightning still flickered over it.
The faceless man's pupils contracted slightly.
He had not expected Tyrantrum to lose a direct contest of power to Gyarados.
Which one of them was supposed to be the peak Champion-class Pokémon here?
Aaron's expression remained calm.
"Demolition Wind."
"GRRRAAAOOH!"
Gyarados roared, and deep blue energy radiated from its body. Countless razor-sharp wind blades shot toward Tyrantrum.
"Tyrantrum, Rock Slide!"
"GRRRAAANTR!"
Tyrantrum roared, red light flashing in its eyes. Powerful earth-yellow energy surged from its body, and one rock after another tore free from the ground, smashing toward the incoming blades.
BOOM! BOOM! KRAKOOOM!
The wind blades and boulders collided in midair, setting off explosion after explosion.
Shattered stone rained down through the dust before both attacks scattered into fading energy.
The faceless man's voice rang out again.
"Tyrantrum, Stone Edge!"
"TYRANTRAAAH!"
Rock-type energy erupted from Tyrantrum.
RUMBLE!
The ground shook violently. Stones rose from the earth and gathered in midair, forming a single colossal spike.
Then it shot toward Gyarados in the sky.
Aaron did not hesitate.
"Gyarados, tear it apart."
His eyes sharpened.
"Thunder Dragon Claw. Armament Haki."
"RRRROOOAAH!"
Gyarados roared. Black Haki coated its claw, and lightning flashed across it as the massive talons swung down toward the incoming stone spike.
BOOOOM!
The collision shook the battlefield.
The spike was huge, but against Gyarados's armored dragon claw, it split apart in an instant. Broken chunks of rock scattered through the rain and crashed to the ground below.
"TYRANTRUUUM!"
Tyrantrum's eyes widened with fury as it glared up at Gyarados and let out a tremendous roar.
"GRRRAAAOOH!"
Gyarados roared back without giving an inch.
The two titans stared each other down, neither willing to back away.
The faceless man looked at Aaron.
"Aaron."
A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes.
"We both know testing each other won't change anything now."
His voice grew steady.
"Let's end this with one strike."
Aaron smiled.
"That works for me."
The faceless man nodded.
"Good."
Then his expression turned solemn.
"Tyrantrum!"
His voice rose across the battlefield.
"Head Smash. Full power!"
At the same time, Aaron shouted toward the sky.
"Gyarados!"
His eyes burned.
"Armament: Blazing Dragon Rush!"
"TYRANTRUUUM!"
"RRRROOOAAH!"
Their roars tore through the rain together.
Red light flashed in Tyrantrum's eyes. Rock-type energy surged from its body and gathered over its skull, compressing into a massive ocher edge.
The shape was crude, heavy, and brutal, like a weapon made for one purpose only: smashing through whatever stood in front of it.
The pressure alone made the air around Tyrantrum tremble.
Head Smash.
At the same time, a violent Hurricane erupted around Gyarados like a towering twister.
Broken stones and dust were swept into the air. Within the spiraling wind, black Armament Haki covered its massive body as raging flames ignited around it.
The hurricane fed the fire.
The fire sharpened the charge.
From inside the storm of wind and flameed the charge.
From inside the storm of wind and flame, a pair of blood-red eyes opened.
"GRRROOOAAH!"
A deafening dragon roar tore through the rain.
The faceless man's expression was grave.
"Go, Tyrantrum!"
"Head Smash!"
"TYRANTRAAAH!"
Tyrantrum raised its head and roared. Then its massive body charged forward like a living fortress, each step shaking the battlefield as it rushed straight toward Gyarados.
Aaron's voice cut through the storm.
"Go, Gyarados!"
"Break through head-on!"
"RRRRAAAAGH!"
Wrapped in black armor, hurricane winds, and scorching flames, Gyarados roared and dove.
Its long body plunged downward like a blazing storm dragon, charging straight toward Tyrantrum below.
The two ultimate attacks collided head-on.
...