For a brief moment, Arceus's fragment actually felt a little guilty.
Aaron had already agreed to collect all eighteen Plates and revive her true form, yet it was still forcing him to fight a powerful Mythical Pokémon before letting him pass.
That did seem a little heartless.
Then the fragment's guilt lasted for all of half a second.
Hm?
But I'm not human.
I'm a divine fragment.
Technicality.
A faint, almost mischievous light flashed through its eyes.
Aaron's mouth twitched.
He caught that look immediately.
This glowing little fraud was definitely trying to justify screwing him over.
So this battle was unavoidable after all.
"Huff..."
Aaron took a deep breath, then looked at the fragment with a solemn expression.
"I'll accept the challenge," he said. "But I have one small condition."
The fragment looked slightly surprised. It had not expected him to accept so quickly.
"What condition?"
Aaron glanced at the storm clouds and rolling thunder above them. A strange light flickered in his eyes.
"I want to change the battlefield."
He raised his head and looked toward the sky.
"Make it a night with a full moon."
The fragment paused, clearly confused by the request.
Still, it was not difficult.
"Very well," it said after a moment. "I accept your condition."
As soon as it finished speaking, brilliant white light radiated from its body.
Bzzzz...
The storm clouds and lightning vanished from the sky, and the entire ninth floor darkened at once.
A moment later, a full moon slowly rose into the heavens.
It hung high above the battlefield, casting bright moonlight across the world below. A pale golden veil spread over the ground, quiet and beautiful.
Aaron stared up at the moon.
For an instant, crimson light flickered deep in his eyes.
"Thank you."
He lowered his head.
His voice had turned slightly hoarse.
"Then let's fight."
The fragment's eyes shifted. It seemed to sense something unusual in him.
But in the end, it only spoke.
"Very well."
"As you wish."
"If you pass this trial, your name will be remembered throughout the Outer World for all eternity."
"Young Aaron."
Its voice echoed across the moonlit field.
"The final battle of the ninth floor begins now."
"RRAAAH!"
A tremendous roar erupted, shaking the heavens.
...
At the same time, outside the tower, the square was only getting more crowded.
People packed the area shoulder to shoulder. Everyone wanted a glimpse of the prodigy who had just claimed first place on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.
Beyond the square, news crews from every major outlet had already set up their cameras. Some were standing on temporary platforms, others were broadcasting from the edge of the crowd, and a few desperate reporters had even climbed onto nearby steps just to get a clear shot.
A young female reporter held a microphone toward the camera, her voice bright with excitement.
"Good morning, Crown City. Sophia here with Crown City Daily, reporting live from Hidden Dragon Square, where the crowd has only gotten bigger since Aaron's name appeared at the top of the rankings."
Not far away, another reporter was speaking into his own camera over the noise of the crowd.
"This is Marcus with Hualis National News. As you can see behind me, the square is absolutely packed. People are waiting to see whether Aaron, the new number one on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, can push even further."
A third broadcast cut in nearby.
"You're watching PokéStream Live. I'm Rachel, and yes, Aaron is still inside the tower. He has already reached the ninth floor, and the atmosphere here is getting more tense by the minute."
Nearly every major channel had arrived.
Inside the square, the crowd grew more nervous with each passing second. Countless eyes remained fixed on Aaron's name on the stele.
He had been on the ninth floor for a while now.
The longer he stayed there, the heavier the atmosphere became.
At some point, someone finally asked the question everyone had been thinking.
"Do you think... Aaron might actually clear the ninth floor?"
The people nearby went quiet.
Then the arguments started.
"Dude, are you hearing yourself? Clearing the ninth floor? I wouldn't even bet pocket change on that."
"Yeah, no. If Aaron clears it, I'll shave my head right here in the square and write his name on my scalp."
"Come on, be serious. Aaron is strong. Nobody's denying that. He took first place. But clearing the ninth floor? That would take an actual miracle."
"Even Champion Drake said it. The ninth floor isn't something an ordinary Trainer can clear. Unless Aaron found a way to cheat the tower itself, there's no way."
"Oh, sure. You all sound very confident."
The speaker gave them a mocking look.
"So why are you still here?"
A few people stiffened.
"If you're so sure he can't clear it, why not leave? Or are you secretly hoping to witness another miracle?"
"Don't get smug," someone snapped. "We're only staying because we want to see what he looks like when he comes out."
"Exactly. He'll be out soon. There's no way he clears it."
By then, the crowd had split into two camps.
One side was made up of Aaron's most passionate supporters. They believed he could create another miracle and clear the ninth floor.
Most of them came from ordinary families.
Aaron had risen from a humble background and forced his way to the top of the rankings. To them, that was more than impressive. It was inspiring.
So what if he came from a poor family?
He had still climbed above the wealthy heirs who looked down on everyone else.
The other side was made up mostly of rich kids and heirs from powerful families.
They were proud, arrogant, and already furious that Aaron had taken first place. If he cleared the ninth floor too, how were they supposed to accept that?
To them, the idea was nothing but fantasy.
Impossible.
The arguments in the square grew louder and louder. A few people looked ready to start throwing punches.
Aaron, of course, had no idea that the outside world was about to come to blows because of him.
Inside the tower, beneath the full moon, the final battle was about to begin.
...