Inside the Hidden Dragon Tower, Ninth Floor.
Night had fallen, and the full moon hung high overhead.
The battle between Aaron and Zeraora was about to begin.
Fortunately, Zeraora seemed to have a warrior's pride. It did not rush in immediately. Instead, it stood in place, blue eyes fixed on Aaron, as if waiting for him to make the first move.
"ROOOAR!"
Just then, Infernape's eyes flashed with a startling crimson light. It raised its head toward the full moon and let out a deafening roar.
Aaron lowered his head slightly. His body trembled, but his voice came out deep and steady.
"Infernape."
"Unleash your power."
"Transform into a Great Ape!"
"ROOOAR!"
The moment it heard Aaron's command, Infernape stopped suppressing the power of its Super Saiyan Primordial Lineage.
It threw its head back and roared at the sky.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
Massive heartbeats rang out, heavy and powerful, like war drums pounding across the moonlit field.
In the next instant, dazzling light erupted from Infernape's body and illuminated the entire night.
The radiance was so intense that both Arceus's fragment and Zeraora had to narrow their eyes.
Bzzzz...
A piercing vibration tore through the air.
"GRAAAH!"
From within the brilliant white light came a deep, savage roar that shook the clouds above.
It sounded as if some ancient beast had begun to awaken.
Deafening.
Overwhelming.
As the light slowly faded, a gigantic golden ape appeared beneath the full moon.
The Great Ape stood five meters tall, its body covered in golden fur. Blazing golden flames burned atop its head, and lightning crackled across its body in sharp, violent bursts.
Its towering frame was packed with bulging muscle. Its huge crimson eyes glowed like lanterns, while golden aura flames surged around it in waves. Its terrifying presence rolled outward, making the air so heavy that even breathing became difficult.
Cracks spread across the ground beneath its feet. Dust and shattered stone were crushed into powder.
This was Infernape's strongest form at present.
Super Saiyan 2.
Great Ape Form.
Activated.
"ROOOAR!"
The golden Great Ape beat its chest with both fists and roared thunderously at Zeraora.
It might as well have been saying:
Bring it on, kitten.
In the sky above, Arceus's fragment stared at the enormous golden ape in complete disbelief.
"Infernape can turn into that?"
For a moment, it looked genuinely lost.
"How did the Original One not know about this?"
It was a fragment of Arceus's will. It should have known every form every Pokémon possessed.
In its memory, Infernape absolutely should not have been capable of transforming into anything like this.
But Aaron was not finished.
His low voice rang out again.
"Everyone."
"Go all out."
"Snorlax, Fifth Gear: Nika Form."
"Charizard, Thunderflame Dragon Form."
"Greninja, Bond Phenomenon."
The moment Aaron gave the command, powerful auras erupted from all three Pokémon.
"SNOOORLAX!"
Snorlax narrowed its tiny eyes and gave a loud cry.
White flames instantly rose around its body, spreading across its head and limbs. Mysterious patterns appeared over its skin, parts of its body turned white, and ribbons of white smoke coiled around its waist and shoulders.
Nika Snorlax had arrived.
"GRAAAH!"
Beside it, Charizard let out a fierce roar.
Lightning flashed through its narrowed eyes. In the next moment, scorching flames and thunderbolts burst from its body, twisting together into one terrifying force.
It spread its wings and rose into the air like a Thunderflame Dragon, radiating overwhelming pressure.
"Grenin..."
Greninja stood in front of Aaron.
A flash of white light passed through its eyes, and its body suddenly shone with a sacred radiance that pierced through the darkness, illuminating the night.
Bzzzz...
A ringing tremor swept through the air. The gentle white light expanded in every direction, then abruptly drew back in.
Within that light, a new figure silently appeared before everyone.
It stood about 1.8 meters tall, dressed in a flowing white-and-blue mantle. Delicate armor wrapped around its head, with blade-like fins extending from both sides like a crown.
A white-and-blue cloak hung behind it. The cloak fluttered softly in the night wind.
In its hand was a white, glowing katana. Wisps of cloud and water mist drifted around its body, while strands of white sword energy flickered through the air.
It looked divine.
Greninja's Bond Phenomenon.
Its Base Stats Total had reached a terrifying 700, with its exclusive Ability, and its 240-power exclusive move, Sageblade Slash.
Arceus's fragment was now completely stunned.
A gigantic golden ape.
A white Snorlax.
A Charizard wrapped in flames and lightning.
And most absurd of all, a Pokémon it could barely even recognize.
Was that still Greninja?
I'm a fragment of the Original One.
How can there be a Pokémon even I don't recognize?
For the first time, the fragment began doubting itself.
"Is this really still the world I came from?"
It stared down at Aaron's team, faintly dazed.
"Or did I wake up in the wrong universe?"
Even as a fragment of Arceus, it felt a little lost.
But Aaron's voice rang out again.
"It's not over yet."
"Greninja."
"Activate the Tailed Beast Cloak."
"And Sage Mode too."
"Grenin..."
Greninja gave a low cry.
A red energy cloak suddenly surged from its body, wrapping around it like living flame.
Then white light flashed through its eyes, and mysterious markings appeared at the corners of its face.
Its pupils shifted into a cross-shaped pattern, cold and sharp.
Greninja locked its gaze on Zeraora across the field.
A fierce fighting spirit surged from its body.
...