BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A massive explosion roared through the heavens.
An enormous cloud of smoke and light surged into the sky, punching through the clouds and scattering them for hundreds of meters in every direction.
For a moment, the entire sky was swallowed by that towering blast.
At the center of the explosion, lightning flashed, sword energy tore through the air, and white flames scattered like falling stars.
Terrifying energy swept across the land like a tidal wave, throwing countless particles of dust into the sky and whipping up a violent gale.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
...
High above the battlefield, a protective energy shield lit up around Arceus's fragment, wrapping it completely and blocking the shockwave.
The fragment stared at the scene before it, utterly shaken.
"What in the world..."
Its voice came out faintly dazed.
"This is not remotely how the world is supposed to work."
A human turning into a giant monster was already ridiculous enough.
But Gym-level Pokémon producing this kind of destructive power?
And their opponent was Zeraora, a Champion Mythical Pokémon.
If the fragment had not seen it with its own eyes, it would never have believed it.
Even now, the shock in its eyes refused to fade.
...
The thick dust and smoke were slowly blown away by the gale, revealing the true state of the explosion's center.
A gigantic crater had been carved into the battlefield, like the scar left by a fallen meteor.
It was over a hundred meters wide, and a massive, bottomless sword mark cut straight through the pit, as if the earth itself had nearly been split apart.
Sword energy still lingered inside the trench.
White flames burned at the bottom of the crater.
And standing there, covered in blood, was Zeraora.
Drip. Drip.
Its eyelids drooped, and both arms hung weakly at its sides. Blood dripped from its body, drop by drop, onto the shattered ground beneath it.
Swish! Swish!
Aaron, panting heavily, flapped his enormous wings and landed not far from Zeraora.
Greninja and Snorlax arrived beside him as well.
Both Pokémon had just used their strongest attacks. Now they were breathing hard, staring at Zeraora in disbelief.
How is it still standing?
So this is the vitality of a Champion-level Pokémon?
It was terrifyingly stubborn.
Zeraora slowly raised its head.
Its weary eyes carried a faint trace of relief as it looked at Aaron.
Then a weak voice sounded directly in his mind.
"Your strength... I acknowledge it."
"Young trainer, you have earned my recognition."
"I can entrust my child to you."
"Arceus will grant you my Egg. Please take good care of it."
"Raise it well. Let it grow into a Mythical Pokémon strong enough to stand on its own."
"And one day... let it fight to protect the Outer World."
"I'm counting on you, boy."
The voice grew weaker with every word.
Aaron's pupils shrank slightly.
He realized the voice was coming from Zeraora.
After hearing those words, Aaron nodded firmly.
"Don't worry, Zeraora."
His voice was low, but sincere.
"I'll raise your child well."
"I promise."
Zeraora looked into Aaron's eyes.
A faint smile curved its lips.
Then its eyes slowly closed.
Its body collapsed into the deep crater, sending up a cloud of dust.
Zeraora was unable to battle.
Aaron had won.
...
High in the air, Arceus's fragment froze.
Zeraora had truly been defeated.
Defeated by a young trainer, and by a team that, according to the tower's rules, should only have been Gym-level.
It was almost too absurd to accept.
For a long moment, the fragment stared at Aaron below, emotions churning in its heart. Then its voice came quietly, but with firm conviction.
"There's no mistake. This boy was chosen by the will of the world... and by Arceus."
A faint tremor entered its voice.
"The Outer World finally has hope."
Excitement surged through the fragment as it looked at Aaron. In him, it saw limitless possibility. Whether it was his impossible transformation or the strange power changing his Pokémon, this boy clearly possessed something extraordinary.
A power that was transforming both him and his team.
...
At that moment, the full moon slowly faded from the sky.
A dazzling light rose along the horizon where the sky met the earth.
The first ray of sunlight.
Dawn had broken.
Morning light dispelled the darkness, and the world gradually brightened. Aaron's Great Ape form faded, the Battle Core armor dispersed, and his body returned to its original appearance.
Greninja and Snorlax also reverted to their normal forms, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
Aaron dropped onto the ground, panting heavily. Then he looked at the two Pokémon beside him, and a bright smile spread across his face.
"Everyone... we won."
"SNOOORLAX!"
"Grenin!"
Snorlax and Greninja nodded happily.
Bathed in the warm morning light, the young Trainer and his two Pokémon smiled together.
It was a simple scene, but somehow more moving than any grand speech.
This was the bond between a Trainer and his Pokémon: fighting with everything they had, then sharing the joy of victory together.
...