Aggron was shaken back a few steps by the recoil, its steps somewhat staggering; its stamina was already heavily depleted, and its panting was clearly audible.
Ariel felt a hint of pressure in his heart. Although Protect was successful, Milotic had also endured a significant amount of pressure.
Aggron's Double-Edge, even when blocked by Protect, carried a force that was by no means negligible.
He noticed Cynthia's expression tighten slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.
Her control over the battle was admirable.
"Milotic, Hydro Pump!"
Cynthia immediately followed up with an order, giving Aggron no chance to catch its breath.
A powerful jet of water erupted from Milotic's mouth, heading straight for Aggron.
With the power of the Hydro Pump combined with Aggron's current exhaustion, the blow landed solidly.
Aggron was knocked back by the powerful water pressure, its body sliding a distance across the ground, making a heavy grinding sound as its armor scraped against the floor, sending sparks flying everywhere.
A faint furrow appeared on Steven's forehead.
Aggron was already showing signs of decline; its movements had become sluggish, and its defense no longer seemed so impregnable.
But he knew well that Milotic's stamina was not infinite, and Aggron's attack power remained considerable.
"Aggron, Brick Break!"
Steven tried to turn the tide, intending to use his remaining strength to fight for a glimmer of hope.
Aggron let out a low roar, the muscles in its arms bulging as it gathered immense power and swung out fiercely.
Brick Break, this sharp strike, appeared so powerful and heavy when used by Aggron.
This was a desperate gamble, using the last of its strength to try for a one-hit knockout.
"Milotic, Recover, then Hydro Pump!"
Cynthia's command surprised Ariel, but he understood her profound intent in an instant.
A soft green light enveloped Milotic as it began to rapidly Recover its stamina.
At the same time, a special layer of energy surfaced on its body as water continuously condensed in its mouth.
The Hammer Arm attack landed, smashing heavily into Milotic's body.
The Milotic, having used Recover, weathered the blow, but the Aggron hit by the Hydro Pump didn't fare so well.
The majestic Hydro Pump blasted directly into Aggron's abdomen, causing Aggron to let out a shrill wail.
Its massive body could not withstand such a heavy blow and crashed to the ground, its metal armor colliding with the floor with a loud bang.
Aggron struggled a few times, but finally, its eyes lost their luster and turned into swirls.
Ariel watched this scene, shocked but also with a sense of understanding.
Recover! He had almost forgotten that Milotic still had this move.
Steven took a deep breath and recalled Aggron. There wasn't much frustration on his face; instead, he looked somewhat relieved.
He nodded to Cynthia, his eyes filled with respect for a powerful opponent.
"As expected of Cynthia, your Milotic is indeed powerful."
Steven's voice was full of admiration, with not a hint of resentment in his tone.
Cynthia smiled slightly, and Milotic gently nuzzled her arm, as if responding to its Trainer's praise.
"Your Aggron was also excellent, Steven, especially your choices of Double-Edge and Brick Break at the end; they really put the pressure on me."
Cynthia responded in a gentle tone, showing her grace.
Ariel stood at the edge of the field, watching the two Champion level Trainers, his mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.
He had gained much from this battle.
The battle between Steven and Cynthia ended cleanly, with the scorched scent of energy collisions still lingering in the air.
Ariel was still immersed in the afterglow of that high-level duel when his shoulder was suddenly given a heavy pat.
He came back to his senses and met Steven's sparkling eyes.
"It's your turn."
Steven was concise.
"Me?"
Ariel pointed to his own nose, his mind momentarily failing to keep up.
Steven raised an eyebrow as if it were a matter of course,
"Otherwise? Do you really think I invited you here just to watch? This is a rare opportunity; Miss Cynthia will be returning to Sinnoh soon. If you miss this time, who knows when the next meeting will be."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a stone cast into the calm lake of Ariel's heart.
Battle the future Sinnoh Champion?
The thought was so crazy that he had never even considered it.
Before he could organize his words to decline, another gentle yet impossible-to-ignore gaze fell upon him.
"I would also very much like to see your strength, Ariel."
Cynthia's voice was very soft, with a unique magnetic quality, without the slightest bit of pressure, yet making it impossible to refuse.
Now that things had reached this point, backing down wouldn't just be affectation; it would be cowardice.
Ariel's competitive spirit, belonging to a Trainer, was ignited by a few words from these two future Champions.
His blood began to flow faster, uncontrollably.
He took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, stepped forward, and stood opposite Cynthia.
"Then, please guide me."
Seeing Ariel accept the challenge, the corners of Cynthia's lips curled up slightly; it was the appreciation of meeting a worthy opponent.
Without the slightest hint of dismissal, she reached back and took out a Poké Ball, her movements elegant and swift.
"Go, Garchomp!"
With a flash of red light, a sleek and intimidating pokémon appeared on the field!
That was no ordinary Pseudo-Legendary.
Garchomp just stood there quietly, the fins on its arms reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun with a metallic cold light.
It didn't even roar; its mere presence caused the air pressure of the entire field to sink.
That invisible pressure made the very air feel thick.
Gym Leader Level! And a top-tier existence among Gym Leader Levels!
Beside them, Steven's pupils subconsciously contracted, his mouth silently muttering something, clearly making a direct comparison between this Garchomp and his own Metagross.
The level of cultivation of this Garchomp had already exceeded the scope of its peers.
Ariel's heart skipped a beat.
He knew Cynthia was strong, but he hadn't expected that at this stage, she had already trained her ace to such a level.
This Garchomp would stand at the top of the world in the future, and it wouldn't even be an exaggeration to call it the strongest in history.
Pressure, an unprecedented pressure, came rushing at him.
But rising alongside it was an even more vigorous fighting spirit! To be able to clash with such an opponent was an honor in itself!
Ariel's gaze sharpened as he threw his own Poké Ball.
"Roar—!"
Accompanied by a deafening roar, a massive figure burst forth from the light and slammed heavily onto the ground, kicking up a ring of dust.
Gyarados!
A Superior Level 46 Gyarados, over 10 meters in length, its hideous dragon head held high, its deep blue scales shimmering with a daunting cold light under the sun.
Its appearance instantly used its violent aura to tear through the stagnation brought by Garchomp.
Garchomp even looked somewhat small in front of Gyarados.
However, the difference in level was an unignorable chasm.
The Level 55 Garchomp, facing a Gyarados that far exceeded it in size, showed no flicker of emotion in its eyes, only the calm and indifference of a top-tier predator.
Gyarados felt the threat, irritably swinging its thick tail, a low growl emerging from its throat, its crimson eyes deathly locked on to the opponent that brought it such immense pressure.
The advantage of size appeared so pale in the face of absolute strength.
Ariel knew very well that the chances of winning this battle were slim.
But so what?
His gaze crossed Gyarados's massive body and met Cynthia's in the distance.
If we are to fight, then let us fight to our heart's content!
***************************
Enjoying the story? Don't forget to drop a review, leave a comment, and smash that like button! Every Power Stone helps push the story further—thanks for reading and supporting! 🚀