Aaron forced down the shock and rage building inside him, pulled his cap lower, and pushed the cart toward the chamber the researcher had pointed out.
When he reached the glass enclosure, he saw a massive bird Pokémon covered from head to toe in black, steel-like feathers.
Aaron picked up the pole from the cart and stepped inside, preparing to lift the Pokémon out.
"Kraa..."
At that moment, the Pokémon slowly opened its eyes. It was still barely alive.
It looked at Aaron, and for a brief moment, joy appeared in its fading gaze. Then it let out one last weak cry.
A tear slipped from its eye, slid across its cold armor plating, and fell to the floor.
Drip.
Its life aura vanished completely.
CLANG!
The pole slipped from Aaron's hand and struck the floor with a sharp metallic sound.
Aaron stared at the Pokémon in front of him. That final cry, those eyes—everything struck him at once. His mind went blank for an instant, his eyes reddened, and his throat tightened.
He slowly reached out with a trembling hand and stroked the Pokémon's head.
"Little one..."
"It's you... isn't it?"
This Pokémon was Rookidee's final evolution.
Corviknight.
Memories flashed through Aaron's mind.
Rookidee... I think I saw one underground.
It was locked inside one of the laboratories.
It might be used as experimental material.
Then everything clicked into place: the forced evolutions, the impossibly short time frame, the look in Corviknight's eyes at the very end, and that final cry.
Aaron understood.
This Corviknight was the little one.
Rookidee.
The realization hit him like a fist to the chest.
"Rook... rookidee..."
The scene of their first meeting surfaced in his mind. It had been shy, timid, tiny, and so polite it almost hurt to look at.
Like a sensible little girl trying not to trouble anyone.
Fate had let them meet and travel together, even if only for a short while. But during that brief time, a simple, innocent bond had formed between Aaron and the little one.
Rookidee had remembered him.
Even at the edge of death, it had stubbornly held onto its last breath, maybe just to see him one more time.
And now that wish had been fulfilled.
So it could finally let go.
Aaron...
I'm so happy...
I got to see you again.
Thank you...
A soft, young voice echoed faintly in Aaron's heart.
One tear slipped down Aaron's cheek and landed on Corviknight's cold body.
"Damn it..."
"You all deserve to die."
His voice was low, quiet, and shaking with fury.
"Hey, you!"
"What the hell are you doing!?"
"Hurry up and move that trash Pokémon out of there!"
"Do you still want this job or not!?"
Seeing Aaron still stroking Corviknight, the researcher pointed at him and cursed loudly.
BOOOOM!
Golden aura erupted from Aaron's body.
His cap burst apart, and his golden hair rose upright, making him look like a furious punk surrounded by burning light.
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
Violent waves of energy exploded outward and shattered the surrounding glass.
WEE-OOO! WEE-OOO!
"Warning! Warning!"
"Glass Chamber No. 5 has been breached."
"Powerful energy fluctuations detected."
"Security response required immediately."
"Warning!"
Red emergency lights flashed throughout the underground laboratory as piercing alarms screamed.
Everyone in the lab froze for a moment before rushing toward Glass Chamber No. 5.
...
Inside the office, Aotum heard the alarm.
His brows furrowed as he turned toward one of the suited men.
"What are you standing around for?"
"Go check it out."
The suited man hurriedly nodded and left the office.
Aotum stared toward the laboratory, an uneasy feeling slowly rising in his chest.
...
Outside Glass Chamber No. 5, the researcher stared at the golden figure before him in horror.
"Y-you..."
"Who the hell are you!?"
"You're not that porter!"
Inside the shattered chamber, Aaron's eyes were bloodshot.
Rage pushed his Super Saiyan bloodline into activation on its own, and a terrifying aura surged from him like a violent storm, sweeping outward in every direction.
Aaron stared at the researcher expressionlessly.
In his eyes, the man was already dead.
BOOM!
Aaron vanished from where he stood and appeared directly in front of him.
He grabbed the researcher by the throat with one hand and lifted him into the air.
The researcher was so terrified he nearly pissed himself. His face turned pale as both hands clawed desperately at Aaron's arm, his legs kicking in panic.
Aaron looked at him coldly.
"In my eyes..."
"You're the real trash."
CRACK!
Aaron smashed the researcher's head apart with a single punch.
Blood sprayed through the air as the headless corpse collapsed onto the cold laboratory floor.
At that moment, the security personnel finally arrived.
More than a dozen guards in security uniforms surrounded Aaron.
They looked at the golden aura blazing around him, then at the headless corpse beneath his feet.
Shock filled their faces.