"Hehe..."
Aotum looked at the cold fury in Aaron's eyes and smiled.
"I really like that look. Unfortunately, now that you know our secret, I can't let you leave alive."
His gaze shifted to Charizard, and the smile on his face grew colder.
"That Charizard is the only Pokémon you brought, isn't it? The rest are still back there cleaning up the army."
He let out a low laugh.
"You really did underestimate me. No matter what, I'm still second in line to Corestone Group. Did you honestly think I'd be helpless?"
To Aotum, Aaron had made a fatal mistake. Chasing him down with only one Pokémon was practically begging to die.
Perfect.
He could kill Aaron here and remove the threat for good.
Aotum took five Poké Balls from inside his coat and threw them into the air.
"Come out, my Cybernetic Pokémon."
Light flashed, and five modified Pokémon appeared around him.
A Machamp stepped forward first, half of its face covered in steel plating and exposed machinery. One eye glowed crimson beneath a mechanical helmet, and heavy steel gauntlets wrapped all four of its fists. Its aura had reached peak Gym-level.
Beside it stood a Scyther whose scythe-like arms had been replaced by high-speed chainsaw blades. It looked like 'Chainsaw Man' had been rebuilt as a Pokémon. Its strength was late Gym-level.
Then came a Blastoise with half of its head modified and the water cannons on its back replaced by reinforced mechanical barrels, each one glowing with dangerous blue light. It was mid Gym-level.
An Electabuzz followed, wearing a mechanical helmet with an Electirizer-like device strapped to its back. Arcs of electricity snapped violently across its body, its strength also at mid Gym-level.
The last was an Ursaring clad in black steel armor, sharpened metal claws fitted over both hands. It looked less like a wild Pokémon and more like an armored beast built for war.
Together with Cybernetic Slaking, six modified Pokémon now stood between Aaron and Aotum.
Their combined pressure rolled outward, heavy and violent, making the air feel colder.
Aotum laughed when he saw Aaron's serious expression.
"Well? Surprised?"
"You really are a monster, kid. I'll give you that. But you're too confident."
His eyes turned cruel.
"Today, you die here."
Aaron glanced across the six Cybernetic Pokémon, then looked back at Aotum.
"I am a little surprised," he said calmly. "But you got one thing wrong."
Aotum raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? And what would that be?"
Aaron was silent for a moment.
Then his eyes turned cold.
"I didn't only bring Charizard."
"There's another one."
"The one you killed with your own hands."
"Rookidee."
Aotum froze for half a second before sneering.
"Impossible. You said it yourself. Rookidee is dead."
His face twisted with mockery.
"What are you doing now? Trying to scare me with ghost stories?"
Aaron ignored him.
He turned slightly toward the Corviknight spirit that had been beside him the entire time.
"Little guy..." His voice softened. "This moment finally came."
"Let's fight together."
"End this."
"Kraa..."
A faint purple light flashed through Corviknight's eyes as it answered him with a soft cry.
Aotum's expression darkened.
"Still pretending?"
He pointed at Aaron.
"Fine. Kill him."
"Cybernetic Blastoise, enhanced Hydro Pump. Blast him apart."
"BLAS-TOISE!"
Cybernetic Blastoise let out a heavy roar as the mechanical barrels on its back lit up with deep blue energy. The glow intensified, pressure building inside the cannons.
That was the strength of Cybernetic Pokémon.
Their bodies had been turned into weapons, and their moves were amplified through machinery.
BOOOOM!
Two massive streams of pressurized water fired from Blastoise's back and tore toward Aaron with terrifying force.
Aaron did not move.
As the enhanced Hydro Pump roared toward him, purple light flashed in his eyes.
"Corviknight... activate Battle Core."
The moment the words left his mouth, dazzling purple light erupted from Aaron's body.
VMMMM—
A powerful force surged outward.
BOOOOM!
A violent gale exploded around him, lifting soil, broken stone, and scraps of metal from the ground. Purple energy twisted into a massive tornado, swallowing Aaron's figure completely.
WHOOOOSH!
Aotum raised his arm to shield his eyes from the blinding light.
"What... what is this?"
Through the gaps between his fingers, he stared at Aaron in shock.
At that same moment, Cybernetic Blastoise's enhanced Hydro Pump slammed into the purple radiance.
BOOOOM!
The explosion tore through the forest.
The place where Aaron had been standing vanished beneath thick smoke, flying debris, and shattered stone, as if the ground itself had been hit by artillery fire.
...