Aaron looked at Scyther lying motionless on the ground, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
Just as he had guessed, these Cybernetic Pokémon had gained stronger moves, higher attack power, and tougher defenses, but the modifications had also created a glaring weakness.
The control helmets.
Destroy the helmet controlling their minds, and the Pokémon shut down with it.
"Aotum... your new species doesn't seem like much."
Aaron looked at him with a faint sneer.
"They're this weak, and you still dare call them the strongest Pokémon?"
Aotum's face turned ugly.
He took two deep breaths, a cold gleam flashing through his eyes before he snapped at the two Pokémon beside him.
"Blastoise! Electabuzz! Attack!"
"Enhanced Hydro Pump!"
"Enhanced Thunderbolt!"
Then he pointed at Ursaring.
"And you—Hammer Arm!"
"BLAS-TOISE!"
"ELEC-TABUZZ!"
The two modified Pokémon roared, red light flashing in their mechanical eyes.
Blastoise's reinforced cannons lit up with water-blue energy as pressure built inside the barrels.
BOOM! BOOM!
Two massive Hydro Pumps blasted toward Aaron at terrifying speed, far faster and stronger than a normal attack.
At the same time, electricity crackled violently across Electabuzz's body. The power unit on its back flared yellow, and a huge bolt of lightning tore through the air toward Aaron.
CRACKLE!
Ursaring roared and moved to unleash Hammer Arm.
But before it could attack, a voice sounded right beside it.
"Quit yelling."
"I'll be borrowing you."
The armored bear had no idea what was happening before a sharp pain exploded through its abdomen.
BANG!
Aaron had already appeared in front of it, his armored fist buried deep against its stomach plating.
"Urgh..."
Blood spilled from Ursaring's mouth.
But Aaron was not done.
He grabbed the modified Pokémon with both hands, turned, and used it as a shield.
BOOM! BOOM!
Blastoise's enhanced Hydro Pumps slammed straight into Ursaring.
"URSAA!"
The armored bear let out a pained roar.
Then came the follow-up.
After the hydrotherapy came the electrotherapy.
Electabuzz's boosted Thunderbolt crashed down immediately after, striking Ursaring while its body was still soaked from Blastoise's attack.
KRA-KOOM!
Electricity ripped across Ursaring's armor.
"URSAAAH!"
Its entire body convulsed as sparks burst from its mechanical parts. Water and electricity combined perfectly, turning the attack into something brutally effective.
For poor Ursaring, it was a disaster.
Its eyes rolled back. The machinery across its body short-circuited, spraying sparks and arcs of electricity in every direction.
KZZZT! KRAK!
Then it collapsed heavily onto the cold ground.
THUD!
Ursaring probably never imagined the attack that finished it would come from its own allies.
Aotum stared at the fallen Pokémon, his face turning pitch-black.
"Holy shit..."
"You shameless bastard!"
Aaron had used his own Pokémon as a shield, then let Blastoise and Electabuzz take it down for him.
To Aotum, it felt less like a tactic and more like Aaron grinding his face into the dirt.
"Hahaha..."
Aaron smiled faintly.
"Let's not point fingers."
"Everyone here contributed to Ursaring's death."
Then his gaze turned cold again.
"Next, it's your turn, Aotum."
WHOOSH!
The wings on Aaron's back snapped open.
Dust and broken stones surged from the ground as he shot forward at extreme speed.
Aotum's eyes flashed with panic.
"Stop him!"
"Hurry up and stop him!"
"BLAS-TOISE!"
Blastoise roared.
Silver energy gathered inside its mechanical barrels before two beams fired at once.
Enhanced Flash Cannon.
Aaron's eyes narrowed.
The purple-black wings behind him lit up with dazzling silver light.
Steel Wing.
WHOOSH!
He cut through the air at high speed, his sharpened wings slicing straight into the twin Flash Cannons.
The silver beams split apart cleanly, as if cut by blades.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The severed energy detonated in midair, explosions blooming behind him as he kept moving forward.
At that moment, Electabuzz rushed in from the side.
Its fist was wrapped in intense electricity, lightning flashing violently around it.
Thunder Punch.
Aaron's expression did not change.
With Steel Wing still active, he flashed past Electabuzz in a streak of silver light.
SLASH!
The battlefield went still for an instant.
Fear appeared in Electabuzz's eyes.
Then its mechanical head split cleanly in two.
Sparks erupted from the cut as its body collapsed to the ground, completely lifeless.
A mid Gym-level Electabuzz was down.
In only a short time, Aotum had lost three modified Pokémon.
Only Slaking, Machamp, and Blastoise remained.
...