"That guy... is really this powerful?"
The masked woman stared through the window at Aaron, balanced atop Charizard's head as the two enormous Pokémon flew beside the damaged aircraft.
Until now, she had barely paid him any attention.
His clothes looked inexpensive, and although he was attractive, that alone meant little to her. He had booked an economy seat, so she had assumed he was just another ordinary student without money or influence.
She had also witnessed the entire confrontation with the elderly couple from the beginning.
She knew Aaron had not started it.
Even so, she had remained silent, watching the situation spiral out of control as though it were entertainment.
Now the young man she had dismissed was standing in the open sky, commanding two Pokémon powerful enough to shake the clouds.
And he was risking his life to save everyone aboard.
Regret twisted in her chest.
She had spent the entire flight sitting beside one of Hualis's most promising young Trainers and had thrown away the chance to make even a decent first impression.
A simple conversation might have led somewhere.
Instead, she had judged him by his clothes and ticket class before learning anything about him.
...
Outside the aircraft, Aaron stood firmly atop Charizard's head and finally got a clear look at their attackers.
A massive flock of pitch-black Fearow circled the plane.
Even the weakest among them had reached Advanced (Peak Stage). Many were already Elite-level, while several possessed the pressure of Gym-level Pokémon.
Aaron focused on one of the strongest and opened its information panel.
[Name: Shadow Fearow]
[Gender: Male]
[Nature: Fierce — Attack increased by 13%.]
[Type: Normal/Flying]
[Ability: Sharp Beak — Increases the power of beak-based moves by 20%.]
[Base Stats Total: 443]
[Level: Gym (Peak Stage)]
[Potential: Gym]
[Known Moves: Drill Peck (Perfect), Quick Attack (Perfect), Razor Wind (Perfect), Tri Attack (Mastery), Steel Wing (Mastery), Sky Attack (Mastery), Drill Run (Mastery), Agility (Mastery), Roost (Mastery)...]
[Description: Shadow Fearow, the Beak Pokémon. In the Inner World, they hunt in flocks and fight with relentless ferocity until either they or their prey fall.]
...
Aaron frowned.
The miniature Arceus had once told him that Pokémon from the Inner World were generally stronger than their counterparts in the Outer World.
Their environment was unforgiving. Many were forced to fight for food and territory from the moment they were born, and hesitation often meant death.
Aaron had not fully appreciated the difference until now.
Any one of these Shadow Fearow could overwhelm an ordinary Fearow of the same level.
The flock soon noticed Aaron and his Pokémon.
"KREEEAAAH!"
Dozens of shrill cries tore through the sky.
The Shadow Fearow folded their wings and dove, streaking toward Aaron like a storm of black arrows.
"Gyarados, use Flame Clouds to support the plane!"
Aaron pointed toward the falling aircraft.
"Slow its descent and keep it stable!"
Then he turned toward Charizard.
"Fire Dragon's Roar! Clear them out!"
"GRAAAADOS!"
Gyarados twisted through the sky and released wave after wave of Flame Clouds.
The glowing clouds spread beneath the aircraft and wrapped around its wings and fuselage, forming a vast cushion of supernatural force.
The plane's descent immediately slowed.
Its violent tilting eased, and the pilots gradually regained a measure of control.
But the aircraft was enormous.
Even Gyarados could not hold its full weight indefinitely. The Flame Clouds kept it stable and dramatically reduced its rate of descent, but the plane was still slowly losing altitude.
For now, that was enough.
Inside the aircraft, the passengers felt the shaking weaken.
The nose leveled out, and the terrifying drop in their stomachs finally eased.
"We're slowing down!"
"He did it! He's holding up the plane!"
"We might actually survive!"
Relief swept through every section of the aircraft.
One passenger suddenly grabbed his girlfriend's hand.
"We almost died without ever getting married."
She stared at him.
"Are you proposing right now?"
"Yes! Marry me!"
Tears filled her eyes.
"Okay!"
Nearby, a little girl pressed her face against the window.
"Mommy, is that man a superhero?"
Her mother looked out at Aaron and the two enormous Pokémon flying beside the plane.
"Right now, I think he is."
The girl nodded seriously.
"Then when I grow up, I'm going to marry him."
Her mother opened her mouth, then quietly decided not to argue.
Across business and first class, passengers watched Aaron with amazement and gratitude.
The people in economy felt something more complicated.
Relief.
Awe.
Shame.
Only minutes ago, many of them had mocked Aaron, condemned him, or said he deserved to die.
Now he was the only person standing between them and a fatal crash.
...
Gyarados remained focused on sustaining the Flame Clouds and could not evade the incoming flock.
Several Shadow Fearow slammed into its body with their spear-like beaks.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The impacts rang against its hardened scales like metal striking armor.
Sparks scattered through the air as the attacks carved pale scratches across the blue plating, but none penetrated deeply.
Gyarados snarled and held its position beneath the aircraft.
"ZAAARD!"
Charizard's furious cry shook the clouds.
Fire gathered inside its jaws, growing brighter and hotter until the air around its mouth began to distort.
Then it unleashed Fire Dragon's Roar.
A vast torrent of flame ripped through the flock.
The Shadow Fearow tried to scatter, but they had committed too deeply to their dive. The attack engulfed dozens of them at once, breaking their formation and hurling them away from the plane.
One after another, the scorched Fearow plummeted through the clouds, trailing smoke behind them.
Aaron narrowed his eyes at the rest of the flock.
The plane was temporarily stable.
Now he could focus on eliminating the threat.
...