The Sky Holds Its Breath
High above everything—
At the peak of the Flying Championship—
A single battlefield floated.
Wider than all the others.
More unstable than any before.
The wind didn't flow here.
It clashed.
Violently.
Relentlessly.
On one side—
Elior stepped forward.
His expression calm.
Focused.
Everything he had learned—
Every battle—
Led to this moment.
On the other side—
Still.
Unshaken.
Aero.
He didn't look tense.
Didn't look excited.
Just… ready.
The signal echoed across the sky—
BEGIN!
No delay.
No hesitation.
First Move
"Skyrend—go!"
Skyrend launched forward instantly.
The wind hit—
Harder than ever before.
But it didn't falter.
Not this time.
Aero moved calmly.
"Staraptor."
A flash of light—
Staraptor appeared.
The moment it entered—
The wind shifted.
Skyrend attacked first.
Fast.
Sharp.
"Aerial Strike!"
It dove—
Perfect timing.
Perfect control.
Staraptor didn't dodge wildly.
It moved slightly—
Just enough.
The attack barely missed.
Aero's voice was calm:
"Good."
A pause.
"But not enough."
Staraptor moved.
Not fast—
But efficient.
A single strike—
Clean.
Precise.
Skyrend was hit directly.
Elior Reacts
"…So fast—!"
Elior narrowed his eyes.
"Stay focused!"
Skyrend recovered mid-air.
Barely stabilizing.
"Again!"
Skyrend charged—
This time adjusting mid-flight.
Flowing with the wind.
Breaking its direction.
Adapting—
Everything Elior learned.
Staraptor attacked again—
But now—
Skyrend responded.
A dodge.
A counter.
A clash mid-air.
Wind exploded outward.
Platforms shook.
Air currents spiraled wildly.
This wasn't a one-sided battle.
Not anymore.
Aero Observes
Aero watched silently.
Analyzing.
Not impressed yet—
But not dismissing either.
"…You've improved."
Elior Pushes Forward
Elior stepped forward.
"…We're not stopping here!"
"Skyrend—push through!"
Skyrend roared—
Charging again.
Faster.
Sharper.
More aggressive.
Staraptor responded immediately.
The two clashed again—
And again—
And again.
Each impact stronger than the last.
But slowly—
Skyrend began to fall behind.
Its movements—
Still strong—
But slightly slower.
Staraptor didn't change.
Didn't slow.
Didn't struggle.
Elior clenched his fist.
"…There's still a gap…"
Aero spoke calmly:
"You reached this far through effort."
A pause.
"But this is where talent decides."
"Skyrend—NOW!"
One final push—
Skyrend launched forward with everything it had.
A direct clash with Staraptor.
A massive explosion of wind filled the sky.
Smoke Clears
Both Pokémon separated.
Skyrend—
Breathing heavily.
Wings shaking.
Staraptor—
Standing steady.
Unshaken.
Elior Realizes
"…So this is your true level…"
Elior whispered.
For the first time—
He felt it clearly.
A wall.
Aero Steps Forward
Aero slowly raised his hand.
"…You did well."
A pause.
"But this is where it ends."
Elior's eyes shifted—
To Aero's wrist.
A strange band.
Glowing faintly.
The wind changed.
Suddenly—
Violently.
Spiraling around Aero.
Elior's Instinct
"…That's not normal…"
The air felt heavier.
Charged.
Like something was about to happen.
Staraptor spread its wings—
Its aura expanding.
The sky darkened slightly.
Aero's voice echoed across the battlefield—
Calm.
Absolute.
"Staraptor…"
The band on his wrist burst with light.
Energy surged between him and his Pokémon.
The wind spiraled wildly.
The sky trembled.
Then—
He spoke:
"Mega Evolve."
Light exploded across the sky.
And the journey continues....