"Cough… cough…"
"Instructor Zane!?"
"You still have one Pokémon left!?"
Aaron couldn't help but point it out.
"Aaron… this is my final Pokémon…"
"Come out—Steelix!!"
Suppressing the turmoil in his chest, Zane threw a Poké Ball.
A massive, steel-bodied, serpentine Pokémon emerged onto the battlefield.
Steelix.
Its colossal body stretched nearly nine meters long, towering even over Aaron's Gyarados.
Steelix.
At least nine meters long, it was even larger than Aaron's Gyarados.
[Name: Steelix]
[Gender: Male]
[Nature: Careful]
[Type: Steel, Ground]
[Ability: Rock Head]
[Base Stats Total: 510]
[Level: Elite (Mid Stage) ]
[Potential: Champion-Class level]
[Moves Known: Tackle (Mastery), Harden (Proficiency), Thunder Fang (Proficiency), Ice Fang (Proficiency), Fire Fang (Proficiency), Rock Tomb (Basic), Stealth Rock (Basic), Gyro Ball (Basic), Iron Tail, Dig, Crunch…]
[Description: Steelix, the Iron Snake Pokémon. The evolved form of Onix. Its rocky body is harder than steel, and it lives underground year-round…]
...
Aaron's mouth twitched.
"What the hell is this!?"
"This is going way too far, you bastard!!"
"Using an Elite-level Pokémon against a high school student!?"
"Is there no fairness anymore!?"
"Are there no rules at all!?"
In his head, Aaron had already cursed Zane more times than he could count.
Under Aaron's hostile stare, Zane's face flushed slightly. This really did look like bullying—but as the head instructor, he still had his pride.
Two of his Pokémon had already gone down back to back.
If he lost again, it would be a total embarrassment.
And besides, he genuinely wanted to see just how far Aaron could go.
"Ahem… Aaron, I'm really not trying to make things hard for you," Zane said.
"How about this—if you defeat my Steelix, I'll personally reward you with 20,000. What do you say?"
Aaron curled his lip and looked at Zane with utter disdain.
"Instructor Zane, are you questioning my integrity?"
"Do I really look like someone who'd sell out his principles for money?"
Zane froze, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face.
He hadn't expected the kid to have that kind of backbone.
…As an instructor, this was honestly a little humiliating.
"Unless…"
"...you add more."
"At least thirty thousand."
Aaron's voice rang out again.
Zane's eyelids twitched, the corner of his mouth tightening.
"Tsk…"
He clicked his tongue and shot Aaron a sideways glance.
"Instructor, what was that for?"
"Nothing. Just thought of something unpleasant."
"Oh. So—thirty thousand?"
"Fine. Defeat my Steelix first."
That settled it.
A battle with an overwhelming gap in strength was about to begin.
…
This time, Zane still had some sense of shame and didn't seize the initiative.
Aaron, of course, wouldn't hold back.
He was ready to unleash Snorlax's full power.
He also wanted to see just how strong Snorlax truly was.
"Snorlax… activate Fourth Gear!"
"Bouncy Snorlax!!"
Aaron's voice rang out, tinged with excitement.
"Snorla—!"
Snorlax roared in response.
Its arms were instantly coated in Armament Haki. It opened its mouth wide and began forcefully inflating its muscles.
In an instant, thick white steam erupted around its body, completely enveloping it.
"Hummmm—"
A violent gust of wind swept through as the steam dispersed.
A three-meter-tall figure stood before everyone.
Its limbs were covered in Armament Haki. Mysterious patterns wrapped around its belly, and a dark ring outlined its eyes.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
It bounced repeatedly across the ground.
Bouncy Snorlax had entered the battlefield.
"Snorla—!"
Snorlax fixed Steelix with a fierce stare and let out a thunderous roar, as if challenging it to a true clash of strength.
"Rooooar—!"
Steelix roared back just as fiercely.
A flash of shock crossed Zane's eyes.
So this was the true power of that Snorlax with its awakened ability!?
Its strength was on an entirely different level.
"Go, Bouncy Snorlax!!"
Aaron had just scanned Snorlax's current stats with the system.
Its physical attack had increased by three levels, while its defense and speed had risen by two.
This had to be the hidden effect of Fourth Gear.
Absolutely monstrous.
If it were just Armament Haki, attack would only rise by two levels—but now the boost was far beyond that.
"Bouncy Snorlax… use Gum-Gum King Kong Gun!!"
Aaron shouted.
"Snorla—!"
Snorlax roared as its massive arm rapidly compressed, the fist shrinking back before snapping forward at terrifying speed.
Boom—
The punch detonated the air itself, deafening explosions echoing through the battlefield.
The sheer power was unmistakable.
Zane's pupils shrank sharply.
So fast—and so strong!!
At Steelix's speed, dodging was impossible.
It could only take the attack head-on!
"Come on… I refuse to believe my Elite (Mid Stage) Steelix can't tank even one hit from you!?"
"Steelix—Iron Tail!!"
Zane roared.
"Hiss—!"
Steelix let out a thunderous roar. Its long tail flashed with a brilliant gleam as it slammed straight into Snorlax's King Kong Gun.
BOOM———
A massive shockwave exploded outward, violent winds howling as dust and debris filled the air, like a missile detonating on impact.
The ferocity of the collision once again left the other examinees completely stunned.
"What the hell is going on now!?"