Standing on the battlefield was a towering ape-like form nearly five meters tall, its entire body covered in golden fur.
Blazing golden flames rose from the top of its head, and its massive frame was packed with bulging muscle.
Crimson light burned in its eyes.
Golden flames surged around it. Its overwhelming pressure rolled outward, making the air itself feel unbearably heavy.
Even breathing became difficult.
Crack… crack… crack…
Tiny cracks spread through the ground around it, as if the battlefield itself could barely withstand the power of this transformed Infernape.
"GRAAAAAH!"
The golden giant raised its head and let out a deafening roar. A terrifying shockwave blasted outward, stirring up a violent gale.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Everyone within several kilometers of the Fighting Arena heard that colossal roar. One after another, they turned to look toward the arena.
In the stands, everyone's mouths hung open in absolute shock.
Their eyes went wide.
Gulp.
As they stared at the terrifying golden ape on the battlefield, the sound of people swallowing kept ringing out.
"Um… am I hallucinating? Did Infernape just evolve again?"
"No… I saw it too! Infernape transformed!"
"Wait, what is that supposed to be? A new evolution? A special form? Does anyone know? Please explain!"
"The experts have officially shut down…"
"Holy shit, this is insane… The pressure coming from that thing is terrifying. My legs are actually shaking."
"My mom asked me why I'm kneeling while watching the match…"
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her I was witnessing a god."
…
The crowd in the stands had been completely stunned by Infernape's golden transformation.
It had gone far beyond anything they understood.
Infernape could transform again after its final evolution?
They would never have dared to imagine something like this happening.
This was straight out of science fiction.
Even a movie about Infernape would not dare go this far.
At the host's podium, Kenny finally snapped back to himself. He hurriedly picked up the microphone that had fallen to the floor, brought it to his mouth, and shouted,
"Cue the kaiju music, because this is unreal!"
"Contestant Aaron's Infernape has actually transformed into a terrifying five-meter-tall golden ape!"
"This is straight out of science fiction! I can hardly believe it, but the truth is right in front of us. We have no choice but to believe it!"
"Infernape really has taken on a completely new form!"
"This is unbelievable. And the pressure it's giving off is absolutely terrifying. I have a feeling…"
"This match may be about to come to an end!"
Kenny leaned over the railing, his face flushed red as he shouted into the microphone with overwhelming excitement.
For him, this day was truly the peak of his career as a host.
An unknown, powerful Pokémon: the Muscle Mosquito.
Infernape revealing an impossible golden transformation.
Two young, top-tier Trainers clashing in the finals.
This was the stage every host dreamed of.
Kenny's heart was filled with boundless excitement.
This was simply too awesome.
…
On the battlefield, Cedric stared at Infernape's transformed form, his eyes wide with terror.
His legs trembled slightly. Even breathing felt difficult.
He never would have dreamed that Infernape could suddenly turn into something like this.
And that it would become this powerful.
This terrifying.
Shock, fear, and even a trace of despair filled Cedric's chest.
"This… this is impossible!"
"You… you're cheating!"
"How could Infernape have another form?"
"According to Pokémon evolutionary history, Infernape can't evolve any further! What the hell is going on with yours?"
"I don't believe this is real…"
"This is absolutely impossible!"
"Who the hell are you?"
Cedric roared at Aaron, his face twisted with emotion.
By now, he no longer had any trace of his earlier confidence.
No certainty of victory.
He was shouting at Aaron like a madman.
Faced with Cedric's frantic rage, Aaron merely smiled faintly.
A gentle breeze blew past, lifting the bangs in front of Aaron's eyes.
He said calmly,
"Remember this…"
"I'm just an ordinary Trainer passing through."
"And…"
"I won't bother remembering your name."
"Goodbye, boy from another world."
After saying that, Aaron turned to Infernape, now transformed into a Great Ape, and said slowly,
"End this match, Infernape."
"Use Fire Punch."
As Aaron gave the command, the Great Ape let out a deafening roar.
"GRAAAAAH!"
Its colossal fist was wrapped in raging flames, like a burning meteor carrying overwhelming pressure.
It locked directly onto Buzzwole.
At that moment, Buzzwole's entire body was trembling, its eyes filled with deep fear.
It stood frozen in place, helpless before the blow coming down on it.
"Buzzwole, dodge!"
"Hurry!"
Cedric's eyes bulged with fury. He roared at Buzzwole, who stood frozen where it was.
But Buzzwole had already lost control of its body.
The Great Ape's overwhelming pressure bore down entirely on Buzzwole, pinning it in place.
Buzzwole could not move at all.
Or rather, it had already been locked on to. Even if it could move, it would never escape the Great Ape's attack.
This was the difference between two completely different levels of power.
Deep despair flashed through Buzzwole's eyes.
It could only watch as the Great Ape's world-shaking Fire Punch slammed into its body.
"Quick! Activate the Fighting Arena's Level 1 Emergency Energy System!"
At the host's podium, Kenny's face filled with fear as he shouted at the staff.
Just then, a massive energy shield lit up around the battlefield, sealing the entire arena inside.
Within the barrier, the Great Ape's terrifying meteor-like fist had already come crashing down.
BOOOOM!
The massive explosion echoed across the entire city of Grit City.
At that instant, the ground throughout Grit City trembled.
The shaking vanished in the blink of an eye.
But the entire city had been shaken to its core.
…