What is she doing here?
Foe or friend?
The woman ignored Ariel's wary gaze and didn't say a word. With a flick of her wrist, two pitch-black Ultra Balls with a peculiar texture appeared between her fingers.
They weren't ordinary black Ultra Balls; the spheres seemed to have patterns of an unknown material, reflecting a cold metallic light in the dim illumination.
She casually tossed the balls.
The movement was elegant, almost nonchalant.
Two flashes of red light later, two brand-new Pokémon appeared in the center of the battlefield.
One was a Houndoom, its size far exceeding the norm.
Its bony outer armor glinted with a sinister light, and the breath from its snout smelled of sulfur. Destruction burned in its crimson eyes, and its ominous aura was almost tangible.
The other was a Crobat.
But when its wings flapped, they didn't make a sound. Its body left streaks of afterimages in the air, moving so fast that the naked eye could barely Lock-On to its specific position.
Two Gym Leader Level Pokémon!
And upon appearing, their condensed, iron-like presence wasn't the least bit weaker than the three battle-hardened guardians opposite them—in fact, it was even stronger!
Ariel's pupils constricted slightly.
This woman's strength was unfathomable.
The three guardians opposite were clearly enraged by this sudden turn of events. Especially the leader, Aggron, which let out a deafening roar. Its massive body surged forward, the horn on its head gleaming with metallic coldness as it charged with an Iron Head!
However, the woman in black only gave it a cold glance, not even bothering to voice a command.
As if sharing a mental connection with her, the Houndoom threw its head back and howled, and a massive 'big'-shaped flame erupted from its mouth!
"Fire Blast!"
The temperature of this Fire Blast was staggeringly high, causing the surrounding air to distort.
Boom—!
Flame and steel collided violently!
A scene that made Ariel's eyelid twitch unfolded.
Aggron's Iron Head, capable of shattering mountain rock, was actually forced back by this torrent of flames!
The scorching flames burned its steel skin, making a "sizzling" sound. Its massive body was completely suppressed, forced back step by step.
Almost simultaneously, the battle on the other side was also decided.
Skarmory shrieked and flapped its wings, launching countless steel feathers like sharp blades at the Crobat in the air.
However, Crobat's figure darted through the barrage at high speed; those steel feathers couldn't even touch its shadow.
Its speed was so fast that it created a visual illusion, as if multiple versions of it existed at once.
Now!
Weavile, who had been struggling for an opening, seized this fleeting gap.
The moment Crobat's phantom-like movements drew all of Skarmory's attention, Weavile slid across the ground like a bolt of black lightning, circling to Skarmory's rear blind spot!
"Ice Punch!"
Its crossed claws, carrying a freezing chill, slashed hard at the joint where Skarmory's neck met its wing!
"Clang!"
A crisp sound rang out as sparks flew!
Skarmory let out a shrill cry of pain as one of its wings was hacked off!
And that Crobat had appeared above its head at some unknown point. Its four blade-thin wings turned into the most lethal weapons, crossing in a flash!
"Air Slash!"
Pfft!
Unable to react in time, Skarmory's head flew high into the air, and its heavy body fell powerlessly, hitting the ground with a dull thud.
Decapitation!
Clean and efficient, without a single wasted movement.
Watching this, Ariel felt his throat go dry.
This was no longer a battle; it was a slaughter.
The coordination between this Crobat and his Weavile seemed as if it had been practiced a thousand times. With just a glance and a movement, they had completed the execution of the Gym Leader Level Skarmory.
On the other side, the Tangrowth that had just recovered a bit tried to repeat its old trick, using Power Whip to support its companion.
But before its vines could strike, the blue light in Ariel's Malamar's eyes flashed. Using the last of its strength to manifest its Psychic power, it forcibly hauled Tangrowth's massive body off the ground, suspending it in mid-air!
"Roar!"
Krookodile seized the opportunity, old and new grudges surging in its heart.
Its legs exerted sudden force as it leapt high, raging flames igniting in its mouth.
"Fire Fang!"
With one bite, it clamped down precisely on the core torso of the Tangrowth bound by Psychic energy!
"Sizzle—"
The grass-type was weak to fire; it was super effective!
A burnt stench filled the air. Tangrowth let out a silent roar of agony, its countless vines twitching wildly, yet it couldn't break free from the Psychic restraint.
Under the scorching flames, its life force drained rapidly, eventually turning into a heap of charred plant remains that crashed to the ground.
In an instant, two of the three guardians were gone!
In the few dozen seconds since the woman in black appeared, the tide of battle had undergone a world-shaking reversal.
Ariel didn't have time to ponder who this woman was; he wasn't the type to leave his fate entirely in the hands of others.
Now that there was an opening, he had to press the advantage!
"Gyarados!"
Ariel roared,
"Hyper Beam!"
The exhausted Gyarados heard its master's command and, as if experiencing a final burst of energy, exploded with its last bit of strength.
It opened its massive maw, golden energy beams converging wildly. With an aura that could destroy everything, it blasted towards the last remaining guardian—Aggron!
The Houndoom also seemed to sense Ariel's fighting spirit. It bared its teeth in a ferocious grin, and orange-red flames surged deep in its throat once more.
This time, it wasn't Fire Blast, but a more condensed and thicker pillar of fire. Alongside Gyarados's Hyper Beam, it formed a pincer formation, slamming into the Aggron that was still struggling to hold on!
The combined destructive power of two ultimate moves was far greater than just one plus one.
"Roar—!!!"
Aggron let out the final, unwilling roar of its life.
Light swallowed everything.
The entire cavern shook violently, and rubble fell like rain. The blinding light made Ariel instinctively close his eyes.
After an unknown amount of time, the light faded, and the aftershocks of energy gradually subsided.
Ariel opened his eyes.
The mountain-sized Aggron had collapsed to the ground. Its steel body was covered in marks of melting and decay, completely losing its ability to battle.
The battle was over.
Ariel panted heavily several times and quickly recalled his exhausted Pokémon.
Inside the cavern, only he, the mysterious woman in black, and her two Pokémon radiating terrifying auras remained.
The atmosphere instantly shifted from the life-and-death struggle of moments ago into an eerie silence.
Ariel's gaze fell upon the woman.
Who on earth was she?
Someone from Team Rockets?
Or someone from the Alliance?
Why did she appear here, and why did she help him?