"BWOOOARGH!"
Cetitan bellowed in pain as Charizard's golden flames scorched across her body.
Without Thick Fat, that attack might have knocked her out on the spot. The Ability had neutralized her natural weakness to Fire, but Charizard's Flamethrower was still powerful enough to inflict serious damage.
"Cetitan, hold your ground!"
Frost's expression tightened.
"Use Ice Spinner to shield yourself from the flames!"
"BWOOOOH!"
Ice-blue energy surged from Cetitan's massive body.
Layers of frost erupted beneath her feet and rose around her, forming a rapidly rotating barrier of ice.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Charizard continued pouring fire down from above while the spinning ice collided with the inferno.
The outer layers melted almost instantly, but Cetitan continuously replenished them with fresh Ice-type energy.
For the moment, neither side could completely overwhelm the other.
Once again, the clash between fire and ice filled the battlefield with clouds of scalding steam.
Frost's eyes narrowed.
"Now, Cetitan! Icicle Crash!"
A tremendous whale-like bellow thundered from within the steam.
"BWOOOOOOH!"
Cold energy surged upward.
Snow and frost gathered above the battlefield, rapidly condensing into a colossal icicle.
Although Cetitan's Icicle Crash had not reached the Apotheosis level, Belly Drum had multiplied her physical power to an absurd degree. In sheer destructive force, the attack now rivaled the one Chien-Pao had unleashed earlier.
The massive icicle plunged from the sky like a frozen meteor.
Its oppressive weight alone was enough to make weaker Pokémon freeze in terror.
The spectators stared upward in disbelief.
"What the hell is that?"
"If Charizard takes a direct hit from something that huge, it'll be flattened!"
"Frost really isn't holding anything back."
"Of course he isn't! He's fighting Aaron. Holding back would be the same as surrendering."
"That thing's covering half the sky. Can Charizard even dodge it?"
"I don't think it can. Aaron may have to sacrifice Charizard here."
...
The enormous icicle hanging over the arena sent the crowd into an uproar.
Most of the spectators were already convinced Charizard had no way out.
"Aaron..."
Standing beside Braveon, Liora watched the descending attack with worry written across her face.
Braveon remained calm.
"Relax, Aaron isn't losing here."
Braveon kept his gaze fixed on Charizard, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"I can sense it through Aura—that Charizard still has an enormous amount of power in reserve. It hasn't even started going all out yet."
Liora's eyes immediately brightened.
"Really?"
"Just watch."
Braveon nodded toward the arena.
"He's finally about to get serious."
Aaron stood beneath the enormous shadow of the falling icicle, yet there was no fear on his face. Instead, a confident smile rested at the corner of his mouth.
...
Frost pointed triumphantly across the battlefield.
"Let's see you stop this, Aaron!"
"This is Cetitan's strongest attack after Belly Drum. Not even your Charizard can take it head-on!"
His grin widened.
"You should surrender while you still can. Don't blame me if Charizard gets flattened!"
For the first time since the battle began, Frost felt that victory was within reach.
He had outplayed Aaron.
Cetitan had used the steam to complete Belly Drum, then turned that overwhelming physical power into an Icicle Crash capable of crushing almost anything.
So what if Aaron ranked first?
So what if he had conquered the ninth floor of the Hidden Dragon Tower?
Soon, everyone in Crown City would know that Frost had defeated him.
His imagination was already racing ahead to the glory awaiting him.
Aaron looked up at the enormous icicle, then back at Frost's increasingly smug expression.
"You're good."
The unexpected compliment made Frost pause.
"You deserve your place among the top five. Your Pokémon are powerful, and your strategy was solid."
Aaron's smile slowly faded.
"Unfortunately for you, my Pokémon have a habit of exceeding even my expectations."
His expression turned serious.
"And when they stop holding back... even I find them terrifying."
He raised his voice.
"Charizard, show them your true power!"
"Lightning-Flame Dragon Mode!"
Frost stared at him blankly.
"Lightning-Flame what—"
"GRAAAAAAAH!"
Charizard's roar cut him off.
Scorching flames erupted from the crimson dragon's body, wrapping around its scales in blazing layers.
CRACKLE!
Golden lightning raced through the fire.
Bolts of electricity crawled across Charizard's wings, horns, and claws as thunder and flame intertwined around its massive frame.
The pressure radiating from it surged several times over.
Charizard hovered beneath the falling icicle, wreathed in lightning and flame. The pressure rolling off its body seemed to fill the entire battlefield.
"GRAAAAAH!"
Charizard threw back its head and roared into the heavens.
The sound shook the arena.
A violent gale swept across the battlefield, whipping Aaron's clothes around him. Yet he stood unmoving, as steady as a pillar driven into the earth.
His eyes remained fixed on the attack overhead.
"Charizard!"
Thunder and golden fire flared within Charizard's eyes.
"Thunderflame Dragon's Super Flamethrower!"
"GRAAAAAAAH!"
Charizard opened its jaws.
A massive torrent of golden lightning-flame erupted from its mouth.
Thunderbolts twisted through the inferno as it surged upward with apocalyptic force, tearing straight toward the descending icicle.
The golden blaze and the frozen meteor collided in midair.
BOOOOM!
The resulting explosion shook the entire square.
The shock wave ripped across the sky like a raging tidal wave, sending snow, ice, and sparks flying in every direction.
A colossal cloud of steam mushroomed above the battlefield.
Then the pressure burst outward.
WHOOOOM!
A terrifying gale swept through the spectator stands. People screamed and grabbed whatever they could as the wind nearly tore them from their seats.
For several seconds, no one could see the battlefield.
There was only thunder, fire, and an enormous cloud boiling across the sky.
The power of the collision was beyond anything they had imagined.
...